All true ministry is an expression in the earth of the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus Christ. Each of us contributes to the Body the piece of the ascended Christ that has been given us by the Holy Spirit.

The goal of all of us who are working in the restoration is that the Body of Christ attain the fullness of spiritual maturity, and perfect union with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus is God's Standard of perfection and completion. Each member of the Body of Christ has a place of perfection according to his own calling, his own destiny, his own place in the Body.

A perfect physical body must have perfect fingers, perfect toes, perfect lungs. If one member of our body is not perfect and complete our entire body is imperfect and incomplete. The body is as complete and perfect as the least complete and perfect member for the physical body is one whole.

So it is true that in order for Christ to be perfect and complete, each member of the Body of Christ must be perfect and complete. Christ is perfect and complete in Himself. But as soon as He adds us to Himself He adds imperfection, immaturity, to Himself. His motive in doing this is His Divine love. He wants to add us to Himself.

Therefore each of us is being brought to perfection and completeness according to our own calling in Christ. As Christ is being brought to completeness in us we are being joined eternally to Him so there is completeness and perfection in Christ—Head and Body. The Head is perfect. The Body is being made perfect by receiving grace from the Head.

All mountains of difficulty will become a plain when the restoration workers are trusting in the Spirit of God rather than in the wisdom and power of the flesh. As soon as the Temple of God (Christ—Head and Body) has been completed the Head will descend from Heaven on the mature Body.

Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. (Zechariah 4:7)

The work of restoration will not be accomplished by the abilities of the flesh but by the wisdom and power of the Spirit of God.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

Christ will finish what He has begun.

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. (Zechariah 4:9)

Christ will return as the crowning glory of the restored Church.

When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (Psalms 102:16)

It is the good pleasure of the Father that the entire creation, the heavens and the earth, be filled with the Presence and will of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through the Church, the Body of Christ, that the full stature of Christ will be attained. It is the members of the Body of Christ, the Wife of the Lamb, who will bear in themselves the Presence and will of Christ throughout the entire creation of God.

To be continued.