SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 26

TITLE: PRAYER FOR POWER, PART II

TEXT: EPHESIANS 3:17-21

INTRODUCTION: (1) WE HAVE LEARNED IN OUR STUDY OF EPHESIANS UP TO THIS POINT, THAT CHAPTERS 1-3 DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, OUR CALLING IN CHRIST.

* WE’VE LEARNED THAT TRUE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR LIVING “TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE” RECORDED IN CHAPTER 1 VERSE 6.

** WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT ALL THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED BY GOD’S GRACE, OUR ADOPTION; OUR ELECTION; OUR REDEMPTION; OUR FORGIVENESS; OUR INHERITANCE.

*** WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR CITIZENSHIP, THE LOVE OF CHRIST AND ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH.

**** AND WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT TRUTHS THAT CAN TRANSFORM OUR LIVES IF WE ALLOW THEM. BUT IN CHAPTERS 1-3 WE FIND NO IMPERATIVES, NO COMMANDS.

(2) BUT BEGINNING IN CHAPTER 4 AND GOING THROUGH CHAPTER 6 WE WILL SEE 35 DIRECTIVES THAT SPEAK OF THE BELIEVER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO THE TRUTHS THAT ARE ESTABLISHED IN CHAPTERS 1-3.

* MEANING THE DOCTRINES OF CHAPTER 1-3 SHOULD LEAD TO THE DUTIES LAID OUT IN CHAPTERS 4-6.

** WE MOVE FROM OUR CALL TO OUR CONDUCT, WE MOVE FROM OUR RICHES TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

*** CHAPTERS 1-3 DEAL WITH OUR WEALTH IN CHRIST, CHAPTERS 4-6 DEAL WITH OUR WALK IN CHRIST.

**** WE MOVE FROM OUR POSITION IN CHRIST TO OUR PRACTICE IN CHRIST.

***** BUT BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR PRACTICE IN CHAPTER 4, WHAT IS CALLED THE PRACTICAL PART OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, HOW WE THEN SHOULD LIVE, PAUL WILL TELL US WE MUST GET OUR POWER TURNED ON.

(3) AS I TOLD YOU LAST SUNDAY, CHAPTERS 1-3 ARE THE ENGINE, THE POWER PLANT OF THE BOOK, AND CHAPTERS 4-6 ARE THE ROAD MAP THAT TELL US WHERE TO GO, BUT IF YOU DON’T PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURN IT ON, YOU CAN’T GO ANYWHERE.

* WELL, EPHESIANS 3:14-21 IS THE IGNITION THAT TURNS ON THE POWER SO WE CAN TAKE OUR ROAD MAP AND GO SOMEWHERE.

** THINK OF IT THIS WAY: OUR RESOURCES ARE IN THE BEGINNING OF EPHESIANS; OUR BEHAVIOR IS IN THE END; AND IN THE MIDDLE IS HOW TO HOOK THEM UP, THE CONNECTOR, THE KEY, THE IGNITION THAT TURNS ON SPIRITUAL POWER.

*** NOW THE APOSTLE PAUL’S GREAT DESIRE IS THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN BE FUNCTIONING ON FULL POWER.

**** PAUL DOESN’T WANT ANY LIMPING, FLAT TIRE, ONE-CYLINDER, GAGGING, COUGHING, CHOKING, SMOKING CHRISTIANS.

(4) HE WANTS THEM TO BE RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS, FUNCTIONING SMOOTHLY, POWERFULLY WITH NO MISSES IN ALL THE ENERGY GOD COULD POSSIBLY GRANT.

* IN FACT, PAUL WILL PRAY IN V. 20 (READ IT).

** NOW THIS VERSE SHOWS US THAT PAUL WANTS TO SEE THE POWER OF GOD ACTIVATED IN OUR LIVES.

*** AND BECAUSE THIS IS HIS DESIRE, HE PRAYS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN, AND HIS PRAYER, WHICH IS HIS 2’D PRAYER IN THIS BOOK IS RECORDED IN EPHESIANS 3:14-21.

*** AND LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT VV. 14-16, AND BY GOD’S GRACE TODAY WE’LL LOOK AT 17-21 WHICH I’VE TITLED “PRAYER FOR POWER, PART II”.

**** AND IN OUR TEXT TODAY WE HAVE SOME CONDITIONS AND PRINCIPLES IF APPLIED, GOD WILL DO MIGHTY THINGS.

(5) FOR UNDERSTAND THE PASSAGE THAT WE’LL STUDY IS A SEQUENCE OF PROGRESSIONS – ONE BUILT UPON THE OTHER.

* SOMETHING HAPPENS WHICH LEADS TO SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENING, WHICH LEADS TO SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENING.

** IT’S A SEQUENCE – A PROGRESSION WITH THE ULTIMATE END OF GOD BEING GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE END OF THE CHURCH, THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH.

*** NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS POWERFUL PRACTICAL PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE.

**** AND TO HELP US UNDERSTAND IT, I HAVE 4 POINTS TO HANG YOUR THOUGHTS ON. NO. 1 THE PLACE WHERE CHRIST SHOULD DWELL, V. 17A; NO. 2 THE PRIORITY OF LOVE, VV. 17B-19; NO. 3 THE POWER THAT WE MUST APPROPRIATE, V. 20; AND NO. 4 THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH, V. 21.

(6) AND WITHOUT ANY MORE INTRODUCTION, LET’S MOVE INTO PAUL’S PRAYER FOR POWER AND SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE PLACE. LOOK AT THE FIRST PART OF EPHESIANS 3:17A PLEASE.

I. THE PLACE, (READ V. 17A)

A. NOW THE FIRST TWO WORDS OF V. 17 “SO THAT” IN MOST TRANSLATIONS OR “THAT” IN THE KJV AND NKJV TRANSLATES HINA, A GREEK WORD USED TO INTRODUCE PURPOSE CLAUSES.

* AND THIS WORD TAKES US BACK TO V. 16 MEANING THAT THE PURPOSE OF OUR BEING “STRENGTHENED WITH POWER THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN” IS THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN OUR HEARTS BY FAITH.

** NOW UNDERSTAND THAT HERE IN V. 17, PAUL IS NOT PRAYING THAT CHRIST MAY COME INTO THE HEARTS OF THE EPHESIANS, AN EXPRESSION USED IN OUR CULTURE TO BE SAVED.

*** PAUL IS NOT PRAYING FOR THEM TO BE SAVED, THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN SAVED. PAUL IS PRAYING THAT BY FAITH CHRIST MAY DWELL IN THEIR HEARTS, THE WORD DWELL BEING A KEY WORD HERE.

**** THE WORD DWELL IN THE GREEK LIT. MEANS TO SETTLE DOWN, TO BE AT HOME, SETTLED DOWN AS A FAMILY MEMBER.

***** SO PAUL IS PRAYING THAT CHRIST MIGHT FINALLY SETTLE DOWN AND FEEL COMPLETELY AT HOME IN THEIR HEARTS, IN THEIR LIVES.

****** THAT HE WILL ABIDE AND COMPLETELY CONTROL AND PERMEATE THE HEART, THAT HE WILL BE THE MASTER IN THEIR LIVES.

****** AND UNTIL THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLS OUR LIVES, JESUS CHRIST CANNOT BE COMFORTABLE THERE, PAUL’S TEACHING HERE DOES NOT RELATE TO THE FACT OF JESUS’ PRESENCE IN THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS, BUT TO THE QUALITY OF HIS PRESENCE.

1. AND THE IDEA IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS IN WHOM CHRIST DWELLS, WHERE HE IS NOT VERY COMFORTABLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEY ARE LIVING, THEY ARE GRIEVING AND QUENCHING THE SPIRIT.

* THE REASON BEING, WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT IN CONTROL, GOING BACK TO V. 16, CHRIST CANNOT BE COMFORTABLE IN OUR LIVES FOR HE’S ALWAYS HAVING TO GET UP AND CLEAN THE PLACE, HE CAN’T SETTLE DOWN.

** AND I WONDER THIS MORNING IF YOU KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, IS HE COMFORTABLE AT HOME IN YOUR HEART, IS HE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE, IS THERE A MESS IN YOUR LIFE, THAT HE IS NOT ABLE TO SETTLE DOWN?

- TO ILLUSTRATE THAT, ROBERT MUNGER IN HIS BOOK, “MY HEART CHRIST’S HOME” DESCRIBES IN ALLEGORICAL FASHION, A CHRISTIAN’S HEART IN TERMS OF A HOUSE.

*** AND IN THIS BOOK JESUS ENTERS THE HOUSE AND GOES THROUGH EACH OF THE ROOMS, AND THIS IS WHAT HE FINDS: THIS IS TREMENDOUS.

B. FIRST OF ALL HE STARTS OFF IN THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS THE CONTROL ROOM OF THE HOUSE WHERE ALL THE INFORMATION IS STORED. AND THIS IS ANALOGOUS TO THE MIND.

* AND AS JESUS GOES INTO THIS ROOM, HE FINDS ALL KINDS OF TRASH, EVIL, BAD THINKING, BAD HUMAN PHILOSOPHY, AND OTHER USELESS MATERIAL. SO HE TAKES IT ALL OFF THE SHELVES, THROWS IT AWAY, AND PUTS THE WORD IN ITS PLACE, FOR THE WORD PURIFIES, (READ JOHN 15:3 AND JOHN 17:17).

C. NEXT, HE GOES INTO THE DINING ROOM, THE ROOM OF THE APPETITE AND DESIRES, AND FINDS A WORLDLY MENU – RICHES, PRESTIGE, MATERIALISM, LUST OF THE FLESH, ETC.

* HE GETS RID OF THIS MENU AND PUTS IN ITS PLACE THE MENU OF GOD’S WILL, WHICH COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES AND FORMS, BUT IS STILL THE WILL OF GOD. THE WILL OF GOD THEN BECOMES THAT FOR WHICH THE CHRISTIAN HUNGERS – NOT HIS OWN FLESHLY DESIRES.

D. NEXT JESUS GOES TO THE LIVING ROOM, WHERE HE SHARES AND FELLOWSHIPS, AND FINDS THAT HE’S NEGLECTED. THERE’S A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON, BUT NOBODY PAYS ANY ATTENTION TO HIM – HE’S JUST THERE.

* NOW THE LIVING ROOM IS A PLACE OF FELLOWSHIP, BUT IT MUST BE THE RIGHT FELLOWSHIP. THIS IS WHERE TIME NEEDS TO BE SPENT WITH CHRIST.

1. AND SOME OF THE ACQUAINTANCES AND WASTED ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE CLEARED OUT, AND MORE TIME SPENT WITH CHRIST AND WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHRIST LIVING IN THEM.

E. NOW NEXT, LEAVING THE LIVING ROOM, JESUS GOES TO THE WORKSHOP AND FINDS FANTASTIC TOOLS AND A BEAUTIFUL WORKBENCH. HOWEVER, THE MAN IS IN THERE MAKING ONLY TOYS.

* SO JESUS SAYS, “YOU HAVE ALL THIS ABILITY AND YOU CAN’T PRODUCE ANYTHING MORE THAN A TOY? AND OF COURSE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS ARE PLAYING GAMES WITH THE LORD, AND BUILDING AND PLAYING WITH THEIR TOYS.

1. AND FOLKS, JESUS WANTS TO TAKE ALL OUR ABILITIES, ALL OUR CAPACITIES, AND ALL OUR CAPABILITIES, AND CAUSE THEM TO PRODUCE THINGS FOR THE KINGDOM, THINGS THAT HAVE ETERNAL VALUE. SO HE CHANGES THE WHOLE FORMAT IN THE WORKSHOP TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK.

2. NOW WHEN HE GETS ALL DONE, THE LIBRARY IS ALL STOCKED WITH THE RIGHT BOOKS, THE DINING ROOM HAS A MENU OF THE WILL OF GOD, THE LIVING ROOM IS SETTLED WITH CHRIST’S FELLOWSHIP AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THOSE WHO HAVE CHRIST LIVING IN THEM, AND THE WORKSHOP IS READY WITH THE TOOLS AND ABILITIES TO MAKE THINGS FOR THE KINGDOM.

* BUT THERE’S A STRANGE ODOR COMING FROM SOMEPLACE. THE HOUSE IS NICE AND CLEAN, BUT SOMETHING STINKS.

** SO THE LORD GOES OVER TO A CLOSET AND SAYS, “THERE IS SOMETHING DEAD IN THERE.” AND THE CHRISTIAN SAYS, “LOOK, YOU’VE COME INTO MY HOUSE AND CLEANED UP EVERYTHING, AT LEAST LEAVE ME ONE CLOSET – THAT’S ALL I ASK. YOU CAN HAVE THE DINING ROOM, AND ALL THOSE OTHER ROOMS, JUST LEAVE THIS CLOSET ALONE.”

*** WELL, THE LORD SAYS, “NO, I WANT THAT CLOSET. THAT’S THE CLOSET FULL OF PERSONAL SINS – THE HIDDEN AND DEAD THINGS.” THE MAN BECAME VERY ANGRY BECAUSE JESUS HAD EVERY OTHER ROOM, BUT JESUS COMMANDED HIM TO OPEN IT.

**** WHEN HE OPENED IT, IT WAS FULL OF EVIL THINGS – THOSE LITTLE SECRET THINGS THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT, THAT GO IN YOUR MIND, AND THAT NOBODY SEES YOU DO – AND JESUS CLEANED IT OUT. AND WHEN HE GOT ALL DONE, THEN, THEN, THEN HE WAS AT HOME!

F. AND BELOVED, THE POINT OF ALL THOSE ANALOGIES IS THAT CHRIST DESIRES BY FAITH TO BE IN CONTROL OF EVERY ROOM IN OUR LIVES, HE WANTS IT ALL, HE WANTS TOTAL CONTROL.

* AND IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY BY YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WE MIGHT BE STRENGTHENED IN THE INNER MAN, SO CHRIST CAN DWELL IN OUR HEARTS BY FAITH, READ ROMANS 12:1&2.

** AND THAT’S WHAT PAUL IS PRAYING FOR IN THE FIRST PART OF V. 17 – THAT CHRIST WOULD BE IN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES.

*** NOW LET’S MOVE ON AND LOOK AT THE LAST PART OF V. 17-19 WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE LOVE A THEME. WE GO FROM LORDSHIP TO LOVE, AND OUR 2’D POINT HERE IS THE PRIORITY, LOOK BACK AT V. 17 PLEASE.

II. THE PRIORITY, (READ V. 17)

A. NOW LOVE IS THE THEME OF VV. 17B-19 AND THIS LOVE IS A RESULT OF APPLYING THE FIRST PART OF V. 17, SO IT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY.

* IN OTHER WORDS THE RESULT OF CHRIST’S UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE CHRISTIAN’S HEART IS LOVE. WHEN THERE IS LORDSHIP, THERE IS LOVE. LOVE IS A PRIORITY.

** FOR WHEN CHRIST SETTLES DOWN IN OUR LIVES THEN HIS NATURE WILL DOMINATE AND WHAT IS HIS NATURE? THE ANSWER IS LOVE. THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE IN CONTROL AND WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT? LOVE.

1. AND FOLKS, WHEN CHRIST IS IN CONTROL OF OUR LIVES, WE WILL BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED LIT. SECURELY SETTLED AND DEEPLY FOUNDED IN CHRIST’S LOVE.

B. WHICH IN TURN HELPS US TO START TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT GOD’S LOVE IN VV. 18&19. LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE.

READ V. 18. NOW THE WORD COMPREHEND IS A KEY WORD IN V. 18, IT LIT. MEANS TO LAY HOLD OF SO AS TO MAKE ONE’S OWN, TO SEIZE, TO TAKE POSSESSION OF.

* AND IT IS NOT ONLY TO UNDERSTAND BUT TO APPREHEND IN THE SENSE OF MENTALLY GRASPING SOME IDEA OR TRUTH.

** AND PAUL IS PRAYING THAT ALL SAINTS MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE A GRASP OF THE FULL IMPLICATIONS OF THE VASTNESS OF CHRIST’S LOVE. A CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING.

*** THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE BREADTH AND LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGHT OF IT.

- TO ILLUSTRATE THAT ONE MAN HAS SAID WE SEE THE BREADTH, THE LENGTH, THE DEPTH AND HEIGHT OF THE LOVE OF GOD IN JOHN 3:16 (READ IT).

1. IT’S BREADTH – FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD (FOR THE BREADTH OF GOD’S LOVE COVERS ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST JEWS, BUT GENTILES, SLAVES, POOR, BLACK AND WHITE.

2. IT’S LENGTH – GOD GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THE SINLESS ONE FOR UNDESERVING SINNERS.

3. IT’S DEPTH – WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH. JEW OR GENTILE, RICH OR POOR, BOND OR FREE.

4. IT’S HEIGHT – BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. THE PROMISE OF GOD.

* AND TO ADD TO THAT, JEROME, AN EARLY CHURCH SCHOLAR SAID, “THE LOVE OF CHRIST REACHES UP TO THE HOLY ANGELS AND REACHES DOWN TO THOSE IN HELL. IT’S LENGTH COVERS THE MEN ON THE UPWARD WAY AND IT’S BREADTH REACHES THOSE DRIFTING AWAY ON EVIL PATHS.” AND AS I THINK OF THAT I THANK GOD FOR HIS UNFAILING, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO US.

- NOW LOOK AT V. 19 AS PAUL CONTINUES TO EXPAND ON THIS.

C. READ V. 19. NOW THE WORDS “TO KNOW” IN V. 19 SPEAK OF KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY EXPERIENCE, THE OPPOSITE OF V. 18. FOR IN V. 18 IT TALKS ABOUT A CONCEPTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST, HAVING A GRASP OF IT.

* WHEREAS IN V. 19, THIS CONCEPTUAL KNOWLEDGE PASSES INTO EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AS THE SAINT EXPERIENCES IN HIS LIFE THE COMPREHENSION OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST FOR HIM IN THE SPHERE OF HIS EARTHLY LIFE.

** TO EXPERIENCE IT SO WE CAN APPLY IT TO OTHERS. WE THEN CAN LIT. LOVE WITH HIS LOVE.

*** FOR NOTHING CAN MOTIVATE US MORE TO A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE AND LOVE AS TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST, II CORINTHIANS 5:14, I JOHN 4:9-11 – A MOTIVATION.

1. NOW MOVING ON, NOTICE ALSO THAT PAUL SAYS THIS LOVE PASSETH KNOWLEDGE, AND BASICALLY HE IS SAYING THERE IS NO WAY HUMAN BEINGS CAN EVER KNOW THIS LOVE APART FROM CHRIST.

* THE WORLD DOESN’T UNDERSTAND IT, IN FACT, I DON’T THINK THE WORLD COULD EVER BEGIN TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE AVAILABLE TO CHRISTIANS. (THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE, IT’S UNBELIEVABLE TO THE WORLD.)

TO ILLUSTRATE THAT, LET ME SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORLD’S LOVE AND GOD’S LOVE.

1. THE WORLD’S LOVE SAYS: YOU’RE A NICE OBJECT, I CHOOSE TO LOVE YOU BECAUSE I’M ATTRACTED TO YOU.

- GOD’S LOVE SAYS: I LOVE BY NATURE. BELIEVER YOU EXIST SO YOU GET LOVED.

2. THE WORLD’S LOVE SAYS: I LOVE YOU UNTIL I FIND SOMETHING THAT LOOKS BETTER.

- GOD’S LOVE SAYS: YOU LOOK PERFECT IN JESUS CHRIST – I LOVE YOU FOREVER.

3. THE WORLD’S LOVE SAYS: I LOVE YOU UNTIL YOU OFFEND ME.

-GOD’S LOVE SAYS: I LOVE YOU IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT YOU NEVER STOP OFFENDING ME.

* THE WORLD LOVES FOR WHAT IT CAN GET, BUT IF WE COMPREHEND AND PRACTICE THE LOVE OF CHRIST, WE LOVE FOR WHAT WE CAN GIVE.

D. AND THE BASIC PROBLEM IS THAT THE WORLD TOTALLY MISUNDERSTANDS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT. THEY GET THE WORD LOVE MIXED UP WITH WHAT REALLY IS LUST.

* THEY THINK LOVE IS SOME BUBBLY EMOTION OR DRIVE. BUT LOVE IS NOT AN EMOTION IN THE BIBLE, IT IS ALWAYS AN ACT OF SELFLESSNESS, UNSELFISH SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, READ JOHN 3:16, JOHN 14:15, JOHN 15:13.

** LOVE IS AN ACTION, AN ACT OF SELF DONATION. A VERB, NOT AN ADJECTIVE, AN ACTION RATHER THAN TOTAL EMOTION.

*** AND IF WE’RE EVER GOING TO KNOW WHAT IT IS TO SERVE, TO SACRIFICE, AND TO GIVE WITH UNLIMITED GENEROSITY, IT WILL ONLY BE WHEN WE KNOW THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOVE OF CHRIST.

- AND LET ME ADD BEFORE WE GO ON TO V. 20, THEN AND THEN ONLY WE CAN EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.

1. FOR WHEN WE’RE FILLED WITH GOD, ALL OF A SUDDEN SELF IS OUT OF THE PICTURE. IT WON’T BE A LITTLE BIT OF GOD AND A LITTLE BIT OF US, IT WILL BE THE FULLNESS OF GOD, ALL OF GOD, AND HE WILL BE IN TOTAL CONTROL, HIS SPIRIT WILL BE IN CONTROL, THE IDEA IS TOTAL OBEDIENCE.

- NOW LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL QUICKLY LOOK AT MY THIRD POINT THIS MORNING, THE POWER.

III. THE POWER, (READ V. 20)

A. NOW THERE ARE FEW VERSES IN THE BIBLE MORE DESCRIPTIVE OF THE POWER OF GOD THAN EPHESIANS 3:20. OUR GOD IS ABLE BECAUSE HE IS ALL POWERFUL, HE IS OMNIPOTENT.

* AND BELOVED, PAUL IS SAYING THAT GOD IS ABLE TO DO SUPERABUNDANTLY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ASK OR THINK AND THEN SOME ON TOP OF THAT, IT REMINDS ME OF JEREMIAH 33:3.

1. NOW NOTICE THE PROGRESSION IN V. 20.

** IT’S A PYRAMID OF POWER. EPHESIANS 3:20:

HE IS ABLE

HE IS ABLE TO DO

HE IS ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU ASK

HE IS ABLE TO DO ALL THAT YOU ASK OR THINK

HE IS ABLE TO DO ABOVE ALL THAT YOU ASK OR THINK

HE IS ABLE TO DO ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT YOU ASK OR THINK

HE IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT YOU ASK OR THINK.

*** AND FOLKS TO SAY THAT GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY PUTS HIS POTENTIAL AND POWER BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGINATIONS. AND YOU KNOW OUR PROBLEM IS NOT THAT WE ASK TOO MUCH, BUT THAT WE ASK TOO LITTLE. WE HAVE POWERFUL POTENTIAL AND IT ALL STARTS IN V. 16 AND WORKS IT’S WAY DOWN. EVERYTHING BUILDS ON EACH VERSE.

2. AND NOTICE IN THE LAST PART OF V. 20 THAT THIS ABILITY AND POWER IS NOT IN SOME REMOTE PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE, BEYOND OUR REACH.

* THIS POWER IS WITHIN US ALREADY IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US.

* AND BELOVED, AGAIN IT BOILS DOWN TO THAT GOD IS ABLE AND THE SPIRIT IS ABLE, BUT ARE WE WILLING IS THE KEY?

** AND WHEN WE ARE WILLING AND IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, JUST TO MAKE SURE NOBODY GETS PROUD AND SAYS: “LOOK WHAT I DID” WE HAVE V. 21 TEACHING US WHY WE SHOULD DO WHAT WE DO. (FOR GOD’S GLORY).

*** LOOK AT V. 21 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE PURPOSE.

IV. THE PURPOSE, (READ V. 21)

A. NOW THE PURPOSE OF OUR BEING AND THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS TO REFLECT THE GLORY OF GOD.

* GOD WANTS TO BE GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH AND CHRIST MADE IT POSSIBLE BY REDEEMING THE CHURCH.

** SO, BY CHRIST JESUS, GOD CAN BE GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH, BUT NOT UNTIL THE CHURCH REALLY USES IT’S RESOURCES.

*** AND BELOVED IF OUR CHURCH IS NOT WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE, GOD IS NOT GLORIFIED AS HE OUGHT TO BE GLORIFIED.

1. AND IF WE JUST GO ALONG, DOING OUR LITTLE DEAL, STOPPING HERE AND RESTING, GLORYING IN OUR PAST, THE CONCLUSION THE WORLD MAKES IS THAT GOD IS JUST GOING ALONG DOING HIS LITTLE DEAL.

* FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, IF THE CHURCH IS DEAD, GOD IS DEAD.

** BUT IF WE SEE GOD MOVE, AND WE SEE HIS POWER FLOW THROUGH THE CHURCH, THEN GOD IS GLORIFIED.

*** WE THEN ARE A LIVING ADVERTISEMENT FOR OUR GOD; AND IF GOD IS TO BE GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH, IT IS TO BE BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS MOVING IN AN EXPRESSION OF THE MIGHTY POWER THAT HE HAS. LET THIS BE A CHALLENGE TO US.

**** BUT LET ME ADD THAT GLORY IN THE CHURCH TO ME IS ALSO CHRIST WORKING IN HIS CHURCH IN A POWERFUL WAY. IT’S SYNONYMOUS WITH HIS PRESENCE, REVELATION 2&3 (ILLUSTRATE HIS GLORY IN THE O.T.)

***** AND BELOVED, MAY GOD’S POWER AND PRESENCE BE MANIFEST IN THIS CHURCH IN CHRIST JESUS TO ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER – AMEN.

IN CLOSING: (1) BELIEVER DON’T CHEAT YOURSELF OUT OF WHAT GOD CAN DO BY THINKING YOU DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES, FOR WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO LIVE AS A KING TO GOD’S GLORY.

* LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD IS ABLE TO DO MIGHTY THINGS, THE QUESTION AGAIN IS ARE WE WILLING TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST RULE AND YIELD TO HIM?

** THEN HE’LL BE ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK. IS HE IN CONTROL BY FAITH?

*** BELOVED WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.

**** I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST IN WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO WHO STRENGTHENS ME, PHILIPPIANS 4:13.

(2) SO I PRAY THAT WE WILL APPROPRIATE THE POWER WE ALREADY HAVE.

* THAT WE WILL TURN ON THE ENGINE AND BE AND DO AND GO WHERE OUR ABLE GOD WANTS US TO BE, DO AND GO.

** BROTHERS AND SISTERS, REMEMBER THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS TO GLORIFY GOD.

*** AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH GATHERED IS TO EQUIP, EDIFY AND ESTABLISH THE SAINTS.

**** AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH SCATTERED IS EVANGELISM, AS WE LEAVE AS AN ARMY EQUIPPED TO GO INTO THE MISSION FIELD.

***** FOR THE PURPOSE OF GLORIFYING OUR GREAT GOD MAY WE LIVE FOR THAT AS WE APPROPRIATE HIS POWER (READ EPHESIANS 3:20&21).