In The Heart Of God

Text: Ephesians 3:14-21

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (02/24/02)

Introduction:   

Read words of HYMN # 118 Near To The Heart Of God

(All three verses and then the Chorus)

SUMMARY of Series:  -  A place for you in Heavenly Places, In the Household of God, and today in the very Heart of God.

That is to have a living, growing, vital and meaningful relationship with God, to experience God, to know His presence in your life.

This is the second prayer of Paul in the book of Ephesians.

(SEE 1:15-23)

Verse 16 is the key and it expresses the purpose of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.  NAMELY: The strengthening of the inner man.

Chapters 1 & 2 place great emphasis on our possession of Christ and our position in Christ.

“who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (1:3)

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (2:22)

Paul’s prayer is that believers might realize how  our Position (In Christ) and our Possession (Christ In Us) are tied together in our relationship with God.

Ah, Paul cried, “That I may know Him!!”

It is His Spirit bearing witness with our spirit.

The inner man is that part of our being wherein we can know God, walk with God, and experience God.

It is the immaterial man, comprised of soul and spirit: mind, will and emotions.  It is the heart (or control center) of man.

It is this personal relationship with God in the immaterial man that Paul desires would be strengthened in the life of these believers.

He spoke of it elsewhere in this way…

2 Corinthians 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Paul wants the very best for these believers in terms of their relationship to God.

He is asking God to grant this request according to (NOT “out of”) the riches of His glory.

ILLUS: If Ted Rogers / Donald Trump / Bill Gates were to give you One Thousand dollars, they would be giving out of their riches, but not according to their riches.

Let’s look at three characteristics of a strengthened inner man…

I. The Means of a Strengthened Inner Man vs.17

FAITH – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith”

What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is not some mystical approach to God.  It is based on the clear statements of Scripture.

Faith doesn’t live in fuzzyland!!

EXAMPLES from Hebrews 11

ABEL – Sacrifice

NOAH – Ark

ABRAHAM – The land of Promise

What does that have to do with a strengthened inner man?

He already dwells in your heart as a believer.

God has already promised everything we need for knowing His presence and power in our lives,  strength for the trials, victory over sin.

Not to live in the power and reality of these promises is sin.

Romans 14 :23

We need to be like Paul on board that ill-fated ship bound for Rome as a prisoner.

Acts 27:25  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

II. The Overarching Attribute of a Strengthened Inner Man vs.17-19

The Love Of Christ

Commended toward us …. Rom. 5:8

Shed abroad in our hearts …… Rom. 5:5

Constrains us

A. Christ’s Love is Foundational to our Place in the Heart of God vs.17B

Colossians 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

1. ROOTED – Illustration of a Tree  (SEE Eph 4:15 – “may grow up….”)

2. GROUNDED – Illustration of a Structure

B. Christ’s Love is Unknowable apart from our Place in the Heart of God. Vs.18-19A

Vs.19 “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge”

Vs.18 “May be able to comprehend with all saints”

As believers we can know that which passes the understanding and knowledge of man.

We can comprehend that which is incomprehensible to the natural mind.

NAMELY: The dimensions or measure of God’s Love

1. Its. Breadth

All encompassing, the vast expanse – “For God so Loved the World”

LOOK UP & READ Romans 8:35-39

2. It’s Length

From Eternity past to Eternity future!!

Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Revelation 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

3. It’s depth

The Sin of man

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The Sin that sent Christ to Calvary

Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

4. It’s Height

It is heavenly, divine, perfect love!   Lofty, - Beyond human imagination.

Greater than any Human Love!!

He loves the unlovely, the ungrateful, the world of Christ-rejecters, He loves them unto the end.

C. Christ’s Love Secures the fullness of our Place in the Heart of God. Vs.19B

There is no aspect of God’s spiritual provision into which you, as a child of God, cannot enter!!

III. The Glory of a Strengthened Inner Man vs.20-21

NOT “my strength” NOT “I did it my way” mentality.

The closer you get to Christ, the less you see of self.

A. His Glory is in Christ and His Cross vs.21

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Proverbs 28:26  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

B. He Recognizes Christ as the Power that works within Him.

Phil 1:6

C. God’s ability to perform is greater than our ability to ask.

Romans 8:26-27  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Don’t let that stop you from asking!!!

James 4:2-3  ………. yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

D. God’s ability to perform is greater than our ability to conceive of it.

1 Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Conclusion:     (Review)

MAIN PTS.

How’s Your Inner Man?

Are you strengthened with might by His spirit?

What’s the means – Faith “believe God”!!

What’s the overarching attribute? – The Love of Christ

What is it’s Glory? – Christ and His Cross