So there's two parts to the reading today.
The first is the whole of Ephesians chapter 1.
And then we'll jump to Ephesians 3 verses 14 to 21.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus,
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will,
to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight,
making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance,
having been predestined according to the purpose of him
who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
so that we who were the first to hope in Christ
might be to the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance
until we acquire possession of it,
to the praise of his glory.
For this reason,
because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love toward all the saints,
I do not cease to give thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory,
may give you the spirit of wisdom
and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
that you may know
what is the hope to which he has called you,
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance
in the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness
of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might,
that he worked in Christ
when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand
in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority
and power and dominion
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age,
but also in the one to come.
And he put all things under his feet
and gave him as head over all things
to the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of him
who fills all in all.
And then we're jumping forward to,
I'll double check that I get this right,
chapter 3, 14 to 21.
For this reason,
I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven
and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of his glory,
he may grant you to be strengthened with power
through his spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith,
that you being rooted and grounded in love
may have strength to comprehend
with all the saints
what is the breadth and length
and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ
that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.
Now to him
who is able to do
far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory
in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations
forever and ever.
Amen.
Well, I first want to thank Dave and the elders
for allowing me this great privilege
of preaching this morning.
As I was musing upon the subject
and musing upon things,
I realised that
the Apostle Paul
was banished to the Isle of Patmos
for preaching the Gospel
when he was 90.
And here I am
past his age
and thankfully
I'm not banished yet.
So let's pray.
Father, we're grateful indeed
for the privilege
not only for me to preach the word
but for us to hear your word read
so clearly.
And we realise that
your word will accomplish
its purposes today
despite the weaknesses
of the preacher.
But Father, we pray now
that you would give us ears to hear
and hearts to believe
and to realise that
we have a great God and Saviour,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
According to Miss Congeniality,
Sandra Bullock
and all the rest of the contestants
in that beauty contest,
we should all be aiming for
nobody's watched the movie.
That's tough.
That's in the first
just congeniality.
They all end up with world peace.
They want people to pray for world peace.
In the movie,
Robin Hood,
while Kevin Costas
sword fighting the villains
trying to rescue a little boy up a tree,
his Muslim mate
is behind the wall
with his prayer mat down,
praying.
People pray
because God
has put
eternity
in their hearts.
We see that
in Ecclesiastes 3.11.
My parents
were heavily involved
in a Christian church
and would be regarded
as very religious.
Religious people
pray.
As a child,
I was taught to pray.
As I knelt
next to my bed
each night,
I would kneel down
and pray,
gentle Jesus,
meek and mild,
look upon
a little child,
pity my simplicity,
suffer thee
to come to me.
I learnt
the Lord's prayer.
I might have been
10 or 11
when there was a murder
in a house two doors
from where I lived
at Cook's Hill.
And after that,
before I jumped into bed,
I would check the wardrobe,
see that no one was in it,
check under the bed,
lock the window,
jump into bed
and start to pray,
Our Father,
deliver me from evil
for yours is the power.
Amen.
World War II
was raging.
My eldest brother,
Jack,
was in PNG
fighting Japanese.
We were all
greatly affected
by this war.
Jack's wife
and two little girls
came from Tamas
to stay
in the bedroom
that my brother
and I occupied.
I had to get out
in a little veranda
and I don't know
where my brother
ended up.
Everything was rationed.
Nerves were on edge.
My father said to me
one day,
I would be happy
to drop an atom bomb
on the Japanese
if it would end the war.
But in the midst
of misery,
there were the greedy,
sadistic,
warmongers
who profited
from the misery
of others.
I learnt
the Apostles' Creed
and to pray
about that.
The war ended
and people tried
to get their lives
together,
many of them
without their loved ones.
But we soon
became insensitive
to the horrors
of war.
Our minds
and loves
were diverted
to monopoly.
Winning is everything.
Sending everyone
broke
was a great joy.
Or we might
be distracted
by the radio series
like the never-ending
Blue Hills
or Dad and Dave.
I think when I was
caught in June,
Blue Hills
was up to
5,000-something-odd
episodes.
Movies like
The Wizard of Oz
singing in the rain.
Feel-good things
took our mind
off problems.
And here we are
after 80 years
of relief
from major wars
and the fact
that we can kill
in our computer games.
Others wonder
if there are any more
people left
in mid-summer.
But
we're happy
to hear
Arnie say
I'm back.
We like to watch
the equaliser,
the sentinel,
Jack Reacher
and the fact
that the Avengers
and Marvel characters
are around
to protect the world.
Compared to many
other countries,
we live in luxury.
Even with eternity
in our hearts,
we get caught up
in a fantasy world.
world.
But I'm sure
if you watch
the news
or listen
to the radio,
those living
in Israel
or Gaza,
Ukraine
and other
war-torn areas,
the millions
starving
around the world
and others
persecuted,
they don't see
this world,
this world
that we live
as a fantasy.
leaders
throughout the world
often call
their people
to pray
in times
of tragedy.
They'll say
pray for him
or her
or it,
whoever
or whatever
you look to
to answer
your prayers.
Religious
people pray
because deep
down
they know
there's more
to life
than this
world.
whether
they know
it or not,
they can't
escape the
fact that
eternity
is in
their hearts.
They know
right from
wrong.
And you
might be
thinking,
what a
mickmash
of things
I've
presented.
But isn't
that the
real world
that we
live in?
So the
first thing
we wanted
to know
was religious
people pray
but the
second thing
is
Christians
pray.
They can't
help
themselves.
I was
nearly 25
when June
and I
married.
Taking
her to
hospital
to have
our baby
was a real
trial when
you didn't
have a car
and the
hospital was
several
kilometres
away.
You get
your mate
next door
to drive
the car
and when
you got
to the
maternity
ward you
would hand
June's
suitcase to
the nurse
and she
will say
well you
go home
and we'll
let you
know what
happens.
And you
baby cries
and you
young
parents
witness
their
first
breath
and
their
first
cry
and you
were
happy.
After
that you
count the
fingers and
toes I
know and
all those
sort of
things.
But it
was that
first
breath
the child
was alive
and it
was making
its presence
felt.
Babies
cry.
They
can't help
themselves.
And there
are different
types of
cries.
I've been
here with
some of
you young
parents and
we're in the
middle of a
conversation and
there'll be a
cry amongst a
dozen other
cries and you
say I think
that's my baby
I'll have to
go.
You know
their cries.
You know
they cry for
all sorts of
reasons.
Get attention.
Pick me up.
Cry because
they're hungry.
Cry before
they're frightened.
Cry because
something's hurting
them but you
know their
cries.
You know
they're alive
and they're
well.
But as it
is with a
new baby
so it is
with a
newborn
Christian.
When
nearly
29
God
brought me
to my
knees in
the lounge
room.
He convicted
me of my
sin against
his holy
holiness and
showed me
that his
son Jesus
Christ died
on the cross
for me to
take away my
sins.
On the third
day he rose
again to make
me right with
himself.
Having breathed
into me new
life I
prayed Lord
save me.
That was
64 years ago
this month.
Consider the
apostle Paul who
was Saul of
Tarsus on the
road to
Damascus and
the Lord
meets him and
he's knocked
off his
horse as it
were and
here he is
and the
Lord speaks
to him why
are you
persecuting me
Saul and
he says
Lord who
are you?
What would
you have me
to do?
He's blind for
a few days and
then he goes
to him.
You can see
this in the
Damascus named
Ananias and
to him the
Lord said to
him in a
vision Ananias
and he said
here I am
Lord.
So the
Lord said to
him arise and
go to the
street called
Straight and
inquire of the
house of
Judas for one
called Saul of
Tarsus for
behold he is
praying.
Paul prayed
because he
was a
newborn babe
in Christ.
Very
religious
person now
a Christian
and he
can't himself
help himself
but pray.
In fact if
you read his
epistles you
find he's
constantly saying
that and I
think Emma
brought out
something when
she was playing
the guitar with
the kids.
he says in
1 Thessalonians
5.17
pray without
ceasing.
In chapter 5
verse 25
brethren pray
for us.
In Ephesians
6.18 when
he's describing
the Christian
armour and
talking about
the helmet of
salvation,
the sword,
the spirit,
etc.
And then he
said praying
always with
all prayer and
supplication in
the spirit.
Brethren
Christians pray.
they just
can't help
themselves.
The elders
suggested that
I speak on
Ephesians 3
the passage that
Liz just read
for us,
verses 14
through 21
and especially
thinking about
the verses
that Christ
may dwell in
your hearts
through faith
and that you
being rooted
and grounded
in love
may be able
to comprehend
with all
the saints
what is the
width and
length and
depth and
height to
know the
love of
Christ which
passes knowledge
that we
may be filled
with all the
fullness of
God.
Verse 14
says,
for this
reason I
bow my
knees,
says the
apostle.
He was
praying this
for the
people.
What a
great prayer
for you and
I to pray
for the
brethren.
how can
we pray
them if
we don't
know them?
So a
good exercise
for you in
the next
week or so
is to learn
every name
of the
people that
come here
week by
week and
pray for
them that
they may
know this
great thing
what is the
length and
breadth and
depth and
height to
know the
love of
Christ which
passes knowledge
that they
may be filled
with all the
fullness of
God.
What a
great prayer.
prayer to
pray for
the church.
We can
pray for
the elders
too can't
we?
We can
pray especially
for the
preachers and
this is what
Paul wanted
when you read
in 1 Corinthians
2 1 to 5
and he says
I brethren
when I came
to you I
did not come
in excellence
of speech
or of
wisdom
declaring to
you the
mystery of
God for
I determined
to know
nothing among
you except
Jesus Christ
and him
crucified.
I was with
you in weakness
and in fear
and in much
trembling and
my speech and
my preaching
were not
persuasive words
of human
wisdom but
in the
demonstration of
the spirit and
power that
your faith should
not be in the
wisdom of men
but in the
power of God.
and anybody
that preaches
regularly knows
that after
you've done
all your
preparation
and all
your study
you condense
things down
to what you
think is
manageable
and you
put this
black typing
on white
paper
that's all
it is
and we
need
we need
the power
of God
and that's
what Paul's
praying
to the
Corinthians
he said
I want to
come to you
in a
demonstration
of power
and the
spirit
we need
to pray
for our
preachers
that the
Holy Spirit
will so
fill them
and we'll
be so
moved
I was
telling the
people at
St Andrews
Presbyterian
the last
week or
two
there was
a liberal
Presbyterian
church
we never
heard the
gospel as
you hear
every week
here but
one man
in 22
years impressed
me
I was an
unbeliever
but this
was a
Welshman
and Gareth
is not
here this
morning for
him to
cheer but
this Welshman
all I remember
was sitting in
the choir and
looking at him
with a little
bit of dribble
coming out of
the side of
his mouth
but he was
leaning over
the pulpit
which is quite
high at
St Andrews
running his
fingers through
his ears
and he
really wanted
people to
believe the
word that he
was bringing
he was
earnest and
he was
sincere
we want to
see that
with our
preachers
we want to
know that
they've spent
that time in
prayer themselves
praying for
each one of
you we want
to know that
they have a
love for you
in such a
way that
their heart's
desire is that
you might be
saved
so Christians
can't help
themselves from
praying and
we pray for
all sorts of
things don't
we they're the
minor things
that seem so
big at the
time where's
my glasses
where'd I leave
the keys and
like me yesterday
where'd I park
the car
and the kids
did I leave
my towel and
sandals at the
beach or in the
change room
mum will kill
me if I've
lost them
again
what's that
person name
I'm talking
to
I just
finished my
assignment
very happy
with it
and then I
wiped it
where did it
go
and then of
course there
are the bigger
things aren't
there
the bigger
things that
cause us real
concern
the Christian
child is
frightened in the
dark and
cries out for
mum and dad
to come and
the parents
come and
they hold
their hand and
they take
turns in
praying over
her and
singing to
her the
23rd Psalm
until she
falls asleep
there's a
teenager
standing at
the bus
stop after
school and
here the
seniors come
and cover
him with
spittle
he's
humiliated
and he
goes home
and he
and of
course he's
crying and
he tells his
parents what
happened but
he has to
pray for
grace to
recover and
to forgive
the
perpetrators
what about
the children
watching their
parents going
through that
divorce and
wondering what
will happen to
them now and
if they too when
they marry will
this be their
problem
what about the
young people who
feel they've
missed the boat
and will never be
married and have
a family of
their own
on their knees
praying earnestly
that they will
understand and
accept Romans
8 28
all things work
together for good
to those who
love the Lord
for those who
are called
according to
his purpose
or the young
married young
woman whose
young mother
has just had a
miscarriage
has just lost a
baby she has
carried for nine
months needing
the God of all
comfort who
embrace her
what about the
father who's
going through a
mental torment
so tormented
that he can't go
home to his wife
and children
every day after
work he has to
find a solitary
place he has to
get down on his
knees and crawl
around that
building and pray
that he might his
mind might be
clear that he
might be fit
enough to go
home to his
wife and
children
what about the
two elders
with the church
disintegrating
around them
and they fall
on their knees
and plead
Lord close us
or use us
and many I
know have been
feeling that we
have been in the
wilderness
wilderness and
we need that
assurance of the
strength of the
rescuer when
we're in this
deep trouble
I love that
parting song of
Solomon 8 5
where it says
who is this
coming up from
the wilderness
leaning upon her
beloved
and brethren if
you've ever been in
that position you
know what I'm
talking about you
know what it's
like to feel that
you're in the
wilderness and
you look to
Christ and you
plead with
Christ and you
find yourself
leaning on his
arm as he
brings you out
of the
wilderness
but I believe
there is an
all important
spiritual lesson
why Christians
can't help
themselves and
they must pray
and I think if
you look at
Ephesians 1
that Liz read
to us
you'll see it
I believe that
once God
opened your
heart to
assimilate the
immensity of
what he's telling
us here
you will rejoice
with joy
unspeakable
I remember
reading it once
when I couldn't
finish reading
I was so
overcome by it
you'll realise
in verse 3
that union
with Christ
as Henry
Mayen says
union with
Christ has
made you
the believer
an inhabitant
of two
worlds
spiritual
spiritually
you have
already been
raised and
seated in
heavenly places
in Christ
as we see in
chapter 2
verse 6
as a
Christian
you'll know
indeed
what the
triune God
has had to
do willingly
to make you
one of his
own
to make you
a member
of his
forever family
because you're
learning to
understand who
your heavenly
father is
and that you
have access
to him
through his
son
as verse 6
says in
that chapter
1 of
Ephesians
he raised
us up
and made
us acceptable
in the
beloved
and you
have been
blessed with
every spiritual
blessing in
heavenly places
as it says
in verse 3
all these
blessings
every spiritual
blessing
I don't
think I
can
comprehend
that
I don't
think we
will ever
get to
the length
and depth
and breadth
and height
of these
blessings
and this
love of
Christ
towards his
people
they're
yours
they're
mine
if you're
a Christian
today
and as
you lay
hold of
them
and the
enormity
of what
God has
done for
you
who as
it says
in chapter
2 verse
1
who are
dead
in
trespass
and sin
and verse
3
children
are wroth
even as
others
you'll
rejoice
that in
time and
space
he butted
into your
life and
made you
one of
his own
for all
eternity
but the
amazing
thing
above that
I think
is when
you read
these
threefold
work of
the
triune
God
in this
chapter
the work
of the
father
verses
3
through
6
he's
blessed
us
with
every
spiritual
blessing
in
heavenly
places
in
Christ
just
as
he
chose
us
in
him
when
before
the
foundation
of the
world
that we
should be
holy and
without
blame
before
him
in
love
having
predestined
us
to the
adoption
of
sons
by
Jesus
Christ
to
himself
according
to
his
good
pleasure
and
then we
have this
work of
the
son
the
seven
in
him
we
have
redemption
through
his
blood
the
forgiveness
of sins
according
to the
riches
of his
grace
which
he
made
to
abound
towards
us
in
all
wisdom
and
prudence
having
made
known
to
us
the
misery
of
his
will
according
to
his
good
pleasure
which
he
purposed
in
himself
that
in
the
dispensation
of
the
fullness
of
time
he
might
gather
together
in
one
all
things
in
Christ
both
which
are
in
heaven
and
which
are
on
earth
in
him
in
him
we
have
obtained
an
inheritance
being
predestined
according
to
the
purpose
of
him
who
works
all
things
in
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit
in
verses
13
and
14
in
him
you
also
trusted
after
you
heard
the
word
of
truth
the
gospel
of
your
salvation
in
him
also
having
believed
you
were
sealed
with
the
Holy
Spirit
of
promise
who
is
the
guarantee
of
an
inheritance
until
the
redemption
of
the
purchased
possession
and
then
if
you
notice
I
left
out
those
three
parts
verse
six
to
the
praise
of
the
glory
of
his
grace
verse
12
to
the
praise
of
his
glory
and
verse
14
to
the
praise
of
his
glory
no
wonder
after
writing
that
inspired
by
God
to
show
him
these
great
things
he
falls
on
his
knees
and
verse
15
Paul
says
therefore
I
also
after
I
heard
of
your
faith
in
the
Lord
Jesus
and
your
love
for
all
the
saints
do
not
cease
to
give
thanks
for
you
making
mention
of
you
in
my
prayers
that
the
God
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
Father
of
glory
would
give
you
the
spirit
of
wisdom
and
revelation
and
the
knowledge
of
him
the
eyes
of
your
understanding
be
enlightened
that
you
may
know
what
is
the
greatness
of
his
power
to
us
who
believe
according
to the
working
of
his
mighty
power
which
he
worked
in
Christ
when
he
raised
him
from
the
dead
and
seated
him
in
heavenly
places
Paul
wants
us
to
know
inspired
by
God
wants
us
to
know
this
power
that it
took
to
make
you
and I
a
Christian
if
you're
a
Christian
today
and the
word
there
the
power
is
this
word
which
is
dynamite
it's
not
taking
the
good
bits
of
you
and
making
you
a
little
bit
better
there
has
to
be
a
new
creation
a
new
creature
and
it
takes
the
same
power
that
raised
Christ
from
the
dead
to
make
you
a
Christian
and
God
wants
you
to
know
this
he
wants
you
to
embrace
this
he
wants
you
to
give
him
all
the
glory
and
the
praise
he
doesn't
want
anyone
to
say
well
you
know
I
took
the
first
step
and
God
did
the
rest
God
will
not
share
his
glory
with
another
he
wants
you
to
embrace
this
total
work
the
only
reason
why
we
are
here
today
and
many
of
us
professing
to
know
Christ
because
he
first
loved
us
we
would
never
have
loved
him
first
he
loved
us
first
he
moved
towards
us
and
even
from
all
eternity
oh
I
love
that
saved
from
all
eternity
every
Christian
that
ever
will
be
saved
or
has
been
saved
will
be
in
glory
forever
with
the
Lord
praising
him
and
glorifying
him
and
giving
him
all
the
honour
that's
due
to him
without
any
presence
of
sin
oh
that's
something
to look
forward
to
isn't
it
I
don't
know
about
you
but
for
myself
I
am
sometimes
overcome
with
amazement
why
me
oh
if
you
knew
me
like
the
Lord
knew
me
you
would
say
that
too
why
don't
the
joy
in
my
heart
is
so
full
to
over
flying
that
my
eternal
salvation
is
in
the
Lord's
hands
I
pray
I
praise
God
oh
the
whole
hymn
has it
right
praise
my
soul
the
king
of
heaven
to
thy
feet
my
tribute
bring
ransomed
healed
restored
forgiven
who
like
me
your
praise
should
sing
and
as
I
put
on
my
bowls
and
as
I
my
favourite
psalm
that I've
told you
many
times
psalm
116
and
I
can
say
in all
sincerity
I
love
the
Lord
because
he
heard
my
cry
and
my
supplications
because
he
inclined
his
ear
to
me
therefore
I'll
call
upon
him
all
the
days
of
my
life
is
that
you
this
morning
are
you
a
Christian
one
who
can't
help
themselves
but
pray
so
let's
pray
now
father
we are
most
grateful
indeed
that
you've
given
us
this
spirit
of
prayer
oh
Lord
we
pray
in
all
sorts
of
circumstances
we're
praying
always
we
can't
help
ourselves
Lord
because
we
realise
what
a
great
God
and
saviour
you
are
and
what
it
cost
your
son
to
die
on
the
cross
to
bear
our
sins
and
our
iniquities
in
his
body
on
that
tree
to
rise
again
that
we
might
be
right
with
you
we
thank
you
dear
Lord
Jesus
that
you
live
and
reign
forever
and
that
you
intercede
for
us
as
our
great
advocate
and
father
we
just
give
you
thanks
for
today
in
Jesus
name
Amen