ROOTED TO ABOUND
The Root of Abounding
The Call to Abound in Every Dimension
There is a divine call from God—a cry of the Spirit—centered around our understanding of the mind and expectation of God for our lives across every dimension. In this season, the context of abounding for us is specifically centered around abounding in the work of the Lord. This is an instructional, prophetic, and profoundly spiritual word. God is declaring to us that regardless of what we have seen in the past, or what He has accomplished in us, with us, or through us, His expectation is that we continuously abound. Abounding is the mind of God for this season.
Throughout Scripture, we can trace this concept of abounding across the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Early Church. Consider Isaac: “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great” (Genesis 26:12-13 KJV). Isaac began to prosper, went forward, and grew until he became very great (gadal [גָּדַל]). God does not want us merely to start; He does not intend for us to remain static or stagnant. The mind of God is that whatever He begins in our lives will continuously grow and abound.
We see this same pattern in the Early Church: “And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5 KJV). Furthermore, “the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7 KJV), and “the word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24 KJV). The early believers were established in the faith and increased in number daily. The church abounded numerically, and the Word of God increased and multiplied.
Tracing the Spiritual Progression of Abounding
To examine the root and foundation of abounding, let us trace the spiritual progression outlined in the Epistle to the Colossians: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7 KJV).
Notice the precise sequence of spiritual progression in this passage:
• Received (paralambano [παραλαμβάνω]): At various points in our walk with God, we receive spiritual blessings, grace, and truth in Christ. The starting point is receiving.
• Walk (peripateo [περιπατέω]): Having received Christ, we are commanded to walk in Him and walk with what we have received.
• Rooted (rhizoo [ῥιζόω]): Becoming firmly grounded and deeply anchored in Him.
• Built Up (epoikodomeo [ἐποικοδομέω]): Being constructed and strengthened spiritually.
• Established (bebaioo [βεβαιόω]): Being confirmed and made steadfast in the faith.
• Abounding (perisseuo [περισσεύω]): Overflowing and flourishing continuously with thanksgiving.
Abounding is not the first thing that happens; abounding is an outcome. It is the result of walking in what you have received, becoming rooted, being built up, and becoming established. No one can abound in what he or she has received if they refuse to walk in it.
Consider the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-16 KJV, where the master delivered his goods to his servants according to their several ability. The servant who received five talents went and traded with the same, making other five talents. The master expected his servants to trade with what they received. Those who traded abounded in what was given to them. Nobody receives a gift, sets it aside, leaves it idle or redundant, and then abounds. Abounding is the direct outcome of active stewardship.
Stewards of Grace and Spiritual Gifts
We are stewards of the grace and giftings of God. Spiritual gifts are special abilities given to carry out specific functions and services in the vineyard of God. As written, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV).
The only way to abound in the work of the Lord is to intentionally and deliberately work with the graces and giftings received. As you walk with these spiritual gifts, you become rooted (rhizoo), built up (epoikodomeo), and established (bebaioo) in them. The ultimate outcome is a life that can be described as abounding (perisseuo) in the grace of God.
There is a vital relationship between inward spiritual depth and outward manifestation:
• You cannot sustainably abound outwardly if you are impoverished inwardly.
• Outward flourishing and multiplication of grace are the results of inward growth and establishment.
• The root determines the fruit.
What is visible outwardly as the flourishing of grace is produced by internal workings of God on the inside.
Professional Diligence, Skills, and Expertise
This principle extends beyond spiritual gifts to natural skills, careers, and professions. To be rooted in a skill means training, exercising, and developing yourself until you are thoroughly grounded. Consider skilled artisans, such as the famous Beninese masons renowned for their exceptional plastering work, who honed their craft through rigorous practice until they became expert professionals.
In the same way, receiving Christ or receiving a gift is only the beginning. God expects us to hone and exercise what we have received so that we move from being novices to becoming experts and spiritual professionals who abound in our calling. Two believers can receive Christ or enter ministry at the exact same moment, under the same atmosphere. Yet years later, one is abounding while the other remains stagnant. The difference lies in what each person did with what they received.
Re-evaluating Prayer and Aligning with Divine Process
Many believers pray, “Lord, make me abound”. While well-intentioned, praying for abounding directly may miss the scriptural order. Abounding is an outcome, not the starting point.
The proper focus of prayer should be:
• “Lord, give me grace, insight, and understanding to walk with what I have received.”
• “Lord, help me to be deeply rooted and built up in this assignment.”
• “Lord, establish me in this calling.”
When you focus on walking in what you have received, getting rooted, and being built up, abounding naturally becomes the automatic outcome. Abounding requires a combination of two elements: deliberate effort (human diligence, study, preparation, and practice) and supernatural enablement (the power, utterance, and breathing of the Holy Spirit). You cannot substitute spiritual expectations for basic diligence and preparation. Divine utterance (apophthengomai [ἀποφθέγγομαι]) operates by the Spirit breathing upon what you have diligently prepared and hidden in your heart.
Magnifying the Assignment
Scripture instructs us: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office” (Romans 11:13 KJV). It is not the title of the office that determines your impact; it is how you walk in the grace of God and abound in that office. When you faithfully serve and execute your duties with fervor, preparation, and dedication, your capacity expands. When you abound in what you have received, it produces thanksgiving, as noted in Colossians 2:7: “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Others will observe the hand of God upon your life and give thanks to God on your behalf.
The Law of the Root and Kingdom Fruitfulness
Fruitfulness obeys a fundamental spiritual law: The root determines the fruit. A tree does not become fruitful because someone commands its branches to produce. Fruitfulness emerges from a healthy root system. Therefore, deepness precedes fruitfulness:
• Before God increases your assignment, He deepens your foundation.
• Before He expands your influence, He develops your capacity.
• Before He increases your visibility, He establishes your inner life.
Jesus taught this principle of abiding in the Vine: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5 KJV). Furthermore, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2 KJV).
Notice the spiritual progression of fruitfulness: Fruit → More Fruit → Much Fruit. The Father purges (kathairo [καθαίρω] – prunes and cleanses) every branch that bears fruit so that it can bring forth much fruit. Yesterday’s fruitfulness must never become the boundary or limitation for tomorrow’s greater fruitfulness. As emphasized in 1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV, “the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” God expects profit, growth, and maturity from everything He invests in our lives.
Consistency over Moods
Scripture commands us to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). This means abounding consistently—not accidentally, not occasionally, and not only when convenient. True ministry cannot be driven by personal feelings or physical moods. Like a minister stepping up to preach when feeling physically tired, stepping out in faith opens the door for the Holy Spirit to supply utterance, enlargement, and divine power. When you yield to the Spirit, what began in physical weakness ends in divine demonstration.
Concluding Exhortation and Prayer Points
As we step into this season of anniversary, thanksgiving, and ordination, let us align our hearts with God’s expectation to abound with thanksgiving through structured prayer:
• Thanksgiving for What We Have Received: Father, we thank You for the gift of Christ, the gift of salvation, Your abundant grace, spiritual gifts, calling, and ministry in Christ Jesus. We acknowledge that all we have comes from You.
• Grace to Walk, Be Rooted, and Established: Lord, give us grace, insight, and spiritual understanding to walk in what we have received. Grant us the discipline to get deeply rooted (rhizoo), built up (epoikodomeo), and established (bebaioo) in our callings, so that our lives will continuously abound (perisseuo).
• Capacity to Solve Problems and Flourish: Father, expand our capacity—spiritually, vocationally, and professionally. Deepen our skills, talents, and wisdom so that we become solution-providers and experts in our fields, reflecting Your excellence to the world.
• Anointing for Ministry and Utterance: Lord, let Your hand rest mightily upon Your servants in this season. Grant divine utterance (apophthengomai), charge the atmosphere with Your presence, remove every obstacle, and let Your glory overshadow every gathering in Jesus’ name. Amen.
