Winter 1997
The Ultimate
By Joseph Nieves

In the final hour of the Church, the Glory of Christ is to be fully manifested through His Body, the Church. However, this cannot be accomplished until the Church is brought to the place of a completely restored relationship with its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Above all else, this means a Church overflowing with Divine Love. For true love will lead to an understanding of the Lord's end-time purpose, which is so needed in the Church today.

"And this I pray, that your love may abound
still more and more in knowledge and all
discernment, that you may approve the things
that are excellent." Phil 1:9 lOa.

The Greek word that is used here for "discernment" indicates a "perceptive understanding." This in turn, leads to the ability to approve, or to acknowledge and make room for that which is of the Lord's doing (try the things that differ). This is the literal rendering of verse 10a.

It is very essential in this hour to have "our senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Even the Apostle Paul was apprehensive, lest he should fail God at some point in the testing process and become a castaway. He was not afraid he would lose his salvation, but rather, that he would be disapproved, or rejected from the best that the Lord had for him.

His intense desire and testimony was,

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed
to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus
has also laid hold of me." Phil 3:10 12 NKJ.

Therefore, we are to let our love abound. This is the key to essential knowledge, which is a desire for and insight into, the Lord's plan and purpose for our lives.

"If these things are yours and abound, you will
be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8 NKJ.