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The Fullness Of God

There is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV)

Salvation is not just to get a soul saved, but to start that soul on the way to the fullness of Christ. Every ministry in the Word and in the Spirit, is governed by that end. And to be just saved and stay there is to fail of the purpose of the Word and to fall short of the energy of the Holy Spirit. To go to any part of this world in what we call "the work of the Lord" must mean that we are governed by this thing: that in that place there shall be nothing less than the fullness of Christ; as far as it is possible, that Christ shall be everything and in all there. That is final, utter, and ultimate. There can be no division and no sharing with Christ. It must be Christ as everything and in all.

When we recognize that that is the aim and object of the Holy Spirit, we have life and ministry defined. It applies to all. If you are the Lord, your life should be governed by the Word of the Lord and by the Holy Spirit. If it is not, there is something wrong with your relationship to the Lord. Whatever your work is it may be in the home as a parent, it may be in household duties, it may be in business if you are there in relation to the Lord, so far as you personally are concerned, your life has got to represent Christ; and that is the ministry. If we carried that into every sphere of life, things would be very different. That must challenge every motive, that must govern every consideration, that must settle every quarrel, every conflict, everything that arises which causes us disturbance, annoyance, and throws us into the vortex of some battle. The thing has to be tested on this point only Christ as everything and Christ in all.

Consider what great things He has done for you.

You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not… You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. . . . It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. . . . Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. § The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death. § He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. . . . He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

1 Sam. 12:24;  Deut. 8:2, 5;  Ps. 119:75, 71;  Ps.119:67;  Ps. 118:18; Ps. 103:10,11,  Ps. 103:14

The blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus. § Heaven must receive [Him] until the times of restoration of all things. § When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.

The whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit … groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. § Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. § When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

“I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Titus 2:13;  Heb. 6:19,20;  Acts 3:21;  2 Thess. 1:10;  Rom. 8:22,23;  1 John 3:2;  Col. 3:4;  Rev. 22:20

Loving Kindness

Now the God of peace . . . make you perfect [complete, mature] in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ" (Heb. 13:20, 21). 

My life is not only in His hands, but He is my very life. "For by Him were all things created . . . and by Him all things consist" (Col. 1:16, 17). He controls and maintains the universe, and we can surely depend upon Him to care for us who share His life.

"We are all of us prone to forget the weighty fact that God trieth the righteous. He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous' (Ps. 11:5; Job 36:7). We are in His hands, and under His eye continually. We are the objects of His deep, tender, and unchanging love; but we are also the subjects of His wise moral government. His dealings with us are varied. They are sometimes preventive; sometimes corrective; always instructive.

"We may be bent on some course of our own, the end of which would be moral ruin. He intervenes and withdraws us from our purpose. He dashes to fragments our air-castles, dissipates our golden dreams, and interrupts many a darling scheme on which our hearts were bent, and which would have proved to be certain destruction. Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living' (Job 33:29, 30)." -C.H.M.

"Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:14).

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Living Life