Rooted in the Infinite: Walking Worthy in Christ’s Love

• The Mystery of the Gospel [00:06:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines the 'mystery' as the revelation that Gentiles are fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ, a truth hidden in ages past but now revealed.
• The Unsearchable Riches of Christ [00:07:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the fleeting excitement of worldly things (movies, cars) with the infinite, inexhaustible nature of Christ's riches, which will be fully beheld in eternity.
• Principalities and Powers [00:09:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that the church serves as a display of God's wisdom to angelic and demonic powers, acting as the 'trophy' of God's saving grace.
• God's Eternal Purpose vs. Reactionary Plan [00:11:17 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor debunks the cultural trope that God created salvation for Jews, rejected it, and then 'improvised' a plan for Gentiles, asserting instead that God's purpose was eternal and predestined.
• Divine Immutability and Human Response [00:12:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that while God is not surprised by human actions or learning on the fly, He graciously receives the responses of His children, illustrated by a father's love for his child's artwork.
• Divine Omniscience and Human Response [00:12:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that God is not surprised by human actions but graciously receives the offerings of His children, using the analogy of a father receiving a child's artwork.
• Access to God's Presence [00:14:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Contrasting the Old Testament restrictions where unauthorized entry to the Holy of Holies resulted in death (Nadab, Abihu, Uzzah, Uzziah) with the New Testament boldness granted through Christ.
• Theological Translation Debate (Fate vs. Faith) [00:20:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues for the King James translation 'by the faith of him' over newer translations like 'by his fate,' asserting that access to God is based on Christ's faithfulness and finished work, not human destiny.
• The True Church and Spiritual Strengthening [00:26:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > Defining the true church as the family in heaven and earth, and explaining Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 for believers to be strengthened by the Spirit's power (dynamite) to live out their faith.
• Christian Identity and Witness [00:23:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the anecdote of Alexander the Great to illustrate that a Christian's name and actions must align; believers should be recognized as Christ-like in their daily lives.
• Resurrection Power and Spiritual Strength [00:27:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that the same power that raised Christ is inside believers, emphasizing that this strength is spiritual ('inner man') rather than physical, and is meant to revolutionize how one lives.
• Faith vs. Sight [00:31:09 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts walking by faith with walking by sight, using the example of people wanting Jesus to appear physically to attend church, arguing that spiritual presence is equally real and requires faith to access.
• Foundations and Fruitfulness [00:32:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the Greek word 'temelio' and the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7, the pastor illustrates that being 'rooted and grounded' in Christ's love produces spiritual fruit and withstands storms.
• The Dimensions of God's Love [00:36:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor breaks down the breadth, length, depth, and height of Christ's love: breadth (universal scope), length (eternity past to future), depth (Christ's humiliation and bearing of wrath), and height (ascension and access to God).
• The Depth and Height of Christ's Love [00:41:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains Christ's descent into hell (tasting punishment) and ascension (opening the way to heaven) as the ultimate demonstration of God's love.
• Walking by Faith vs. Sight [00:43:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the natural human tendency to focus on visible, tangible needs (like paychecks) with the spiritual mandate to walk by faith and set affections on heavenly things.
• The Purpose of the Fullness of God [00:44:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that being filled with God's fullness is not for personal comfort or mere church attendance, but specifically for ministering and serving the Lord.
• Walking Worthy of the Vocation [00:49:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines 'walking worthy' as refusing to compromise the gospel, even at the cost of persecution or imprisonment, and relying on the Holy Spirit's power.

• Sermon Illustration [00:07:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy of watching a favorite movie on VCR or DVD: the first viewing is exciting, but subsequent viewings become less so because you know the plot. He contrasts this with beholding Christ in heaven, which is infinite and inexhaustible, meaning we will never 'know everything' about Him.
• Sermon Illustration [00:13:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his young son, Isaiah, bringing him artwork that may not be a realistic representation. Despite the quality, the father praises it because of the relationship and the child's heart, illustrating how God graciously receives the actions of His adopted children.
• Sermon Illustration [00:13:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a young child bringing their father a piece of artwork that may not be realistic, but the father praises it because of the relationship, illustrating how God graciously receives the offerings of His children.
• Sermon Illustration [00:14:29 ▶️ 📄]
  > Historical anecdotes of Old Testament figures (Nadab, Abihu, Uzzah, Uzziah) who died or were struck with leprosy for improperly approaching God's presence, contrasting with the bold access believers now have.
• Sermon Illustration [00:23:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > The story of Alexander the Great confronting a soldier named Alexander who fled battle, telling him to 'change your actions or change your name,' used to challenge Christians to ensure their lives reflect their identity in Christ.
• Sermon Illustration [00:28:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a wordplay analogy connecting the Greek word 'dunamis' (translated as 'might') to 'dynamite' to illustrate the explosive power of the Spirit.
• Sermon Illustration [00:33:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the children's song about the wise man building his house on a rock and the foolish man on sand (Matthew 7) to explain the Greek word 'temelio' (grounded/founded).
• Sermon Illustration [00:35:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a humorous personal anecdote about cursing, noting that one only knows if they have truly overcome a sin when they hit their finger with a hammer and don't curse.
• Sermon Illustration [00:42:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the reliability of showing up for a paycheck with the lack of attendance at prayer meetings to illustrate the difficulty of believing in spiritual realities that cannot be seen.
• Sermon Illustration [00:42:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy comparing spiritual neglect to financial reliability: people reliably show up to get their paychecks (visible, tangible rewards) but often skip prayer meetings (spiritual, invisible rewards), highlighting the difficulty of focusing on unseen spiritual realities.
• Sermon Illustration [00:48:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the Apostle Paul writing Ephesians from a Roman prison, likely chained to a guard with no medical care, yet praying for the church's supernatural empowerment. This serves as a picture of esteeming others above oneself and loving one's neighbor.
• Sermon Illustration [00:49:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a hypothetical and real-world scenario where preaching the gospel (specifically regarding Islam) has led to imprisonment in Canada, illustrating the potential cost of 'walking worthy' and refusing to compromise biblical truth.

• Pastoral Charge [00:16:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > Turn to Hebrews chapter 4 in their Bibles
• Pastoral Charge [00:20:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > Draw near to God with true heart and full assurance of faith
• Pastoral Charge [00:48:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asks the congregation to pray for him, citing personal difficulty and the strain of his current situation (imprisonment/isolation).
• Pastoral Charge [00:51:59 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor instructs the congregation to return for the next session of the sermon series.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:00:00] Read Ephesians 3. Ephesians 3 is a shorter chapter, especially in content. Chapter 1 tells us who we are in Christ, and it's very rich. Chapter 2 tells us about how we are saved, and how we are now of the same body as the Jews, and that we are the temple of God.
[00:00:20] And then chapter 3 kind of rehearses some of the same things and then ends with a prayer.
[00:00:28] And then chapter 4 begins the second section of Ephesians.
[00:00:32] So Ephesians, you can divide it in half, think of like a book, and the hinge, if you will, is the end of chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4.
[00:00:40] Chapter 4 begins, okay, well if this is who I am in Christ and this is how I'm saved and this is what Paul prays for me, then how do I live this Christian life?
[00:00:50] That's 4, 5, and 6.
[00:00:52] And so there's a lot more to preach, if you will, in 4, 5, and 6.
[00:00:56] And that's why it says, Pastor Andy, of course, will be preaching chapter 4 tonight.
[00:01:00] I'm not going to preach it, but the very first verse of chapter 4, which begins the second half, the practical section, begins this way.
[00:01:08] I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in wherewith you are called.
[00:01:17] What's the therefore, therefore?
[00:01:20] All of the previous first three chapters.
[00:01:23] I beseech you, therefore, the first three chapters, the sum of the first three chapters of who we are in Christ, how we're saved, how we've become one with the Jews, one body.
[00:01:34] We are the very temple and habitation of the Holy Spirit of God, of God himself.
[00:01:38] All of these wonderful spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
[00:01:41] We've been made alive with Christ.
[00:01:43] We've been raised up together and made to sit in heavenly places.
[00:01:45] in Christ Jesus, all of these wonderful truths of who we are in Christ, how we're saved, and Paul's praying for us to understand and to get more revelation of the truth that's already in us, and as we'll see today, even praying that we might be filled with the very
[00:02:00] Spirit of God, with might and power.
[00:02:04] Why?
[00:02:05] So now, this is how we should walk it out.
[00:02:08] And that is, again, why it says, I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation with your call.
[00:02:15] Well, what's the vocation that we're being called with?
[00:02:18] To be this Christian, this example of Christ on earth.
[00:02:22] Chapter 3 is the end of that presentation.
[00:02:26] Let's read now Ephesians chapter 3.
[00:02:30] Ephesians 3 verse 1.
[00:02:33] For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles, if you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you, word, how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in
[00:02:47] a few words, whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge and the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto the
[00:02:59] holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
[00:03:02] What's the mystery?
[00:03:03] Verse 6, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel, whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
[00:03:22] Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been
[00:03:39] hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom
[00:04:00] we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
[00:04:05] Wherefore I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
[00:04:10] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,
[00:04:23] to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints
[00:04:38] what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
[00:04:51] Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us and to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
[00:05:06] Amen.
[00:05:07] Let's pray.
[00:05:09] Dear Heavenly Father, we do praise you this morning afresh.
[00:05:12] We thank you, Lord, for return to your holy word twice this morning.
[00:05:17] Lord, we pray now that you would help us, illumine us by your Holy Spirit.
[00:05:21] Help us, Lord, to understand this, the unsearchable riches of your son Jesus presented to us here in this passage.
[00:05:29] Help us, Lord, to have ears to hear, hearts ready to receive, that we might receive not only understanding, but Lord, that this prayer of the Apostle Paul for the church at Ephesus might be for us as well, that you might be pleased to answer it from heaven in us for
[00:05:46] your glory, honor, and praise.
[00:05:47] In Christ's name, we thank you.
[00:05:49] Amen.
[00:05:52] So this passage, as I mentioned, there is a good bit of repeating.
[00:05:57] For example, this mystery, again, that Paul keeps talking about, the mystery being that the church is Jews and Gentiles.
[00:06:05] Again, in verse 6, this mystery that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promises in Christ by the gospel.
[00:06:18] Again, this was a big deal to the church.
[00:06:19] They didn't understand this at all in the Old Testament times.
[00:06:22] And the Jews who were refusing to come to Christ certainly didn't believe it and didn't accept it or receive it.
[00:06:29] But this is the mystery, it says, that was hidden in God in ages past.
[00:06:36] And so this mystery is now revealed in Christ.
[00:06:40] And we see again in verse 8 that Paul, who is the least, he says, I am the less, less than the least of all saints is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
[00:06:57] That's a great phrase.
[00:06:58] As we've been studying in Ephesians chapter 1, the riches of His grace, the riches in the ages to come that He might show unto us through the riches of His grace, His kindness and His love and His mercy,
[00:07:11] the unsearchable riches of Christ.
[00:07:14] Isn't it something when Christ, again, doesn't excite us that much, when whatever, the latest car or the latest movie or the latest fashion or whatever else or, you know, a free vacation or this or that.
[00:07:29] These things are exciting.
[00:07:31] These things are important.
[00:07:32] But the riches of Christ, that's nice.
[00:07:36] What else do you have to preach about, Pastor Joseph?
[00:07:40] The unsearchable riches of Christ.
[00:07:45] This idea that, have you ever watched, you know, your favorite movie, once they came out with VCR tapes or DVDs, right? You watch it one time, it's great. The second time, still good. Third, fourth, fifth time, if you've got that much
[00:07:59] patience. It's not quite as exciting as the first time, right? And if you keep watching it after a while, you can take it or leave it, right? Because you know everything. But when you get to heaven,
[00:08:13] it won't be like that. Because what you're beholding is infinite and eternal and inexhaustible.
[00:08:21] And so when we look to Christ, when we look to God, all of eternity will be searching out His grandeur and His love and His grace and His beauty and His power. And there is a sense in which it
[00:08:34] seems that our capacity to understand will be increasing by His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ, but there is a sense in which we can partake in that and grow in that knowledge even now, and Paul is going to pray for us in that regard.
[00:08:51] He says that's what he's been preaching, the unsearchable riches of Christ.
[00:08:56] And then again we see in verse 10 this interesting passage.
[00:09:01] Well, let me start in verse 9.
[00:09:02] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ to the intent that
[00:09:15] now unto the principalities and powers and heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[00:09:31] This is interesting.
[00:09:32] These terms, principalities and powers and heavenly places, they're repeated.
[00:09:37] They're in Ephesians chapter 1, this idea that Christ has been raised up far above all principalities and powers.
[00:09:43] They're here in chapter 3 again, that unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God.
[00:09:54] And then we'll see them afresh in Ephesians 6 tomorrow night, because these in the negative side, principalities and powers can refer to angels and demons, among other power on earth. And so in Ephesians 6, it's specifically more the wicked side that we fight against.
[00:10:12] But this could be both angels as well as demons. And that's the principalities and powers and heavenly places that might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God. So the church is God's showpiece to the whole cosmos. In his church, he manifests his grace. In the church is
[00:10:33] the trophy of his grace and of his love and of his mercy and of his saving power. And to all of the cosmos, to the angel, these are things that angels desire to look into. Because angels can't
[00:10:48] be saved. The angels that fell are going to ultimately be cast in the lake of fire. The angels that did not fall always will be holy. And so this business of saving sinful and dead man
[00:11:02] is a mystery even to the angels and yet God is going to show forth look what I have done for his own glory in and through us for all eternity very interesting according verse 11 to the eternal
[00:11:17] purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord this is important God I say this because you'd be surprised at intelligent men in the church who teach this erroneously God did not bring forth a plan of salvation, just for the Jewish people alone. And then when he offered it
[00:11:36] to the Jews, the Jews, most of them said, no, thank you. He says, oh boy, what will I do?
[00:11:44] I know, forgive me, Lord, I'll offer it to the Gentiles now, since the Jews didn't accept it.
[00:11:50] Gentiles, would you like to be saved? And then at the end of time, I'll come back and save those Jews. This is not the biblical picture. The biblical picture is that God has always known
[00:12:01] and has always purposed in eternity past exactly what he is going to do for his glory. And that's why it says here, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
[00:12:15] Remember the language in Ephesians 1? We were predestinated. We were chosen in Christ. Ephesians 1.4, before the foundation of the world.
[00:12:25] Verse 5, we were predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ.
[00:12:29] And again, you find the word predestinated and this aspect even in Ephesians chapter 1, this aspect that he has done everything after the counsel of his own will.
[00:12:45] You see, God is not surprised by what happens.
[00:12:49] God does not learn.
[00:12:51] God doesn't work on the fly.
[00:12:54] You see, God knew everything before anything existed besides God.
[00:13:00] And now He does call us to respond to Him.
[00:13:04] He does call us to believe in Him.
[00:13:06] He does call us to follow Him.
[00:13:08] But He's not surprised.
[00:13:10] And when we do something that we think is really good for God, do you think that the Lord says, Wow, I've never seen that before.
[00:13:20] Forgive me.
[00:13:20] But at the same time, if we're born again and we're his child, he graciously receives.
[00:13:27] Has your child, when they are little, ever brought you something like Isaiah's artwork?
[00:13:33] Sometimes it may not be the best representation of reality.
[00:13:38] He says, here, Daddy, what do you think?
[00:13:40] Oh, that's wonderful, son.
[00:13:42] What is it?
[00:13:43] but because he's my son and if you've been adopted no matter what it is that we are doing if it's with the right heart daddy look oh that's beautiful come son praise god for a gracious god
[00:14:02] who has purposed this from all eternity past and because of this relationship that god has given us in Christ. Verse 12, in whom, in Christ, we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. This is very interesting. The Old Testament tabernacle or temple, a Jew would never
[00:14:22] march into the priest. Well, there was a couple that did, right? It didn't work so good.
[00:14:29] Old Nadab and Abihu found out quick, you know, they go in with strange fire, boom, they go out with fire, dead.
[00:14:37] You know, Uzzah touches the ark to try to, you know, keep it when it's not supposed to be on a car at all, he's struck dead. You know, different things Uzzah, that was Uzzah, Uriah the king.
[00:14:50] Uriah the king.
[00:14:52] Wasn't that his name? No, what's his name? Uzzah.
[00:14:58] Uzzah touched the ark. Who was the king that got lepers?
[00:15:03] It's coming to us.
[00:15:06] That's that, yeah, not Uriah the Hittite. That king, I get confused. Isn't it Uzziah? See, these names are tough. Uzzah, Uzziah, Uriah. Uzzah is the one that touched the ark, right? Okay, and he got killed. And
[00:15:29] then this Uzziah, this king decided he did so good, I'm going to go in and I'm going to offer the incense before the Lord. Not supposed to do that.
[00:15:45] And the priests go in and it pertaineth not unto thee to do this. And he's mad, right? Who are you?
[00:15:52] And immediately the leprosy comes out on his head. And then they rush to get him out, right?
[00:15:58] Yeah? And so no Jew would dare just barge in hardly any to the presence of the Lord. And those that did found out that wasn't the thing to do.
[00:16:09] But for us, How do we go to his throne of grace?
[00:16:15] Through Christ, boldly, before the throne of grace.
[00:16:19] Yes, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
[00:16:26] This is a beautiful thing.
[00:16:28] If you would, turn for a moment to the book of Hebrews, chapter 4.
[00:16:33] We find this same concept, I believe it's in verse 16.
[00:16:38] yeah so we see in beginning in verse 14 of hebrews 4 seeing then that we have a great high priest remember i just told you in ephesians 2 as a born-again christian we are priests
[00:16:55] but we have a high priest christ is our high priest after not the order of aaron but the order of those people in the hebrews class order of melchizedek right and so we see in verse hebrews
[00:17:12] Chapter 4, verse 14, seeing then we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points
[00:17:29] tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
[00:17:32] That's quite a phrase about Christ, a truth.
[00:17:35] Now verse 16, let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
[00:17:47] What a transition from we're afraid, we can't go in, even if you were a priest and you were not ceremonially clean, you couldn't even go in.
[00:17:59] you know, but now we can go into the very throne room of God boldly. Yes, reverently, but boldly because we're going not in our own strength, but we're going in Christ and through Christ.
[00:18:16] And you go on to Hebrews chapter 10 and you see that verse 19, Hebrews chapter 10 verse 19, having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest. That's the holiest of all, the Holy of Holies, right? The place of the Ark of the Covenant. But we're not going to Jerusalem.
[00:18:33] By the way, there's no temple there. There's a mosque there, God forbid. No, we're going in prayer. We're going in faith into the very throne room of heaven. Having therefore, brethren, boldness, Hebrews chapter 10, verse 19, to enter into the holiest, how? By the blood of Jesus.
[00:18:52] by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil.
[00:18:59] Remember there was a very thick veil that separated the holiest of all and the holy place and then another veil from the holy place to the regular tabernacle.
[00:19:08] Well, that veil, when Christ dies on the cross, what happens to the veil?
[00:19:13] Miraculously is torn in two, thus showing that the access that is made unto the Lord has now been restored between God and man. Very interesting. Remember we talked about, even this morning, in the Garden of Eden, after
[00:19:29] Adam and Eve sinned and they were cast out of the garden, what was done to make sure they don't enter back in?
[00:19:36] Cherubim with a sword flaming fire to keep them from entering back in. What was supposed to be embroidered on the veil between the holiest of all of the holy place?
[00:19:50] Cherubim with flaming fire. Why?
[00:19:53] The same thing.
[00:19:55] You can't get to the presence of the Lord.
[00:19:57] Your sin has...
[00:19:58] Now with Christ dying, miraculously the veil is rent in two.
[00:20:03] Now we're able to go right in if we have believed through the blood of Christ, verse 20, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.
[00:20:18] Praise God.
[00:20:19] And having a high priest over the house of God, Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
[00:20:31] Now with that, I know we're supposed to be preaching Ephesians.
[00:20:35] Let's go back.
[00:20:36] Ephesians 3, we're in verse 12.
[00:20:40] In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
[00:20:47] Now here's where I'll take issue if you have a newer Bible.
[00:20:51] Notice what the King James says.
[00:20:55] In whom, Christ, we have boldness and access with confidence by the fate of him.
[00:21:02] Newer translations will say by the fate.
[00:21:09] Does it matter?
[00:21:10] In, of, small word.
[00:21:11] Does it make a difference?
[00:21:14] It makes a big difference, doesn't it?
[00:21:15] Are we entering in because of our fate or because of his fate?
[00:21:21] And by the way, the word fate can also mean faithfulness.
[00:21:25] It is only because of his faithfulness and his faith to completely fulfill the Old Testament law that now we are able to enter into the new covenant.
[00:21:38] It is by the faith of him.
[00:21:41] Yes, we must believe in him, but believing in him doesn't accomplish anything unless he first accomplished the work himself through his faithfulness.
[00:21:52] And that is why in this case and in many other cases, in Pauline epistles, the King James translates, and older translations translate more literally.
[00:22:02] The Greek word there is in the genitive form.
[00:22:06] Those of you who know a little bit about grammar, genitive is generally translated of.
[00:22:13] Newer translations use in.
[00:22:16] Why?
[00:22:17] Because I guess they think it makes more sense.
[00:22:20] But of is the more literal translation.
[00:22:23] And I believe that's what it should be.
[00:22:25] because this is all about what Christ has done for us.
[00:22:29] So again, according to the eternal purpose, verse 11, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom, through whom, right?
[00:22:40] In whom, in Christ, we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him, his finished work, his faithfulness.
[00:22:48] Praise God.
[00:22:50] Then there's a transition to his prayer for us.
[00:22:53] He's already prayed once in Ephesians 1.
[00:22:57] He's going to pray again now in Ephesians 3.
[00:23:00] And I wonder, you know, why here in 3 again?
[00:23:04] Well, there is this great prayer that I think is parallel to Ephesians 1 because Ephesians 4 begins, as we'll see tonight with Pastor Andy, telling us what does that Christian walk look like.
[00:23:21] That would be in 4 and in 5 and even in 6 with spiritual warfare.
[00:23:26] And so Paul, it seems, is summing up all of 1, 2, and 3 with yet another prayer that God will strengthen us to be able to walk it out.
[00:23:39] You say you're a Christian, be a Christian.
[00:23:42] Right?
[00:23:43] You heard the story about Alexander the Great and how there was a soldier that was accused of turning his back and running when they came against the army, the opposing army.
[00:23:57] And you know what the guy's name was, the soldier?
[00:24:01] Alexander.
[00:24:04] Yeah, yeah.
[00:24:05] Supposedly it's a real story.
[00:24:07] And Alexander, the guy comes up, he's been told, he said, what's your name?
[00:24:12] He said, Alexander.
[00:24:14] He said, what?
[00:24:14] what did you say your name was you know uh alexander and he becomes enraged and finally and he asked him two or three and he says he you know the best i understand we don't have a video on youtube yet of what took place
[00:24:34] you know ai is working on it i'm sure but you know something to the matter of he takes him he throws him up against the wall, and he says, either change your actions or change your name.
[00:24:49] How about for Christians? What does it mean to be a Christian, a follower of Christ?
[00:24:59] When people observe your life, they say, look, I've never seen a better example of Jesus Christ than Ron Churchill. I mean, just for example, you know, I just use Ron. Of course, he's a good guy.
[00:25:12] Do you think when people think of you, that's the first thing they say?
[00:25:18] I've never known a more Christ-like person than Angelo Perico or whatever.
[00:25:23] You know, fill in the blank.
[00:25:25] Does that work for you?
[00:25:27] Well, shouldn't it?
[00:25:29] Shouldn't it?
[00:25:32] Yeah.
[00:25:32] And so here's this idea before us that we are to be like Christ.
[00:25:41] And this is the prayer that Paul is praying for us.
[00:25:43] Let's take a look.
[00:25:45] Beginning in verse 14.
[00:25:47] For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and in earth is named.
[00:25:57] Isn't that interesting?
[00:25:58] The family in heaven and in earth.
[00:26:01] What family?
[00:26:04] The true church.
[00:26:06] The true church is in heaven and in earth.
[00:26:10] I won't get into this much, but I've said it before.
[00:26:12] The true church never gets smaller.
[00:26:15] You understand that?
[00:26:16] it's impossible for the true church to get smaller.
[00:26:20] The true church is everyone who is truly born again.
[00:26:23] And if they die, they go to heaven, but they're still part of the true church.
[00:26:27] And so this is what he's saying.
[00:26:29] The family of whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named.
[00:26:34] The church, Christ's body.
[00:26:37] So now what's the prayer?
[00:26:38] Remember the first prayer in chapter 1 was not that we would get more, but that we would understand what we already have.
[00:26:48] And what were the three things, anyone remember?
[00:26:50] Number one, it was to understand the hope of his calling.
[00:26:55] Number two, the riches of the glory of the inheritance and the saints.
[00:27:00] And then number three had to do with what?
[00:27:03] Power.
[00:27:04] A revelation of the understanding of his mighty power to usward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he raised Christ from the dead.
[00:27:15] The very resurrection power that God used in raising Christ from the dead is the power he said that is inside of us.
[00:27:22] Wow.
[00:27:23] But he didn't pray that we get more.
[00:27:25] He simply prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened to know and to understand and to get even have wisdom and a revelation of these facts that are true about us.
[00:27:37] and what seems to be implied is that that should revolutionize the way we live.
[00:27:43] Now the prayer is similar, but he's actually going to pray for something to happen in us.
[00:27:51] Not just a recognition or realization or revelation, but if you will, a change.
[00:27:58] Let's take a look.
[00:28:00] He's praying, verse 16, that he, that God the Father would grant you, according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.
[00:28:14] If I was Pastor Andy, I would say right now, that word might is dynamite.
[00:28:19] It's the same word, dunamis.
[00:28:21] Right? Amen.
[00:28:23] And it is.
[00:28:24] And praise God.
[00:28:26] That reminds me of J.J.
[00:28:29] Dynamite.
[00:28:29] Do you remember?
[00:28:31] Praise God for the power of God that we would be strengthened by the power of God.
[00:28:37] What is that power exactly?
[00:28:39] I don't know, but the word dynamite does come from the Greek word, as Pastor Andy says there, that's translated might.
[00:28:46] Maybe that's why it's dynamite.
[00:28:49] Now, of course, it's spelled different, but interesting.
[00:28:51] That we would be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man.
[00:28:58] That sounds like a good prayer, doesn't it?
[00:29:01] Now, he's not praying that we'd be able to bench press 500 pounds that we would be strengthened with might in the inner man.
[00:29:09] Okay?
[00:29:12] For what?
[00:29:15] To live the life for His glory?
[00:29:19] I just, my point is, I guess more rhetorical, if this prayer is really answered, how is it going to change your life?
[00:29:27] What are you going to do with it?
[00:29:31] If God gave you this, that, and the other gift, what are you going to do with it?
[00:29:36] So when we hear these prayers that Paul is praying for us, we say, yeah, I'll take that, and I'll take that, and that, and that, and that.
[00:29:43] What are you going to do with it for the Lord?
[00:29:45] And if you don't seem to have it, if it seems to be lacking or not operating in our life, maybe it's because God ministers seed to the sower.
[00:29:59] And if we're not using what he's already given us for his glory, why would we expect him to give us any more?
[00:30:08] But Paul prays for the church.
[00:30:12] There is no coincidence or just haphazardness of the order of the prayers.
[00:30:20] The first prayer in Ephesians 1, that we would understand, but we already have.
[00:30:24] The second prayer in Ephesians 3, that now that we understand that, that we would have it to the fullest and be filled, as we'll see, with the very fullness of God.
[00:30:35] And that's what we have here before us.
[00:30:37] So, number one, verse 16, he's praying that we might be strengthened with might.
[00:30:44] There's that dynamite by his spirit of the inner man.
[00:30:48] That Christ also, he's praying, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith.
[00:30:55] Now, if you're born again, isn't Christ in our heart?
[00:30:59] Then what's the prayer?
[00:31:03] That we can understand it.
[00:31:05] That we can daily live it.
[00:31:06] That we can walk by faith, not by sight.
[00:31:09] You know, how many times have you heard people say, or maybe even you thought it, well, if Christ was just here in the flesh, things would be different.
[00:31:18] That's right.
[00:31:18] Everybody show up to church, at least most people.
[00:31:22] Like I said, if Jesus, if you knew Jesus, really Jesus, was going to bodily appear in the prayer meeting and pray with us tonight or tomorrow night, how many of you would come?
[00:31:32] Well, most people would come.
[00:31:35] But according to what he said, he will be there spiritually.
[00:31:39] Ah, well, I don't think I'll make it.
[00:31:41] Well, isn't his spiritual presence every bit as real?
[00:31:47] That means we're walking by sight and not by faith, brothers and sisters.
[00:31:52] So I think the prayer is that Christ would dwell in our hearts by faith, that we would understand it, that we would know it, that we would receive it, that we would live it, that we would act and that we would speak and that we would think
[00:32:06] and that we would muse and we would meditate and we would live in our demeanor.
[00:32:11] and as we'll see tonight, we would walk our vocation, we would walk out this life in a way that evidences that Christ is in us and he is the hope of glory.
[00:32:27] And so that's what's being prayed here, I believe, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love.
[00:32:38] Now, rooted, you kind of get that idea in planting.
[00:32:43] rooted in love so you're going to bring the fruits of love out you know that's kind of the idea the root where it goes in the fruit there's going to be a connection and then the word grounded is an interesting word in the Greek to me
[00:32:59] let me see here to Melio to Melio to Melio kind of sounds Italian to me Anyways, temelio, no, it's temelio, that's right, temelio.
[00:33:11] Temelio means founded or grounded, and interestingly enough, it is used, the very same term, in the children's song, you know, the wise man built his house upon a, yeah, and the foolish man built his house upon, yeah, so let's turn to Matthew 7 and see where this word is and
[00:33:34] get some insight about what Paul is praying, Matthew chapter 7, for you and for me, verse 24, therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, Matthew 7, 24, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock, and the rain descended,
[00:33:56] and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. That's the word familio. That's the word that's translated grounded, rooted and grounded, rooted and founded. What's your foundation? Here's a
[00:34:18] nice house. Here's a nice house. Which one is nicer? Well, I don't know. Look at the foundation. The foundation, the foundation is the foundation Christ. Is it the love of Christ for us that brings salvation is that our love towards him. And in the context of this,
[00:34:36] Jesus says there's two types of people essentially, and they represent the two houses, both come and hear. Hey, that's all of you. One goes away and the other goes away and actually changes and does. And that's the one that is founded upon a rock. And so we're rooted and founded or grounded
[00:34:58] in love of Christ, which will ultimately produce fruits and works, as we saw in Ephesians chapter 2, we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus, being beforehand ordained unto good works for his glory.
[00:35:14] Those works are the fruit that come from being rooted and grounded or founded in Christ, who is the solid rock, amen?
[00:35:25] And, of course, that prayer goes, someone mentioned David Jones, in that parable, the storms come.
[00:35:34] The storms will test it.
[00:35:37] Paul prays this for us.
[00:35:38] I got it.
[00:35:39] I receive it by faith.
[00:35:41] How do you know?
[00:35:43] Wait until the storms come.
[00:35:45] Right?
[00:35:47] I never curse, Pastor Joseph.
[00:35:49] I used to curse, but I don't curse anymore.
[00:35:52] Wait until you hit your finger with the hammer.
[00:35:54] Then let me listen.
[00:35:55] right ron foley so the point is you know uh this is this is the test but paul is praying that that will be rooted and founded in in the love of christ that no matter what comes no matter what trouble no
[00:36:14] matter what attacks of the enemy that we will be able to overcome and of course we'll see that more in Ephesians 6 in spiritual warfare. Now back to Ephesians chapter 3 and this prayer that
[00:36:28] Paul is praying for us. Ephesians chapter 3 verse 17, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded or founded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints
[00:36:44] what is the breadth and length and depth and height.
[00:36:50] What is he talking about?
[00:36:52] Dimensions of a soapbox, derby car, a house, a barn.
[00:36:58] What's he talking about here?
[00:37:01] Of our faith.
[00:37:03] Okay.
[00:37:04] Of what?
[00:37:06] Of God's love.
[00:37:07] Okay.
[00:37:09] May be able to comprehend with all saints, verse 18, what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
[00:37:24] So he's praying that we might be able to comprehend.
[00:37:28] And I think what David has said is right.
[00:37:31] This love of God for us in Christ Jesus and usually we think of three dimensions.
[00:37:37] Here you have four in a sense mentioned.
[00:37:39] The breadth, the length, the depth, the height.
[00:37:44] Well, think about the breadth of God's love.
[00:37:46] Look at all the crazy kind of people that he's saved.
[00:37:49] I mean, he's saved, you know, and all of the different things in our lives that we've done, foolish and strange situations that we've gotten ourselves into, and yet his love can cover it all, right?
[00:38:02] It's a beautiful thing, the breadth of Christ's love, that there'll be someone from every tribe and every tongue and every nation represented in heaven.
[00:38:11] We don't even know all of those people, those nations.
[00:38:14] Some of them don't even have a nationality or even a written language, yet God knows them.
[00:38:19] The breadth of God's love.
[00:38:20] The length.
[00:38:21] Wow.
[00:38:22] Remember, we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the earth.
[00:38:25] It started in eternity past.
[00:38:28] And He will love us how long?
[00:38:30] We have been chosen in Him that we might have been made accepted in the Beloved, predestinated to the adoption of sons, so that we may be before Him blameless and holy in love for all eternity future.
[00:38:49] The length of His love, it can't get any longer, can it?
[00:38:53] You think about how far has He removed sin from us?
[00:39:01] How far is the East from the West?
[00:39:05] It just keeps going.
[00:39:06] There's a North Pole and a South Pole.
[00:39:08] There's no East Pole and West Pole.
[00:39:10] It just keeps going.
[00:39:13] And then we have the depth.
[00:39:15] And then we have the height, the depth of God's love.
[00:39:19] He who that was in the form of God and thought of not robbery to be equal with God, made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, humbled himself and took upon the form of a servant,
[00:39:29] humbled himself in obedience even to the death of the cross.
[00:39:34] I mean, that's some humiliation.
[00:39:37] And before he humbled himself to the death of the cross, Because the eternal Son of God humbled himself to be an embryo in a human woman and be nine months in the womb.
[00:39:53] Talk about humiliation.
[00:39:56] The death.
[00:39:57] And then, though he never sinned to take our sins upon himself, though he dies in himself perfect and holy, and yet legally he dies a curse because our sins were placed upon him.
[00:40:14] For the very Son of God who knew the Father for all eternity past.
[00:40:20] Remember, before there was any air, before there was any devil, before there was any garden or Adam and Eve or stars or moons or even physical matter, before there was anything at all, anything at all,
[00:40:32] before there was even time, what was there?
[00:40:36] And God is love.
[00:40:39] And love, according to the Bible, is not selfish.
[00:40:43] So who did God love?
[00:40:46] They don't want anybody to love.
[00:40:50] Well, there is a sense in which he had already set his love upon us, but the Father loved the Son through the Spirit of love, the Holy Spirit, through all eternity past.
[00:41:01] And it wasn't selfish, and it was beautiful, and it was perfect.
[00:41:06] And this is part of the reason why God is triune in nature, and he is the very definition of love.
[00:41:14] and so we see that in God's love he descends, he takes he who had perfect communion with the Father forever on the cross, my God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? There's the depth of the
[00:41:38] love of Christ. We affirm in the Apostles Creed that he descends into hell. Different people have different understandings but I can tell you this He tasted of every last punishment that you and I deserve.
[00:41:52] He took the very dregs of the wrath of God for us that we deserve.
[00:41:57] If he didn't, we would have to pay them.
[00:41:59] The depths of the love of God.
[00:42:02] And then the height.
[00:42:04] I think Pastor Andy will be talking about this much more in chapter 4 tonight.
[00:42:10] But the height.
[00:42:12] When you think about the height of the love of God, what does that make you think of?
[00:42:17] Heaven.
[00:42:17] the ascension. He goes into heaven, opens the veil, prepares the way. He's our forerunner, entered in for us. His flesh opened, the veil opened. Now we have access to God, the love of God for us. Think of what all he's done. Without these things, we would have no
[00:42:37] salvation, no salvation at all. So he's praying that we would meditate on these things. It's so difficult for us sometimes to get excited about these things because, again, we can't see them.
[00:42:52] You know, when it comes time to go and get your paycheck, most of you will show up. When it comes time to come to a prayer meeting, most of you will not show up, whatever reason. But the point is,
[00:43:07] you're not getting a paycheck. You go and get what you think you need, right? It's the same thing.
[00:43:15] Here is this idea.
[00:43:17] That's a wonderful thought.
[00:43:19] The love of Christ is just really great, you know.
[00:43:22] It's a wonderful thing.
[00:43:24] You know, I wonder if that can help me get a better house or a better job or, you know, what, you know, maybe have a little bit more income or this, that.
[00:43:32] Not that it can't, but that's not the focus.
[00:43:36] But our focus is so right in front of us.
[00:43:38] Whatever we can see, we're walking by sight.
[00:43:40] We're constantly in this world.
[00:43:42] We have fears and we have doubts.
[00:43:45] And that's not the way it's supposed to be.
[00:43:46] We're not supposed to be forced and living by what we see, but we're to be walking by faith, setting our affections.
[00:43:58] Our affections should be set on heaven and the things of heaven.
[00:44:01] And that's why he prays further here.
[00:44:04] Verse 19, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.
[00:44:08] This is why it's hard.
[00:44:10] It passeth knowledge.
[00:44:11] And that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
[00:44:14] I want to be filled, Pastor Brett.
[00:44:16] Pastor Brett, that's what my youngest son calls him.
[00:44:19] I want to be filled, Brett, with the fullness of God.
[00:44:21] How about you?
[00:44:23] And we say, yes.
[00:44:24] For what purpose?
[00:44:27] If you're not going to go and minister, if you're not going to go and do anything for the Lord, what do you want the fullness of God?
[00:44:33] You're not doing anything for, I'm not, you know, whoever, anyone.
[00:44:37] What are you doing for the Lord now?
[00:44:38] Well, I try to make it a church on Sunday sometimes.
[00:44:42] You don't need the fullness of God for that.
[00:44:45] Pagans on their way to hell come to church.
[00:44:47] I can give you some names.
[00:44:49] But no, the point is, folks, certainly none of you, the point is, these are beautiful prayers, but to what end?
[00:45:01] If you're not going to use it to serve the Lord, then what is it?
[00:45:06] Just nice language, especially in the King James, makes for good rhetoric.
[00:45:10] Lord have mercy, forgive us.
[00:45:12] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
[00:45:22] Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
[00:45:35] unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end amen notice unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think he's saying you
[00:45:53] can't come up with a prayer big enough that God can answer now it doesn't mean that every prayer you pray you're going to get an answer the way you want but my point is God is able have you
[00:46:06] ever been, we've seen it before. We've prayed because there's a dilemma. It's either A is going to happen or B. A is bad and B is worse. Lord, please help. But God's got a C and a D and
[00:46:19] an E and an F and things that we cannot, far greater and more amazing than we can ever hope, ask, or even think. Praise God for the Holy Spirit that make it intercession for us. We
[00:46:29] know not how to pray with groaning that cannot be uttered. Amen. So I want to encourage you.
[00:46:34] Pastor Andy is going to start preaching tonight about what it means as a Christian how that is to look in our life.
[00:46:44] Paul is praying at the end of chapter 3, I believe, for Pastor Andy and for you and me who hear that in order to walk worthy of the vocation we're with, we're called, we've got to have the fullness of God.
[00:46:58] We've got to have that dynamite, that power of God.
[00:47:02] We have to be able to begin to wrap our minds around, at least conceptually, the great love of God in sending His Son to die for sinners like ourselves while we were yet dead in our sins.
[00:47:16] Christ died for us.
[00:47:17] I mean, what kind of love is that?
[00:47:19] He commended His love towards us that while we were still enemies against God, He sends His Son to die for us.
[00:47:26] He who spared not His own Son for us, How shall He not with Him freely give us all things?
[00:47:33] The love of God in Christ.
[00:47:35] These are the things that God wants us to have.
[00:47:38] Paul, by the Spirit, is praying for us to have them, to be filled with might, to be filled with the fullness of God, to be filled with the knowledge and comprehension and understanding of what the love of Christ means to us, how it works in us,
[00:47:50] that Christ might dwell in our hearts by faith, that we might be able to walk worthy.
[00:47:56] chapter 4 verse 1, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Pastor Andy's going to tell us what that looks like tonight. Lord willing, tomorrow if I'm able, I will continue that in chapter 5. It kind of
[00:48:19] continues that. And then chapter 6 is spiritual warfare. But I want to close with this thought.
[00:48:25] Here we are in the transition before tonight's message.
[00:48:32] I, therefore, Paul, Paul's writing this book of Ephesians.
[00:48:36] Where is he?
[00:48:39] He's in prison in Rome.
[00:48:42] Up until now, did you get a sense of that?
[00:48:46] Would you guys please pray for me?
[00:48:47] It's kind of rough.
[00:48:49] I'm having a hard time here, you know.
[00:48:51] My mega church really is missing me, and it's just difficult, you know.
[00:48:56] No, I mean, he's in prison in this probably, maybe even chained to a Roman guard, you know, probably no medical care or anything else.
[00:49:09] And he's in there praying for God to do supernatural, wonderful things in our life and in the church.
[00:49:17] That's a picture of esteeming others more highly than yourself.
[00:49:20] That's a picture of loving your neighbor as yourself.
[00:49:24] And he says, I therefore, what we just preached in chapter 3, salvation in chapter 2, what it means to be in Christ, chapter 1, the prisoner of the Lord.
[00:49:37] He said, look, I'm a prisoner of the Lord.
[00:49:40] Why?
[00:49:46] Because that's what it looks like to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.
[00:49:54] If it means I got to go to jail for telling people that Islam is of the devil and that Muhammad was demon-possessed and that Muslims need Christ if they're going to go to heaven.
[00:50:08] That day may come, brothers and sisters, the way this country's going.
[00:50:12] Saying those things, even in Canada, has gotten some of our brothers put in jail.
[00:50:19] In Canada, walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called is refusing to compromise and having our hearts and minds and affections set on that which is laid up before us in heaven and in the meantime filled with all the fullness of God
[00:50:42] strengthening the inner man with the very dynamite power if you will of the Holy Spirit, the earnest of our inheritance, walking with the realization of Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith understanding the hope of our calling, recognizing
[00:50:58] the riches of the inheritance laid up in heaven for us in Christ and knowing the very power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is now inside of us by faith, we walk step by step
[00:51:14] continuing to look to Him who despised the shame, endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[00:51:29] Because Ephesians 2 tells us that if you're born again, you've already spiritually been raised up and you're right there with me. And one day fate will become sight. And there will be hidden in Christ in the bosom of the
[00:51:48] Savior with the Father and the Spirit for all eternity in heaven.
[00:51:55] But now we have to walk.
[00:51:58] How are we going to walk?
[00:51:59] Come back at 7pm and Pastor Andy will tell you. Amen?
[00:52:04] And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's love?
[00:52:12] Number 260 in the hymnal, let's stand and sing.