"Filled to the Measure"

Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrections and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrections from the dead.

Ephesians 5:18-19
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord...

Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in you inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

These verses speak clearly on what our only goal should be...everything else will follow. We need to know Him intimately. Once we begin to be filled we will long for this for others. Paul shows us how to pray for those that we are longing to know Christ intimately. And speaks also of the amazing power that we are given if we believe...this power is compared to the mighty strength which God used to raise Christ from the dead. Do you believe we can achieve this kind of power through Christ?

Ephesians 1: 17-21
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Pastor Tass was speaking in our church on March 23rd and his message touched on these thoughts. He talked about the Power of the Resurrection and what that means. He used a triangle to illustrate and at each point were the following:

1) Incredible - this is the starting point, the place that ignites the spark or desire. Feelings of alarm, wonder and even fear.

2) Impossible - At this point we may feel doubt or unbelief. Luke 24 tells us of the unbelief in the apostles when the 3 women return from the tomb to tell them that the tomb was empty and that Christ had risen. (Luke 24:11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.) Shortly after this Jesus appears to the disciples on the road and Jesus says to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:38-39) To combat this doubt or unbelief we need two things: Experiential knowledge and Factual knowledge. We can also ask Christ for peace and belief like the father of the demon possessed son who says to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

AND...this leads to...

3) Irrevocable Faith - Thomas' confessed and went from doubter to believer. Peter was convicted and went from denying Christ to being passionately convicted. Paul was converted and went from persecutor to preacher. The disciples were challenges with the great commission. So for us this will mean cost and commitment.

1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.