By Francis Frangipane
There
is a new stirring from the Holy Spirit. The Lord's goal is for us is to
abide in Jesus. John taught, "The one who says he abides in Him ought
himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1 John 2:6). If we
truly abide in Him, we will walk even "as He walked."
The
first-century saints had the words of Jesus and they had the Spirit of
Jesus. In that simplicity the church enjoyed unsurpassed greatness and
power. We also are becoming true disciples, seeking to walk even as
Jesus walked. This is the singular essential requirement in unifying the
church: we each desire for Christ's image to be established in our
hearts.
Is this possible? Are we being
reasonable? Listen to what Jesus taught. He said, "He who believes in
Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do; because I go to the Father" (John 14:12). Again, He taught,
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish,
and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). When we are aligned correctly
to God's will, we will indeed have the life of God manifest in our
lives.
Here is the vision and prayer of Paul for those in pursuit of Christlikeness. He wrote:
"That
you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all
the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is
the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may
really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves]
the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without
experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all
the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine
Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God
Himself]!" (Eph. 3:18-19 Amplified Bible).
Beloved,
this is not New Age religion or false manifest sons theology; it is the
truth of God proclaimed in the Sacred Scriptures. It is God's will that
we, Christ's church, be filled through all our being unto all the
fullness of God, that we each become a body "wholly filled and flooded
with God Himself!"
Let this become both our immediate and our long-term goal: to see Jesus Christ revealed in His fullness in the church!
Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, "When the Many Are One" available at www.arrowbookstore.com.
