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prayer groupIt never ceases to surprise me how many genuine Christians go along with practices that contradict the Bible. Recently a close friend of mine went to a prayer meeting in a home, along with two friends. They were asked by the pastor to get into groups and pray to be filled with more with God because they had leaked!

My friend, who is well-versed in the Bible, whispered, “What do I do? I’m already filled with God. I’m already complete.” One of the friends responded, “I don’t believe that. That’s just one verse you’re quoting.” And it is that last phrase that got my thought processes going.

How often does God need to say something before it becomes truth? I believe the obvious answer is “Once!” Does God need to say something more than once so it can become Truth with a capital T? And how did the other friend know that some of the God within had leaked out of her life? Is the God in you like a rechargeable battery that will slowly leak power even if you don’t use it?

Here’s the “just one” verse: “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9-10). The Amplified Bible, ESV, and NET all use the word “filled” instead of “complete,” and others use some form of “fullness.” The word used actually translates as “you are made full.” If you’re full, you’re full, or language doesn’t mean anything.

Obviously the friend’s friend “felt” she was running low and needed a refill (“top-up” in British English), for she said, “Well, if you think that you’re filled enough, then pray for me to get more.” Yet God can’t give that person more since they are already full. The reality is that a Christian life based on feelings is a very treacherous existence. “You err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).

I remember this short anonymous poem from the church where I met my wife. The Bible College President was preaching and I wrote it down:

Three men were walking on a wall — Feeling, Faith, and Fact;
When Feeling had an awful fall and Faith was taken back;
So close was Faith to Feeling, he stumbled and fell too;
But Fact remained and pulled Faith up, and Faith brought Feeling, too.

If you are having trouble following the above (and thanks for reading this far), then let me remind you of these Bible verses: “And he put all things under his

[Christ’s] feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV). “I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare the things that are right” (Isaiah 45:19b).

“Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31). “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). “The word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me” (John 14:24). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16).

“God said it, that settles it!” All we are left to do is to accept it and obey or enjoy it.