LIVING WATERS from Lightbearers

…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph 3:19 NKJV

What might be accomplished if we were filled with all the fullness of God? Imagine for a moment…you, yourself – YES! I MEAN YOU! – filled with all the fullness of His love, of His righteousness, of His power, of His holiness, of the circumstance ignoring God of the impossible – what could you do?

When Jesus spoke the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7, He was proclaiming His vision as King for the Kingdom of God, which was then rejected by the children of Israel. But with the rejection of the King and the kingdom by Israel, the way became open for the far greater plan that the Father had for both Jews and Gentiles which was realized at Pentecost and revealed to the Church in Ephesians.

Last week we talked about cooperating with God by buying into His vision. In walking by the Spirit, you can go from toddler steps to sprinting. Of course, in a sprint there may be greater consequences if you fall then what a toddler experiences with their first wobbly steps. One time my toddler son tried to climb a spiral staircase. Thankfully I caught him as he was going ‘rear-end over teakettle.’ That would not have been good!

What is God’s vision for us? Vision for most people is a dream, the future anticipated, but for God it is a fixed and accomplished reality, not a future hope. The hope part of it, for the Lord, is that we rise up into it, that we believe it and walk it! The vision is really set forth in the second chapter of Ephesians. What amazes me is the Lord not only knew and anticipated every move of the devil from before eternity but that He chose us in Him from before the foundation of the world that we, individually and corporately, should be holy and without blame before Him in love. He takes the first three chapters of Ephesians to explain His vision.

There are two great destinations for every born again one in their walk with God – the Cross and the Throne. Most Christian teaching and practice seems to camp at the Cross. The Cross is not a campsite but a bridge! It’s the bridge that crosses over from earth to heaven, from sin to redemption and righteousness, from sickness and death to wholeness and life. Don’t camp on your bridge!

Man has always wanted to be a god. The current, narcissistic self-worship – the demon behind homosexuality – that we see in contemporary culture is the most recent outworking of that ancient lust. But in the Father’s vision for His family as set forth in Ephesians we see the born-again ones – us! – getting about as high as its possible for mankind to get, being seated on thrones of authority for all eternity at the right hand of the Most High God. You are going to learn to love Ephesians…

Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Matt 11:27 NKJV

We ‘cross’ the bridge that leads us on the Way to the Throne of God, as our Lord Jesus reveals the Father to us, and our place at His side. This is our home! Are you seeing this?

And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Mark 9:1 NKJV

I’ve been studying the Gospels word for word using the wonderful Companion Bible by Dr. E. W. Bullinger, reading all the notes and the appendices. Jesus’ earthly ministry can be divided up into four great sections: the proclamation of the Kingdom, the proclamation of the King, the rejection of the King, and the rejection of the Kingdom. Many wonderful statements and promises made by Jesus as He proclaimed the Kingdom and Himself as King, were not fulfilled because He and the Kingdom were rejected by the nation.

Had Israel accepted the risen Messiah in the forty days – forty is the number for trial and deliverance, Israel was being tried and would have been delivered had they acknowledged Him – after His resurrection, all of that would have been fulfilled then – the sufferings and the glory. But they didn’t! Those promises are now held in abeyance until the millennial reign. But as much as you study the gospels, you don’t see the revelation of Christ being in every born again one, and every believer being seated at the Father’s right hand, like you do in Ephesians and the Pauline epistles.

…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross… Heb 12:2 NKJV

Now, to really appreciate and walk in the reality of the Throne, you must study and master the Cross first. This means you have to study and master Romans. At the Cross you get freed of guilt, condemnation and shame. At the Cross you get delivered and healed, spirit, soul and body. At the Cross you walk from death into newness of life. It’s the bridge where the divine exchange happens. He becomes my sin so I can become His righteousness. He becomes my curse so I can receive His blessing. His death and resurrection leads me from death to life. Hallelujah! Yes, I could preach right now…!

At the Throne you find identity. All authority flows out of identity.

Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. Hab 2:2 NKJV

Romans is to the Cross what Ephesians is to the Throne. We see man in his lowest degradation in Romans One, and in his highest glory in Ephesians One through Three. Romans reveals God’s rescue plan, the Cross, and Ephesians reveals the goal, the vision, and the glory revealed to Jesus – the Father and His family and our eternal standing and home. Are you getting this?

Dear one, let’s stop camping out at the Cross like homeless Christians – the Cross was never meant to be a campsite, but a bridge – and let Jesus take us to the Father where we sit on His right hand, our true home. Think of all you can do when you – yes, you! – are filled with all the fullness of God. We can learn to run with Him! Camping is fun for a short time, but there is nothing like being Home. Let’s go to the Throne! Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…