Be Filled with the Fullness of God Many religions have what they believe are holy sites or buildings, but the God of love has chosen you to be His dwelling place, if you are willing. The God who created the universe is not impressed with our buildings and shrines. This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:1 – 2) The Lord is looking for a person who is humble before Him and who takes His word very seriously, even to the point of obedience. God and His love will live inside of this person. You were created for love. You are made in the image of the God of love. Your purpose is to give love and receive love. God made you in His image so that you could experience His love. God desires to have the most intimate relationship with you possible. That is, you in God and God in you, united in love. This is why Jesus came to earth so that He could restore our ultimate purpose of a holy relationship with God. Jesus prayed that the same love that God the Father has would be in you. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:26) When Jesus says “I have declared Your name”, it means that He has made God known to the people. It means that He revealed God’s character and His power, and He continues to do so. Jesus revealed God as His Father and your Father. This means that God wants to be your eternal Father, and He wants you to accept the position of His child. As Jesus walked the earth His mission was to reveal the heart of His Father, the God of love. God sent His Son to reveal His love. It is through knowing God, heart to heart, that we come to experience His love. Your mission is to experience and reveal the love of God; just as Jesus did. Jesus continues to reveal the Father through His body, the church, which includes you if you are willing. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19) God desires to fill us with the fullness of Himself. In the passage above we see the process of how Christ enters into us. First we must receive power through the Holy Spirit to have the ability to receive Christ into our heart. This is God’s grace whereby He does the work in you. Second is the entrance of Christ into your heart by faith. We always receive from God by grace through faith. Grace is God’s part and faith is our part. The Holy Spirit in you is proof of God’s love for you. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (1st John 4:13) Your faith is proof of your love for God. However, faith with out works is dead, so faith without obedience is not faith. Obedience to God proves your faith. As we make a home for Christ in our heart through faith and obedience, He begins to give us revelations of the greatness of His love, the width, length, depth, and height of His love. Notice that we are to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. There are two different Greek words used here, the word for knowledge means to just know about it in your mind. The word used for to know means to “know absolutely”, to feel, perceive, and experience. This means that we are not to just know about God’s love we are to experience it. This kind of love is the most awesome experience we can have; it is the very presence of God in us. This is the greatest pleasure that you are created to experience. As we continue to walk in this kind of love, we become filled with all the fullness of God. Love creates an atmosphere where God can dwell. This is what all of the saints have experienced. This is God’s desire for you. Experiencing this kind of love causes us to know the God of love in greater and greater revelation. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Love, works in us as we cooperate by obeying the commands He gives us from the Lord. Jesus says He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:21-23) Our love for Jesus is proven by keeping His Word. The word “keep” means to guard with your eyes so that it is not lost. The ultimate way that we keep God’s word is by focusing our mind on His word to the point of obedience. The fruit of obedience is God revealing Himself to you. Obedience is the key to revelation. The word manifest in the scripture above means to appear in person, to reveal. Jesus promises to reveal Himself to the one who keeps His word. He also promises that He and the Father will come and make their home with the person who keeps His Word. If you want to have a supernatural revelation of Jesus then determine in your heart to do everything He tells you. This means that when the Holy Spirit tells you to do something, do it. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8 8) As you cooperate with the Holy Spirit you will become more sanctified, which causes God to live in you more fully, which causes you to experience God and His love more fully. God’s desire is to make you His holy home and to fill you with all the fullness of Himself. Many of you are feeling the Lord calling you into a more holy and intimate relationship with Him. Many of you feel a deep desire to be filled with all the fullness of God. It is the Lord Himself who gave you that desire, this is His desire also. You are God’s holy temple. I believe that the tabernacle which Mosses was commanded to build symbolized God’s favorite dwelling place, which is you. The entire old covenant is symbolic of the reality of the new covenant. We can gain multitudes of revelations and insight from the Old Testament, which applies to the New Testament. The tabernacle had three parts and so do people. The outer court symbolizes a person’s physical body. Inside the outer court is the holy place, which symbolizes a person’s soul or heart. Inside the holy place is the most holy place this symbolizes a person’s spirit, or conscience. There are many examples of the tabernacle, which relate to a person being God’s dwelling place but I will just focus on just a few points here. The outer court contained the alter and the washbasin. It was the place of sacrifice. This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you. (Exodus 29:42) This is where the animals were offered up as sin offerings for the people. This was symbolic of the sacrifice that Jesus was to make on the cross once for all. So also our physical body is the place of sacrifice in our life. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1) Much of our obedience has to do with bringing our physical body under the control of the Holy Spirit. Inside the outer court just before the entrance to the holy place was the washbasin where the priest would wash before entering. As the priest prepared themselves through sacrifice and washing to enter into the holy place so to do we to enter into God’s presence. Whenever you enter into God’s presence, the first thing that happens is that you are reminded of any sin that has not been dealt with in your life. As you repent and accept the sacrifice Jesus made for your sins, you are moved into a greater manifestation of His presence, you come into the holy place. The holy place is symbolic of our heart or soul. The tabernacle was called the tent of meeting, meaning it was the place to meet with God. We meet with the Lord in our heart. It is the place of ministry unto the Lord and the place we commune with Him. You must enter through your heart into God’s presence. Since your heart is the place you worship your God it can also be the place where we have idols set up to false god’s. God wants us to love Him with all of our heart. That means we must remove anything from our heart that draws our attention away from loving Him fully. This is also where we must make sure that nothing is hindering our love to another person. Inside the holy place is the table of the bread of the presence, the golden lamp stand, and the alter of incense. The bread represents the Word and we know that Jesus is the Word. Jesus is called the bread of life. Only He can give us the bread that satisfies our spiritual hunger. The golden lamp stand has seven branches for seven oil lamps. The lamp stand was the only source of light in the holy place. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. The seven lamps may represent seven manifestations and revelations of the Holy Spirit in a believer, love, wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord; see Isaiah 11:2. The priests had instruments for trimming and refilling the lamps. They were to keep the lamp burning brightly continuously. In the same way, we must always check our hearts to see if there is any hindrance to the flow of God’s love in our heart. Anything that keeps the fire of God’s love from burning brightly in us hurts our relationship with God and people. Anything that keeps us from experiencing the fullness of God’s love also keeps us from being filled with all the fullness of God. The light also represents revelation. The greater we walk in obedience to God’s love the greater will be our revelation of Him. Allowing God’s love to burn brightly in us will affect the people around us by touching them with light, revelation and love. Just before the entrance to the most holy place was the alter of incense. The offering of incense represents prayer. Prayer is a ministry that takes place in our heart when we respond to God’s heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The most effective prayers are God breathed and come from His desires to manifest His glory on the earth. Just as Jesus spoke God’s words on earth so must we. God has chosen to use us as partners to accomplish His will on earth. We are to pray the Father’s will, to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Separating the holy place from the most holy place was a veil. When Jesus was crucified the veil in the temple was torn in two. This symbolized that we could now have a restored relationship with our God. Now we have access to the heart of God and He has access to our heart. It could be that the veil in man’s heart came about when Adam sinned, causing a separation between God and man; and soul and spirit. The most holy place, or holy of holies was where God dwelled in the tabernacle. It is the place of God’s presence in us, our spirit. In the most holy place was the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark of the Covenant was the law that was given to Moses, Aaron’s rod that budded, and some manna. In the new covenant, God writes His laws on our heart, we receive instruction through the Holy Spirit. Live buds and almonds had sprung forth from Aaron’s rod, a dead stick. This represents the power of God as the source of all life, including the source of life in us. Your spirit is what gives life to your soul and body. It is the breath of God in you. The manna represents God’s supernatural provision of all that we need. The testimonies of what God has done for you are stored in your spirit. They are part of His covenant of provision in your life. On top of the Ark was the mercy seat, this is considered to be the place where God’s presence would rest. This is a very important key in being filled with all the fullness of God because mercy or compassion is God’s love. Mercy is also associated with God’s glory. When God shows His mercy His glory is revealed. As a temple of God you are to carry the glory of God. And there (at the tabernacle) I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. (Exodus 29:43) This is God’s desire for you, that His glory fills your spirit, soul and body to overflowing. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34). God wants you to be a vessel of His glory shinning through you and touching other people. Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1 - 2 1) In Exodus chapters, 33 & 34 we see that after the children of Israel had sinned against God, Moses interceded for them. Moses wanted God’s presence to continue to go with them. Moses also asked to see God’s glory. Then the Lord said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19). Then God revealed His glory to Moses by revealing His name and His character. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6). The word merciful is the Hebrew word rachûm, which means to be full of compassion. This is a revelation of God’s love. We know that God is love, and we know that God is full of compassion. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1st John 4:7 - 8 7). If we are to be filled with the fullness of God, we must also be full of love, compassion. I believe the love described in the New Testament, agape, is love in the form of compassion. The command to love God and people, who are created in God’s image, are the two greatest commandments given from God to man. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) These commandments describe the purpose that God has given man. The whole Bible is about these two commandments. Keeping God’s word, obedience, causes us to know God and experience His love. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (1st John 2:5) When Jesus was asked who a neighbor is He told the story of the good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. The conclusion of the story was that he who showed mercy (compassion) was a neighbor. Here again we see the connection between love and compassion. The cost of love is high, it cost the giving of yourself, but the more of yourself you give in love the more you will be filled with the presence of God. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity (compassion) on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1st John 3:16 – 17) Anything in your heart that causes you to withhold love from God or another person also restricts the presence of God in you. If you have any anger against God, that is pride, and you are in great danger. Pride and anger both create a place in your heart for Satan. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26 – 27). If you have any unforgiveness or anger, because you are holding on to an offense, then you are hindering God from filling you. If you are withholding mercy and compassion from anyone then you are withholding love from them. If you are making judgments against people thinking that they do not deserve your love then you are withholding love from them. Jesus says that we must even love our enemies. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful (compassionate), just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:35 – 36). If we love God we must love His People also. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1st John 4:20 – 21) Our love for one another is very important to God because He is not only preparing you to be His holy dwelling He is also preparing the bride of Christ. The bride of Christ is the church, which is all believers together in holy unity connected by love for each other. God is preparing all believers in Jesus Christ to form one great tabernacle for His dwelling. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19 – 22). This is Jesus prayer for you… I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:20-21) We see a picture of the church as the “New Jerusalem” in the book of Revelation. Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1 – 4) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21)
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 01:29:16 +0000
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