Tools for the Trade

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Ephesians 3:14–21 KJV 1900

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Introduction

Illustration: NPR Article October 25, 2017 - More Americans Head Into The Wild Unprepared For ... The Wild

On a fall day in New York's Adirondack Mountains, a helicopter swept over a bog as state forest rangers scrambled below over rocks and muddy streams. It was a bright afternoon in one of the most beautiful landscapes in America, but this was a search for yet another missing hiker. A 28-year-old New Jersey man named Alex Stevens had vanished into this vast wilderness nearly two weeks earlier.

"He's not very well prepared, I want to be real clear about that," said New York state forest ranger Lt. Brian Dubay, briefing reporters at the search command post. "We believe any warm clothing he thought he had, we consider to be inferior."

Here's the good news. A lot more Americans are getting out to hike and camp. State and national parks are booming. But there's a big downside. More people are showing up in wild lands unprepared, without the right equipment or skills. They're getting lost or hurt and that's putting new pressure on first responders.

Getting Prepared-

Like hikers setting out on a journey unprepared, many Christians approach their service to God in the same way. There may be desire and a healthy level of zeal, but many times we lack the substance required to sustain and reach our destination.

Paul addresses this as he transitioning from the heights of doctrinal truth (seated in the heavenlies) to the ground level devotional truth that we all need for daily living Ep 4:1 (walk worthy). As he makes this shift, he again turns his attention to prayer and he asks specifically for the tools every Christian needs to be productive for the Lord.

As we examine Paul’s prayer we will find 5 distinct elements that are essential tools for the path we are exhorted to walk

He prays for Empowererment- Strength

He prays for Establishment - Depth

He pray for Enlightenment - Comprehension

He prays for Enlargement - Apprehension

He prays for Enrichment - Completion

Notice first....

I. Paul’s prayer for Empowerment

Ephesians 3:16–17 KJV 1900

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

“strengthened with might by his Spirit...”

We can do nothing without the strength of God Jn:15:5 - “…for without me ye can do nothing”

Quote: “If God removed the Holy Spirit from the world much of what Christians are doing would go on without the slightest hiccup”

A. It was a patient Strength

“he would grant you...”

The Apostles and those in the earliest assembly understood this truth:

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We must wait for the strength of God - it does not always come in our time but his

B. It was a particular Strength

“…by his Spirit in the inner man”

Illustration: 8th Day gym where I parked for work - these people are strong! I can see it!

Paul is not describing this type of strength!

What is the “inner man” ?

Can the outer man be strengthened?

2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV 1900

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

C. It was a presiding strength

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith...”

This has the idea of Christ ruling over our hearts - much like a king rules over a particular territory

The first tool was empowerment but Paul also prayed for establishment...

II. Paul’s prayer for Establishment

Ephesians 3:17 KJV 1900

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

“being rooted and grounded in love...”

God is love - it is the very essence of his character

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 15:13 KJV 1900

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

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

This is the basis of our foundation - whoever is grounded in the love of God is truly standing on a firm foundation

A. A rooted establishment

This has the idea of tapping into a source of supply

Roots are what go deep and wide to gather nutrients for a plant

Psalm 1 KJV 1900

Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

We must be gathering our nutrients from God - our roots must reach down into him

B. A grounded establishment

This is more relating to our foundation

You cannot build a building without some kind of foundation to anchor the structure

Not only does God’s love sustain us like food and water but it grounds us like a foundation under a building

So Paul has outlined our need for Empowerment and Establishment and now he moves on to enlightenment

III. Paul’s prayer for Enlightenment

Ephesians 3:18 KJV 1900

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

It’s a collective enlightenment - “with all saints”

Each of us have experiences that benefit the other

Illustration: Marty - sending me pictures of the Morel mushrooms he found a few month ago - Can we all explore the whole forest? No. Each of have explored various sections of the territory and have assembled together to share what we have learned - this is how we “comprehend” - or get a full picture

Paul is praying for the tools we will need and he has prayed for Empowerment, Establishment, Enlightenment and now he prays for....

IV. Paul’s Prayer for Enlargement

Ephesians 3:19 KJV 1900

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

“…to know the love of God”

Paul prays that we might know better something we can never in this life truly and completely understand

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV 1900

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

How can we know this love?

Hymn - Boundless Love - Hannah K. Burlingham, Wayside Songs, 1901

Oh, the love of Christ is boundless,   broad, and long, and deep, and high! Every doubt and fear is groundless,   now the Word of faith is nigh. Jesus Christ, for my salvation,   came by water and by blood; clear I stand from condemnation   in the risen Son of God.

Finally Paul prays for....enrichment

V. Paul’s Prayer for Enrichment

Ephesians 3:19 KJV 1900

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

“…that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God”

This again is a great paradox… How can an infinite God fill us?

There is no end to his expanse and yet Paul prays that we might be full!

Can God be contained?

This of course is more about God having all of us than us having all of God!

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Conclusion

Paul closes this prayer with a fitting reminder:

Ephesians 3:20–21 KJV 1900

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Paul prayed for these Christians because he knew what they really needed .... and if we are honest our need is no different. We are so often distracted by the cares of the here and now that we focus our attention on our physical or material needs, when the reality is that our true needs are spiritual.

God has called us to a life of service and testimony … lives that will glorify him. A life that can only be lived effectively with the proper tools.

Are we asking God to give us:

Empowerment - Strength for the inner man

Establishment - A rooted and grounded faith that is standing on his love

Enlightenment - Exploring the vastness of him and sharing what we have found with others

Enlargement - Gaining a greater appreciation for the love of God

Enrichment - Letting God have all of us

I believe that if we ask he will answer and the same Holy Spirit will enable us for service just the same as he did for these believers at Ephesus!