Ephesians 3:16-19 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your 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 Lord’s holy people, 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 that is a great prayer and a great promise! God wants us to live a life filled with His fullness. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” It's time to abandon the thinking that hinders us from receiving this full, abundant life. God’s power is more than enough. We must now apprehend by faith, and truly believe that the fullness of God has been poured out, and is available to each one of His saints!
We can see what being filled with the fullness of God looks like by reading the gospels, and following the life of Jesus. He is our prime and perfect example. As He walked the earth, filled and anointed by the Spirit of God, he manifested the life of overflow. He perfectly revealed the heart of His Father, the God of love and power. His life and ministry lacked for nothing. Everything He needed daily, God provided; from turning water to wine, telling His disciples to catch a coin in a fishes mouth, and healing a blind man from mud and spit.
Below are some ways that you can follow the footsteps of Jesus as you mature into living and being filled with the fullness of God.
1. Jesus Gave up His own Will and Life
There is not room for two people on the throne of your heart. We choose, like Jesus, to lay down our will and our life so God can have His rightful place. As we let go of the baggage, and make room for Him, He fills every space. Ask the Lord if you are carrying anything that’s keeping you from His fullness. As He shows you where to declutter, clean house, and make space for Him, and you obey His leading, He will sit as the rightful King upon your heart. In that divine order, He pours His abundance and fullness into your life.
2. Jesus Was Filled and Anointed with the Holy Spirit
Jesus was born perfect and lived a sinless life, but it wasn’t until He was baptized in the Holy Spirit, that he operated in the supernatural, power-filled overflow. For us believers, there is an initial baptism in the Holy Spirit, and subsequent in-fillings. Staying full of the Spirit of God is key! There are also special and new anointings for each believer to receive and walk in. Press in to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to baptize you afresh today. He will fill you so gloriously that out of your inner most being, rivers of living water will flow forth. That is exciting news!
3. Jesus Lived a Life of Prayer
A great key to a life of God’s fullness is your personal commitment to prayer. As we can see from Ephesians 3:16, we are strengthened with power through His Spirit in our inner being. His strength is delivered from Spirit to spirit. Time spent together. Communion and union with the Father, abiding in the vine, and fellowship. How would you rate your prayer life? Do you hear the Lord beckoning you to spend time with Him? Begin to take time, just like Jesus, to get away from the busyness and noise, and pray earnestly with the Father. As you pray, listen wholeheartedly to what the Lord is speaking to you, so that you may fulfill His plan!
4. Jesus knew His Father’s Love, and Died for us to Know it
In Ephesians 3:17-18 Paul prayed that the church would be rooted and established in love, and that we would have the power to grasp the greatness of God’s love. To intimately know the Love of God, is to be filled with His fullness. God is Love. Let His love wash over you. Then, let His love consume you. Let His love show you the world through His eyes. This is fuel for a life of soul-winning and miracles.
5. Jesus Continuously Released the Power
Jesus left us with this promise: that we would do greater works! This ‘greater’ is not meant for ourselves. Being full of God means letting Him shine through us. God fills us to be rivers, not swamps! Swamps stink! Let Him flow out of you like a river. Do not hold back. Step out in preaching the Word, reaching souls, laying hands on the sick and casting out devils. The more you give, the more you will be filled.
Christ in you, and Christ through you. This is the life of God’s abundance - powerful and overflowing!