Filled

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage (for Mon., Sept. 24, 2012)
Ephesians 3:1-21

¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  ²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:19-21 (NKJV)

What does it mean to be "filled with God?"  What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Spirit?"  We find in Ephesians 3 an amazing prayer.  It talks about being strengthened in your inner man, and about allowing Christ to take over your heart.  It talks about having a profound knowledge of the dimensions of God's love for us.  This is grand territory!

As if this is not enough, Paul leads us in one of the most audacious prayers in all of Scripture.  He prays that we will "filled with all the fullness of God."  This is God's great plan for you and me.  He wants us to be filled to overflowing with Himself.  Here are a couple of observations.

First, God can fill and use normal, flawed people like you and me.  We are his vessels.  He does not require that we be perfect -- just yielded and available.

Second, when He fills us, we take on His abilities.  We are like a glove.  What is a glove able to do?  Well, virtually nothing other than wait for the hand to be inserted.  But, when it has a hand inside it, it takes on the abilities of the hand.  The glove has just as much ability as the one who fills it.  It might be able to play a piano, or write a magnificent piece of literature.  It might be able to paint a beautiful painting.  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we take on the abilities of the Holy Spirit.

Paul finishes this prayer by calling us to even higher vistas.  He says, "Just think of the grandest thing God could do through you.  Think of your best day.  Then realize that God can surpass that!"

The end of all things is the GLORY OF GOD.  We who have seen the depths of sin, can now rise to see the heights of God's glory.  That is worth saying "AMEN!" to.