Series: Experiencing God’s Riches
GOD, HELP THEM RECEIVE
Ephesians 3:14-21
Paul so desired the Ephesians to receive everything thing God had prepared for them. But he understood that the question was not whether God wanted to give them His blessings, but were they ready to receive God s blessings.
PAUL’S PRAYER (3:14-20)
14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
PAUL PRAYED FOR US TO EXPERIENCE ...
I. THE STRENGTH OF THE SPIRIT (3:16)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
We live daily in a world with powerful forces at work to tear us down.
- Powerful Adversary
(1 Peter 5:8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(Eph 6:10-12) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Powerful Flesh/Sin Nature
(Rom 7:18-20) NIV I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
- Powerful World Influences
o Worldly Friends, Aquaintances
o Movies, Music
o Alcohol, Drugs
- Powerful Circumstances/Life Altering Events
Paul knew well of each of these forces as he continuously battled them, yet he was the man whom we received these great words of encouragement.
(Phil 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(2 Cor 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1) Source of the Strength
...by His Spirit
(Zech 4:6) Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might , nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
2) Quantity and Quality of the Strength
...according to the riches of His glory
3) Location of the Strength
...in the inner man
As a pastor the greatest joy I experience is when I personally witness the power of Christ enter someone’s life and set them free from powerful bondages.
Examples
- David from 28 years of drug addiction
- Bonnie from her husband committing suicide
- Young wife and mother from years tormented from sexual abuse
II. THE INDWELLING OF CHRIST (3:17a)
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
1) Location of the Indwelling
-in the heart, not the mind
(Prov 4:23) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
(Matt 12:35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Many know about Christ, but do not know Christ
James Dobson recently interviewed a lady who had went through much tragedy and is now ministering to others. In her testimony she explained that for many years she was a God lover but not a Christian.
2) Means of the Indwelling
-by faith, not by sight, nor works
III. THE FULLNESS OF GOD (17b-19)
that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
To be Filled with the Fullness of God One....
1) Must be Grounded in the Love of Christ
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
(1 John 4:16-20) 16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us. 20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
2) Must Understand the Scope of the Love of Christ
18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
3) Must Personally Experience the Love of Christ
19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
PAUL S PRAISE (3:20-21)
20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
CONCLUSION
Mary Lewis (Sermon Central) One of my all-time favorite movies is “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” It’s the story of a musician who really just wants to be a composer. Rather grudgingly, he takes a job teaching music at the local high school, supposing it will give him time to write music while providing an income for he and his wife. One of his students is a very serious red-headed girl who plays the clarinet terribly, even though she practices constantly. As Mr. Holland works with her to try to help, he learns that she is the youngest in a family where everyone excels – except her. Because she has tried so hard and failed, she considers herself a failure, too.
One day she comes into the music classroom and tells Mr. Holland that she’s going to give it up and if he knows anyone who wants her clarinet, he can give it to them.
As she walks away, Holland asks her, “Is it any fun?” With a shrug, she answers, “I wanted it to be.”
“You know what we’ve been doing wrong, Miss Lang? We’ve been playing the notes on the page.”
Confused, the girl asks, “Well what else is there is to play?”
“There’s a lot more to music than notes on a page. Playing music is supposed to be fun. It’s about heart. It’s about feelings and moving people and something beautiful and being alive and it’s not about notes on a page. I could teach you notes on a page. I can’t teach you that other stuff.”
He takes away her music and tells her to try it. She tries a time or two, each time coming to a point where her clarinet squawks and squeaks, and she starts to kick herself for her failure.
“What do you like best about yourself?” he asks.
With a shy smile she says, “My hair – my dad says it reminds him of a sunset.”
“Play the sunset.”
And she closes her eyes, and she begins to play – really play, not just the notes, but the music. She is so amazed when she does the hard part perfectly that her eyes pop open and she stops. Mr. Holland shares her amazement and says, “Don’t stop!”
And so, on she plays: eyes closed, head beginning to sway with the rhythm of it. And we know that this time, it’s fun.
…
Mr Holland put her focus on something in her that was bigger than that, she was able to do more than that. She was able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than she could have asked or even imagined. She started playing music, not just notes on the page (although she was playing the same notes, it became something bigger, something grander.)
We, too, as followers of Christ, have something in us that is bigger than we are. That is the Holy Spirit of God. And by His power, he wants to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or even imagine. It’s not that we aren’t to play the notes on the page, but that we are to play so much more than that. By God’s spirit, let us play the grand and glorious music of the King of kings.
