THE CHALLENGE WE FACE

Ephesians 3:13-21

The Apostle Paul did not look upon believers as converts but as disciples. A disciple is a learner. They were to…

  • A follower of Christ
  • Become like their Master
  • Be willing to deny themselves and take up there cross

The bottom line in all of the Pauline Epistles was the living of the Christian Life! Paul was concerned about the conversion of sinners, but he was also concerned about the conduct of the saints.

As you read the letter that Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, you will find include in this book two different prayers that Paul prayed for the saints at Ephesus.

(1) A PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT…1:15-23

A. The Theme of this Prayer…v. 18

…that ye may know

B. The Thought of this Prayer

…Know who you are in Christ Jesus

1. His Person…Christ

2. Our Position…Christian

C. The Truth in this Prayer

…Paul is praying that the Holy Spirit that dwells in them would enlighten them and open their eyes through illumination. Illumination is the work of the Holy Spirit whereby He enlightens us to WHO HE IS and WHAT WE ARE in Christ Jesus.

(2) A PRAYER FOR ENABLEMENT…3:14-21

A. The Motive of the Prayer…v. 18

…May be able

B. The Meaning of the Prayer

…Be who you are in Christ Jesus

  • In practice be what you are positionally.
  • Be who and what you are in Christ Jesus.
  • Live up to the level of your spiritual position in Christ Jesus
  1. Be strengthened
  2. Be rooted and grounded
  3. Be able
  4. Be filled

In this prayer you will notice four ‘THAT’S’. I want to preach from these four that petitions and challenge you as a church corporately and as a Christian individual to be who you are in Christ Jesus. In order to be what you are in Christ Jesus, you must apply these truths to your life.

I. THE THAT OF ENABLEMENT…v. 16

…That we would be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man!

A. The Thought He Shares

…We have an inner man and an outer man. We have an inner person and an outer person.

*2 Corinthians 4:16

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

  • There is an outward man that you can see that is perishing.
  • There is an inward man that you can’t see that is to be renewed day by day….that is where God has come…that is where God lives…that is where spiritual life exists…that is where God is at work.

B. The Truth He States

God has placed the Holy Spirit in us to help us be what we should be.

  • YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIVE IN YOUR OWN STRENGHT!
  • YOU CAN’T LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN YOUR OWN STRENGHT!
  • YOU LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!
  1. Everyday we must look to the Holy Spirit for help.
  2. Everyday we must lean on the Holy Spirit for strength.

…We must admit that we are weak. We cannot face the temptations; we cannot deal with the persecution. WE MUST PRAY…HOLY SPIRIT YOU ARE IN ME, YOU ARE THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT THAT DWELT IN THE LORD JESUS, AND I CLAIM THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE FOR JESUS TODAY!

II. THE THAT OF ENTRONEMENT…v. 17

…That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.

A. What Paul is not Saying

…Paul is not talking about salvation. He is writing to saved people. They are already saved.

B. What Paul is Saying

…The key word is dwell. It means to settle down, to be perfectly at home. He is praying that Christ might be at home in our hearts.

  • He is present in the heart of every believer
  • He is prominent in the heart of some believers
  • But is He preeminent in your heart?

*ILL…We have a missionary family from Oklahoma in our services today and tonight. They came home with us after church for lunch. Both Annette and I said to them…MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

  • They did not go in our kitchen and open the refrigerator and cabinets.
  • They did not go in our bedroom and open our closets and open our dresser drawers.
  • They did not get in my wife’s pocketbook, my billfold, or checkbook.

THEY DID NOT HAVE FULL ACCESS! Paul is praying that these Ephesian believers will allow the Lord Jesus full access to every room of their heart and life.

S. D. Gordon wrote…In every heart there is a throne and a cross. If self is on the throne, Christ is one the cross. If Christ is on the throne, then self is on the cross. Paul prays that these Ephesian believers will enthrone Christ. That Christ will feel at home in their hearts.

***We must everyday open up all the rooms of our heart. We must every day pray a prayer like this…

Dear Lord,

  • I give my eyes to you today to see for you.
  • I give my mind to you today to think for you.
  • I give my ears today to hear for you.
  • I give my lips to speak for you.
  • I give my hands to work for you.
  • I give my feet to walk for you.
  • I give my heart to love for you.
  • I give my total being to live and serve you.

III. THE THAT OF ENLIGHTENMENT…v. 18

…That ye being rooted and grounded in love…

A. The Explanation of Love

1. Agricultural Term

Rooted…Paul prays that their live will be like a well rooted tree, rooted in the soil of God’s love. Love is the soil that which makes us grow.

2. Architectural Term

Grounded…Paul prays that our live will be founded, built on the foundation of God’s love. Love is the foundation that gives strength and stability to our life.

B. The Extent of Love

1. The Breadth (Width)…Dimensions

For God so loved the world

2. The Length…Distance

There was never a time when God did not love you! He has always loved you. There will never be a time that God does not love you!

  • It means as far back as you can possibly look and beyond that…GOD LOVED YOU!
  • As far as you can look in the future…GOD WILL STILL LOVE YOU!

*ILL…Charles Spurgeon

  • God’s love is so long that old age cannot wear it out
  • God’s love is so long that your continual tribulation cannot exhaust it
  • God’s love is so long that your successive temptations cannot drain it
  • LIKE ETERNITY IT KNOWS NO BOUNDS!

3. The Depth…Declension

I have heard that there are places so deep that our measurements have never gone to the bottom.

  • There is no depth of human sin
  • There is no depth of human depravity
  • There is no depth of human degradation WHERE THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST DOES NOT GO!

4. The Height…Destination

For those who believe, the love of God will take us all the ways to the halls of Heaven. God’s love will take us in to the eternal realms of the very presence of God himself.

C. The Experience of Love

Comprehend…to lay hold off, to apprehend, and to make it your own. Paul prays that these believers would so experience the Love of God that it would…

  • Thrill their soul
  • Transform their life
  • Lead them to triumphant living

IV. THE THAT OF ENLARGEMENT…v. 19

…That you might be filled with the all the fullness of God.

A. The Challenge

That we might have a growing capacity for God in our life. Our experience of God in His fullness is dependent upon our capacity to receive that fullness.

B. The Concept

Did you ever go to the ocean and pick up a sea shell? You put that sea shell up to your ear and you hear the ocean. The capacity of that sea shell to contain the roar of the ocean is limited to the size of that sea shell. The bigger the sea shell, the louder the roar of the ocean.

Paul is praying that we will open our minds and hearts to the fullness of God. That we will allow God to enlarge our capacity for His fullness.

*ILL…Every heart is occupied by something. You either open your heart to the devil or you open your heart to the Lord. The Lord wants to come in His fullness into your life, BUT YOU HAVE TO OPEN YOUR HEART!

*CLOSING…vs. 20-21

…God is able!

  • God is able to do all these things in your heart
  • God is able to do all these things in your church
  • God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…HOW?
  • ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US!

…Then

  • The Glory of God will fill this place
  • The Glory of God will fill your life

...THIS IS THE CHALLENGE WE FACE!

  • THE THAT OF ENABLEMENT
  • THE THAT OF ENTHRONEMENT
  • THE THAT OF ENLIGHTENMENT
  • THE THAT OF ENLARGEMENT