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Stones Hill Community Church
Ephesians - Finding Our New Identity
Welcome to an exciting new sermon series on the Book of Ephesians, one of the Apostle Paul’s most profound letters. Paul proposes that we are "in Christ." We have a new identity. In a sense, he encourages us to become what we already are!
Locations & Times
Ligonier, IN
151 W Stones Hill Rd, Ligonier, IN 46767, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
MESSAGE TEXT
Ephesians 3:14-21
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INTRODUCTION
The Apostle Paul has five prayers in his letters. Ephesians has two – one of which is our passage today Ephesians 3:14-21. Philippians has one. Colossians has one. 2 Thessalonians has one. The reasons those are great portions of Scripture is that whenever you watch what Paul prays for, it clears up in unmistakable terms what Paul thought and talked about on a regular basis. If you want to know what a pastor taught or preached about, just listen to prayer at the end of his message – it’s what he thought about what he taught and what he wants his people to do with it. What do you pray about and how intensely do you pray about it?
*
PROPOSITION
To show love, you must know love. Is there anything more wonderful than knowing that you’re loved? If you don’t know you’re loved, it cripples your life. There was an article that observed that people who know that they are cared about by their teachers learn better. Paul conveys this love: [one point message] Fall in love with God. Be smitten by Jesus. Feel His pleasure (Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire runner – what do you do where you feel God’s pleasure?) I want you to have a warm, vibrant, all-parts-of-your-life engaged - walk with God. I want you to know that God loves you so you can expand your own capacity for love. Even though as believers they have Christ’s presence, and love and God’s glory moving in their lives - on another level, it’s not being experienced as greatly as it could be. On one level they have Father, Son, and Spirit, but on another level, they haven’t experienced them to their maximum. And this is what Paul prays for – an increased capacity. He says, “Because of this propensity of losing heart (per last weeks message), I drop down to my knees” so that you will expand God’s power in your life.
*
OUTLINE
In the prayer itself, Paul petitions God for four things for the Ephesians. In these four requests, I see Paul covering four dimensions of human need: psychological, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Pastor Paul seems to know their deepest needs, and moves from one dimension to the next as he entreats Father-God to minister to them in that area.
*
Psychologically, “God, I feel so weak.”
that they would be strengthened through the Spirit (3:16)
*
Emotionally, “God, I feel so unstable.”
that they would be rooted and grounded in love (3:17)
*
Mentally, “God, I feel so traumatized.”
that they would comprehend the immensity of Christ’s love (3:18–19)
*
Spiritually, “God, I feel so empty.”
that they would be filled to God’s own fullness (3:19)
*
CONCLUSION
Does Christ feel at home in our hearts?
Ephesians 3:14-21
*
INTRODUCTION
The Apostle Paul has five prayers in his letters. Ephesians has two – one of which is our passage today Ephesians 3:14-21. Philippians has one. Colossians has one. 2 Thessalonians has one. The reasons those are great portions of Scripture is that whenever you watch what Paul prays for, it clears up in unmistakable terms what Paul thought and talked about on a regular basis. If you want to know what a pastor taught or preached about, just listen to prayer at the end of his message – it’s what he thought about what he taught and what he wants his people to do with it. What do you pray about and how intensely do you pray about it?
*
PROPOSITION
To show love, you must know love. Is there anything more wonderful than knowing that you’re loved? If you don’t know you’re loved, it cripples your life. There was an article that observed that people who know that they are cared about by their teachers learn better. Paul conveys this love: [one point message] Fall in love with God. Be smitten by Jesus. Feel His pleasure (Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire runner – what do you do where you feel God’s pleasure?) I want you to have a warm, vibrant, all-parts-of-your-life engaged - walk with God. I want you to know that God loves you so you can expand your own capacity for love. Even though as believers they have Christ’s presence, and love and God’s glory moving in their lives - on another level, it’s not being experienced as greatly as it could be. On one level they have Father, Son, and Spirit, but on another level, they haven’t experienced them to their maximum. And this is what Paul prays for – an increased capacity. He says, “Because of this propensity of losing heart (per last weeks message), I drop down to my knees” so that you will expand God’s power in your life.
*
OUTLINE
In the prayer itself, Paul petitions God for four things for the Ephesians. In these four requests, I see Paul covering four dimensions of human need: psychological, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Pastor Paul seems to know their deepest needs, and moves from one dimension to the next as he entreats Father-God to minister to them in that area.
*
Psychologically, “God, I feel so weak.”
that they would be strengthened through the Spirit (3:16)
*
Emotionally, “God, I feel so unstable.”
that they would be rooted and grounded in love (3:17)
*
Mentally, “God, I feel so traumatized.”
that they would comprehend the immensity of Christ’s love (3:18–19)
*
Spiritually, “God, I feel so empty.”
that they would be filled to God’s own fullness (3:19)
*
CONCLUSION
Does Christ feel at home in our hearts?