Enjoying The Fullness That Is In Christ Jesus ( 2)
THE fullness of God is like an inexhaustible ocean that can never be depleted. Unfortunately, many walk through this life without drinking from this ocean because they don’t see the need or are not hungry for it. To enjoy his fullness, we need to constantly thirst for it. Those who are filled with the fullness of God, occasionally experience depletion and exhaustion due to daily stresses and pressures of life. Paul must have faced this challenge when he wrote these words in Ephesians 5: 18: ” Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,” ( NLT).
The word “filled” here means continual filling. We don’t get filled once, but renewed continually. The demands of our daily engagement, puts much stress on us, thereby making it imperative to be refilled. Like Jesus said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water,” ( John 7: 37- 38 NKJV).
Why is it necessary to be filled with the fullness of God? First, because God has provided for it in Christ. The fullness of the Godhead is needed here on the earth than in heaven. Colossians 2: 9, 10 reads: ” For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power,”( Colossians 2: 9- 10 NKJV).
Second, we need His fullness for service. Without the fullness of God’s power and blessings, we can hardly be effective in service. The disciples in the book of Acts were effective due to their empowerment on the day of Pentecost. Out of his fullness, we are empowered and equipped for the ministry, ( Eph. 1: 23).
Third, with the fallen nature of man, we need the supernatural ability of God to function optimally. The fullness of God is not only about his power; it is also about his character, holiness, love, among others. Our completeness in Christ must be balanced between his power and character.
Fourth, the overwhelming darkness of this age can only be countered by a surpassing anointing from God. Paul rightly predicted the Spirit of this age thus: ” But you need to be aware that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce. People will be self- centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly. They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God,” ( 2Timothy 3: 1- 4 TPT).
Five, we need his fullness to live as Christ did and be shining examples in a world filled with darkness. We need His fullness for the world to know that we bear the image of God.
The words of Prophet Micah put to rest any doubts about the imperativeness of being filled with God’s fullness. He said: “As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the Lord, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” ( Micah 3: 8). We can only engage the world in his power!
Contact: pastoracukachi@ gmai l. com