Filled with Jesus
Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT
As you look at the vision for a local church, it must have interwoven thru it the threads that promote growth into the fullness of the nature & character of Christ.
As you hear all the things Paul is describing & then see where it is he wants it to bring us to…
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
One translation says…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The vision of Destiny from its very start has been to see people come to know Jesus in a personal way & then get revelation of the fullness of His life for all who will press on to know Him.
Someone might ask… How do I know if I am living in His fullness?
I. How Do I Know if I Am in His Fullness?
Let me give you a look at how Paul gave us a glimpse of it in his writings…
Galatians 5:22-24 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
There are some things that Paul shows us that help us identify how we make progress on this journey.
In order to get to the fullness of Jesus in us we must have some growth in areas of our life…
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Nailing something is a sign of permanence.
Well, I am not sure if I have done this or not? How can I check this?
Glad you asked.
Galatians 5:19-21 CEV People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft (rebellion), hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom.
If you are still participating in things that you know or feel are questionable according to God’s Word chances are it is hindering you from His fullness.
We saw how God ministered to one man in His Word about something in His life that was going to hinder his relationship or “fullness of Jesus”.
Abraham had shown commitment in many ways… But then his promised son came into his life. This brought great joy & happiness to him & Sarah.
But God saw something that many natural or carnal thinking people would not. This was taking first place in their lives instead of God.
Genesis 22:1-2 NLT Sometime later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
We must get the revelation that God is not interested in us figuring out our own way, but rather that we see that His way is total submission & confidence His way is the right way & only way!
Exodus 34:12-14 NCV Be careful that you don't make an agreement with the people who live in the land where you are going, because it will bring you trouble. Destroy their altars, break their stone pillars, and cut down their Asherah idols. Don't worship any other god, because I, the LORD, the Jealous One, am a jealous God.
Just like any good parent, God wants us to listen to Him & trust Him that He only wants us to have the best life possible.
He has reasons for the things He asks of us.
II. What Does a Full Life in Him Look Like?
Galatians 5:22-24 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
To be filled with the fullness of Jesus is to be filled with all the attributes of His Spirit.
The early church sets our example…
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit…
Acts 4:31 they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…
Acts 9:17 be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit…
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 be filled with the Spirit…
I just wanted us to see some of the references of how involved being filled with the Spirit was in the birth of the Church (the body of Christ).
If the Holy Spirit is truly producing the fullness of Christ in us we will know it by these signs or character traits.
A. Love – Ephesians 3:18 NLT And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
1 John 2:9 NLT If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.
B. Joy – Nehemiah 8:10b GNT The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong.
Acts 2:28 NLT You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
C. Peace – Romans 8:6 NCV If people's thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.
John 14:27 NLT “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
D. Patience – James 1:4 NCV Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need.
E. Kindness – 2 Peter 1:7 NCV …and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love.
F. Goodness – Romans 15:14 NLT I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them.
G. Faithfulness – 2 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
H. Gentleness – James 3:13 NCV Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom.
I. Self-Control – 1 Peter 1:13 NLT So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
Proverbs 25:28 MSG A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.
It is very evident that our heavenly Father is super interested in our succeeding in our Christianity.
He has given us more than enough information that reveals His character so that we are able to do the things necessary to follow after it.
Hebrews 1:2-3 NLT And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
What did He sit down to do??? To watch His body in the earth be filled with His full character & accomplish what the plan was to do in the earth.
Destiny has been birthed to complete our part of His plan to impact everywhere He opens doors for us!
Isaiah 55:11 GNT So also will be the word that I speak—it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do.
It is going to take place; but will He be able to use you or will He have to find a second choice to do your part?
Jeremiah 29:11 NCV I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the LORD. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.
Our Heavenly Father didn’t wait until you got here to decide what He wanted to do with your life. It was planned way before you ever got here.
Psalm 139:16b CEV Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.
He desires to fill us with HIS fullness that we might complete what He planned long ago.
Are you ready to let go & let God take over completely???
• Just come & surrender today! Make Him Savior & Lord.
• Submit to live a life of obedience to His Word & promises.
• Come be filled with His Spirit that you may be filled with the fullness of Jesus.
