Becoming One with God | Francis Chan

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the deep longing of every believer to be completely united with God, to be filled with His fullness. The speaker encourages us to move beyond being satisfied with just knowing we are safe from our sins or having a certain level of spiritual knowledge. Instead, we should strive for an intimate, all-consuming relationship with God, where we are fully immersed in His presence and He is fully present within us.

Key Scripture References

• Ephesians 3:19 - This verse serves as the foundation of our message. The prayer that Paul prays for the Ephesian believers is a model for our own prayers, and it expresses a deep desire to know the love of Christ in all its fullness.
• John 17:21-23 - Jesus' prayer in John 17 reveals His heart's desire for unity among His followers. He prays that we may be one, just as He and the Father are one. This oneness is not just a spiritual concept but a reality that can be experienced in our lives.
• Galatians 2:20 - Paul writes, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." This verse illustrates what it means to be filled with the fullness of God. We are not just talking about a feeling or an experience, but a fundamental transformation where Christ becomes our very life.
• Psalm 139:7-10 - David writes, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?" He recognizes that God is omnipresent and that we cannot escape His presence. This psalm reminds us of the reality of God's fullness and our need to be filled with it.
• Colossians 1:19 - Paul writes, "For in him all things were created: Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible...all things have been created through him and for him." This verse highlights the totality of God's fullness, which includes everything that exists. We are not just talking about being filled with a portion of God's nature but with His entire being.
• 1 Corinthians 6:17 - Paul writes, "But the one who joins himself to the Lord becomes one spirit with him." This verse emphasizes the unity and oneness that we experience when we are filled with the fullness of God. We become one spirit with Him, and our lives are transformed as a result.
• Ephesians 4:13 - Paul writes, "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." This verse reminds us that our goal is not just to have a certain level of spiritual knowledge but to attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Key Takeaways

• We must move beyond being satisfied with just knowing we are safe from our sins or having a certain level of spiritual knowledge. Our goal should be to experience an intimate, all-consuming relationship with God, where we are fully immersed in His presence and He is fully present within us.
• Being filled with the fullness of God means that we become one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). This oneness is not just a spiritual concept but a reality that can be experienced in our lives.
• We must recognize that God's fullness includes everything that exists (Colossians 1:19). We are not just talking about being filled with a portion of God's nature but with His entire being.
• Our goal is to attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). This means we must be willing to surrender our lives and allow God to fill us completely.

This Week's Challenge

This week, take time to meditate on Ephesians 3:19. Ask God to fill you with His fullness, to make you one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). As you pray, imagine yourself as a sponge filled with water, representing the totality of God's presence in your life. Pray for an intimate, all-consuming relationship with God, where you are fully immersed in His presence and He is fully present within you.

Reflection Questions

• What does it mean to be filled with the fullness of God? How has this concept impacted your life so far?
• Can you think of a time when you experienced a deep sense of unity and oneness with God? What were you doing or experiencing during that time?
• How can you apply the concept of being filled with the fullness of God to your daily life? What practical steps can you take this week to experience more of His presence in your life?