What would you ask for if you found a genie-in-a-bottle and were granted three wishes that were bound to come true? Graduates, if you could have three wishes fulfilled, what would you ask for?
Have you heard the story of a young man who found a genie-in-a-bottle? This young adult is walking down the beach and comes across an old bottle. He picks it up, pulls out the cork and out pops a genie.
The genie says, "Thank you for freeing me from the bottle. In return I will grant you three wishes." The man says, "Great! I always dreamed of this and I know exactly what I want. First, I want one billion dollars in a Swiss bank account." Poof! There is a flash of light and a piece of paper with account numbers appears in his hand. He continues, "Next, I want a brand new red Ferrari right here." Poof! There is a flash of light and a bright red brand-new Ferrari appears right next to him. He continues, "Finally, I want to be irresistible to women." Poof! There is a flash of light and he turns into a box of chocolates.
(Source: http://www.humorplanet.com/joke.cgi?category=relationships&joke=33 ~Accessed 5-29-03)
As Christians, we know that there are no genies in a bottle. But, we have the awesome privilege to bow before our Heavenly Father in prayer to ask him for what we need. What will you ask for? Today, in honor of our graduates, I want to offer "A Prayer for a Graduate." (In fact, these are requests that everyone—all the Pre- and Post- Graduates among us—would do well to consider also!)The prayer that I will offer will come right from the Bible. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul provides us an excellent model for our praying.
PREACHING OUTLINE
Paul makes three essential requests. We should be praying for these things as well:
I. To let Jesus rule my life, through the power of the Holy Spirit, whatever career I choose (3:16-17a)
A. We can see this request in two inter-related requests that Paul makes:
1. Paul prays that "he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being" (3:16)
a.The ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is absolutely indispensable to Christian living. Why? Because Jesus said in John 16:7: “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” It is the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers that continues the ministry of Jesus on earth.
b. We each have a choice to make: will we live in our own strength or will we “live by the Spirit… and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Gal 5:16) And here’s an incentive: one of the fruit of the Spirit is joy (Gal. 5:22); so living in the Spirit is the only guarantee of true and lasting joy!
2. Paul adds, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..." (3:17a)
a. Christ only comes into the life a person through faith. The Bible teaches that faith is not just a head-knowledge but it is also a heart-acceptance that is evidenced in a lifestyle commitment.
b. Paul uses a word for "dwell" which means to live permanently, not a temporary resident but as a full-timer!
c. Robert Boyd Munger in his very interesting booklet, "My Heart- Christ’s Home" remarking about this very verse reminds us that, “Without question one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is that Jesus Christ himself through the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will live in any human heart that welcomes him. (Source: Robert Boyd Munger, My Heart-Christ’s Home IVP: 1986)
i) Boyd uses the imagery of a home with many rooms to bring out the full meaning of what it means to have Christ actually residing in our lives
ii)How would you react if you got a phone call tomorrow from Jesus asking if he could move in? What rooms might you have to clean out… remodel?
...The Study: the things you let your mind take in… books, magazines, music, and movies…Would you have to take some things off the shelf?
...The Dining & Living Rooms: the activities you engage in pursuit of daily living… Would you have to change your routine if Jesus was living in your home?
...The Work, Rec and Bedrooms? Would there need to changes there also?
...The Hall Closet: Would you be afraid of what Jesus would find stuff way back into the corner crevices?
II. Paul makes a second request: To know and share the love of Christ wherever God takes me (3:17b-19a)
A. Paul asks that we would be rooted (using the image of the importance of a root system for the vitality of a plant) and established (using the image of the foundation of a building) in the love of Christ… How do we become rooted and established in the love of Christ? We need to experience it!
1. Robert Shannon tells us about a man in Dayton, Ohio, who found a unique way to propose to his girlfriend. He hired an airplane to fly over the city towing a banner that read, "Judy, I love you. Will you marry me?" Judy accepted his proposal by asking, "How can you say No to that?"
When we look at God’s love for us, especially as it is expressed in Christ and his cross and ask, "How can you say No to a love like that?" (Source: Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).
2. That is precisely why Paul prays for us to have an intimate experience with the love of Christ…to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…” (3:18b-19a)
a. When we see that Christ died on the Cross FOR ME… Then, how can we say no to the love of Jesus which goes to such great lengths to get my attention?
b. Robert Lavelle says it well: “No one can be apathetic in the face of God’s love--it is the most powerful force there is.” (Source: Robert Lavelle in Reasons to Be Glad. Christianity Today, Vol. 34, no. 17)
III. There is a third request that Paul petitions for and we should remember to pray for as well: To experience the very best that God has for you and never settle for anything less (3:19b-21)
A. Through the use of some interesting phrases Paul highlights that God wants to bless us in ways we cannot even comprehend or fathom:
1. "Filled to the fullness of God"
2. God "can do more than we ask or imagine"
B. In light of this, what will the yardstick of your life be?
“Everybody’s doing it…” >>> Will you be a person who lives by other’s standards?
“This is o.k. for me…”>>> Will you be a person who lives by self-centered standards?
“ This is what God can accomplish …” >>> Will you be a person who lives by God-sized expectations and standards?
CONCLUSION
James Hewett (Source: James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 340) tells of 1928 meeting of the world’s most successful financiers. They met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. The following were present:
- The president of the largest utility company,
- The greatest wheat speculator,
- The president of the New York Stock Exchange,
- A member of the President’s Cabinet,
- The greatest “bear” in Wall Street,
- The president of the Bank of International Settlements,
- The head of the world’s greatest monopoly.
Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples.
Twenty-five years later, listen to what happened to each of these powerful and successful men. Tell me if you would like to have things turn out this way for you?
- The president of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died broke.
- The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died oversees, insolvent.
- The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term in Sing Sing Prison.
- The member of the President’s Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home.
- The greatest “bear” in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide.
- The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, committed suicide.
- The head of the world’s greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide as well.
As Hewett rightly concludes, "All of these men had learned how to make money, but not one of them had learned how to live."
Here is the botton line: Far more important than WHAT we do with our lives, is WHO we become in our living. Maybe the graduates are asking, “Is God interested in the career I choose?” Absolutely! But, no matter what it will be… the far more important question is: WHO will I become. Will I let Christ rule my life? Will I be a person rooted and established in the love of Christ? And will I be the kind of person who see the God-sized possibilties?
