Let’s take a deeper look at the concept of fullness as expressed by Paul in two of his letters to the church.
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19 (NKJV)
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, Colossians 1:19 (NKJV)
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1–3 (NKJV)
The first two verses above contain the word fullness. Paul uses the same Greek word in both and it refers to a fullness or filling up of something. The idea being that there isn’t room for more. Paul then tells us in Colossians 2 that ‘all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ are found in Christ. He is the completion of the mystery of God. As a member of the Trinity Jesus contains the fullness of what we need to know and encounter, more specifically who we need to know and encounter. All is one of those big little words. It means all, there is nothing missing or wanting.
This leads to an obvious inference; we can experience this fullness. In fact, Paul prayed it for the Ephesians and expressed his desire that they would know Jesus love that goes beyond knowledge and as a result encounter the fullness of Jesus. Let’s take a fuller look at the context of Paul’s prayer.
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16–19 (NKJV)
The precursor is being strengthened in our inner being, encountering Jesus there, becoming established in this level of relationship with Him and then encountering His fullness.
Now given that Paul prayed this for the believers in Ephesus, we can apply this prayer to ourselves, it is available. As we sit with Him we can ask the Spirit to strengthen our inner being, the new creation we have become, to enable us to know Jesus in a deeper way, to encounter His love and the fullness of His being. I can testify from experience that this is real. I don’t constantly walk in this, yet when I sit and focus my heart on Him and pray along these lines I experience Jesus presence in me and on me. I encourage you to regularly join me. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose in pursing Him in this manner.
