GROWTH, LOVE AND PERFECTION
(week 18/13)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Ephesians 4:15: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Here, the scripture tells that the way to grow up into Christ in all things: perfection and fulness; is to speak the truth in love.
Now, the truth is God’s Word:
John 17:17: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
So, to grow into the perfection and fulness of Christ we must speak the Word of God in the light of the love of God.
Now, the love of God is discerning by wisdom, desiring by compassion and doing by power what God would do in every situation because God is love (1 Jn. 4:8,16).
It is GOD WHO DEFINES LOVE AND NOT LOVE THAT DEFINES GOD!
So to walk in love, we need:
1. The wisdom of God, which comes from the Word of God illuminated by the revelation of the Holy Spirit:
Proverbs 2:6: For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
2 Corinthians 4:6: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2. The compassion of God, which comes from the Holy Spirit:
Romans 5:5: And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
3. The power of God, which also comes the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
So, AS WE WALK IN and perfect the love of God by the blood (Heb. 13:20-21), the Word (1 Jn. 2:5) and the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 4:12-13), the Word of God that we speak (2 Cor. 4:13) and act on (Jam. 1:22) will cause us to grow into the perfection and fulness of Christ and so inherit (Col. 3:24) the Spirit without measure (Jn. 3:34):
Acts 20:32: And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
