To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
I often sit and ponder this verse, just wondering what all the fullness of God even is. It is something that I cannot comprehend, and yet, this is God’s desire in my life. God desires an imperfect and unqualified man to be filled with his fullness.
Even writing this column, this thought so humbly wreaks havoc on my soul that the Lord of the universe loves me so much that he desires for me to be filled with all of the Father’s fullness – nothing missing or lacking.
Just earlier in Ephesians, we read that for the reason of God giving Paul the gift of preaching to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), he bows his knee to the Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Paul had an extraordinary insight into the heart of God that humbled him to the core and so much so that he began to be empowered and strengthened to the inner man, the deepest part of who he was, and he was transformed by the Holy Spirit according to the riches of his glory.
This humbling opportunity brought out a great fullness of God within Paul, and I can say that I am so thankful for the works of our triune God in such ways.
When we can all draw into this desire and this place where we leave all for the purpose of Christ, we see in a completely new way, a way that is “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” because of the power that is working inside of us. The grace of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, the fullness of God.
As we allow God to move powerfully in our lives, in new and full ways, we begin to grow in understanding of God and his purpose in our lives. Later in Ephesians 4, it says that God gives gifts to men to help them grow to the “fullness and stature of Christ.”
This fantastic idea of having the fullness and stature of Christ comes in the unity of the faith. The people of God, the church, are to be filled with his glory, awe, and wonder. As a result, we fall in love not only with Christ but his body, the church. We fall in love with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We fall in love with the fullness of God that is “above all, and through all, and in you all.”
I encourage you, the church, to go and read Ephesians this week. I believe the Lord is doing something amazing in his church of Northern Nevada, and he wants all of us to be a part of it to the fullness that he desires. The only thing missing is the hearts of the saints opening and receiving what our head, Jesus, has for us. I hope we are willing to ask him what his fullness is. Pray and expect God to move on your hearts and minds in new ways. Let us call out for our head, our king, our Lord, “even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
Brady Roser is associate pastor at The Bridge Church.
