Walking in the Fullness of God
God made mankind and gave them dominion. (Genesis 1:26,28) “and God said let
Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. And God
blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over every living things that moves upon the earth”.
God put Adam in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it, but man disobeyed
God and fell, but thank God for His plan of redemption made a way for us to be
restored (Romans 5:11-17) “and not only so, but we also joy in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation. Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned. For until the law sin was in the world; but
sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s
transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. Bu not as the offence,
so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much
more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ,
has abounded to many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the
judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences to
justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by One, Jesus Christ”.
Reign means rule, Jesus gave dominion back to us (Luke 10:19) “behold, I give to
you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you”. His death burial and
resurrection caused us to be reconciled to God, restored to fullness.
The Christian church is called the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:21-23) “far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And has put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church.
Which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all”.
This is what God predestined for us (Romans 8:29-32) “for whom He did foreknow,
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might
be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate,
them, He also called; and whom He called them, He also justified; and whom He
justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God
be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
God made a way for this (Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some, apostles; and
some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith; and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in
all things, which is head, even Christ”.
Paul knew how and he prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-19 “for this
cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of 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 by His Spirit in the inner man.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded
in love. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height. And to know the love of Christ, which is filled with
all the fullness of God”.
The church is filled and made complete by Christ, the church possesses the
attributes of Christ, and the church is the agent through which Christ does all His
work. The church is full of Christ because it is the complete and continuing
expression of His words and work (Ephesians 2:10) “for we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we
should walk in them”. Also in Colossians 2:9-10 “for in Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all
principality and power”.
The apostle John also states that in John 1:15-16 “John (this is John the Baptist)
bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, this was He of whom I spoke, He that
comes after me is preferred before me; for He was before me. And of His fullness
have all we received, and grace for grace”. The Greek word for fullness here
indicates totality and completeness. Since all of God’s fullness dwells in Christ,
every spiritual necessity if found in Jesus Christ. In Christ, Christian believers lack
nothing. The key is walking in Him. We have to exercise walking in the Spirit
(Galatians 5:24-25) “and they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with, the
affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”.
We are the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet on the earth. We are the
only Christ, that people will se, and we are called to be “salt and light”, which is to
lead people to Christ (Matthew 5:13-16) Jesus says “you are the salt of the earth,
but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the
light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on the candlestick, and it gives light to all
that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. Jesus also said in Mark
16:17-18 “these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast
out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt hem; they shall lay hands on the sick
and they shall recover”.
The early church walked in the fullness of Christ and signs and wonders followed
them. Stephen had this testimony (Acts 6:3-8, and 7:55-60) “but he (Stephen)
being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory
of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, behold, I see the
heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then
they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with
one accord. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit. And he knelled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep”. Also Philip in
Acts 8:5-8 “then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to
them. And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip
spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying
with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken
with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that
city”.
In Psalms 82:6-8 God says to us “I have said, you are gods, and all of you are
children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the
princes. Arise, O god, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all nations”.
We have the Spirit of God living within us (II Timothy 1:7) says “for God has not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. I John
4:4 says “you are of God, little children, and have over come them; because
greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”.
Jesus prayed for us in John 17:20-23 which says “neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on Me through their words. 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 have sent Me. And the glory which You gave
Me, I have given them; that they ay be one, even as We are one. I in them, and
You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know
that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me”. Jesus not
only prayed for those disciples, but we too are included in this prayer. We need to
meditate on this.
We are told to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:14-20) “wherefore He says,
awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the
time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding
what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be
filled with the Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always
for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: October 26, 2010
God made mankind and gave them dominion. (Genesis 1:26,28) “and God said let
Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. And God
blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over every living things that moves upon the earth”.
God put Adam in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it, but man disobeyed
God and fell, but thank God for His plan of redemption made a way for us to be
restored (Romans 5:11-17) “and not only so, but we also joy in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation. Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned. For until the law sin was in the world; but
sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s
transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. Bu not as the offence,
so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much
more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ,
has abounded to many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the
judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences to
justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they
which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by One, Jesus Christ”.
Reign means rule, Jesus gave dominion back to us (Luke 10:19) “behold, I give to
you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you”. His death burial and
resurrection caused us to be reconciled to God, restored to fullness.
The Christian church is called the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:21-23) “far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And has put all
things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church.
Which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all”.
This is what God predestined for us (Romans 8:29-32) “for whom He did foreknow,
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might
be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate,
them, He also called; and whom He called them, He also justified; and whom He
justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God
be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
God made a way for this (Ephesians 4:11-15) “and He gave some, apostles; and
some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith; and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in
all things, which is head, even Christ”.
Paul knew how and he prayed for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-19 “for this
cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of 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 by His Spirit in the inner man.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded
in love. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height. And to know the love of Christ, which is filled with
all the fullness of God”.
The church is filled and made complete by Christ, the church possesses the
attributes of Christ, and the church is the agent through which Christ does all His
work. The church is full of Christ because it is the complete and continuing
expression of His words and work (Ephesians 2:10) “for we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we
should walk in them”. Also in Colossians 2:9-10 “for in Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all
principality and power”.
The apostle John also states that in John 1:15-16 “John (this is John the Baptist)
bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, this was He of whom I spoke, He that
comes after me is preferred before me; for He was before me. And of His fullness
have all we received, and grace for grace”. The Greek word for fullness here
indicates totality and completeness. Since all of God’s fullness dwells in Christ,
every spiritual necessity if found in Jesus Christ. In Christ, Christian believers lack
nothing. The key is walking in Him. We have to exercise walking in the Spirit
(Galatians 5:24-25) “and they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with, the
affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”.
We are the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet on the earth. We are the
only Christ, that people will se, and we are called to be “salt and light”, which is to
lead people to Christ (Matthew 5:13-16) Jesus says “you are the salt of the earth,
but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the
light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on the candlestick, and it gives light to all
that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. Jesus also said in Mark
16:17-18 “these signs shall follow them that believe; in My name shall they cast
out devils, they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt hem; they shall lay hands on the sick
and they shall recover”.
The early church walked in the fullness of Christ and signs and wonders followed
them. Stephen had this testimony (Acts 6:3-8, and 7:55-60) “but he (Stephen)
being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory
of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, behold, I see the
heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then
they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with
one accord. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit. And he knelled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep”. Also Philip in
Acts 8:5-8 “then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to
them. And the people with one accord gave heed to those things which Philip
spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying
with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them; and many taken
with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that
city”.
In Psalms 82:6-8 God says to us “I have said, you are gods, and all of you are
children of the Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the
princes. Arise, O god, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all nations”.
We have the Spirit of God living within us (II Timothy 1:7) says “for God has not
given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. I John
4:4 says “you are of God, little children, and have over come them; because
greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”.
Jesus prayed for us in John 17:20-23 which says “neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on Me through their words. 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 have sent Me. And the glory which You gave
Me, I have given them; that they ay be one, even as We are one. I in them, and
You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know
that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me”. Jesus not
only prayed for those disciples, but we too are included in this prayer. We need to
meditate on this.
We are told to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:14-20) “wherefore He says,
awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the
time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding
what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be
filled with the Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always
for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: October 26, 2010
