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“Be Filled with all the Fulness of God”, July 20
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, 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.
Ephesians 3:17-19
.
Paul in his letter to the Colossians sets forth the rich blessings granted to
the children of God. He says: We “do not cease to pray for you, and to desire
that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened
with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering
with joyfulness” (
Colossians 1:9-11
).
Again he writes of his desire that the brethren at Ephesus might come to
understand the height of the Christian’s privilege. He opens before them, in
the most comprehensive language, the marvelous power and knowledge that
they might possess as sons and daughters of the Most High. It was theirs “to
be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man,” to be “rooted and
grounded in love,” to “comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.”
But the prayer of the apostle reaches the climax of privilege when he prays that
“ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (
Ephesians 3:16-19
).
Here are revealed the heights of attainment that we may reach through faith in
the promises of our heavenly Father, when we fulfill His requirements. Through
the merits of Christ we have access to the throne of Infinite Power. “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?” (
Romans 8:32
). The Father gave His Spirit without
measure to His Son, and we also may partake of its fullness....
Through Jesus the fallen sons of Adam become “sons of God.” “Both he that
sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not
ashamed to call them brethren” (
Hebrews 2:11
). The Christian’s life should be
one of faith, of victory, and joy in God.... Truly spoke God’s servant Nehemiah:
“The
joy
of the Lord is your strength” (
Nehemiah 8:10
). And Paul says: “Rejoice
in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (
Philippians 4:4
). “Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you” (
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
)....
It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can
be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people.—
The
Great Controversy, 476-478
.
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