Prayer and Preperation

In order to grow as children of God our understanding about the power of God and the Love for Christ has to be experiential.

Paul is praying that the believers will understand the power that has been given to us by God through the love of Christ.

V.14 a: Posture

FOR THIS REASON - Everything preceeding

This section is the hinge by which the who book of Ephesians swings. Paul is pointing to all preceeding sections-

1. Gods Rich Blessings in Christ that were given before the foundation of the world.

2. God power in Christ as He is seated at the right Hand of the Father in Heaven

3. How you were brought from death to life in Christ

4. How you are United with Christ - both Jew and Gentile now made one

5. He is also picking up the First thought V. 1- but Goes off into a little proclamation of How God changed Him and showed Him and equipped him to boldly proclaim Christ.

That is what brings him to his knees!

orthodoxy leads to orthopraxy

Proper theology will lead us to Doxology

Kneel

We speak with our mouths, with our heart, with our bodies, and with our actions.

The Jew Stood

Jesus fell on his face

Every Knee will bow

Philippians 2:10“10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth—”

Isaiah 45:23“23 By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.”

V.14 b-15 Position

the normal practice of the New Testament is to address prayer to the Father, in and through the Son, and in the power of the Spirit.

Ian Hamilton, Ephesians, ed. Joel R. Beeke and Jon D. Payne, The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2017), 114–115.

V.16-19: Petition

To Be Strengthened with Power

Christ may Dwell in Your hearts

Comprehension of God’s Love

Filled with the Fulness of God

V.17-18: Purpose

Rooted and Firmly Established

Agricultural Term

Ephesians 3:18 “18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,”

The depth of the roots of the tree will determine the strength to ancore it self to the ground.

Established in God’s Love

Take Root in Christ bear fruit in Life

Isaiah 37:31 “31 The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.”

V: 16, 20: Power

All of Us Want Power- Power to live the Christ life

Spirital Power

Not Physical Not Emotional

We want to pray to have the rain stop we want to pray to heal somone we want multiturs to get saved we watn real POWER

Romans 15:13 “13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 “7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. 10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”

Philippians 4:13 “13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” -

Colossians 1:11–12 “11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.”

Colossians 1:29 “29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.” WIthout the Power of God we cannont live this Christian Life

Without the Power of God we will not be motivated to serve Him

To Worship Him

TO Trust Him

TO believe Him!

Without the power oF God you would never Be content

Stop thinking that theses little steps you are making in your faith are your doing.

The Saduscess and the Resurrection - Mt 22:29 29 Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God.

Theology must always end in doxology: the joyful praise of our Creator; otherwise we have not truly studied the things of God.”

In order to grow as children of God our understanding about the power of God and the Love for Christ has to be experiential.