INCREASING AND TAKING ROOT
2 Thessalonians 1:3; Ephesians 3:14-21; 2:19-22
I felt minded to say something about increase, or enlargement, and what underlies it. It is evident that there are many scriptures which could have been read that bear on this subject. The thought of increase applies to ourselves as individuals, as it does to local companies, and indeed to the whole assembly. It is clearly a subject of particular delight to God Himself that there should be increase. Paul here, when thinking of increase amongst the Thessalonians, indicates that it was appropriate to thank God for it. After all, while it is right that we should seek for increase – we see that in the history of Jabez (see 1 Chron.4:10), a perfect illustration of someone who sought increase from God – it is God who delights to give the increase. He is said to be the giver of the increase (1 Cor.3:6,7). Here there was increase amongst the saints at Thessalonica. That was not because circumstances had been especially favourable, and therefore it was easy for increase to take place: quite the contrary. Circumstances were very difficult; there had been opposition, and Paul later makes reference to the endurance and faith these saints showed in all the persecutions and tribulations which they were sustaining (2 Thess.1:4). It was in the midst of circumstances of particular trial and difficulty that the increase was taking place. That might serve as a word of encouragement to us all tonight, because burdens are being carried and circumstances are difficult, but that does not prevent God from bringing in increase. It may indeed be the very occasion of providing the increase, as an answer in blessing from God, on account of bringing about deeper exercises with each of us.
God knows what the saints are passing through, not only individually – what is carried by each of us alone – but together; so that, just as it was in Thessalonica, “the love of each one of you all towards one another abounds”. What a beautiful thought, that here was a local company, in the midst of tribulations, and they were not just thinking each one of their own problems, but they were there in love for one another, and God was granting increase in answer to them. It was not a feeble increase – it says, “because your faith increases exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all towards one another abounds”. That is very comforting and cheering language to read, conveying the evidence of wonderful blessing coming in from God.
I had a further thought about increase, and that led me to read from Ephesians 3. I might say this, that if there is evident increase and enlargement in any structure without the base underlying it being secure and firm, everything will become insecure and liable to collapse. That is obvious in natural things. It is something well known: we can observe and take account of it. And Paul, in his earnest prayer for the saints, was carrying that thought as well, perhaps not in the precise words I have used, but clearly the same thought was in his mind. On that account, he was praying that the saints might be “rooted and founded in love”. Therein lies the assurance of a firm base, so that the increase that God chooses to give can be supported, and that the saints are wisely able to bear it and carry things well. That is an exercise for us all, because I feel increasingly, as the days go by, the desire that I might not only grow in knowledge of the truth but in experience in the things of God. I carry daily exercise to grow in knowledge, but if I did that only, and failed to be more deeply rooted in love and more deeply founded in the enjoyment of the love of Christ, then things would become unstable with me, as they will with any of us, or indeed with a company.
If we are interested merely in the promotion of light and knowledge amongst us, without the steady proportionate increase in depth of root and certainty in foundation in love, then things will not remain stable. But therein, I think, lies the blessing: that, just as Paul was praying for it here as regards the brethren in Ephesus, so should we be exercised to grow roots increasingly deeply into the enjoyment of the love of Christ. Surely there is room for expansion there. There always is! The Lord, when indicating the activities of the sower going out to sow (Luke 8:5-15), spoke of circumstances where the seed might be sown on very shallow ground, maybe on the surface of a rock, and things soon became dried up: there was no fruit and no progress and no increase. The seed had to fall into the good ground, where it is evident there was ample room for the roots to grow downwards in a full way. And then the shoot will come up, and the plant will grow and the fruit will come out in increasing measure. Luke presents it as bearing fruit a hundredfold only, as if to indicate the blessed outcome for divine Persons in such fulness.
That is what Paul goes on to speak of here – “that ye may be filled even to all the fulness of God”, so that God Himself obtains the response, “in the assembly in Christ Jesus”. That is the great objective in fruit bearing. It is not like the illustration of the kingdom of the heavens being like a grain of mustard seed, and growth taking place until it became very great, and the branches spreading and giving opportunity for all the birds of heaven to find roosting places (Matt.13:31,32). That is not to be compared by any means with the precious allusion to what the Lord Himself was looking for in the pearl of great value (vv.45,46). That speaks of something choice and excellent for His heart, not great and prominent growth, but something very real and precious. What is precious is brought about through depth of root in the love of Christ. Our hearts then will be developed in suited answer and in affection and joy for the Lord Jesus, and a foundation made secure to support the increase in knowledge that we should all seek. Why should we be feeble-minded in regard to the things of God? Let us truly seek after these things, but not forget about our personal links with the Lord Jesus. These things will then be reflected not only personally, but in the local company. That was what Paul was praying for in Ephesus: he told the saints there that he was bowing his knees to the Father and praying for those things to be true amongst them.
Then there is a further thought still, which is brought in at the end of the second chapter of Ephesians where we read. There the increase is connected with the “holy temple”, finally leading up to the “habitation of God in the Spirit”. That is a very full and great thought, concerning the place that Christ Himself is to have in our hearts, the corner-stone, “in whom all the building fitted together increases to a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit”. Thank God, we have our part in that very great building – “in whom ye also are built together”. Notice the word “together”, “the building fitted together”. We have been thinking of stability; there it comes out, not only in a sure foundation or a sure root, but also in all that is built securely together through the work of the Holy Spirit: “the building fitted together increases to a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit”.
Well, that conveys my thought. May the result be encouragement for us to pursue the things that contribute to edification in our own souls and amongst the saints. It is the same thought: ‘edification’ is translated in other passages as ‘building’ and it is the same word. It means building and increasing; indeed it is the same thought as is referred to in this passage in Ephesians 2 – “the building fitted together”.
May the Lord bless us, that there would be edification and increase in our hearts from what has been said, to His glory.
Word in a meeting for ministry
Brechin, 7 January 2025
John Laurie