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EPHESIANS 3:14-21

Ever hear that phrase?•Know where it comes from?•The Bible!•Your body is only the temporary container for that inner person– the real you•How ‘bout this one– ‘Beauty is only skin deep’?•I’m not against looking good on the outside, but the “inner man” is what counts

Paul’s greatest prayer…•That’s how this passage is remem- bered•As he explained about the riches, goodness, grace, and mercy of Christ, he got so excited he burst into a spontaneous praise, adoration, and prayer to God the Father•Considered one of the greatest prayers of apostle Paul that takes us to the heart of God, which is rich toward us beyond our ability to grasp!

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and

depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21, NASB

A. Prelude•Vs 14-15– what prompted this prayer? The awesomeness of God’s Mysterious plan to unite Jew and Gentile as equal Believers in Himself!!•Note Paul’s prayer posture…•Typically Jews do not pray this way; only in deep adoration, submission, and urgency

A. Prelude•Prayer posture doesn’t really matter, heart posture does…•That we bow our hearts and wills to the Lord and ask for our needs is the vital matter•Contrary to what the lost would like to believe, we are NOT all children of God by birth

A. Prelude• Instead, we are children of disobedience and wrath by natural birth•As Creator, God is the Father of each man; but as Savior, He is only the Father of those who believe, repent and receive Him•There is no such thing in Scripture as the universal fatherhood of Godthat saves all men; Man must be born again!•Paul basically prayed 4 things for us:

1. Strength with Power of His Spirit•Vs 16-17a; Ever wonder what the “Riches of His Glory” means? Me too—• It is “everything in God that shows Him to be glorious; the proper object of ado- ration”•Paul prays that God would deal with His people according to that abun- dance of grace and power, which con- stitutes His glory and makes Him the Source of all things good, to His creatures

1. Strength with Power of His Spirit•This is important– get this:•Presence of the H.S. in life is evidence of salvation•But Power of the Spirit is enabling Christian living!•Working for Jesus is awesome! But working by my own power is burn- out!

1. Strength with Power of His Spirit•Don’t miss this one either; two words in this verse: “According to”•It did not say “Out of” the riches of His Glory”•It said, “According to” the riches…•Get it?•I want a proportion, not just a portion!!

2. Rooted and Grounded in Love•V 17b, like a tree planted by the water

“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”

Psalm 1:1-3, NASB

2. Rooted and Grounded in Love•V 17b, like a tree planted by the water•Like that tree, a life rooted in Christ ’s love also feeds and shelters others -and it, too, is firmly planted and refreshed constantly by God’s love for us•‘Grounded’ has the same idea, but with building the very foundation ofour lives in Christ should be love

3. Comprehending Vastness of His Love•Vs 18-19a, Get that? The Paradox?•We’ll probably spend eternity on it•Here’s what we can do though:•Continually remember all He has done for us, in us, and through us•We can learn to see all our brothers in Christ through “Jesus” eyes…

4. Filling with God’s Fullness•V 19-b, If you are born-again believer,compare yourself before Christ and now. You werehopeless, guilt-ridden, hell- bound and isolated•Now you have the Bread of life, the Living Water, and theresurrection power of the HS•But if you’re still un-re-born…

The Benediction…•Vs 20-21, God’s greatness over- whelmed Paul, as us today•So he turned his eyes and ours from ourselves to the One who deserves our worship and all the glory•As the heavens are higher and greater than the earth beyond our wildest imagining, our God is greater than the heavens. Yet He chose to work through us, His church to bring about His new, redeemed society of His divine love

Take Home…•Unless we yield ourselves obe- diently to the H.S.’ teachings &guidance through His Word, we cannot step into the fullness of God’s love•Evidence/Enabling•Portion/Proportion