2 Corinthians 1:8-10
“For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”

Paul mentions in the above text that the trouble that came to him was to press him out of measure, and that the sentence of death in him was for God’s purpose in order to bring life, and trust in God rather than in himself.

Colossians 1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.”

Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Fullness is found in the Indwelling Christ. We are on a journey from measure to fullness. The children of Israel were sustained in the wilderness. Their shoes and clothes never wore out. They had daily provision of manna from Heaven and direction from a cloud by day and fire by night. However, the purpose of God was not just to be sustained in the wilderness, (that is measure), but to be moved into a land flowing with milk and honey – an extravagant provision, this is fullness.

Psalm 78 records that the children of Israel limited the “Holy One of Israel.” The “Unlimited One” is limited by the choice of His children. They turned back and limited the Holy One of Israel.

THE SPENDING POWER OF GOD ALMIGHTY IS LIMITED BY THE CHOICE OF HIS CHILDREN.

On a daily basis each of us encounters death in one form or another, (not the coffin type). Paul said, “I die daily.” Death comes in many forms throughout life: there is the death of delusion, death of despondency, discouragement, depression, negative feelings in our emotions, challenges in our relationships and circumstances…..but all these are the “sentence of death” by God on SELF – where we are being pressed out of measure on the journey into fullness, that we might not trust in ourselves but in Him who does deliver and will yet deliver us!….from death into life….His life!

If I am going to fulfil my destiny and arrive at fullness, I cannot stay where I am. I have to change my believing because my believing rules me! At this moment I am the full expression of what I believe. “As a man thinks in his heart,SO IS HE!!” Proverbs 23:7.

My present believing is the very thing that keeps me from entering into fullness. God is wanting to move me forward incrementally, “little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept,” on this journey by changing my believing because my present believing is not getting me to where He wants to take me. I AM STUCK!!

There is something about believing that goes beyond words….it produces a demonstration. I am ineffective in my present state, and ineffectiveness has a very loud voice in demonstration. Proverbs 23:23 instructs, “Buy the truth and sell it not.” Buying truth to change my believing can be likened to trading on the stock exchange. I exchange my unbelief, or the lies that I am believing for the truth the Holy Spirit brings to me, and in so doing, I move further on towards the goal, which is “all truth” of “fullness.”

True holiness is just BEING, not preaching. At the appointed time God sent forth His Son, all locked up in God’s timing. Abiding in Him, daily obedience to Him in the little things will enable me to obey Him in the day of fullness. This is the school of the Spirit.

Waiting is one of the most difficult disciplines. Learning patience and resting is part of the preparation of the heart. I must take responsibility for what I believe. When the Lord comes to the heart that is at rest and waiting, then I move forward at His command – another step out of death and into life – out of measure and into fullness!