Eph 3_14_21 Living to the fullness of God

Living to the fullness of God (Eph. 3:14-21)

Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a sin here and there," but by being filled with the Fullness of God!

Sin in the life of the Christian is hindering us from living the life God purposed for us, one in which we are filled to the rim with His Spirit.

CPS: In order to be filled with the fullness of God we must be strengthened by God in total submissiveness knowing the as much as humanly possible the limitless love of God.

I. In order to be filled to the fullness of God we must receive our strength from God. (14-17)

A. Paul’s Circumstance (Prison)

B. Paul’s Prayer (Strength)

1.His Posture

2.His Plead

a. Grant (verb) (didōmi)

b. Strengthen (verb) (krataioō) become powerful

c. Power (SUBJECT MATTER) (noun) (dynamis) measure or degree

(NB) He prays that the believer be endowed with spiritual strength, which will, in turn, lead to a deeper experience with Christ.

d. According (Perposition) kata) with relation to!

ILL: Suppose a billionaire walks up to you and gives you a dollar. He is giving to you out of his riches. Now suppose he gives you his checkbook and all the checks are signed and he tells you to fill in the checks according to your need. God doesn't bless us out of His riches but according to His riches.

Phil. 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

As Adrian Rogers once said, The promises in the Bible are not mottos to be hung on the wall; they’re checks to be carried to heaven’s bank and cashed

C. Paul’s Purpose

a. That Christ may dwell in our hearts

Dwell -(Verb) (katoikeō) resides.

Not Salvation but BEING COMFORTABLY AT HOME IN OUR HEARTS!

ILL: (Gen. 13:10) (Gen.18-19) The story of Lot (Jordan Valley) and Abraham’s separation and the Lord visiting Abraham and Sarah. The Lord Jesus and 2 angels come to Abraham and Abraham asks the Lord to stay a while, rest in the shade and break bread and the Lord Jesus agreed.

After dinner Jesus had business with Sodom and Gomorrah the home of Lot, however He stayed with Abraham and sent the two angels to Sodom because He did was at home in Abraham’s tent but not at home in the house of a worldly believer.

ABRAHAM LIVED A LIFE OF SUBMISSION TO GOD WHILE LOT WAS LOOKING OUT FOR HIS OWN INTEREST

b. that we be established in love.

Love (noun) (agapē)

WHAT OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE IS BUILT UPON

Rooted (verb) (rhizoomai) firmly planted

ILL: Lemon Tree

Grounded (verb) (themelioō) established.

ILL: Building a house

APP: We need strength from God in order for Him to dwell fully in our hearts and be established firlmly UPON His love. This can only take place by submissive faith

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

We yield our will in order to be strengthened and increasingly allow Jesus to govern our lives. Spiritual Strength is the yielding of power to the True Power, the Holy One of God!

II. In order to be filled to the fullness of God we must know the limitless love of God. (18 -21)

This text comes to a head here and we learn why we need spiritual strength, its so we can comprehend the incomprehensible love of God.

Comprehend (Verb) (katalambanomai) this is more than understanding its laying hold of. Getting your hands on and in this context its getting a hold of God love as best as humanly possible.

A. The Dimensions of God’s Love (Unable to reach the fullness of)

1.Breadth (unable to cross)

2.Lenghth (unable to reach the end of)

3.Depth (Unable to reach the bottom of)

4.Height (Unable to climb over

Surpasses (hyperballō) Knowledge (gnōsis) BEYOND KNOWLEDGE

We are called to lay hold of the incomprehensible abounding love of God as our life’s pursuit! knowing it through personal experience.

B. The result

being filled to the fullness of God, coming into the image of Christ Jesus by being endowed with the Holy Spirit!

Con: We live bankrupt among the limitless riches of God’s Glory, He is able and willing to do far above what our sin damaged minds can ask for or think of and all glory belongs to Him forever and ever

APP: Submit and Swim