Mastering The Basics

My brother-in-law is an electrician - have you checked the fuse?

Ephesians 3:14–21 CSB

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

1. God is the Source of Our Growth

Ephesians 3:16 CSB

16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit,

Ephesians 3:17 CSB

17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

Ephesians 3:20–21 CSB

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

2. Our Place In Growth

Ephesians 3:14–15 CSB

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

Humility

Why - Vs 15

Prayer - Asking

3. The Fruit From God Growing Us

Ephesians 3:16–19 CSB

16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Strengthened Faith

Ephesians 3:16–17 CSB

16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

Rooted in Love

Ephesians 3:17 CSB

17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

Are you satisfied with the depth of your love for Jesus Christ? Hopefully not! Believers should never become satisfied with the status quo. God has something much better for you to pursue: a passion for Christ!

As Gustave Dore’ was putting the finishing touches on the face of Christ in one of his paintings, an admiring friend stepped quietly into the studio. She looked with bated breath upon the painting. Dore’ sensed her presence and said graciously, “Pardon, madam, I did not know you were here.” She answered, “Monsieur Dore’, you must love Him very much to be able to paint Him thus!” “Love Him, madam?” exclaimed Dore’, “I do love Him, but if I loved Him better I could paint Him better!”

If we loved Him better, we could serve Him better

Knowledge

Ephesians 3:18–19 CSB

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The content of this comprehension is to know experientially the love of Christ that supersedes all knowledge (cf. Phil. 4:7). The more a Christian knows about Christ, the more amazed he is at Christ’s love for him.

Filled

Ephesians 3:19 CSB

19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.