In what ways can we ensure we are "given more" spiritually? Key Verse “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” — Luke 8:18 Why the Lord Gives More • God entrusts deeper insight, power, and fruitfulness to those who value what they have already received. • Spiritual gain is not random; it is the purposeful response of God to hearts that prove faithful. See also Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:24-25. Cultivating a Receptive Ear • Intentional Listening – Turn aside daily from noise and distractions (Mark 1:35). – Read or hear Scripture aloud, letting its phrases sink in. • Active Meditation – “His delight is in the law of the LORD… he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2-3). – Pause after each passage, asking, “What is this telling me about God’s character?” • Humble Expectancy – Come convinced the Bible is wholly true and personally authoritative. – Expect the Spirit to illuminate. Proverbs 2:1-6 promises understanding to those who “tune their ear to wisdom.” Practicing Immediate Obedience • Obedience multiplies understanding. John 14:21: “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them… I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” • Treat every prompting—no matter how small—as a test of stewardship. • Keep short accounts with God; confess sin quickly so nothing clogs the flow of fresh insight (1 John 1:9). Guarding and Nurturing What We Have • Store Truth Securely – Journal insights; revisit them. – Teach or share with someone else—truth given away is truth retained. • Weed Out Competing Voices – Evaluate entertainment, conversations, and reading material that dull spiritual appetite. – “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). • Set Fixed Rhythms – Weekly worship, small-group study, and personal devotion reinforce what God has said. Living Generously with the Word • Speak Life – Encourage believers with specific verses (Colossians 3:16). • Serve Sacrificially – Pour out time, gifts, and resources; God entrusts more to those who channel blessings, not hoard them (Luke 6:38). • Pray Scripture Over Others – Align intercession with God’s promises, releasing faith that draws further revelation. Walking by the Spirit Daily • Sensitivity – Start each morning acknowledging your dependence on the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). • Alignment – Let the Spirit’s fruit—love, joy, peace, etc.—govern reactions. A yielded heart is ready for fresh deposits. • Continual Filling – Ask repeatedly for renewal (Ephesians 5:18). The more we are filled, the more capacity we have for additional grace. Summary We are “given more” spiritually when we listen carefully, steward faithfully, obey promptly, guard diligently, share generously, and walk continually in step with the Spirit. Every act of responsiveness enlarges our capacity for the next measure of truth, power, and intimacy with Christ. |
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