Building up believers and the New Testament church

Growing Up Together Into Christ

Unto Him Be Glory in the Church

We began with a quote from Paul's prayer in Ephesians chapter 3. Let us quote the whole prayer. "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)

If we are seeing anything of this great mystery and how God is working it out, I believe it must drive us to our knees in prayer as it did Paul. Only God can work this great mystery. It is beyond us, but it is not without us. God is working this great mystery in and through men. This is not something that will be worked out in heaven in the future, but on this earth now. So many have missed this. Some wonder when God will begin to build His church. Some wonder when we shall see the unity of the faith. Others look to the future when we shall finally see the glory of God. So often in our minds, these promises are all for a future day that never comes. That view leaves us with a vision of a God who has high goals for His children, but is not able to bring them about. Is God the God that He has revealed Himself to be? Brothers and sisters, all of these things are for now, in the company of people who are submitting to Christ as Lord and allowing God to build them together a habitation of God in the Spirit.

The biggest hindrance to seeing the glory of God come into full expression is our own efforts to please God and try to do something for God. We can do nothing for God. The church is the work of God, not of man. "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13) Defilement enters in when we do not know this place of rest, ceasing from our labor and letting God do His work in and through us. Will we give this serious attention before God? Will we allow God to deal with everything that hinders the unity of the faith?

Brothers and sisters, together we can know the love of God which passes knowledge--now. Together we can know the fullness of God--now. Together we can comprehend the width and length and depth and height of the love of God--now. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think. The question is, will we allow Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith? Will we give ourselves to God and what He is doing? Will we lay down every expression of self-effort and give ourselves to God as vessels through whom He can work His great work? The choice is ours. God will never take away our choice.

Let us not look for another time. Let us not miss God and what He is doing now. Now is the day of salvation. The glory is to be experienced now. The testimony that God wants of Himself is now. Now is the preparation time. Now is when we are being made one. It is now that the bride is being prepared for her Husband. Soon we shall hear the sound of the trumpet. Soon we shall go home to be with Him. What a glory should fill our heart at that expectation! What diligence this should inspire in our loving response to our Lord and Savior. Unto Him be glory in the church! Hallelujah!