Filled with Christ

1. Filled with Christ Truth, Judgment and Eternity Ephesians 3:14-21

2. Moody Filled With Christ • Someone once asked evangelist Dwight Moody how he managed to remain so intimate in his relationship with Christ. He replied, “I have come to Him as the best friend I have ever found, and I can trust Him in that relationship. I have believed He is Saviour; I have believed He is God; I have believed His atonement on the cross is mine, and I have come to Him and submitted myself on my knees, surrendered everything to Him, and gotten up and stood by His side as my friend, and there isn’t any problems in my life, there isn’t any uncertainty in my work but I turn and speak to Him as naturally as to someone in the same room, and I have done it these years because I can trust Jesus.

3. Review of Chapter 3:1-13 • Mystery of Christ – Paul’s Ministry Explained vv1-5 • Paul the prisoner of Christ v1 • Paul’s administration of this mystery v2 • Mystery made know by revelation (chapter 1-2) v3-4 • Mystery revealed by Spirit to Apostles and Prophets v5 • The Mystery of Christ Revealed vv6 • Gentiles are heirs together with Israel v6 • Members together of one body v6 • Sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus v6

4. Review of Chapter 3:1-13 • Paul’s Ministry Role vv7-9 • Servant by the Power of God v7 • Grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ v8 • To make this mystery plain which has been hidden v9 • God’s Plan for the Church vv10-13 • The manifold Wisdom of God to be made known v10 • Church to accomplish this according to the eternal purpose which God accomplished in Christ v11 • Approach God with freedom in Christ v12 • Not to be discouraged because of Paul’s sufferings v13

5. Overview of Chapter 3:14-21 • Paul’s Submission vv 14-15 • Kneeling before God v14 • Acknowledging His name v15 • Paul’s Prayer Request vv16-19 • Strengthened with the Spirit’s power in the inner being v16 • That Christ may dwell in us by faith v17 • Rooted and established in love, we will have power with all believers to grasp the 4 dimensional aspect of Christ’s love v17b-18 • To know His love and be filled with the fullness of God v19 • Doxology vv20-21 • Honouring Him who can do more than we realise according to His great power within us. v20 • Glory to Him in the Church and in Christ forever v21

6. Paul’s Submission • Ephesians 3:14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father,” • The reason Paul kneels before the Father is because of the two revelations he previously revealed: • 1) The mystery of Christ – Gentiles heirs with Israel, members of one body and sharers in Christ’s promise. • 2) The Church was to reveal God’s manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His purpose accomplished in Christ. • He was so in awe of the majesty and sovereignty of God that he humbled himself in worship before Him.

7. Family of God • Ephesians 3:15 “from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” • The family of God is the Body of Christ the Church, and those who belong to Him, bear His name: Christian. • Barnes tells us, “The whole ‘family of God,’ means all his children; and the idea is, that they all bear the same name, derived from the Redeemer; all are Christians. No matter where they are, in heaven or in earth; no matter from what nation they are converted, whether Jews or Gentiles, they all have one name, and one Redeemer, and all belong to one family.”

8. Power in the Spirit • Ephesians 3:16 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” • Once again we see a divine prayer of the Holy Spirit being uttered from the lips of Paul. • In Ephesians 1:18b-19 Paul prayed that they would know the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparably great power for us who believe. • Out of the abundant riches of an eternal Creator, who created all that is by His very great power, Paul prays a prayer that we would access this great Creative power by the Spirit of God, inside our very beings.

9. Christ Indwelling Us • Ephesians 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” • We are referred to in Scripture as temples of the Holy Spirit; earlier in Ephesians, verse 2:22 “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” • Many of us find it difficult to accept Christ into our hearts by faith. • Scripture is clear that those who have Christ in them are saved, that is why Christianity is called a faith. • To have faith does not mean that to believe is logically incoherent – for Christianity is extremely intellectually satisfying – but we must know by faith that He is in us.

10. Rooted and Established • Ephesians 3:17b-18 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” • Paul prays the most impressive prayer in relation to being established in the love of Christ, and by this love receiving power with the Church. • He then prays a significant prayer in relation to the four dimensional aspect of Christ’s love.

11. 4 Dimensions of Christ’s Love • There are 2 horizontal dimensions, and 2 Vertical dimensions: Breadth and Length Height and Depth

12. 4 Dimensions of Christ’s Love • Breadth πλάτος ‘platos’ which suggests a great extent, wide. • Length μῆκος ‘mekos’ which suggest length • Height ὕψος ‘hypsos’ which suggests the height of a place or rank. • Depth βάθος ‘bathos’ which suggests the deep things of God, depth of the sea etc.

13. 4 Dimensions of Christ’s Love • The love of Christ has a dimension which reveals the eternal nature of His love. • Breadth, Length and Height represents the 3 dimensional aspect of love which we as humans can have for one another. • However the forth dimension bathos or depth, is a dimension which can only be known in God alone. • 1Co. 2:10 “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”

14. Filled to the Fullness of God • Ephesians 3:19 “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” • Paul is praying that we know this deep love of God by the Spirit who searches the deep things of God. • Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. • If we can grasp this love that surpasses knowledge (The Cross) we will certainly be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

15. Honoring a Limitless God • Ephesians 3:20 “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,” • In this wonderful doxology, Paul praises a God who can do far more than what we can ever possibly comprehend in this finite existence. • Paul points out that He who is in us, the Holy Spirit, has the power to do uncomprehendable things. • We need to pray that God will help us to understand something of the power that is in us by the Holy Spirit.

16. Glory to Christ Forever • Ephesians 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen • He is so worthy of glory, Jesus is so worthy of praise. • He has had a remnant throughout all generations who has lifted up His name, and given Him the glory due to Him. • We need to give Him that rightful place in our life and in this church, a place where He receives the glory, praise, honor and worship, for He is King and Lord.