UNITY – Part 7 – The Dimensions of God’s Love
PASSAGE:
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Prayer:
Introduction:
- If you are just joining us – this prayer that Paul prays – is kinda the capstone to the first half of Ephesians – The major theme of this book is unity within the church – but the majority of that theme is played out in the second half of the book – chapters 4-6.
- In this first half – before talking about unity – Paul is reminding the people again and again and again of the gospel and what their identity in Christ is.
- He reminds them over and over that in Christ they have been made different – that it was nothing that they did or earned or deserved but that salvation was bought for them through the love and grace of God. through the sacrifice of Jesus – the sacrifice which we celebrate today.
In this text – Paul prays for the church. He prays for the people – and he invites them to come and see and experience the love of God for themselves. And this prayer I think is one of the perfect prayers for us to look at on a day such as Easter. No matter where you find yourself.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
- in light of the fact that you as the church are so valuable to Jesus- that he considers you his inheritance –
- in light of the fact of the amazing unending hope that you have been called to – a hope that speaks life into corners and scenarios
- in light of the fact that God has wiped your sin clean – in light of the fact that you have been adopted into his family.
And he says that he prays “that according to the riches of God’s glory God may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”
- He prays for something powerful here- Paul is praying that the people would be able to embrace their identity in Christ. Paul has been reminding the people of of their identity in Christ and what Christ has done for them. We see this over and over again.
- Chosen – Forgiven – Adopted – Cherished – Hope – Future – Inheritance – Called – Redeemed
- And Paul’s prayer – is that we would see that. That we would strengthened in our inner being – that Christ dwells close and we know who we are
- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- He says – I don’t just want you to understand intellectually that Jesus loves you. He says – I don’t want you to just get past starting line when it comes to your faith – I don’t want you to just know the fact that Jesus loves you.
- The beauty of Christianity – the beauty of Easter has always been that we are invited to “come and see.” You will never reach the bottom.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
- Through the resurrection of Jesus – he is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think.