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Being On The Same Page As God - Life to Its Fullest

by Joseph LaValley  
10/17/2015 / Christian Living


God has made provision for you to live an amazing life. He has unveiled truth regarding the accomplished work in Christ in His word, the Bible. It is our job to search the scriptures and find out what these spiritual realities are. We've all heard the phrase "Are we on the same page here?" That's a way of saying "Are we one on this issue" or "Are we in agreement here?" We certainly want to be in agreement with God when it comes to His will for our lives.


I Timothy 2:4 KJV


Who [God]  will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


God greatly desires these two things. He has made salvation available to every human being on the face of this earth. But of course, not all will accept it. He also wants each and every human being to come to the knowledge of the truth. The word "knowledge" used in I Timothy 2:4 is the Greek work "epignosis" which means "an accurate precise knowledge". The Bible, God's revealed will, was never meant to be ambiguous. God wants every individual to have an accurate knowledge of His word.


From the time of the first man, Adam, until today has covered about a six thousand year period. God has, in every age, made truth available for mankind, so that man might be blessed throughout every time period in history. As we read through the Bible we see that what God revealed to Abraham was not the same thing He revealed to Moses. What He unveiled to Moses was not the same as what He revealed to the Apostle Paul.


In the Old Testament many of the things that God spoke and instituted were a shadow of the greater to come, Jesus Christ. Although they were temporary measures, they were a means of salvation for those willing to believe. God has always made provision for salvation.


Today, God offers to all the completed work of Christ. If we are to receive what God is offering in our time, we need to be on the same page as God.


Ephesians 3:1-2 KJV


For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:


What's that you say a dispensation? Not a common word used much today. The Greek word is "oikonomia". It means the management of a household and its affairs. In that culture such managers were called stewards. If you were a wealthy land owner with cattle and crops you would have servants carrying out the work. You would choose a wise and trust-worthy servant with whom you could give the oversight of these affairs. This responsibility would be an "okonomia".


Verse two tells us that God had entrusted Paul with the responsibility of administering some of His affairs. In other words, this stewardship was God given. Now, what was it that Paul had been entrusted with?


Ephesians 3:3-6 KJV


How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:


God revealed this to Paul and entrusted him with these truths. Prior to Paul's time these truths were hidden in God. In the Old Testament there were many prophesies that revealed truth about Christ's first coming and His triumphant second coming. But nothing had been revealed regarding this "dispensation of grace". It was kept a secret until God revealed it to Paul, and other apostles and prophets by the spirit. Paul was given this "oikonomia" of God's grace.


Both Jews and Gentiles could become fellow heirs of the same body. That "body" is a new creation, a spiritual body with the resurrected Christ Jesus as the head.


Ephesians 1:22-23KJV


And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.


The head of a physical body is where the brain resides. Just as a head directs the actions of a body, God has placed Christ as the head of this new spiritual body. He is the one who has the authority to direct each member in particular. Not only is Christ Jesus the head of this body, but it is He who fills each and every member with His resurrected life. Now how did these members become part of this body of Christ?


Ephesians 1:7 KJV


In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;


It is through the blood, the life of Jesus Christ that we have been redeemed, we are then His, part of His body. We have been "bought with a price" . . . the price of His own precious life that he gave on the cross.


Ephesians 1:13 KJV


In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,


This "holy Spirit of promise" is the seed of eternal life as well as the seed that imparts resurrected life in us now as we walk by faith. It is Jesus Christ who energizes that spirit in a believer who is now part of His body. It is by this spirit within the believer that He directs, energizes and flat out changes that member in particular, as they walk with Him. God desires that each and every believer see and receive His fullness through Christ.


Ephesians 1:15-19 KJV


Wherefore I also, after that I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,


Obviously the members in particular must know what they have received before they can walk in it. The Lord will never overstep the bounds of an individual's free will. However, once a person gets a revelation knowledge (which God will readily provide) of who they truly are in Christ, and begins to respond to the relationship, they will see things coming to pass in their lives that will be far beyond the best that they could have ever imagined for themselves.


Many Christians read the book of Acts and think that the signs, wonders and miracles that the first century believers walked in are the pinnacle of what can be achieved. Not so! It is simply an account of what they did with the truth that they knew. In my short lifetime I have seen and heard of wonderful miracles that rival the book of Acts, if not exceed it! I'm not pointing this out to make a comparison between one group of people and another but to point to the limitless riches in Christ.


Ephesians 3:20 KJV


Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,


I've seen the so called "rank and file" believers, just regular folks, like you and me, perform signs, wonders, and miracles. I've seen them walk in great love and mercy, and manifest the character of Christ. This is because Christ is not merely with them but in them. This is the greatness of this revealed mystery.


Colossians 1:26-27 KJV


Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:


This is a one-on-one relationship. It is Him in you, and you in Him. This is how Christ "filleth all in all". This truly is the answer to what ails individuals and society as a whole. The best laws ever given were given by God and they had no ability to change man's spiritual condition, they were a temporary measure that pointed to Christ (Galatians 3:21-26 KJV). Christ energizes us from within, so that we can be transformed into living epistles. Imagine Christ's presence and influence being multiplied many times over through the lives of believers all over the world. This is God's dream. It's actually a sneak preview of what Paradise our final home will be like.


II Corinthians 3:3 KJV


Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.


Colossians 1:27-28 KJV


To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:


You can see the passion Paul had to make known the things of God. In verse 28, the word "warning" is the Greek word "noutheteo", and means to admonish or exhort. The word "perfect" in that same verse is not referring to a moral perfection, but refers rather to maturity. Paul's vision was that all believers would grow up into their full maturity in Christ. You see God's heart being reflected in Paul, who desired that all believers manifest the fullness of this life.


This certainly is the will of the Father for us today. In order for us to remain on the same page with God we need to read His revealed will to us in the only book He ever authored, the Bible. There are books within the Bible with specific instruction to us, the body of Christ. These books are not directed specifically as instruction to Jews or to Gentiles but to the Christian church, the body of Christ. The Pauline epistles are these letters addressed to us as born-again believers. These letters to the church are Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I and II Thessalonians. We can also note that there are other epistles that refer to the truths of the revealed mystery. Per example there are books that were specially written to individuals or addressing a specific subject regarding the Christian walk such as I and II Timothy, and I, II and III John. However, the former list above contains all the truth regarding the mystery. How did Paul come to write these epistles to the church?


Galatians 1:11-12 KJV


But I certify you brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ


Let's take a look at this divine revelation. Romans greets the saints (those whom God has made holy that includes you and me!). Then it goes on to sum up the condition of mankind according to God's standard - the law He gave to Moses. There is none righteous, no not one!" We are all born spiritually dead. The revelation of Romans shows us that Jesus Christ was set forth to be a payment in full for all man's sins, and that all who believe would be justified freely by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.


A number of other things are revealed in Romans chapter's one through eight. We are told that because of what Christ has done for us we now have the legal right to walk in "newness of life" (Romans 6:1-4 KJV). We are also told to put on the word of God regarding our position in Christ and walk by that spirit of life (Romans 8:10-11 KJV). This gift of holy spirit, spiritual seed, puts us into a new and wonderful father and child relationship with God, whereby we cry "Abba, Father".


Romans 8:15 KJV


For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.


Romans 8 ends with the truth that no matter what the enemy throws at us we are more than conquerors because nothing separates us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


In chapters 9 through 11, God's word makes reference to those who are not born again the Jews and the Gentiles (or non-Jews). When it's all said and done, both Jew and Gentile need Jesus Christ. This is why we find the "How to get saved" verses in Romans chapter 10. Romans 10:910 KJV That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


Romans chapters twelve through sixteen speak to the practical side of living as Christians. It begins with an exhortation to offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice.


I and II Corinthians are filled with reproof because the believers were failing to walk in the truths written in Romans. For example, in Romans, we were told to "walk by the spirit". But the Corinthians were in error both in heart and action regarding the spiritual walk of a believer. Paul reproved them in chapters 12-14 of I Corinthians. Its' recorded there for our benefit. There are many other reproofs given in these two books to get the believers walking in light.


Next we come to Galatians. This is a book of corrections. When someone practices error long enough, without making a course correction, they very well may make a doctrine out of the error. This is when correction is needed. For example, in Romans, God's word declares that "there is none righteous, no not one". It goes on to tell us that the law that was given to Moses magnifies man's guilt and need for redemption and that that redemption is provided in Christ Jesus. The Galatians who were saved had gotten out in left field - believing that the law, in addition to Christ, was necessary for salvation. Paul gave them correction to bring them back to the truth of God's word (Galatians 3:1-3, 11-13). He reminded them that Christ had redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us, and that it is through Christ that we are to live, not the law.


Ephesians starts with the born-again believers' heavenly position. It states that we have all spiritual blessings and are part of a new creation with Christ as the head. As I mentioned before, the truths in Ephesians are the greatness of what God wants us to grow up into. This is the pinnacle of revelation that God would have all Christians walk in today.


Philippians is a book of reproof. In it Paul reproved the believers for not living up to the truths laid out in Ephesians. For example, the believers are told in Philippians chapter two to be "likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." They were reproved because they needed to realize that it was a "We" trip, not a "Me" trip, regarding their relationship in the body of Christ. This is only one reproof listed among many.


Next is the book of Colossians. If you said "it's a book of correction", you nailed it. One of the main problems that the believers at Colosse had was that they no longer believed their completeness in Christ. They had changed the doctrine of truth. So Paul had to bring them back to the truths revealed in Ephesians.


Colossians 1:19, 27 KJV


For it pleased the Father that in him (Jesus Christ) should all fullness dwell; To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.


Colossians 2:8-10 KJV


Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.


All of our completeness, the fullness of what we are spiritually, is in Christ. Growing up in Him is the answer to all our problems.


The last two epistles I'd mentioned are I and II Thessalonians. The central truth of these two books is the Christian's hope. Its' fulfillment begins at the moment when we receive our new bodies and meet the Lord in the air. Hence, there is no need for reproof or correction after these books.


I Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV


But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [dead] that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [King Jimmy English for precede] them which are asleep [dead]. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


At the return of Christ, we, the born-again believers, will meet Him in the air. If you are dead when He appears, you will be raised to life in Christ. If you are alive when He appears, you will be changed into the fullness of life in Christ. This was part of the hidden mystery that was revealed to Paul. This is not to be confused with the second coming of Christ "on" the earth, referred to in Matthew 24. That truth had been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets. The term "dead in Christ" cannot be found in the Old Testament or in the four gospels because it speaks solely of the Christian's hope. I and II Thessalonians are the books that complete the revelation of the mystery. They end with the wonderful comfort of the rapture where we will meet the Lord in the air, and "so shall ye ever be with the Lord."


All of these epistles contain the "all truth" to the church the body of born-again believers. If we are to be on the same page with God, and carry out His purposes, we need know these truths and step out on them.


Colossians 2:6 KJV


As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:


How do we "walk" in Christ Jesus our Lord? We must first find out who we are in Him. Secondly we need to let Him lead in our lives. The spirit of the Lord is working in us, confirming the realities of this new creation. He is our living Lord. He is leading and directing us daily as the head. It is God's words, in the Pauline epistles, that unveil to us the truth that the resurrected, seated and soon returning Christ is our life.


Galatians 2:20 KJV


I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.


Allowing Christ, by faith, to work in us will bring the supernatural onto the scene. I remember the birth of our first child. It had been a challenge to say the least. After thirty-six hours of labor she was finally born. She was rushed to intensive care. When the nurse came back from the intensive care unit she told us that our daughter had a fractured skull. My wife and I immediately clasped hands and agreed with God for her protection and healing. The following day we left the hospital with our new born, along with instructions to get a pediatrician, within two weeks, to check our babies skull. We did just that and he took another set of X-rays.


On reviewing the new X-rays and comparing them to the first set he was puzzled. He stated that the first X-rays, from the hospital, showed a large fracture. But the X-rays he took didn't show any signs of the fracture... it was as though it had never happened. My wife simply told him that God had healed her. It was a miracle. We had allowed Christ to work in us by placing ourselves on the same page as God.

My name is Joseph. I became serious about walking with the Lord back in 1972. My wife and I have been married since 1975, and have two grown daughters. We presently live in Texas. Our e-book -"Come Walk With The Father" is available at amazon.com.

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