30 April 2014
Text: EPH 4: 13
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.”
The heart of the matter intends to point out the pertinent concern in the Christendom. God is a God of objectivity, plan and purpose. Beyond going to heaven, God has truth to establish on earth, that, through His children.
The Bible says we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them EPH 2:10.
To my mind, much demand is placed on the new life. These demands are merely attributes and characteristics of the new life itself which should manifest in the believer.
Such demands among others are:
1. That “we also should walk in the newness of life.” ROM 6:4.
2. “But in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise consider ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ROM 6:10- 11
3. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:24-254. The just shall live by His faith, for we walk by faith and not by sight, having faith in God. Mk.11: 22, 2Cor. 5:7, Heb. 4:25. Be renewed in the Spirit of your mind and that ye put on the NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. EPH. 4:23-24, Rom. 12:26. Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, are lovely, are of good report, with virtue and praise think of these things. Phil. 4: 8
These demands are meant to exhibit the God in you.
Let us turn to Rom. 8: 29-30
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
Having a closer look at our text, the few demands listed above and the contents of Rom.8:29-30 it could be said without equivocation that God’s whole objective, plan and purpose has been to redeem His image and Likeness in man for all to see. Gen 2: 26, Heb. 1:1-3
The fore knowledge of God, our predestination in Christ, our calling, our justification and our glorification are all seeking to achieve “ to be conformed to the image of His Son” as implied by our text “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
These truths make God to identify us as His children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. In 1Jn. 4:4, He says “ye are of God little Children…” i.e. coming out of His being.
To whom much is given, much is required. We must of necessity provide for our spiritual health as it will in turn transform the other margins of our lives- mental, moral, family, business, etc.
We have been well positioned in Christ to fulfill these demands. His power is backing us Eph. 1:19
He has made all grace to abound (2Cor. 9:8), like He told Paul, “my grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2Cor. 12:9. The Spirit of our God is with us- His names are- Helper, Teacher, Guide, etc. and the Bible says He will be with us till the end of the age- working in us. Matt. 28:20, Phil 2:13, Phil 4:13
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6
Our Lord Jesus reporting back to the father said “I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” Jn. 17:4
Paul said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.” 2Tim 4:7
Like our Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul, our testimonies shall not be different in Jesus’ Name.
God wants us to know that He is, and that we have Him to please. Whatever we are doing, let’s do it as unto the lord. We should conduct our lives within the acceptable scriptural standards. Be instant in season and out of season; that is to say whether we feel like or not, it is our responsibility to please our Lord Jesus, His Father and Our Father.
New life begins when we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ after which we have to motivate ourselves to study, meditate, memorise God’s word and ensure we apply them in our daily endeavors. Please create time to go through the scriptures as quoted in this script as my intention was not to explain them but just to mention.
You are a city set on a hill, the salt and light of the earth so shine forth in Jesus’ Name.
PASTOR BASSEY USUNGEDO.
Trustee MOW
Pastor Usungedo Writes Regularly From Calabar, Nigeria and is in Partnership with the Ministry of the Word