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FIRST-PERSON: Choosing to experience God’s fullness

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ATLANTA (BP)–The Apostle Paul, having recognized the need for God’s people to develop a more intimate relationship with God, urged and pleaded with them to experience “God’s FULLNESS.” He states this prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21, which states, in part: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ … that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through the Spirit in the inner man … that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

And in Colossians 2:9-10 Paul again shares, “For in Him [Christ] all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily; and you are complete in Him.”

What an awesome truth -– filled, with all the fullness of God! This is for every believer, especially for the living out of our lives in our homes and in our workplaces. To emphasize that this presence of God in our lives is very practical for every aspect of life, Paul adds in Ephesians 3:20, “To Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us….”

As we each look toward 2006, we must make a conscious choice, to experience, in our lives, all the fullness of God being expressed in us and through us. This year will be the product of the choices we make with God! God has already expressed clearly all He is and, therefore, all He has at His disposal to do, as He chooses. And all at His disposal He placed in His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul affirmed: “It pleased the Father that in Him [Christ] all the fullness should dwell….” (Colossians 1:19, as well as Colossians 2:9). Then, God chose to place His Son IN US, so that in us all the fullness of God is present “in Christ”.

Could you say that during all of 2005, not only did you know that this was true, but that you lived this reality openly for all to see? The fullness of God being clearly expressed in you and through you? If not, why not? Was this truth about God’s fullness permanently dwelling in you not known or realized? Does the Holy Spirit even now bear witness that this is indeed true — for you? Will you now make a clear choice, before God, to set your mind and heart to experience God’s “fullness” throughout the coming year?

What difference in 2006 will you, and others, experience in your home, your church and your workplace if God’s fullness is being expressed in you and through you? What if, in this moment, you “fully” surrender to God and let Him give you His fullness –- in your prayer life, in your walk of faith, in your decisions and in all of your relationships with others? You will come to experience God’s best for your life; those you touch will, in turn, come face to face with Him and experience His mighty presence!
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For more information about Henry Blackaby’s ministry and travel schedule, visit his website at www.blackaby.org, call (770) 603-2900 or contact Blackaby Ministries International, P.O. Box 16338, Atlanta, Ga. 30321.

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