Reading
Ephesians 3:14-4:6 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1. Recognise God
Eph 3:14 - My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.
First we must kneel (submission – embarrassing?) before God the Father. How often do we treat Him like some sort of genie? Just who is He?
Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
And, again:
Revelation 1:10,12-17 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lamp stands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead ...
If we do not know and understand the awesome majesty and the pre-eminence of God the Father in our Christian life, we do not give Him His rightful place. Let us treat Him as He really is - Lord God Almighty!
2. We must decide
Paul ask Him to strengthen us by His Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - that Christ will live in us as we open the door and invite Him in.
To know God requires us to invite Him into our lives. He has given every soul free will; to know Him or to reject Him (Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”)
3. We need a foundation for life
Paul again asks Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, we will be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.
As a house needs to have a solid foundation to stand on, so our lives need to be built on something that will last, especially when the storms of life hit us - as they surely will!
Luke 6:47-48 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
In this Ephesians passage, we are told to make our foundation love - but it is not the ‘feeling’ of love. Our sure foundation is not a sensation, but a person. Love is Jesus:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
This foundation is solid, because there is never the fear of rejection:
John 16:27 "for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.”
4. Build on your foundation
Reach out and experience the breadth of Christ’s love! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
There is no point in creating a nice, solid foundation, if you do not then build - a foundation has no benefit if you do not then build your house - especially with the rain in this country.
So we also have to build our lives. How? By working in partnership with Jesus! It is a life of action not inaction. We cannot sit down (‘church only on Sundays’) and expect God to do it for us:
1 Corinthians 14:1,12,20,26,39 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
5. God never forces us
God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.
You truly have free will. God will never force you to do anything. But, if you want to follow Him, He gives you strength and ability, through the Holy Spirit. Yet all the time, it is up to you to act!
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
6. So, get moving
a. You are called
Eph 4:1a In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk - better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel. (Msg.)
b. Keep your direction
Eph 4:1b I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. (Msg.)
c. How do we go forward?
Eph 4:2,3 And mark that you do this with humility and discipline - not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences [between one another] and [therefore] quick at mending fences. (Msg.)
d. Be agreed
Eph 4:4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. (Msg.)
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
e. The reason
You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with [Unity] oneness.
We emulate our Saviour, Jesus Christ:
John 17:21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
You want people to believe the Gospel? Then let us live Christ’s command. Amen!
