So That Prayers

from our parents, relatives, pastors—I remember a former pastor here Tom Murphy—I loved, loved, loved hearing him pray; it’s like he got a hold of God.

Back at our last church in Lima, we had a consistent prayer group—and one of the prayer warriors there was a man in his early 60’s Ross-- who had been through a heart transplant, big white beard, walked with a cane…and I loved hearing him pray and learned a lot about prayer.

(Turn to your neighbor—who is someone who modeled prayer for you—and you learned about prayer from)

Today, we are going to hear from a senior saint about prayer—it’s not Tom or Ross.

It’s God’s Word—specifically through the Apostle Paul.

Paul has a prayer to the church in Ephesus that He prays for them—and we can pray for others.

Ephesians 3:14–21 NIV

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

we see 2 big requests and 2 big so that...

2 big requests and 2 big so thats

Request #1: (vs. 16) That God might strengthen us with power through His Holy Spirit in our inner being.

it’s a request for power!

look at verse 16 again

Ephesians 3:16 NIV

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

notice 2 things—it’s through the Holy Spirit, that if you are a Christian, you have the very presence and power of God. so through the Holy Spirit—God the Father might give you this strength; The reference to the Holy Spirit means that God’s power available and accessible to you now

and 2nd—it’s in your inner being. this is perhaps the biggest surprise!

When you and I think about power—and God’s power throughout the Bible—certainly we think of mighty ways that God showed; he spoke and creation happened. He sent the 10 plagues and parted the Red Sea. He wiped out entire armies. He calmed the sea; raised the dead; those are clear examples of power;

and so when you and I think about power—we often think about those big displays of power that God has done and still can do.

but Paul doesn’t pray for that here....he prays that they would be strengthened with God’s power in their INNER being.

internally---in the deepest parts of their being, heart, and character...

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NIV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Paul’s body, beaten with rods, whipped, shipwrecked, stoned…he knew the outward decay.

he was praying for inward renewal.

one theologian pastor says most of us can think of senior saints—who as their physical strength is reduced outwardly, they become more radiant, steadfast and beautiful inwardly. their memories may be fading; arthritis has kicked in; maybe they can’t even get out of the house that often. One such person that was a missionary and pastor who has since gone to be with the Lord—Jonathan Amstutz who passed away in the last year. Though his outward body was wasting away, his inner man was renewed. At his funeral, his son spoke that as you get older you become more of yourself intensely —you can’t help it. Jonathan became more his inner man—humility, grace, Scripture came leaking out. despite his outward body wasting away---his inner beauty—the beauty of Christ shone forth.

on the other hand, we also know people that as they age, and the outer body gets worse, their inner being comes forth pretty ugly. it’s almost as if when they were younger, their outward health and circumstances of life kept their inner person in check—but now that it’s gone—their inner person is shining forth pretty ugly.

I am not that old but I do feel not as young as I used. The more I play with my young kids on the floor, I don’t feel as flexible as I used to. I don’t have as much hair as I used to. in fact, when I wore a cowboy hat 2 Sundays ago—many of you said “how young I looked” that’s because it covers up my bald spots—so I wear that hat everywhere.

when I play basketball now—I can still run in straight lines pretty quickly, but I got to watch how I plant and cut and move.

you feel it too. The surgery of choice over the last year was knee and shoulder replacements. Parkview Hospital is going to add a wing on our church just to make it more convenient! And even younger ones in this congregation—I am reminded that there are many younger ones who have significant health issues—your bodies are fading away.

and so you and I need power---not just for our outward selves—but especially for our inward selves—the very core of our being.

our outward body—no matter how many times it is healed or recovers—it is wasting away—it will go 6 feet in the ground. but my inner man is and can be and needs renewed.

Paul prays for them and for us that our character, our hearts, our inmost being that no matter what is happening with our bodies—or around us—or our circumstances—God would strengthen us with power through His Holy Spirit in our inmost beings.

God wants our character, His glory to shine forth in us—no matter what we face.

we need that power—and God loves to grant it when we ask.

that’s request 1---

and in request 1—he gives a “so that...” the sermon title is so that… why does Paul pray this for us--

look at verse. 17 Ephesians 3:16-17

Ephesians 3:16–17 (NIV)

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

This is so that #1—verse 17—So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

that’s a weird request. Doesn’t Christ already dwell in us if you are a believer in Jesus? Yes! He does—through the Spirit, He lives in us.

so what does Paul mean—Paul is praying that Christ would dwell deeper and take up more residence in our entire life.

He already dwells—but we want a fuller and deeper dwelling.

One of the best illustrations comes from DA Carson.

If you every buy a house someday, most people starting out buy a cheaper house; it needs some work and TLC. Our first house we bought back in Lima…great house, but needed some love.

The back yard had 15 plus trees that most were dead, leaning, how some weird creepy vine growth, not to mention poison ivy and poison oak. So we bought a chain saw, my dad came over and cut them down-he got poison ivy. I did not. sorry dad, I still owe you.

We relandscaped all over. We redid the railing on the deck. We painted the entire interior of the house—every square inch.

we ripped out carpet, redid the wood floors—sanding, cleaning, staining, finishing...

We redid the kitch

were in the process of refinishing the basement.

After 7 years, Jamie and I are like—we really like it here—we could see the fruits of our labor and then God calls us to Berne…to a new house to work on overtime.

but more and more we are putting our fingerprints on it. We live in our house—but as we take wallpaper off (that’s fun)—it feels more and more comfortable. like us.

similar to Christ—we are the home—He is the constructor—and he comes and lives—and over time—He makes us more and more in His image—as He dwells deeper, and more fully, in us. The longer Christ dwells in you and me—the more we should look like Him.

this isn’t always easy, or pleasant (taking off wallpaper is not) when Christ comes in—we need lots of work to be changed into a house that looks like Jesus.

so what do you pray for…when you pray for power for God to change your circumstances—BTW you should, you can—do you also pray for inner power from Him to be molded and transformed into the glorious image of Christ?

thankfully—God has all the tools and financing for this project.

Ephesians 3:16 NIV

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

glorious riches!

that term is used back in verse 8—and it is a reference to talk about Jesus and his grace, particularly all that God has secured for us in Christ.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

think of all that God has given us—new life with God. forgiveness. the Holy Spirit, reconciliation with God and others; a church family. eternal life. no condemnation. a new identity; new power for living; spiritual gifts; incredible purpose, joy; he has secured for us a place in heaven— our future is secure for eternity—best retirement plan ever.

out of all those glorious riches—He can make you strengthened with power by His Spirit in your inner being.

so to summarize the first big request and the first so that...it one phrase—Christ-like transformation

Do you pray for this for you?

Do you pray for this for others?

certainly it is not wrong, it’s encouraged for you and I to pray for circumstances—but let us pray for outward transformation and inward transformation.

where has Christ taken residence—in your life? maybe you let him in the living room or hallway? but what about the kitchen? the bathroom, the bedroom?

2. Request #2: That God might grant us power to grasp the love of Christ. (vs. 17b-19)

Ephesians 3:17–19 (NIV)

17..... And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

so this is a 2nd time Paul prays for power again—but again, it’s different than we expect, just like the 1st request was different.

He prays for power—that we would grasp the limitless, infinite multi-directional love of Christ.

power to grasp the love of Christ...

certainly God’s love is what brought us to Him—He so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son—that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

but remarkably—Paul is concerned that they and us—do not really grasp how much Jesus Christ loves us.

this is not merely in our heads—Paul wants us to really know—in our experience, in our hearts, in our inner man—this limitless love.

Scripture is filled with this idea of this kind of incredible love.

Psalm 73:25–26 NIV

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Galatians 2:20 NIV

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

this kind of love is limitless! how wide…long…high…deep…every possible direction.

how do you measure Christ’s love—you can’t put it in a measuring cup or use a tape measure—Paul wants us to be overwhelmed with grasping the love of God.

why do we need it?

that kind of love is transformative. it changes your life! love transforms you. if you have been in love with someone else—people will comment—you look different; there’s a bounce in your step; you can’t stop smiling…and before you know you are re-arranging your entire schedule, being, priorities for this person. it’s changed you! everyone else around you can see it, and notices it—and you love it.

but it also stabilizes you—it produces maturity

this is the 2nd so that.

Ephesians 3:19 NIV

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

that’s simply a way of saying that you may be mature. a similar expression is found

Paul says in Ephesians 4:14-15

Ephesians 4:14–15 NIV

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

this is stunning—you and I cannot be mature in Christ unless we know how much Jesus loves us.

maturity in Christ does not come only with knowledge.

maturity in Christ does not come from doing a lot of good stuff and accomplishing a lot for Christ.

it’s from the overwhelming stability of Christ’s love.

one of my former professors in seminary—they served for years as foster parents. most were young and they had them temporarily. one time an agency asked them to take 2 18 month old twin boys. they hesitated but agreed thinking it was only for 6 weeks.

the first night in their home, the boys were put to bed. absolute silence. the story goes on to show: Curious, Perry crept into their room a half hour later. He found both boys wide awake, their pillows wet with tears, but neither was making a sound. It transpired that they had been beaten for crying in several of the homes in which they had been placed before coming to Perry’s and Sandy’s. This was their ninth home. Testing suggested that the twins were irremediably damaged emotionally and intellectually.

As it happened, the twins stayed with Perry and Sandy for close to two years. By the time they were adopted, they were judged within the “normal” range of intellectual and emotional capacity.”

most of us know—stats show that for a child to really mature—they need the stability of a loving home, and without that, it can cause a lot of challenges and trauma.

but a loving stable home life—from a father and mother, from parents absolutely transformative and stablizing.

how much more so do we need God’s love...

the circumstances of life—can knock you over.

Paul knew in his own experience from persecution, difficulties, being beaten, shipwrecked, bit by a snake, imprisoned…people in his churches turning on him—just how difficult life is.

such circumstances make you question God’s love. “Is he real?” “does God care?” “God why are you doing this? why are you allowing this?” “If you were really God, this would not be happening...”

from our finite, small perspectives, we have such a hard time understanding...

while we can pour out our hearts to God—during such times—we need to know that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

that there is no condemnation for those in christ Jesus.

not even death can separate me from the love of God in Christ my Lord.

and this isn’t a solo project.

he says—that we would grasp this with all the saints—the love of God.

we need each other—each other to remind us. when I am struggling—you need to tell me--”Rick, God loves you.” when you are struggling...”Friend God loves you!”

so this 2nd request—power to grasp the boundless, limitless, infinite love of God—SO THAT we may be filled…maturity.

Request: for maturity

Response:

It’s worth asking—do you pray these kinds of Biblical prayers?

here’s what I want you to do:

verse 14—talks about kneeling…in a moment, I will ask you to kneel right where you are at—spread out.

If you can’t physically, no worries. kneel in your heart.

and do the following:

Pray this prayer for yourself personally. start at verse 16: “I pray that out of his glorious riches God may strengthen me with power through His Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. go through verse 19. 16-19

now pray this prayer for someone you know.

pray it for your enemies...

pray it throughout the week. Last week, I encouraged you to pray Numbers 6:24-26, the prayer of blessing—this is the so that prayer section. pray it as a family, pray it with your kids; call them up—text people this prayer. breathe in and out this prayer.

read once--

Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God is able to do this—work of powerful transformation and maturity in us.

He has the power—and He does it for His glory—not ours.

let me read it again

Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV

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