In View of a Call // VBC

Introduction

Read Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Of all of the things I could tell you and of all of the texts I could preach today, I believe that this text is where the Lord has led me.

This is the text for today, because (1) I believe that you need to know upfront that the gospel is central to my preaching and (2) remind you of just how powerful the gospel works in us and through us.

“For this reason, I bow my knees” // Paul is praying for the church in Ephesus. He is concerned that they will become discouraged.

Explanation

Ephesians 3:14–17 (ESV)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—

Who is Paul praying to? “The Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

In this phrase, Paul captures the intimacy and immensity of God.

God can name every family, and God has named every family.

So often, our struggle with our Heavenly Father comes from two wrong thoughts: God is not willing, and God is not able.

Paul’s addressing God as Father shows us a Heavenly Father who knows intimately every family that has ever existed. He knows and cares intimately about every family.

For instance, dad’s who is the only person who can walk into your room and ask you for a drink of water in the middle of the night?

Is it your boss?

Your coworker?

Your mother?

No… it is your children.

It doesn’t matter how important your job is on a daily basis. There is an intimate level of care that a father gives his children. In the same way, God cares intimately for his children.

“That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”

Christ takes up a residence in our hearts, and D. A. Carson likens Christ’s residence in our hearts to a person taking up residence in a fixer-upper.

At first, Carson says, “we are fixer-uppers, and Christ takes every room in the house and renovates it.

The old shag carpet - gone. The new tile floor - check.

The old ratty furniture - gone. New fresh furniture - check.

When you buy a new house, you make it a more suitable place to live. When Christ buys your heart by his blood, he does the very same thing. He tears down your sin, and he puts up righteousness.

Now we have to ask one question about a renovation - what is the budget? You can get in trouble if your renovations exceed your budget.

“according to the riches of his glory” - Jesus does not have a budget when it comes to the renovation of your heart. When you allow Jesus to take over, what He can do in your life is immeasurable.

Ephesians 3:18-19 “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ surpasses knowledge”

Breadth (or width)

God’s love covers a lot of space. You can look as far in one direction as you can to the other and still see the effect of His love.

Every tribe, tongue, nation, and people will hear of God’s love. And God’s love will be wide enough to stretch even to the hardest to reach people.

At my current church, I often say, “There is always room for one more.”

God’s Kingdom is no different. There is always room for another.

Length

God’s love isn’t short term. It goes the length. It endures.

Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

Even when we fail and falter, God’s love remains steady and consistent.

Height

Mt. Everest is 29,032 feet above sea level. It is so high that many have perished attempting to ascend to the top of the mountain.

If you stacked 30 Mt. Everest’s on top of each other, God’s love would still reach higher.

Psalm 103:11 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;”

Depth

A shallow love would give up on you when you became difficult to deal with. But, God’s love stays steady even on your worse days.

God’s love covers the sins that are the deepest and darkest. Those sins you feel ashamed to admit. Jesus sees those, and he loves you with a depth that you cannot imagine.

“that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

“Now to Him who is able to do” // John Stott says, “this means that God is neither idle, nor inactive, nor dead.”

Invitation