July 29, 2018

Ephesians 3:14-21

(Paul’s Prayer

for theChurch)

“This is why we kneel”A vital component of Leadership

A vital component of a Believer

The

Church

Awakened!

Often, we equate what “We believe” with What we like.

We tend to believe that God likes what we like

Much of the time, What we need is something different than what we like.

This shift in thinking will cause us to believe that God is able, while the former doesn’t need God.

14 This is why I kneel before the Father. 15 Every ethnic group in heaven or on

earth is recognized by him.

Kneeling (a bit unusual for Jewish people) was

becoming common in Christian Communities

as an act of Submission to God.

Paul (the Apostle) to kneel stated

the importance of this Prayer for the Church.

The Kneeling leadership was a powerful

character quality of the New Church.

Kneeling stood in contrast

to the Jewish/Greek leaders.

Kneeling states “Willingness”

Jews & Gentiles/Everyone Else

are equal before God.

Patera (Father) & Patria (Family)

word play showing the nearness

to God of everyone involved.

This statement before Paul’s Prayer

removed all “Yes, But”

from the conversation.

16 I ask that he will strengthen

you in your inner selves from the riches

of his glory through the Spirit.

17 I ask that Christ will live in your hearts

through faith.

The Holy Spirit imparts

the whole nature/character

of God into our inner selves.

The nature/character

of God is to overwhelm

our contrary thoughts.

Live in your hearts:

the residence of God

Reside, Dwell, feel comfortable,

be at home in our souls.

Faith comes from allowing

Jesus Christ to feel at home in us.

Faith is largely letting go of the parts of us

that are contrary to the nature/character of God.

The Holy Spirit is God

moving around & in us.

God in Spirit is near

enough to touch.

Inward enough to feel.

As a result of having strong roots in love, 18 I ask that you’ll have the power

to grasp love’s width and length, height

and depth, together with all believers. 19 I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ

that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled

entirely with the fullness of God.Love

of

ChristThe Love of Christ/Christ Love is: Heart Knowledge

Knowledge of Experience

The seemingly unattainable idea is ours to Grasp.

This Knowledge opens our eyes, makes us aware of God’s intent to love us all.

This Heart Knowledge is the sign that we are being fully filled with God.

Heart Knowledge never begins with what “we’re not going to do”.

We’ll be recognized by our

Love for others… by others.John 13:35

20 Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond

all that we could ask or imagine

by his power at work within us; 21 glory to him in the church and

in Christ Jesus for all generations,

forever and always. Amen.

Hope is birthed in an idea/belief

that God is able to more than we could ever imagine.

Faith is strengthened in an idea/belief

that “no asking/question” is to big for God.

Love grows in a idea/belief that all generations are

either in the safety of the House

or wandering hoping to find safety.

Amen,

So be it,

Make it so,

Let it

happen!