Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus contains some of the most incredible promises of God and declarations regarding our relationship with Him. It is filled with passages that stretch our imagination, challenge our faith, and call us to a transcendent life.

His power is toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (Ephesians 1:19).

God made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (2:6).

We are His workmanship (2:10).

As amazing as these claims are, they serve as mere warm-ups for what may be the most audacious promise in all of Scripture.

…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (3:19b).

Read it again; notice the absolutes:

Not partially filled!

Not some of God’s fullness!

We may be filled with ALL of the fullness of God!!

This is one of those truths, so over the top incredible, that we are tempted to move on to the next verse. In this case, that’s not bad.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us… (3:20)

God alone is able to do this incredible thing!! It is His work and intention. This brings to mind another passage (from another letter).

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13

Quickly (so we can get back to being filled), notice that the work of our salvation is cooperative; we work, because God is working. Furthermore, the work is a process.

So, how do we work with God to be filled with all His fullness? We find the answer – the prescription – in the process described in the preceding verses. Working backwards, our being filled with all the fullness of God is dependent on and proportional to several incremental steps. Before we can be filled, we must know love.

…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge… (Ephesians 3:19a)

While we cannot cognitively understand the depths of the love of Christ, we can experientially know it. This love is not only His love for us, but His love from within us for the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the people They have positioned in our spheres of influence. To know this love, we must obtain supernatural comprehension.

…to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height… (v. 18)

Our comprehension of love is multi-dimensional. Since the space we live in only requires three dimensions, I have often wondered what the four dimensions represent. Additional dimensions that come to mind are time and richness (or, quality). Whatever these dimensions represent, they are clearly beyond our natural abilities. To acquire this supernatural comprehension, we must by rooted and grounded.

…being rooted and grounded in love… (v. 17b)

The branch is rooted and grounded through the vine (John 15:1-8). As Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Where does this abiding begin? How do we root and ground ourselves in love? Our being rooted and grounded in love requires an indwelling faith.

…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… (v. 17a)

Here we find that Christ dwells in our hearts through faith, begging the question, where does this faith come from? Romans 10:17 instructs us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. In the context of the filling process, we are encouraged that our hearing is accompanied by:

…to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… (v. 16b)

This is some incredibly encouraging news. The strength and power of God for our filling is applied through God’s Spirit – our transformer (2Corinthians 3:19; Romans 12:2). What does this mean except that God has taken responsibility to do only what He can do, and to strengthen us in the process? There is hope for us yet!

…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory… (v. 16a)

And finally, we come to the beginning of the process, where there are two important things to notice. First, our being filled with all the fullness of God begins with His will to grant His fullness to us. In other words, it is His will and purpose that we be full of Him; and, as Job discovered, no purpose of God will be withheld from Him (Job 42:2).

Secondly, our being filled with all the fullness of God is according to the riches of His glory. The abundance of His riches and the expanse of His glory are everlasting to everlasting. This encourages us that God has been working in the past, is working now, and will continue to work, to fill us with all of His fullness. Is this not worth our attention and cooperation?

All good things come from our Father in heaven, including this process. That should give us hope, and motivation to diligently follow the process to its incredible result. God bless you with courage and grace to join Him in His work.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob