Ephesians 1:15-23 - Don’t settle for shallow!

Hilary and I bought a truck in 2020.

March 12, we went and looked at a truck and fell in love.

Hilary is a barterer. She gets a thrill out of it.

The truck was listed for $14.5k

She asked $12.5k, but said “You know, the world is going to shut down tomorrow (COVID)… We’d like to buy a truck today.”

He came back almost instantly and said, “You just bought a truck.”

We should’ve asked for a lesser price!

We settled for a higher price than what we could’ve gotten the truck for because we settled for a shallow offer.

Big Idea: Don’t settle for shallow!

Context

Paul just took a breath from celebrating the work of God in salvation.

Paul heard of how they’re doing as a church from a prison in Rome.

He played a massive role in the establishment of this church, now he gets a great report of their faith.

Since he’s received this report, he wants to stoke the fire.

He responds in worship and prayer.

Stand to read

Ephesians 1:15–23 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Leader: This is God’s Word

Everyone: Thanks be to God

Paul’s celebration continues.

Paul had just finished singing and celebrating God’s work to bless, redeem, and save them.

Though he’s done singing, he continues celebrating God for the how this redemption has been seen practically in the Ephesians lives.

They have a practical faith.

They know that Jesus saved them and would hold them.

Now, they’re charging straight ahead.

It’s active—not a passive, wimpy faith.

Their faith in Christ and love for God’s people is evidence that God has done a miraculous saving work in their lives.

Prays continually for them (v. 16)

You ever pray the same old ways about the same old thing?

Paul here expresses the necessity in prayer.

He can’t be with them to encourage/teach/lead them

The work of prayer is gasoline for the Christian life.

He knows that the only way for this to continue is through the power of God working through them!

Prays specifically for them (v. 17)

Ephesians 1:17 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

For the amazing God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation

The Lord has already opened their eyes to know the redeeming work of God.

Paul is praying that God will continue to open their eyes and deepen their knowledge of Him.

The more you know Him, the more you love Him.

If you’ve been saved, you have the fullness of heaven now.

There is always more of Him to have.

There is knowing things about God, and there’s knowing God.

How much time do you spend mining the Word—Seeking the Lord?

How much time do you spend pursuing His heart in prayer—asking Him to make you more like Christ?

Have you settled for a limited, dim, burry view of God?

He’s revealed a small portion of Himself to you and you think you have it all.

There was a student who wanted to study Zoology under Louis Agassiz

Agassiz asked “When would you like to begin” “Now” *hands him a jar with a fish in it.*

Take some time, and I’ll come back as ask what you’ve seen.

“In ten minutes I had seen all that could be seen in that fish, and started in search of the professor, who had, however, left the museum;”

It was hours before he heard from the professor. He looked at this fish so much he hated it.

So he started to draw this fish. “ My two hands, my two eyes, and the fish; it seemed a most limited field. I pushed my fingers down its throat to see how sharp its teeth were. I began to count the scales in the different rows until I was convinced that that was nonsense. At last a happy thought struck me—I would draw the fish; and now with surprise I began to discover new features in the creature. Just then the professor returned.”

He listened attentively to my brief rehearsal of the structure of parts whose names were still unknown to me; the fringed gill-arches and movable operculum; the pores of the head, fleshly lips, and lidless eyes; the lateral line, the spinous fin, and forked tail; the compressed and arched body. When I had finished, he waited as if expecting more, and then, with an air of disappointment:

“You have not looked very carefully; why,” he continued, more earnestly, “you haven’t seen one of the most conspicuous features of the animal, which is as plainly before your eyes as the fish itself. Look again; look again!” And he left me to my misery.

A few more hours passed, Professor: “Do you see it yet?”

“No, but I see how little I saw before.”

“That’s next best.”

Then he mentioned some more details to the Professor.

“Oh, yes! But that’s not all! look at the fish!”

He made him look at this fish for four days.

By the end of that fourth day, the students were discussing the intriquisies of the fish.

The scales, the shape/size/order

The bone structures

The various parts.

This exercise was to demonstrate that you can observe facts about the fish, but don’t be content with it because there’s always so much more to see.

Church, Paul is praying for us and telling us:

Don’t settle for a shallow view of God (vv. 16-17)

Paul’s primary desire for us is easy: Know God better.

He is so captivating in His gracious holiness to the point that knowing His is our supreme blessing.

Paul had a resume—He was a Pharisee (Important Jewish leader)/educated under the smarted lawyers and scholars/zealous for God’s Law. Pharisee of Pharisee, Hebrew of Hebrews.

However impressive you think you are, Paul is smarter and cooler than you.

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

There is nothing better than knowing God.

It is desperately sad when we get so much knowledge of our professional life and have so many friends that we know well, but settle for knowing so little about God.

Transition

When we don’t know God well, we lose the heart and will of God for our lives.

A shallow view of God leads to a shallow view of sin.

When we settle for a shallow view of God, we give ourselves over to the things that God hates and separates us from a right relationship with Him.

We justify by saying, “Well, God’s going to forgive me anyway” or “At least I’m not murdering anyone.”

This is such a shallow view of who God is.

To reduce His perfection to “at least” or “good enough.”

That’s a garbage view of God.

If your view of God is a limp-wristed wimp who isn’t holy, powerful, or gives into your fleshly desires, he isn’t worth following or submitting to.

The God of the Bible has called us to repent of our sins and pursue His kingdom because He is a mighty King, who is worth submitting our lives to because He’s a good King!

He doesn’t stand ready to condemn you, you were already guilty!

He stands ready to pardon and forgive your sins because Jesus died for it!

More than that, He stands ready to bring you into His family and service to make much of His name!

Don’t settle for a shallow view of God! There’s so much more of Him to have!

Paul is praying that the Lord would give the Ephesians more wisdom and knowledge of Him.

Paul is praying that the Lord open their eyes to more.

Ephesians 1:18–19 ESV

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

Paul wants them to know three massive things

Know “What is the hope” (v. 18)

He asks that they eyes of their hearts are “enlightened” to know the hope they’ve been called to.

He knows the way we “see” in this world is shaped by what we love most.

Our values/desires and fears/hates.

The eyes of their hearts need to be enlightened by God to love the things God loves.

In order for Christians to see the world like Christ does, we need a supernatural work in our lives to give us eyes to see!

Does this make life easier? No.

He doesn’t change the circumstances, but He alters the way we see our circumstances.

This is why Paul is able to sit in prison and worship!

The hope of the gospel allows us to say, “Man, this sucks. But it won’t always be this way. Jesus is coming, just you wait.”

Know “What are the riches of His inheritance in the saints” (v. 18)

Paul wants them (and us) to grasp the “riches”—the abundance of what God has prepared for Himself to enjoy forever…in us!

God can have anything He wanted for His enjoyment, and He’s chosen to enjoy it with saved and sanctified sinners like us!

This is crazy—The God of the universe has chosen, redeemed, adopted, and sealed guilty, black-hearted sinners like us as His children to become the bride for His Son!

God has called Christians to participate in His rich inheritance forever!

You don’t deserve this, but God is merciful and gracious and laid down His Son’s life so that you can have the inheritance of heaven with Him!

Know “the immeasurable greatness of His power” (v. 19)

Paul wants them to understand just how secure their future is in Christ.

The God who created everything—is being exercised “for us who believe.”

Church, Paul is telling us

Don’t settle for a shallow hope in the gospel (vv. 18-23)

His power is shown in three ways.

Ephesians 1:19–20 ESV

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

He raised Jesus from the dead!!!

Jesus was actually nailed to a cross, and actually died.

Then God, being God, said, “Nah, you can’t do that anymore.”

And the dead Jesus Christ, buried and cold, ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

Now that Jesus has been raised from the dead and is our representative, He has guaranteed our resurrection and our place in heaven is secured!

We can know that God has raised the dead before because our Savior is alive!

This means that we know He can do it again with us!—We don’t have to fear death because we know the power of Christ over death!

He seated Jesus above everything else.

Ephesians 1:20–21 ESV

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

We have a real enemy—the devil—who will try to accuse us under God’s law and drag us to hell—He’s so much stronger than we are.

We don’t have to fear the devil, because of where Christ is seated—far above all… (v. 21)

Jesus is enthroned “far above”

It’s not even close! No recounts are necessary!

Satanic powers, magical demons, all of hell!~

Jesus is far above every name and position imaginable!

No one can come remotely close to taking us away from Jesus because He saved and sealed us with His Spirit!

No one has been, nor will there every be someone greater than Him.

Let this breathe.

Christ is the head of the Church.

He rules, provides for, empowers, and uses His church in the world.

Jesus fills the whole universe with His presence and has chosen His church to express His power to the world!

He is intensely present with every believer in His church and gives us salvation, His holiness, and His gifts.

Jesus died to save His church, His body.

Now all of God’s resurrection power is displayed in His people who trust in the gospel!

The sovereign, Triune God of the universe wants you to have this confidence in the hope that He has given you in Christ, that if you believe and follow Jesus you will share in His inheritance in heaven because of His great power over our sins!

A shallow hope in the gospel leads to a hopeless view of the world.

Some are unimpressed because of a shallow faith.

There is so much more to be had in the Lord.

If you’re not a Christian, you don’t have to settle for a shallow view of God or a shallow life anymore.

You don’t have to live in the guilt/shame of your past anymore.

You can experience the abundant life that is offered by believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for your sins and rose again three days later and who sits at the Father’s right hand and rules and reigns right now.

Take the Next Step

Rely on God’s power and live by treasuring your inheritance.

Live and grow in the knowledge of God

Write down a plan to grow in your knowledge of God (and commit to it)

Ask the Lord to give you wisdom and knowledge and to help you be a better Bible reader. Ask Him to be more present in prayer.

Pick a person to share your deep faith with.

“Something has happened to me and God is bigger than I thought He was.

This is the most important knowledge and reality every (Necessary)