“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” John 3:34
Dear Ones:
In the book of Isaiah, a very important question is asked: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out (measured) heaven with the span, and comprehended (measured) the dust of the earth, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” (Is.40:12) Why is this question asked? It is for the same reason as when Jesus was addressing Nicodemus: “If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” (Jn. 3:12) The Lord is always seeking to bring us to an understanding of that which is eternal, and of God. He takes the physical world, the heavens and the earth, to speak to us of that which is spiritually true, that which we must accept by faith. In the matter of “measuring,” we see that he takes the waters of the earth, heaven itself, the dust of the earth, as well as the mountains and hills. Can we measure them? We cannot. It is true also that we cannot “measure” Him. What application to faith does this knowledge bring us to? First of all, we see that faith is called upon to believe in the greatness and wonder of God, even though we cannot fathom the knowledge of God. And secondly, the truth of His power and wisdom, brings us to consider exactly WHAT He has done, or accomplished in Christ, and what He desires to do in and through us. Of Jesus, the Scripture declares: “He (God) gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” To the Lord Jesus, as the Incarnate God, who had laid aside His glory, the Father gave ALL, at every moment, for every need, so that Christ could accomplish salvation for every man. The Son was able to receive fully, and constantly, this fullness because of a perfect faith. The Spirit, Almighty God the Spirit, was “measured” in that He was given according to the wisdom and knowledge of God, for the accomplishing the will of God. He was given also “without measure” because the Father held nothing back from the Son. How does this apply to the believer?
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he writes of Christ: “For in Him dwells ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (2:9) Such is the declaration of the greatness of Christ. Then the apostle writes, with respect to the believer, “And YOU are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” (v.10) What does He mean by being “complete?” It is understood in part, by considering his words to the Ephesian believers: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST.” (1:3) Here is the great revelation, as we have seen in the book of Isaiah. God is first and foremost, the Almighty God, who cannot be measured, but yet has the authority and power to “measure” what He gives. He is complete in His love, as Christ was complete in His work. The believer has ALL in Christ, for God has given Him everything IN Christ. And yet, God “measures” the work and manifestation of the Spirit in the heart and life according to that person’s faith.
Dear Father, We thank Thee that you are the Almighty God, and that the work of Christ was a perfect work, exceeding our capacity to fully grasp. Give us a clear understanding of what it means to be IN Christ, in order to derive ALL from Christ. Certainly, You desire and will to do the exceeding abundantly above All that we can ask or think in and through us according to Christ’s power working in us. Grant that it shall be so today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad