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.

The area that you have the most confidence in during these transitional days

Second prayer in Ephesians

First one focused on knowing God

This one more on God’s Love

Bridge between the two parts of Ephesians

As we go from the conceptual to the practical....

Doctrine to Practice

Read excerpt from NICOT p. 87

we are in fact what we believe, and the first three chapters review our belief in Christ and our relationship to him……….this prayer bridges into the how to section of the letter……

Whenever we attempt to change our habits or activities in some way....

Praying first is always a good idea

There are lots of choices out there.....

Pray for a reason

For this reason………what reason……..because we are prone to discouragement…..

Develop a regular habit of bowing your knees

- Present tense……done all the time

- Include this in your spiritual growth plan……

if you are just starting out…….want to bow my knees 5 days a week
for 10 minutes a day

On your knees
- posture of respect and dependence, a real contrast to the typical posture for prayer

(Illus. On his knees -

Kneeling in serious focus

Kneeling as sign of respect

Solomon dedicating the temple 1 Kings 8:54

Stephen as he is martyred Acts 7:60

Peter’ beside Dorcas on her deathbed Acts 9:40

Paul saying Goodbye to the Ephesians Acts 20:36, 21:5

Jesus in garden of Gethsemane Luke 22:41)

- a position not the usual way idol worshippers of the time prayed to their false gods

- but one of several common postures in Scripture – Luke 22:41, Acts 20:36, 21:5)

To the Father in heaven –
- there are lots of places to send our prayers, the Bible teaches that the most effective place to send them is to Him…..



Pray in humility

praying from a position of powerlessness -

- His position in prison, Rome probably

- Writing to encourage the Ephesians because they were discouraged about his situation



The Father

The Creator

-

vs. 17

the more we trust him

the more at home we feel with him

vs. 17

Notice the progression....

The more we trust


the deeper our roots


the greater our strength

Focused on Christ – he is the one we are pursuing, allowing hi m to dwell – to be “at home” in our heart
(Illus. Booklet – My Heart Christ’s Home……….)

Rooted - to cause roots to grow, establish a solid and firm support system to gather nutrients

Established - pour the footers – the cement foundation is the image here…….
in love – the ability to put the needs of others first…….

(Illus. Reminds me of Colossians 2:7……)

Empowered – to be completely able – not partially able……to have strength to be victorious over something

Connected – with all the saints – the opposite of isolation…..Christian living is a team sport….

Loved – one of the quickest routes to discouragement is to forget God loves us….and so Paul reminds us of the dimensions of God’s love….
wide – The Lord’s world wide love…..
long – extended through all ages and generations
deep – profound wisdom that no one can completely grasp
high - beyond the reach of anyone who would steal it away

Filled – passive – made complete, total, finished product kind of emphasis…….in Christ

The goal is fullness in Christ and not the emptiness of the world

vs. 18 Breadth – as Jesus stretched out his arms on the cross……..he separates our sin from us as far as the east is from the west …Psalm 103:12


Length – He came down from heaven, gave up his seat beside the Father and took on the form of a man……that is the length to which Jesus went to redeem us…


Height – He rose again from the grave and ascended into heaven, victorious over death


Depth – He went to the grave and died for us, in our place, so that we would never have to be defeated by death

vs. 19

Knowledge of God’s love

Eeperience of God's love

All surpassing Nature of god’s love

Over my head kind of love, like a wide receiver reaching for a pass that is out of reach, over his head, beyond him……

Poured into every corner – a complete filling………

it is hard to be angry and filled with God's love at the same time.....

as a matter of fact its not possible....

Henry Nouwen quote about anger....

He gets the glory

Top shelf recognition

because

He is able.....

To work through us.....

(Illus. remember when you get discouraged about things....God is able to work through us....)

To accomplish more than we can imagine....

Place your faith in the right place – the one who is able – again word for dynamite…..

Expect more than we ask for

Expect more than we can imagine

Through His power at work within us – not our own power

To Him be glory and the two main things that make God famous are….

In the church – in every generation – forever

In Christ Jesus – in every generation – forever

Teach this anticipation to the next generation – the reason I like to pull out the old songs and to tell you the old stories is to teach you, the next generation, the value of prayer

(Illus. J Edwin Orr video site….)

Practice waiting on God…………..which means pray and then get up and go to work………….


Yet we grow impatient, because we aren't doing "anything"

God gets glory

in the church

in Christ Jesus

Forever.....