The Power of Christ's Amazing Love

 

Ephesians 3:14–21

 

Subject: Love for our Church Family

Relevance: The Spirit helps us experience God as the potent demonstration of the indwelling Christ as we submit to Him. He makes continuous and genuine Christian expression possible by enabling us for supernatural Christian living, loving, and laboring so that our Father is glorified.

Theme: We need the Holy Spirit’s supernatural strengthening for Christlike loving to the credit of our Father. Beloved, this is a prayer for strength to love each other.

Introduction: 

Noting that positionally the Gentile and Jewish believers are “one new man” as the body of Christ in Ephesus (Eph. 2:15), Paul now prayed that they may be united experientially. Paul had been affirming the unity of this local church prayed that the Ephesians would be strong inwardly through Christ's Spirit.

Message:

I.               The Power of Christ’s Love (Eph. 3:16)

A.    Fortified—“Strengthened” (Eph. 3:16)

                                                    i.     Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be “strengthened” by the Spirit, indwelt by Christ, and filled with all the “fullness” of God’s uniting love.  What “love” are we to be “rooted and grounded” in?  No, it is not the love of God, or even love for God. It is love for one another as fellow members of the family of God! It is in the context of loving relationships within the church family that we experience, through one another, the depths of God’s love.  It is through such commitment that we understand and grow in the fullness of Christ’s love.  We likewise must desire that we might genuinely know and experience Christ’s love and thus exhibit it toward each other.

B.    Force—“Might” (Eph. 3:16)

                                                    i.     The Holy Spirit (a person) provides power for a lifelong process to make us more like Christ (2 Cor 3:17-18). When we receive Christ by faith, we begin an immediate personal relationship with God. The Holy Spirit works in us to help us become like Christ. He aids in prayer (Rom 8:26-27; Eph 2:18; 6:18); he inspires us to worship (Eph 5:18; Phil 3:3); he shapes our character (Gal 5:22-23).

                                                  ii.     Furthermore, the Spirit unites the Christian community in Christ (Eph 2:19-22). He can be experienced by every believer, and he works through all (1 Cor 12:11; Eph 4:4). As such, the Spirit constantly provides us with the moral power to stand for Christ and to serve him. We access this power through prayer, worship, and yielding.

C.    Focus—"Inner Man” (Eph. 3:16)

                                                    i.     Spiritually strong and empowered in “the inner man”. This spiritual part of man is where God dwells and works. Christians have a regenerated inner being that can be renewed and strengthened day by day with power through his Spirit (2Cor. 4:16).  It is this inner power that makes him succeed.

                                                  ii.     Our spiritual faculties can be controlled by God, and we must exercise them and grow in the Word (Heb. 5:12-14). When we yield to the Spirit letting Him control the inner man we succeed in living to the glory of God. This means feeding the inner man the Word of God, praying and worshiping, keeping clean, and exercising the senses by loving obedience. Certainly, our best interactions should be with each other!

                                                iii.     Spiritually energized to live morally, to be a witness, and to remain unified with other believers is the task! We get strength from the powerful Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20). We are energized for ministry (Eph. 3:7), and to defeat Satan in battle (Eph. 6:10-11). How do we gain access to this power? Christ returned to glory and sent the Spirit from heaven to indwell and empower His people. It is not necessary for us to "work something up." The power must be sent down. We gain power in prayer. If you want power to live, make prayer a greater priority. When you pray, you will experience God’s renovating power.

Conclusion:

All this is possible only because God is more than able to do immeasurably more than all we could pray for or even imagine possible, because it is according to His power that is at work within us as believers.

Please keep uppermost in mind that this concerns our perception of God’s love, not whether he loves us or not. While the choices we make will affect that perception, there is nothing a believer can do to remove themselves from it. Romans 8:35–39 reminds us that nothing, absolutely nothing, in heaven or on earth can separate us from the love of God.

Preparation for Christ’s Amazing Love

 

Ephesians 3:14–21

 

Subject: Love for our Church Family

Relevance:  Christ avails to us the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling us to enable, equip, and help us lead an abundant, victorious, and empowered life to the glory of God. The Spirit helps us experience God as the potent demonstration of the indwelling Christ as we submit to Him. He makes continuous and genuine Christian expression possible by enabling us for supernatural Christian living, loving, and laboring so that our Father is glorified. 

Theme: We need the Holy Spirit’s supernatural strengthening for Christlike loving to the credit of our Father. Beloved, this is a prayer for strength to love each other. 

Introduction:

Caring For Family’s Killer

In 1946, Czeslaw Godlewski was a member of a young gang that roamed and sacked the German countryside. On an isolated farm they gunned down ten members of the Wilhelm Hamelmann family. Nine of the victims died, but Hamelmann himself survived his four bullet wounds.

Godlewski recently completed a twenty-year prison term for his crimes, but the state would not release him because he had nowhere to go. When Hamelmann learned of the situation, he asked the authorities to release Godlewski to his custody. He wrote in his request, “Christ died for my sins and forgave me. Should I not then forgive this man?”—Gospel Herald

Noting that positionally the Gentile and Jewish believers are “one new man” as a local assembly (Eph. 2:15), which is the body of Christ in Ephesus, Paul now prayed that they may be united experientially. To understand his request, we must note the context: it comes in a section in which Paul had been affirming the unity of a local church made up of many differing individuals. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be strong inwardly through Christ's Spirit.

QUOTE: “There are four requests in Paul's prayer, but they must not be looked on as isolated, individual petitions. These four requests are more like four parts to a telescope. One request leads into the next one, and so on. He prays that the inner man might have spiritual strength, which will, in turn, lead to a deeper experience with Christ. This deeper experience will enable them to "apprehend" (get hold of) God's great love, which will result in their being "filled unto all the fullness of God." So, then, Paul is praying for strength, depth, apprehension, and fullness.”— (The Bible Exposition Commentary)

Message:

I.               The Preparation for Christ’s Love (Eph. 3:14-15)

A.    Prayer (Eph. 3:14) “For this cause I bow my knees….”

                                                    i.     Therefore, the words, … refer back to chapter 2 with its description of what the Gentiles had been by nature and what they had become through union with Christ. Their astonishing rise from poverty and death to riches and glory drives Paul to pray they will always live in the practical enjoyment of their exalted position.^[1]

                                                  ii.     So, in what way does the whole family of God in heaven and earth get their true name from God?

                                                iii.     “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth.”  That is, the whole family of the redeemed—those who have gone before and those who are still alive here on earth—are under the one Father, who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 4:6; 6:10: 1Jn. 3:1). Those who belong to the family of believers, God’s household or children by believing in Christ; thus, all are related (Eph 2:19). The Christian family extends far beyond the walls of a particular church or the limits of a particular denomination to include all true believers.

                                                iv.     Thus, the whole family of God (Eph. 2:19–“household of God”) derives its “name,” or exists as a family with a loving Father, because of Him.  According to ancient practices we all share a basic character–love in this instance.  All the saved in Heaven and on earth look to Him as the Head of the Family of God.  Since we have a common LOVING Father, we should be able to live together in the Lord’s church (Jn. 14:20-21-26; 15:8-17; 17:25-26; 1Jn. 4:7-5:3).

B.    Purpose (Eph. 3:14-15, 20-21)

                                                    i.     How can we be sure God’s power is working through us rather than our own strength?  (Eph. 3:20-21)

                                                  ii.     We can praise God who is able to do far more than we could pray for or imagine, according to the standard of His power (dynamin; cf. v. 16; 1:19) that is at work (Eph. 1:19) within us. No person or angelic being (cf. 3:10) would ever think that we could function together in one body. But with God’s power of love in each believer’s life, we are confident that any church member regardless of ethnicity can function and love one another. Spiritual unity is astounding and though it is not naturally possible, God can indeed do this!

                                                iii.     Beloved, this is our supreme, “Why.” The achievement of glorifying God is what drives us!  Beyond our families, friends, co-workers, or associations we are hyper motivated internally to pursue God’s praise, honor, glory, approval, credit, and worship.

C.    Praise (Eph. 3:21).

                                                    i.     We should ascribe to God “glory” for manifesting love in the church by Christ Jesus, who made this union of believers possible. Such loving unity in a local fellowship is truly a “God thing,” and he rightly deserves all the glory and praise for such an accomplishment!

                                                  ii.     Praise unto Almighty God for this triumph in and through our lives; it will continue throughout eternity (see Rom. 11:36; 2 Tim. 4:18). How fitting these instructions are.

Conclusion:

All this is possible only because God is more than able to do immeasurably more than all we could pray for or even imagine possible, because it is according to His power that is at work within us as believers.

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1929.

The Source of Our Blessings

 “The Source of Our Blessings”

1 Chronicles 29:9-20

SUBJECT: STEWARDSHIP

THEME: Trust the Lord as your Source for all things.

RELEVANCE: recognizing the Lord as the real source of our blessings encourages us to endure the discomforts of financial reverses, become good stewards, and give generously to his work. Though the Lord may use a second job, a promotion, a relocation, a new company, another position or an entrepreneurial endeavor; it is imperative that we view Him as our complete Source first. This is one key to being more optimistic and hopeful during major financial reverses. We must trust Him to satisfy our needs. 

INTRODUCTION:

The Bible is filled from cover to cover with the goodness of God. Our heavenly Father is always giving, always loving, always generous toward His children especially as we walk in obedience. In Genesis, He gives the man and woman a perfect Garden of Eden. In Revelation, we read about our ultimate home, a perfect and eternal heaven. In all the books in between, we read how God delighted in blessing His people. At the outset of the New Testament, we read how God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as His ultimate gift of all spiritual blessings to us. The Scriptures reveal what God is like.

MESSAGE:

I.  God is the Source to Satisfy All Our Needs.

1 Chron. 29:11, Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

1 Chron. 29:14, But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. (Also see verse 16).

    — God truly is the Author of all of life; eternal life and many fortunes are included in His great plan. The sovereignty of God over all material affluence is stated clearly in 1 Chronicles 29:9–14. These words of King David also reflect the general attitude we should have toward God’s provisions.

    — If we were to summarize David’s statement while applying these concepts in three short sentences, we would likely say:

            1. The Lord is the real owner of everything.

            2. The Lord gives generously to His people—His children.

            3. We would be wise to give Him thanks and praise for what He has given us.

    — Jesus certainly held to this same conclusion when He taught His disciples to conclude their times of prayer by saying, “. . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:13).

    — God owns everything, has all authority to dispense with it as He chooses, and is worthy of all praise for what He does forever. And let it be so!

A.  GOD DESIRES TO BESTOW MANY BLESSINGS UPON HIS CHILDREN.

    1.  Notice the Promises of Blessings to Israel.

When David reflected about going up to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, he sang,

Psalm 122:6-7, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. [7] Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

He gave us a prayer that we can pray for all Believers, a prayer that is totally in line with God’s will for His people. Now notice the promise of God in the days of King Jehoshaphat: 2 Chron. 20:20, And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah prayed and were told by the prophet Jahaziel that the battle was not theirs, but God’s. They were called to action by having faith in God and his prophets before they go out to face their enemies. They were not to be afraid, and they would not have to fight on this occasion, as the Lord would fight for them. The next morning, Jehoshaphat rallied the people, urging them to believe in the Lord their God to be established and to believe his prophets to prosper. So, the people then went out to face the enemy, with singers leading the way and praising the Lord. As they sang, God defeated the enemy army, and when the people arrived at the battle site, they found all their enemies dead. Through an act of trust, God came through for His people again!

    2.  Notice the Promises of Blessings to Us as Christians.

The Scriptures are filled with verses that tell us of God’s goodness, His inexhaustible resources, and His desire to advance His people. God’s desire for you is victory (knowing and executing His purpose)—that you might have all you need to operate on His behalf and the capacity to enjoy doing so.  As you read the verses below, apply them to your life.

James 1:17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Ephesians 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Philip. 4:19, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

We have received every spiritual blessing from God through Jesus Christ. Certainly, we are right to be thankful and appreciative people who readily admit our needs and our utter dependence upon Him for everything. God has already met our spiritual needs, and He is willing to meet our material needs as well as we trust Him. This is especially true for those who have sacrificed their needs to see His plans advance.

B.  GOD NATURALLY PROVIDES FOR HIS PEOPLE.

Psalm 34:8-10, O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. [9] O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. [10] The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 

We are invited and encouraged to experience God’s goodness for ourselves; we must trust Him to bless us accordingly. We are also urged to revere (fear or respect) the Lord, assured that we will not be disappointed if we do. When we contrast the temporary hunger of young lions with the eternal provision for those who seek the Lord, we are further promised we will not be deprived of any good thing.

    1. Our Resources are Limited.

When we limit ourselves to our own ability and resources, we find that we run out of both ability and resources very quickly. The situation is marked by scarcity, shortages, and depletion due to multiple wants. It is no surprise that such depletion becomes our reality. Strictly speaking, our supplies are finite, and our services are essential for life and production, creating scarcity and forcing harder choices about their use. This idea applies to physical resources, as well as intangible ones like time and skills. Because our resources are finite, individuals, businesses, and societies must prioritize and make trade-offs, considering the opportunity cost of their decisions. It is how we function with serious limitations.

    2.  God’s Resources are Unlimited.

When we focus our faith on what God can do for us, we encounter an infinite supply that cannot be measured and therefore cannot be depleted. He has unlimited resources in Heaven and Earth, because He created it all. And God knows exactly how to supply our needs and some of our wants. His power, wisdom, and blessings are all unlimited. He has more than enough to meet any need we may have. God’s resources are 100 percent inflation-proof, depression-proof, and recession-proof.

Psalm 139:1-18 reflects on God’s complete knowledge of our situation, from our thoughts to every action. We are encouraged by God’s inescapable presence in heaven, hell, and all parts of the earth. Beloved, it is appropriate to conclude with praise for being “fearfully and wonderfully made,” with all of life’s days written in God’s book before they even happen.

The very nature of God gives us assurance of His abundant provisions: (Ps. 139:1-18). We can see God’s intimate knowledge, His inescapable presence, His power over darkness and light, and His creative authority and plan!

So, when it comes to All-knowing—God knows your need. He knows it even better and before you do.

So, when it comes to All-powerful—God has all power to supply to you what you need.

So, when it comes to Ever-present—God is at work even now to meet your needs.

Remember Psalm 23:1 states, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want”. This metaphor of a shepherd describes God’s care and provision for His followers, assuring us that our needs will be satisfied. God is a loving protector, provider, and guide, so our needs will be satisfied under His care. We are correct to look to Him for direction and grace.

C.  GOD’S PROVIONS SHOULD BE REFLECTED ON OFTEN.   

Not only do you and I have the character of God as our assurance that He is going to provide for us, but we also have testimony of God’s past performance in providing for His people. Beloved, this is fertile deep-thinking territory for us all! The Scriptures repeatedly point to Him as a faithful Source:

• He made a way for His people to cross the Red Sea and be delivered from their enemies.
• He provided manna for the people to eat in the wilderness.
• He caused water to gush forth from a rock to quench His people’s thirst.
• He gave His commandments to the people when they were without moral fiber.
• He healed His people when they were struck by poisonous snakes.

Ponder and meditate on these events carefully; think deeply and consider what God’s record shows! Give yourself permission to focus on this idea…allow yourself to understand this in a more meaningful capacity. His provisions for His people were complete, in every area of their lives. We need to keep this uppermost in our contemplations. Life is filled with all types of anxieties, imperfections, frustrations, and disappointments but let us choose to believe God and trust Him to be our absolute Source, Supply, and Satisfier! This is just one key to being more optimistic and hopeful during the substantial financial setbacks we are experiencing. We must persevere by trusting our Lord to satisfy our needs still.