How Full is Full?
Our first child was a typical firstborn: a high achiever who loved to be the boss. She caught on quickly to language cues, especially noting when I told her, “that’s plenty!” or, “that’s so much!” She took those as actual measurements. If she really wanted something she’d say, “I want plenty!” or “I want soooo much!” in her adorable toddler voice. A reasonable portion was not what she had in mind, so she asked largely.
This is actually a biblical concept. Hebrews 7:25 says God saves “to the uttermost.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us He provides in abundance, and Jesus said He came so we’d have life “abundantly,” to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10). This is a small sampling of New Testament verses that assure us that God loves to give abundantly.
Abundance shows up in the Old Testament also. Following the northern kingdom of Israel’s destruction and the southern kingdom of Judah’s exile into Babylon, the prophet Zechariah saw a vision from the Lord regarding the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. God spoke to him words that are likely familiar to many Christians today: “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zech. 4:6b AMP).
Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” … So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not my might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Zechariah 4:1-4, 6 (NIV).
The lampstand in Zechariah’s vision was different than the lampstand in Solomon’s temple. This lampstand had a bowl on top, with olive trees on each side providing a continuous supply of oil, and channels or pipes through which oil flowed continually. This vision was the explanation for the word of the Lord. Whereas the original lampstand had oil and seven lamps, the oil had to be poured in, and the lamps lit by the priests. In this new temple, the oil was supplied by God Himself - oil that constantly flowed and kept the lamps burning continually.
The key part of this picture is the bowl. A full bowl meant a continual flame. If the bowl emptied and the oil stopped flowing, the lamps would flicker out. The bowl was connected to the trees, the source of oil. Connection to the source meant the oil would flow into the bowl continuously. If the bowl was only partially filled, however, the oil would not continue flowing to the lampstand. Flowing implies movement of the oil, overflowing the bowl, and running through the channels to fuel the lamps. If there is room in the bowl, then it is not full. It is full when it overflows, and the continuous supply ensures that it will always be filled to overflowing.
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not my might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” In the original temple, men had to fill and refill the lamps to keep them burning. In the new temple, God said He would fill the lamps with oil and keep them filled through a supernatural, never-ending supply. This oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit, mighty and powerful enough to accomplish the formidable mission of rebuilding the temple. The Holy Spirit was going to do what people could not.
The God of overflowing abundance throughout the Bible has abundance available for us today. As Paul said, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Cor. 3:16 NIV). A full bowl remains the key to experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. If we, like the bowl, are directly connected to the source, there is a continuous supply – a supply that is not a reasonable portion, but is “soooo much!” By seeking more of His presence, more of His word, more of His Spirit, God can accomplish what we cannot. He can do things beyond our might and power.
If you have been struggling, striving to make it with your own might, and trying to make your reasonable portion stretch, you are missing out on an endless supply. The Holy Spirit is ready to pour into your life in an overflowing amount. I pray that you will ask and welcome His power to work within you, and work on your behalf, to do what no person could accomplish on their own.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Eph. 3:20 (NIV)