INTRODUCTION:
What do you ask God for 2005? I used to ask God for new things every New Year, especially when I was still young and without God. Most of them are material things. I thought having them would make me a better person than the others. Then, I learned from the Bible that I don’t need to become better. Our text today, through Paul’s prayer, will teach us what we really need to become a stronger person.
OUTLINE:
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians …
I. STRONG INNER BEING, 14-17 for …
A. The dwelling of Christ in their hearts
· Dwell—live in your hearts to the end
B. The reign of Christ in their hearts
· Rooted—planted & established
· Grounded—good foundation
II. STRONG IN THE LOVE OF GOD, 18-19 for …
A. The power to grasp God’s love
· Being rooted in sound doctrine, thorough knowledge of the Scriptures (like Apollos), you will be able to understand God’s love.
· Why He loves sinner?
· Why He allows bad things to happen to good people?
· Why He sent His only begotten Son to die for us?
· That God’s love does not negates justice.
B. The knowledge that God’s love is superior
·
C. The attainment of the fullness of God
III. STRONG IN GIVING GLORY TO GOD, 20-21
A. In personal life
B. In the Church
C. In all generations
CONCLUSION:
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is also the prayer for us today. Satan is very active today. He knows his end is soon to come. He uses everything that is available to him to take as many as he can to be him in eternal place of punishment. The answer to Paul’s prayer is attainable by our own determination to be rooted in God.
"Strong roots stabilize growth. It is so important for a Christian. But there is no instant way to get roots. It always takes time. It’s a hard work. The process is also slow. It takes a strong determination and deep commitment. You have to have the will to be rooted" (Chuck Swindoll, Seasons of Life). Today, as the New Year is just starting is a new chance to make that commitment.
