The Power – ONE Family in Christ

Ephesians 3:14-23

INTRODUCTION –

  1. Review Chapter 3:1-12
  1. Paul, a prisoner of Christ for the sake of the Gentiles. v 1
  1. The mystery revealed - Jews and Gentiles become one in Christ. Everything changes! v 2-9
  1. By our love for one another, God’s wisdom is made known to the entire world. v 10-13
  1. Review Chapter 3:13
  2. Therefore do not be discouraged because of my sufferings. How?
  1. His glorious riches for us in Christ.
  1. The One Thing – Glory in the Church – Through ALL Nation and ALL Generations in Christ!
  2. The single greatest cause of atheism today is “Christians” who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and deny Him by their lifestyles. See Romans 2:24
  1. Question – Is there a problem here? Hear NO evil, see NO evil, fail to speak out against evil.
  1. LIFE Application –Open your ears. Open your eyes. Open your mouth. See Luke 10:30-37
  1. KNEEL BEFORE THE FATHER (3:14-15)
  1. Our Posture in Prayer – v 14a

For this reason I kneel before the Father…

  1. In prayer, Paul “bows his knee”, a posture of humility/poor in spirit commonly found throughout the Scriptures. Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; 20:36; 21:5
  1. Before God our Father. He is not the God and Father of one race or ethnicity. See Matthew 6:9
  1. LIFE Application – The gift of prayer is knowing our Father. Come to Him with confidence, and in humility. See Matthew 5:3
  1. The Whole Family – .v 15

From whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

  1. Paul is inspired by God the Father’s new family in Christ. ALL Nations, one family from every race, culture and class. We are ALL family because God is our Father through Christ Jesus. See Ephesians 1:5-6
  1. Glory to God through Christ in His church – ALL nations living in love and unity as one family.
  1. LIFE Application – By our love for one another ALL the world will know that we are His family, His church!
  1. FOUR STEPS OF PAUL’S PASSIONATE APPEAL – (3:16-19)
  1. Step #1 – Paul Prays for Our Inner Strength! v 16-17

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…

  1. Out of His glorious riches. Ephesians 1
  1. Prays that the Disciples would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit binds us together as one in Christ. God’s power is in the family, not individuality.
  1. Pray for what is important – The outer man/woman is wasting away. The inner man/woman is being renewed day by day. Ref 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Is Shaq still playing in the N.B.A.? Why not?
  1. LIFE Application – Live from the inside out. God cares only for the inner man/woman. See Mark 7:14-23. Pray for the inner man/woman to conform to pattern of Christ Jesus!
  1. Step # 2 – Paul Prays For Christ to Dwell in Our Hearts. v 17

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love…

  1. We are the Temple of the living God! See Ephesians 2:11-22. Paul prays for the Spirit of Christ to dwell in our hearts with ever increasing measure!
  1. Rooted and established in love – This suggests a steady position, a habit of faith and love. Are you an Oak Tree or a Sequoia?
  1. Question – Is your heart a pleasant place for Christ to dwell? Read ahead – Ephesians 4:29-32

Ephesians 2:21-22. In Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Christ you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

  1. LIFE Application – May our hearts and so our family be a pleasant place for God and for us to live together as one family in Christ.
  1. Step #3 – Paul Prays to Us Grasp His Love v 17b-18

Together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge...

  1. Important – Paul prays that we would grasp the love of Christ “together with ALL the saints.” Together as one family in Christ we can grasp or take hold of Christ’s love for us. No one walks alone in Christ. If you do, perhaps you need to study John 13:34-35.
  1. LIFE Application – Understanding the deep love of Christ does not happen with lone ranger Christianity. We need one another deeply. Together we have a greater opportunity to experience His love as a family.
  1. Illustration – The Pastor and the member who walked away.
  1. Step #4 – Paul Prays for Us to be Filled v 19

That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

  1. God has adopted us into His family in Christ Jesus that we might become like Him. We can be transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory for ALL the world to see. What will they see? Division or unity?
  1. Live INSPIRED – Through our love for one ALL the world can see God, His wisdom and His glory in the church.
  1. Remember – The single greatest cause of atheism today is “Christians” who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and deny Him by their lifestyles. See Romans 2:24
  1. LIFE Application – This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” May we strive together to be filled with the fullness of God.
  1. THE TIMELESS ROLE OF THE CHURH. (3:20-21)

A.Glory to God in the Church – Nothing is Impossible for God. v 20

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

  1. Paul ends Ephesians 1-3 by showing us the timeless role of the church through ALL generations – Giving honor and praise to God in word and deed. Great or small, in all things God is glorified in His church!
  1. God is able to do immeasurably more… Far beyond our imagination!

According to the power that works in us. See Ephesians 1:19; 3:16

  1. Turning Point – It is time for us to dream bigger dreams than ever before. Plant churches, start orphanages, love deeper and so on because our faith is inspired by the greatness of our Father!

See the GLVC church reach over 700 by 2020.

B.Glory to God in Christ Through ALL Generations! .v 21

  1. Paul sees “the church” as the means by which much glory can be given to God through ALL generations!
  1. Glory to God in the YF Teen Ministry! It’s MY Turn!

CONCLUSION – ALL Generations in Christ Bring Glory to God in Christ Jesus –

  1. Because of His rich mercy and grace! May His grace inspire you to share the mystery of one new man/His true church in Christ. Here there is no black, white, yellow or red. We are ALL nations, one family in Christ.
  1. Prepare for Ephesians 4-6 – Ephesians 4-6 is all about our action/work in response to His grace and love.