Stature

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."      Eph. 4:11-16
Paul mentions more thoughts similar to those that he expressed in the above Ephesians verses:
"...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words."   Col. 2:2-4

I am not the first to wonder what this "stature of the fullness of Christ" means in the above Ephesians verses, and how I get it. Whatever it is, the whole structure of the church has been established in order to achieve it. Whatever it is, it will keep us from acting like immature children running after every doctrine that a man can devise for his own benefit, and feeling of self-righteousness. Whatever it is, it achieves unity in its purest form, and the effective working, supplying and growth of the church. So whatever it is, it is important, even vital.
Is the "fullness" about spiritual authority? While spiritual authority is part of the Kingdom of God, Jesus didn't seem to think it was the most important thing. When His disciples came back from a road trip rejoicing because even the demons were subject to them (Lk. 10:17-20), Jesus said, "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Is the "fullness" about the working of miracles? While this should definitely be a part of the life of each believer, along with signs and wonders, I don't think this is what is meant in regard to the "fullness". We tend to think that if people only see a miracle, it will change their hearts, but this is not always so. When Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplying of the fish and the loaves which fed thousands, people really didn't understand the significance of it. Even His own disciples didn't understand it because "their heart was hardened" (Mk. 6:52). Of the people in general, Jesus made the comment, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." Jn. 6:26.
Even the great miracle of raising the dead is not enough. Jesus said that if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Lk. 16:31). So miracles are not all of the fullness. In fact, to many who will claim to have prophesied, cast out devils, and done many wonderful works in Jesus' name, He will say, "...I never knew you, depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23).
When the verses from Ephesians above, talk about "the knowledge of the Son of God", are they teaching about studying and knowing the Word? The Word is Jesus. I think that is part of it, but that study that washes and renews our minds is supposed to bring us to a certain result, or conclusion. How do we get to that expected result, or fruit, of the Word?
One teacher in the body of Christ has written that the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ can be found in the items of furniture in the tabernacle of Moses*. We are getting closer for sure, I think. All of those items of furnishing, from the Court to the Holy of Holies, have one thing in common: They are places of sacrifice of one kind, or another. They are places of a dying that gives rise to a living. So, similarly, is this "knowledge of the Son", and this "stature of the fullness of Christ":
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father."     Phil. 2:5-11
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."      Gal. 2:20
"And they overcame him (Satan, the Devil, the serpent of old, who deceives the world, and accuses the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."    Rev. 12:11
The knowledge of the Son, and the fullness of His stature are found in His dying. It includes not only His physical dying, but His dying to self which came first: He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the death. What impact would the church have on the world if it died to self? There would be unity in the purpose and being of Christ. There would be edifying of one part to another. Every joint has to give a part of itself in order to "supply". The work of the ministry would be accomplished as never before, in ways we can only imagine. There would be no childish chasing after every doctrine that exalts the efforts of men rather than God. There would be the ultimate expression of love, the nature of the Father, and the Son. There would be growth of the body. The seed of our life laid down grows into a harvest of many lives. God put that power into a seed-the power to regenerate and multiply, like unto like:
"Most assuredly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;  but if it dies, it produces much grain (fruit). He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  Jn. 12:24-25
"Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive until it dies."   1 Cor. 15:36
As we read further in Ephesians 4, Paul expresses that same death to self:
"...if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, that you put off (put aside, put away, cast off, lay down), concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on (to sink into to as into clothing, be plunged into, go down into) the new man, which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."    Eph. 4:21-24
If we think we have died to self, we are probably wrong. It seems that it must be a daily renewing of purpose that we impose against our natural thoughts, inclinations, and behaviors. Dying to self is probably like doing an exercise all day long, only to begin again the next day, until it becomes who we are. Once we determine that this is the Father's will for us, and therefore, our will for ourselves, we have the work of the Holy Spirit in us to lead us and teach us, and comfort us when we fail. Dying daily to self (1 Cor. 15:31), allows the Jesus inside of us to live.
If we want to multiply and be effective as believers and as the church, it will require that we determine to lay that seed of self down, and bury it. We do this with the faith of the Son of God that He will not leave us buried there, but that He will raise us up again, in His likeness, in His image, and in the measure of the stature of His fullness.
This is the mind of Christ. This is the knowledge of the Son, and this, I believe, is the measure of the stature of His fullness.


Our Father reveals the measure of the fullness of His Son.


"Wisdom Song"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMnIVe4-QUY

"Crucified With Christ"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0_1jazh454

*B.R. Hicks, "Precious Gem in the Tabernacle"