WE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM

[Albert Finch]

And He said to them all, "If any man will [willingly choose to] come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23

Each of us who desires to personally know and serve the Lord must first make this life-changing decision to "take up our cross." When we willingly do this, we submit ourselves to seeking and pursuing God's purpose for our life.

If we accept this challenge ("If anyone will come after Me"), the taking up of our cross must become a practical, daily reality in our lives. Many do not realize or take seriously, the tremendous value of all that our Lord will make available to us as a result of the "willing" submission of our lives to His Lordship.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, - Hebrews 12:1

"I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  - Ephesians 4:1

Once we have received this "gift" of eternal life through the Blood of Jesus and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, it is imperative that we realize our personal identity in Christ. In Colossians 2:9 we discover this central fact concerning Christ Jesus: "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."   Since we are "In Him" that fullness dwells in us.
Our outlook on life is changed as we contemplate: "And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." - (Colossians 2:10)

"You are complete," which means we lack nothing at all (there is nothing missing and nothing broken), as we abide in Him. Abiding in Christ and allowing Him to flow freely out of us enables us to function with the greatest degree of success, thus discovering God's CALLING upon our life.

Matthew 7:8 -- "For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened." AMP

Understanding our true identity is essential in order to obtain our divine DESTINY.
We are called to succeed in advancing the Kingdom of God on earth -- to walk in overcoming victory: "...because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17)

Romans 6:11,13,14 - "Think of yourselves as dead to sin but alive to God in union with Christ Jesus. Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin, to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as men who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes....you do not live under law but under God's grace."

The yielded life is essential for us to walk in the fullness of God's PURPOSE for our lives -- as we empty ourselves of the things we hold on to, allowing Him to have His perfect work within us.

"To him who is overcoming, I will give him to eat from the hidden manna, and I will give to him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, that no one knew except him who is receiving [it]." - Revelation 2:17 Young's Literal Translation

The promise of the Lord is "to him that overcomes." As we overcome our "self-life" through willing obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will bring into our life experience the "good land," -- as we are prepared to bear fruit that remains, for the advancement of God's Kingdom in the earth.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
http://afministry.ning.com/