1. Review Prayer Conference with Daniel Henderson
a. 20-25% of congregation attended
b. Impacted by learning about prayer
c. The Month of October : PraYukon and Beyond [Blesseveryhome.com]
2. Paul’s Prayer – Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
3. What does God want for my neighbor? A way to Pray:
I. To Worship Him (3.14-15)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
A. Bowing the Knee = Blessing and Worship
B. He is the Namesake (Adam/Mankind bear His image; Matthew 22:15-22)
C. He Deserves Worship – Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
II. To Be Strengthened
A. We Need Strength in Our Circumstances
Two friends were bungee-jumping one day. One says to the other, "You know, we could make a lot of money running our own bungee-jumping service in Mexico. They don’t have it there." He thinks this is a great idea, so they pool their money and buy everything they’ll need. They travel to Mexico and begin to set up on the square. As they are constructing the tower, a crowd begins to assemble to watch them work. When they had finished, there was such a crowd they thought it would be a good idea to give a demonstration. The first friend jumps. He bounces at the end of the cord, but when he comes back up, his buddy notices that he has a few cuts and scratches.
Unfortunately, he isn’t able to catch him and he falls again, bounces and comes back up again. This time, he is bruised and bleeding. Again he misses him. He falls again and bounces back up. This time he comes back pretty messed up. He’s got a couple of broken bones and is almost unconscious. Luckily, the friend finally catches him this time and says, "What happened? Was the cord too long?" Barely able to speak, he gasps, "No, the bungee cord was fine. It was the crowd. What in the world is a piñata?"
B. Strengthened in Power – Ephesians 3:16
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
1. With unending riches/resources
2. To be image-bearers
C. Strengthened by His Spirit in the “Inner Man” – Ephesians 3:16
I read of a young man who worked for a bank and one day was called upon to deliver $25,000 in quarters to Bank of America in downtown San Bernardino. He said, “Larry and I hopped in the in my boss’s 1949 Ford pickup. I’m in my T-shirt and blue jeans. We drove up to the front of the bank, parked the truck, and Larry said, "Hang on, I’ll go in and get the dolly, and we’ll haul this stuff in." I’m whistling, standing against this truck for twenty minutes. I don’t have a gun. I thought, “If anybody notices what is in this common looking pickup truck, I’m dead!” However, people did not see the treasure they were walking by because of the commonness of the delivery system.”
1. Riches/Resources (HS) in the ordinary
2. Inner man = the REAL Person – No Hiding from God
3. We can fool each other – Smiley Face Mask ?
D. SO THAT Christ Can Live in Us – Ephesians 3:17a
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith
1. “At Home” (Revelation 3:14)
2. Faith is the conduit – an ACTION word
III. To Know Unknowable Love – Ephesians 3:17b-19
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
A. God is Love and His Love is beyond Comprehension
B. Yet We Can KNOW/EXPERIENCE God’s Love (in hearts by faith and presence of HS)
C. That Love Compels Us
1. Another ACTION Word
2. When We love our neighbors we become like God – not for what we get but what we give
IV. To Be Filled with the Fullness of God – Ephesians 3:19b
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
A. “Crammed Full” – to the brim
B. The Presence of Deity – Colossians 2:6-10
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
1. Recipients of Organ Donors know what a second chance at life is [Kelsey in St. Petersburg is a “Living Donor,” donating ½ of her liver to her father
2. When Jesus dwells in our hearts through faith and the power of his Spirit, we understand second chances and real life – God wants that for you and your neighbor so PRAY!
3. Daniel Henderson mentioned how we spend more time praying to keep ill Christians out of heaven than lost people out of hell – it’s too true.
4. Prayer
