Still_pt3: Knowing Him

Mark 4:39 NKJV

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:4–6 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Knowing Christ

Ephesians 1:17–19 NIV

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

3 things Paul prayed for...

We have the hope!

v18 -That we would know the hope to which we have been called...

Colossians 1:27 NIV

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We have hope for something so much greater than what we may be living now!

One of the most wonderful things about being a Christian is that I don’t ever get up in the morning and wonder if what I do matters. I live every day to the fullest because I can live it through Christ and I know no matter what I do today, I’m going to do something to advance the Kingdom of God.” – Charles Colson

We have an inheritance!

v18-The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

Colossians 1:4–6 NIV

because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

[PAYOFF] - This great inheritance is at the core of our Christianity… it produces faith and love: the 2 aspects of our Christianity

THIS is the Gospel! Hope! You no longer have to be bound to sin/hurt/sickness. Ultimately in the end, there is life!.... but not just in the end, even now!...

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

We have His power!

v.19-And His incomparable great power for us who believe.

o Paul said he knew what it was like to have plenty and to have lack, but in all of it, he’s discovered a secret…

Paul said he knew what it was like to have plenty and to have lack, but in all of it, he’s discovered a secret…

Ephesians 4:13 NKJV

till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Ephesians

Philippians 4:13 NIV

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

This hope, this inheritance, it gives us faith, strength, courage and power to face even our enemy. To overcome trials and obstacles.

[ILLUSTRATION] - 5th Century Monk named Telemachus…

Ephesians 1:19–23 NIV

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Living Risen

Colossians 3:1–4 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Paul again with 3 thing:

1. Look up!

HOPE

v.2-Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

[PAYOFF] - Set your eyes/heart/mind - “look to the Lord” = TRUST!

Psalm 25:15 NIV

My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

2. Receive it!

INHERITANCE

v.3-For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God

Receive your inheritance, receive NEW LIFE!

[PAYOFF] - How do I receive?...

J

James 1:5–8 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Be strong!

POWER

v.4-When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will appear with him in glory!

Paul was having trouble with something personally in his life. He pleaded with God over it, and here’s what happened...

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Take Away

1 John 3:19–24 NIV

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Heart = conscience

If our conscience fails us, we still know God is greater then our conscience - we still know his love - and this puts us at peace.

Yes, He know’s our sin, but He also knows our temptation, our struggles, our sorrow, our love.

If our conscience does not fail us, we have even more confidence!

This is the ideal condition of things...

As children we receive!

As children we cannot ask what displeases the Father

Not that our obedience is the cause of God’s hearing our prayers...

Rather, our obedience shows that we are such as can pray effectively!

His commands:

1. Believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ!

[PAYOFF] - How can you believe in the name, unless you KNOW HIM!

2. Love one another!

THIS IS HOW OUR HEARTS ARE AT REST....

True peace comes in knowing Jesus!