New Testament - EPHESIANS 3:14-21 - (Paul's Prayer for the Church) - CC Windward - Pastor Tim

New Testament - EPHESIANS 3:14-21 - (Paul's Prayer for the Church) - Calvary Chapel Windward - OAHU, HAWAII - Pastor Tim Newman - From Local Olelo / Oceanic / Time Warner Cable show "A View from Calvary" - Episode #: - Original Air Date: 07/20/2015 A.D.

PASTOR TIM's NOTES:

Ephesians 3:14-21
“Paul’s Prayer for the Church”
Vs. 14-19
I. There is a reason for Paul’s prayer.
From verses 2 to 13 we have just had a parenthesis.
So the reason for the prayer must be before vs. 1 of Chapter 3.
In Chapter two we have the themes of
Grace and Peace
All of that leads up to vs. 18
Is it necessary to kneel when we pray?
Paul felt that in praying for the church it was appropriate to kneel.
Why?
I think that the revelation of the church to Paul that he has been discussing was so
overwhelming that he needed to get on his knees to thank God and pray.
It is to the Father that he prays.
It is to the resources of the Father that he appeals.
II. There is an agenda in Paul’s prayer.
1. The Prayer is for Strength
That power will come through The Sprit to our inner being.
2 Cor 4:16-17
The solution for discouragement for the Christian is to be strengthened in the “inner man”
This strength comes from the Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:11-13
Will I feel better then after I have received the Holy Spirit?
No! Your emotions are part of your soul, which are your mind, will and emotions.
But you will be strengthened in your inner man or your spirit.
So That Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith.
As we grow in strength spiritually we grow in our captivity to have more of the Lord in our
lives.
Paul is praying that Christ would be able to settle down in our lives.
Psalm 15
John 14:23-24
When I am discouraged I need to remind myself that the Lord of Glory has come to dwell in me.
I can look to him in prayer and ask for the Holy Spirit to come and strengthen my inner
man.
2. The Prayer is for Love
Paul uses two metaphors to describe this love.
Rooted is agricultural
Established is architectural
Our lives are to be built upon a foundation of love because if they are then nothing will be
able to shake us.
Please note Paul is speaking about Christ love for us and not our love for him.
Paul is praying that we would grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
Christ love is incomprehensible, but Paul prays that we will be able to comprehend it.
To grasp means, “to take hold of.”
How are we to attempt to grasp this great truth?
“Together with the saints”
This means that we are to grow in this area in community with other believers.
The height depth and length and breadth of Christ love.
The four dimensions of Christ love have been compared to the cross.
This love surpasses knowledge
Paul says that we are to know this love that surpasses knowledge.
The word “know” here is Ginosko and means experiential knowledge.
3. The Prayer is for fullness.
That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Can you or I contain all of God?
No!
But we can be full of God.
III. There is worship in Paul’s prayer.
Vs. 20-21
Now to the Father
He is able to do more than we can ask or imagine.
Now to the Spirit
He is the power that is at work within us.
Now to the Son
May the Father be gloried in the church and in Christ Jesus
Sounds good you say, but will God really do this for me?
1 John 5:14-15
14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according
to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know
that we have what we asked of him.
NIV