November 15, 2002 (55)
THE GRANT OF THE LORD TO THE CHURCH. Paul prayed that the church of his day would come to an experience of great depth. An encounter with the Lord Jesus that would manifest the < riches of His glory >. Eph. 1:16 These riches, true, everlasting, heavenly riches revealed as < CHRIST IN YOU >, the hope of the glory of the Lord. The relationship that the Lord desires with His church is limitless. Regardless of how much of His glory He has revealed in us, there is still more. We speak of having Christ in our hearts and too often are satisfied with the basic, foundation experiences of salvation, water baptism and Spirit baptism. While these are marvelous and wonderful events that take place in our lives, there is so much more of His presence and glory to be obtained.
RICHES THAT CANNOT BE MEASURED. Paul speaks of the RICHES as being unsearchable or untraceable, past finding out. In other words they are bountiful, measureless and inexhaustible. When we have received more, there is still more, and more and more beyond that. We are not to be spiritual paupers. All that the Lord is, He has made available to us. Eph. 3:8 Counted among the RICHES that He so copiously pours out upon us, is the blessedness of redemption and the forgiveness of sins by His atonement, the shedding of His precious blood. The phenomenon of the RICHES of His grace granting absolute and complete salvation. Eph. 1:7 Incomparable RICHES of His glorious grace that will eternally be on display as an expression of His kindness and love toward His saints. Eph. 2:7
REVELATION. What a frightening subject to those who have never had the Lord open up His Word to them. Unfortunately, even among the ministry, there are some who are without divine comprehension of the depths of the Word. It is vital that the eyes of our hearts, place of understanding and knowledge, be illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The church has been called, by the Spirit, to participate in His glorious inheritance. Eph. 1:18 The spiritual man is quickened and strengthened by the RICHES of His glory. There is no strength like His and that strength is imputed to His church. The secret of the Christian life is the Spirit, the presence of Christ dwelling within our spirit. His faith and His love are made known and are working to create stability a system of strong roots and a foundation that will not fail. The power of the Lord enabling us to grasp the enormity of His love made known to us through His Spirit and His Word. The ultimate being a bride that is the vessel in whom dwells all the fullness of the Lord. The church is His house, His temple. It is His divine purpose to occupy and permeate those who are fully surrendered to Him with the totality of all that He is. Eph. 3:16-19 Of His capabilities there is no end nor limit. That which He has proclaimed in His Word He will accomplish in that glorious, spotless, perfect church that He even now is calling unto Himself. He is the God of all possibility. He works far beyond, immeasurable, all that we could ask or think. HE WILL DO IT! Eph. 3:19