Seeking the Fullness of Christ

That is one deep title!

I have a question, after listening to the sermon brother Greg posted.

We know in John 20 the disciples received the Holy Spirit, after Christ death for our sins and resurrection, showing God the Fathers approval of the undeserved transaction that took place for us. John 20:22

Moving on from our Lords sacrifice, and only because of it. After they had received the Holy Spirit. We see in Acts 2 the disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit. Did they receive the fullness of Christ at Pentecost?

Later Peter in 2 Peter 1:19 speaks on Christ arising in our hearts. He was talking to believers. Then Paul speaks in his epistles about coming to fullness in Christ, he was speaking to believers. Ephesians 4:13.

So after being filled with the Holy Spirit we need the fullness of Christ in order to do what He has called us to do rightly? This seems to be what transpired concerning the apostles at Pentecost?

Brother I would think beyond doubt we receive all the fullness of God at the baptism of the holy spirit but we also need Christ to be formed in us through maturity and even Jesus himself it is said that he learnt through sufferings as well and so he was perfected through sufferings so now we got to mature even as the apostles had to mature from that point on and learn ,with this same pattern to become a mature Saints as you know faith grows I see it as it starts out as a mustard seed small and when we confess gods truth and meditate on his word that small seed grows into a massive tree whereby our faith becomes like Christs faith, that's being formed into the image of Christ from image-to-image and glory to glory even has by the spirit of the Lord, we got to learn to put to death our members and learn what it means to die daily but one thing I can say is when you get the revelation that you died with Christ and that is no longer you who live but christ who lives in you, it becomes easier and easier and we developed a habit of not sinning but putting to death our members and it becomes extremely exciting and day by day after the revelation that we died with Christ as the apostle Paul said, reckon yourselves dead unto but alive unto god in Jesus Christ, it becomes exciting and easier but at the same time the devil's and the demons will come to attack us but god works all things for good for those that love god and those thatare called according to his purpose and we get stronger and understand that we have full power over every demon every single demon, put on the shield of faith whearby you will be able to quench every fire in dart of the wicked one, every demon of sickness we have a athority over them, and our faith just keeps growing it's a beautiful experience I find myself just shaking my head with tears everyday last couple of months because we are so not worthy of this blessing and it just makes it all the more better and enjoyable god bless your brother.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones recalled, 'Dr. Tozer and I shared a conference years ago, and I appreciated his ministry and his fellowship very much. One day he said to me: 'Lloyd-Jones, you and I hold just about the same position on spiritual matters, but we have come to this position by different routes.' 'How do you mean?' I asked. 'Well,' Tozer replied, 'you came by way of the Puritans and I came by way of the mystics.'

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith (A)and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to (B)a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be (C)children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of (D)deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the (E)head””Christ”” ( Ephesians 4:13-15.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(A) but I press on to take hold(B) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(C) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(D) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(E) toward the goal to win the prize(F) for which God has called(G) me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-17).

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, (Galatians 4:19)

I will share in time. I've been really convicted to pray for the members of this site before posting anything more to this site, and so with that I'm removing my post. Take care.

Most start out to be healthy and sincere, only to end up seeing folks on here saying words that only dilute the original post, and it ends causing a lot of strife. We are living in a day, where everyone wants and needs to be right, no matter what the cost, admitting wrong is almost unheard of these days.

We must remember, the word is called the living word of God, sometimes it ministers to all of us differently, so if it ministers to us differently, we are never going to always agree on what some scriptures minister to us, so why carry on and try to win, like it's some sort of competition? I wish we could all focus more on God, and how HE is moving in the world today.

Jeremiah says in 29:13 "You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart."

We are standing on the threshold of change. The Lord is moving in a more powerful way than ever before and an entirely new dimension is opening before us. God's Word is made available to us daily through many different mediums so that we are able to grow in His wisdom and understand His will.

His Spirit is calling us into a place of deeper intimacy with Him so that we can know His heart. When we understand God's will and yield our lives to His heart's desire, our prayers will reach into eternity and bring His infinite power to Earth. Our lives will show forth His glory and our witness will bring honor to Him and Him alone.

The Prophet Jeremiah said that we would only find God when we search for Him with all of our heart. God is not playing hard to get, but He will not be found until a diligent search is made. He is looking for total commitment and He will not show Himself to us until He sees that our heart is desperate for Him. We will not experience God if we approach Him with prayers that are inspired by our own foolish desires and notions.

If we intend to find God at all, His kingdom must be our main interest. He must become more important to us than our next breath, the food that we eat, or the water that we drink. Our entire lives must communicate to God that He is life to our being and that we love Him for who He is, not for what He gives.

Amen Brother Bill

"If we intend to find God at all, His kingdom must be our main interest. He must become more important to us than our next breath, the food that we eat, or the water that we drink. Our entire lives must communicate to God that He is life to our being and that we love Him for who He is, not for what He gives.”

Just to clarify TorontoDan had posted something about Christians coming to God in different ways. My post was just affirming what he said. It looks out of place now since he deleted it.

you wrote

"We know in John 20 the disciples received the Holy Spirit, after Christ death for our sins and resurrection, showing God the Fathers approval of the undeserved transaction that took place for us. John 20:22"

But look what Christ said

John 16:7-1, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Platy wrote

Just to clarify TorontoDan had posted something about Christians coming to God in different ways. My post was just affirming what he said. It looks out of place now since he deleted it.

No worries I agree with you majority of debates end up going downhill.

I am a strong believer in 2nd blessing. This is how I received the infilling of the holy spirit. But I do not put God in a box and say this is how God will operate. Some people receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit in the first blessing itself, that is when they are born again.

But I have met believers who say that we receive Holy Spirit fully when we are born again and we should not seek anything anymore experience. This to me is not a right stand and it is putting God in a box.

The disciples were born again in John 20:22 when they believed in the resurrection of Jesus. Hence they received the Holy Spirit. But the Baptism of Holy Spirit which means to be full of Holy Spirit or immersed in the Holy Spirit happened on the day of Pentecost.

The main purpose of Baptism of Holy Spirit or the Pentecost experience is to be a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). I can take from my own life experience. When I was born again from the Hindu faith, I loved the Lord but I was weak and could not openly say that I was a Christian. I was afraid of the persecution from my Hindu relatives and friends. But after 2 years I had an encounter with the Lord in which I believe I was filled with the Holy Spirit. From that moment all my fears disappeared, I had no trouble being a witness for Christ no matter how much persecution I had to face. I received power.

A brother who had a similar experience as mine said that before he had this Pentecost experience, he used to hide his bible in a cover so that no one finds that he is a Christian. But when Holy Spirit filled him, he threw the cover!

We should not be debating the Word of God. If we would share more scripture instead of our opinions concerning the interpretation of scripture, there would be fewer debates. Strife and arguing is not a sign of spiritual maturity but of carnality.
We should be using this forum to build up the Body in love. That is why Denominations are not of God, because they bring division to the Body of Christ instead of unity.

Brothers honestly I was seeking what our Lord has shown each of you on this subject of entering into His fullness. Thank you each for your comments so far. My faith certainly increased when I heard the sermon from brother Paris! I’m called to continue moving on into maturity in Christ our Lord!

Many times I believe we have to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us back to the path we are to follow! Brother Dan feel free to email me what you were going to write. I’m trying to listen to you all with your different gifts in the body of Christ:) I know each one of you see something clearer then I do. Praise be to God He devised it that way!

Sree our experience seems similar, however moving on to mature man in Christ Jesus! To be pleasing in His sight brothers! To wake up and live each day we have left in total dependence on Him.

I don't think iv seen so many members practically in agreement in at one time here on sermon index, i have to say six amens i think lost count ,bless you brothers , in the mighty name of Jesus , in the unity of the spirit....i just had to add that was a special one from you bill !

Sree our experience seems similar, however moving on to mature man in Christ Jesus! To be pleasing in His sight brothers! To wake up and live each day we have left in total dependence on Him.

Yes brother, I only shared the visible part of the change in me which is to be a bold witness of Christ without any fear of persecution. But there were many invisible changes inside me to become a living witness from inside. I got the power to overcome sin, many sins that could easily entangle me no longer had power over me. Bible became a different book and I started receiving revelation from it. Desire to know God intimately came in, desire to pray, and words to pray came in. Strong confidence because God is my father came in.

I do not believe it is worth fighting with anyone on this subject of the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Irrespective of what we believe, we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so let us seek to obey that command.

Sree again we agree brother. I apologize I was rushing to get to work, Excited each of you had shared with me. And wanted to respond graciously I Didn’t mean to rush my commit towards you. Forgive me.

In my own life the sins I couldn’t break He broke. The Bible became a book of color where before it was plan. Witnessing came from within to outside of me to those around me boldly. A great inward pull came and comes from within me to know our savior closer.

Still I know I have not entered into fullness in Christ. I truly believe we all can talk to each other as though we were all at my house breaking bread and fellowshipping amongst ourselves in love. Without stabbing each other. I strongly believe we have many parts in the body of Christ and God has devised it in such a way that if we are to reach full stature in the image of our Lord. We must work together, and learn from each as the Spirit directs us.

Sree again we agree brother. I apologize I was rushing to get to work, Excited each of you had shared with me. And wanted to respond graciously I Didn’t mean to rush my commit towards you. Forgive me.

There nothing wrong with your earlier post. I felt I did not actually address the main subject of discussion which is growing into the maturity of Christ. I only addressed being filled with the Holy Spirit and how it changed my life.

Also, I did not want my support for 2nd blessing to attract theological debates here. This is not the purpose of my post. Hence I put the 2nd part in my post.

This is my personal understanding and also my experience. The more we try to become like Christ with the hope of being transformed to His Image (1 John 3:3), the more we understand our own inability. Hence we seek the fullness of the Holy Spirit to lead us into the image of Christ. This produces the hunger and thirst and Jesus spoke about in John 7:28.

Brother Mike said:

We should not be debating the Word of God. If we would share more scripture instead of our opinions concerning the interpretation of scripture, there would be fewer debates. Strife and arguing is not a sign of spiritual maturity but of carnality.
We should be using this forum to build up the Body in love. That is why Denominations are not of God, because they bring division to the Body of Christ instead of unity.

Brother Mike, you nailed it! Thank You..God Bless you all.

Thank you Bill, thank you Mike. I will seek to incorporate this as well. I want unity among our brethren through Christ as well, by His Spirit!