In Prayer God is
Ephesians 3:14-21 Monte T. Brown
October 7, 2007 Sunday Morning
Heart O’ the Hills
Introduction
Tell the joke about the man whose last name was Odd. How that all his life he was kidded about his last name. Before he died, he requested that his tombstone be left blank. After his death people would pass by his grave and see that empty tombstone and say, That’s Odd!
Scripture
[14]For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[15]Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
[16]That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
[17]That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
[18]May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
[19]And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
[20]Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
[21]Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3: 14-21 (KJVR)
Prayer
I. In Prayer God is RECOGNIZED (verses 14-15)
A. Relationship to Us (verse 14)
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, verse 14
1. Father of the Savior
2. Our Father
B. Relationship to All (verse 15)
From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is
named, verse 15
1. Father of creation & mankind
II. In Prayer God is APPROACHABLE (verses 16-19)
A. Power of Christ (verse 16)
That He would grant you, according to the riches
of His glory, to be strengthened with might
through His Spirit in the inner man,
1. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is
dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18
2. James 4:2, …ye have not because ye ask not
B. Presence of Christ (verse 17a)
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith; verse 17a
1. Hebrews 13:5, never leave or forsake you
2. That His presence be felt
C. Passion of Christ (verses 17b-19a)
[17b]that you, being rooted and grounded in
love, [18]may be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the width and length and depth
and height-- [19]to know the love of Christ
which passes knowledge; verses 17b-19a
1. To know the love of Christ in its fullness
2. That its expression would be found in us
(rooted & grounded)
D. Plentiful Fullness of Christ (verse 19b)
that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God. Verse 19b
1. That God would ooze from our pores
2. Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, [23]gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
III. In Prayer God is Able
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us, to Him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21.
As children of God, we can rest in the assurance
that God is more than able to save, keep, deliver,
sustain, and to present us faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
1. God is Able to Save Us to the Uttermost!
Wherefore He is able to save them to the
uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He
ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Hebrews 7:25.
The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not
willing that any should perish but that all
should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9.
...I [the Lord] speaketh in righteousness,
mighty to save! Isaiah 63:1
2. God is Able to Keep Us!
And I give them eternal life, and they shall \
never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them
out of My hand. My Father, who has given them
to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able
to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
John 10:28-29.
3. God is Able to Deliver Us!
The three Hebrew children expressed this truth
eloquently:
If that is the case, our God whom we serve is
able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and
He will deliver us from your hand, O King.
Daniel 3:17.
4. God is Able to Sustain Us!
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will
sustain you; He will never allow the righteous
to be shaken. Psalm 55:22.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward
you, that you, always having all sufficiency in
all things, may have an abundance for every good
work. II Corinthians 9:8.
5. God is Able to Present Us!
Now unto Him who is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
Jude 24.
And you He has reconciled in the body of His
flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
Colossians 1: 21b-22.
Conclusion
We can sing both joyously and victoriously the great
hymn written by William A. Ogden He is Able to
Deliver Thee.
Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung;
Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;
Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung:
Our God is able to deliver thee!"
