Love Beyond Measure
Measureless: God's Love • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 34 viewsNotes
Transcript
Love Beyond Measure
Introduction: We live in a world obsessed with measurements. We measure our wealth, our success, our waistlines, our time. We put limits and boundaries on everything. But what if I told you there’s a love that defies all measurement? A love that stretches beyond every known dimension, every human capacity, every earthly calculation. Today, we're going to explore this "love beyond measure," a love that can fill us to overflowing.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
"Paul’s kneeling here is significant. While Jews usually stood to pray, kneeling was reserved for times of intense humility, earnest supplication, and worship. He models for us the posture of a heart completely surrendered to God in prayer."
Derives its name: Children of God (We are all God’s Children?)
We are all God’s creation but not all are God’s children. That is reserved for those that have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are adopted into God’s family.
Where is that in the bible? Glad you asked.
5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
And since we are his children...
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
"The source of this power is God's 'glorious riches,' meaning it's boundless and perfectly suited for every need. It's a strength that goes beyond natural ability, enabling us to do what we cannot do on our own." (Charles Stanley)
"This prayer underscores the absolute necessity of the Spirit's work for genuine spiritual growth. Without divine enablement, our 'inner being' remains weak and incapable of truly embracing God's love." (R.C. Sproul)
The Charging Phone: Imagine your smartphone running low on battery. It can do some basic functions, but for anything significant, it needs to be connected to a power source. Paul is praying that we would be continually "charged" by God's Spirit, giving us the inner power to function optimally for His purposes.
My phone has a setting that when it gets low it turns off some applications and preserves the battery life. I can call and receive calls but it does not run at full compacity.
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
"Christ indwelling 'in your hearts' is not just intellectual assent, but a deep, intimate, and experiential presence that shapes desires, affections, and actions. It's about Christ being at home in us." (Dr. Tony Evans)
"The twin metaphors of 'rooted' (like a tree) and 'established' (like a building with a firm foundation) - Ill: Palm tree hit by car and did not move!
"To be 'rooted and established in love' speaks of stability and growth. Like a tree with deep roots, our lives are meant to draw nourishment and strength from the constant, sustaining love of God."
"Being 'rooted and established' implies a process of spiritual growth and maturation where love becomes the very soil and foundation of our existence."
Rooted and Established in Love (agape)
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
We grasp the magnitude of Christ's love more fully in community, as we share testimonies and experience it together within the body of Christ.
The corporate dimension ('together with all the Lord's holy people') highlights the communal nature of spiritual experience. We are meant to discover the richness of Christ's love in fellowship. - SMG Plug
"The phrase 'have power... to grasp' reminds us that comprehending this love is a supernatural act, enabled by the Holy Spirit. It's not something we can achieve by mere human effort."
What are we to grasp?
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
These are measurements that can’t be humanly measured. (Measuring Tape)
I asked AI: How long would it take for one person to measure the grand canyon with a 30' measuring tape?
Realistic Conclusion: It would be practically impossible for one person to measure the Grand Canyon with a 30-foot measuring tape in any meaningful way.
If we are talking about just the linear distance of the main canyon rim, very optimistically, it would take well over a year of dedicated, strenuous 8-hour days.
If you include measuring down to the river and up the other side, or attempting to measure the incredibly complex surface area, it would take decades, if not centuries, of continuous, impossible effort, assuming the person could even survive the attempt.
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
How many ppl can I huge at once? Depends on how much I open up my arms. Last Sunday Reggie/Travis went to hug me.
Width: Reminds us that his arms reach out around the world. On the cross, Jesus’ hands were stretched around the whole world.
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
It’s length reminds us that His love extends from eternity past to eternity future. It existed before the foundation of the world and will exist after the world ends.
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
It’s height reaches to the very throne of God. Out of love Jesus came down from heaven and lifts up to His level anyone who chooses to believe, because no one can climb up to His. - Dr. David Jeremiah
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
Christ love addresses the deepest needs of the human heart. God loves sinners no matter who they are, what they have done, or where they have been. Praise God!
What kind of Love is this? The Measureless Love of God!
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
CoTH bunching balloon: that you may be filled through the Holy Spirit and know this love that surpasses knowledge.
How do we grasp this? Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus. So I am going to do the same.
Prayer Points from Ephesians 3:14-19
Prayer Points from Ephesians 3:14-19
(Begin by acknowledging God's majesty and your posture of humility)
Verse 14-15: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name—"
Father, we humble ourselves before You, acknowledging Your ultimate authority and perfect design as the source of all life and community.
We recognize that all things, both seen and unseen, find their origin and meaning in You.
Verse 16: "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,"
We pray, Father, that from Your inexhaustible and glorious riches, You would strengthen each person here, not with earthly power, but with divine power.
Fill them with the Holy Spirit's might deep within their inner being, fortifying their spirit, will, and affections.
May this inner strength enable them to stand firm, resist temptation, and live courageously for You.
Verse 17a: "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
We pray that Christ Himself would make His home, His dwelling place, in the hearts of every believer here.
May their faith be the open door through which Christ occupies every room of their being, becoming Lord of all their thoughts, desires, and actions.
May they experience an ever-deepening intimacy and presence with Jesus.
Verse 17b: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,"
Father, we pray that each member of this congregation would be deeply rooted, like a mighty tree, in Your unwavering love.
May they be firmly established, like a house on an unshakable foundation, in the truth and experience of Your boundless affection for them.
May Your love be the very soil from which they draw all their spiritual nourishment and stability.
Verse 18: "may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,"
Grant us the supernatural power, by Your Spirit, to truly grasp and comprehend the incomprehensible dimensions of Christ's love.
Help us to understand its width, that it embraces all people, even in their weaknesses.
Help us to understand its length, that it endures forever and never lets them go.
Help us to understand its height, that it lifts us to heavenly places and gives us hope beyond this world.
Help us to understand its depth, that it reaches into their deepest pain, sin, and brokenness.
May we experience this understanding not just individually, but powerfully together as Your holy people, encouraging one another.
Verse 19: "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Lord, we ask that we would not merely know about this love, but truly know it experientially – a knowledge that surpasses all human understanding.
May this deep, personal knowing of Christ's love transform us.
And finally, we pray that through this, we would be filled to the maximum capacity, to the very measure, of all the fullness of God Himself.
May our lives overflow with Your character, a character of love, for Your glory.
