WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.580 You guys can go ahead and y'all know where to turn. We're going to the book of Ephesians. 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:11.160 We are going to be in chapter 3 today, tonight. 00:00:13.280 --> 00:00:15.160 And you guys are troopers. 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:21.500 Because I know after a day like today, you guys are probably tired. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:22.859 And listen, that's okay. 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:24.140 Now we're tired. 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:26.839 We're aware of our weakness and God's going to use it for his great purposes. 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:30.579 So the title of my sermon tonight is... 00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:31.780 Let me start my timer. 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:37.480 The title of the sermon tonight is The Immeasurable Power of the Love of Christ. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:41.320 The Immeasurable Power of the Love of Christ. 00:00:41.500 --> 00:00:46.960 And we'll be in Ephesians chapter 3, jumping down to verses 14 through 21. 00:00:47.879 --> 00:00:52.939 So as per usual, I'm going to read the text, pray, and then we'll get after it. 00:00:52.939 --> 00:00:57.299 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:00:57.299 --> 00:01:10.399 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 00:01:10.899 --> 00:01:19.819 That according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being. 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:39.799 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. 00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:50.640 And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:59.379 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. 00:01:59.460 --> 00:02:07.560 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:08.680 Amen. 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:13.539 Father, would you bless the preaching of your word? 00:02:13.539 --> 00:02:43.519 Father, would you bless the church? 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:50.359 Times to think and times to comprehend truly what the love of Christ is and what it does for us. 00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:53.500 And would you use me as your instrument this evening to do that? 00:02:53.539 --> 00:02:57.579 In all my weakness, Lord, would you make your power known? 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:04.139 Fill me with fire from on high to bless your beloved church this evening. 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:15.639 Lord, may I get out of the way so that Christ may be glorified and magnified and exalted. 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:17.759 In Jesus name. 00:03:18.779 --> 00:03:19.059 Amen. 00:03:20.799 --> 00:03:27.339 There's something innate within humanity that absolutely loves the power of love. 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:28.420 Right? 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:31.800 So many, if I could go through pretty much any Disney movie that has ever been created. 00:03:31.939 --> 00:03:38.439 And at some point, the power of love is going to be shown to change the ways of evil and bring about all of the good. 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:39.900 Think about Frozen, right? 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:43.219 At the very end of Frozen 1 here, talking about the OG of Frozen. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:47.319 Elsa is all icy and dead and things are not looking good. 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:52.139 But through the power of love, her sister Anna brings her back to life. 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.019 And if we're going to an actual OG, let's talk about beauty and the beast, right? 00:03:56.079 --> 00:03:58.979 The beast is cursed because he's all mean to that one random lady. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:00.359 And then he's cursed for a lot. 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:02.219 And they all turn into random objects. 00:04:02.299 --> 00:04:03.579 And he turns into this big hairy beast. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:10.099 And it is only through the power of love that he can be transformed back into his lovely human form. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:13.479 Quick side note on that movie. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:19.899 And when we watched it with my kids last year, it was a hilarious and terrifying experience because they loved the beast. 00:04:20.599 --> 00:04:29.039 And so when he transformed into like golden Goldilocks, they were shrieking in terror and crying saying, where is my beast? 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.379 Where is my beast? 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.379 It was a wonderful, wonderful moment. 00:04:35.159 --> 00:04:41.079 But the point of all that is we love the idea that love saves. 00:04:41.159 --> 00:04:43.259 We love the idea that love is powerful. 00:04:43.259 --> 00:04:46.560 And what we see in this text is the true purpose of Christ's love. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:53.980 The most magnificent display of love that we could ever comprehend or even see has been given to us and explained to us through this book. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:56.740 And we experienced it through the resurrecting power of Christ. 00:04:57.719 --> 00:05:02.740 But this love has a purpose and it is to empower us to live for Christ. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:11.340 If you remember, even from this morning, right before the section, Paul has essentially announced the demolition project of racism and hatred and division in the church. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:15.060 He speaks of the mystery of this gospel and that it truly is for all people. 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:18.259 That it is through the church that God is deciding to make himself known. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.120 That God's power is shown in giving grace and strength to weak people. 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:28.699 People who are weak like me and people who are weak like you and people who are weak like these Jews and Gentiles in Ephesus. 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:36.579 And that power to us is accessed by understanding the love of Jesus Christ. 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:47.459 Because in reality, I think if we're honest with ourselves, we don't fully operate as if the love of God in Christ transforms everything about us. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:56.259 We can often form our identity or feel secure in who we are and how we are based on earthly relationships rather than the love of Christ. 00:05:56.259 --> 00:06:03.579 And we can very often limit the ability of God to complete a good work in us. 00:06:03.779 --> 00:06:15.120 We are so aware of our falls and our fallenness, our flaws and our fallenness that we can think that we are so messed up that we will get in the way of God's good plan. 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:21.980 Ultimately, in our day to day, friends, we must remember the reality of this text. 00:06:21.980 --> 00:06:31.100 I want us to leave this evening with a fuller grasp of the love of Christ and understand that it will give us limitless power as we navigate life. 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:34.860 And I'm not talking about we're going to be able to raise people from the dead and do all these different kind of things. 00:06:35.060 --> 00:06:40.280 What I'm saying is when we understand the love of Christ, we will live in the power of Christ. 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:43.360 We will be those unshakable Christians that can handle anything. 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:48.560 Why? Because we know the power of the love that has been given to us from Christ himself. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:58.160 My hope is that we would bank it all on the love of Christ, that our reflexes would be to say, okay, this is the situation that has happened. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:01.340 What does the love of Christ have to say about this? 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:10.399 That our instincts and the way that we engage with both sufferings and joys in life would be to put it through this filter, the love of Christ. 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:17.239 And that from that love that we receive from Christ, we would draw strength for Christian living. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:20.359 Here's my main point this evening. 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:20.859 It is this. 00:07:21.179 --> 00:07:26.419 If you know the love of Christ, you will live by the power of Christ. 00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:32.739 If you know the love of Christ, you will live by the power of Christ. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:45.879 What Paul is doing here, he is pulling from the earth shattering realities of the gospel implications and the limitless glory of God to give strength to weary and suffering saints. 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:49.840 Paul developed this thought not by saying, hey, you guys already know this. 00:07:49.900 --> 00:07:51.019 I've talked about it a lot here. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:51.939 Let me reiterate again. 00:07:52.019 --> 00:07:55.860 No, he's saying, listen, he's talking about it in a fresh way. 00:07:55.860 --> 00:08:03.720 He pulls from the familial connectivity, he says, from the father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:14.879 He talks about God's divine dominance and power according to the riches of his glory, which he is worthy of limitless and unending glory because of who he is in that power, he says. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:25.800 That's what he's drawing from in order to show that the church in Ephesus and us by extension can live in the power of Christ. 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:28.139 So it begs the question, right? 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:32.559 How does knowing the love of Christ make us live by the power of Christ? 00:08:32.939 --> 00:08:37.659 We're going to see three results of knowing the love of Christ that will make us live in the power of Christ. 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:40.039 So let's jump into result number one. 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:42.200 This is verses 14 through 16. 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:47.320 We'll be strengthened in our inner being. 00:08:50.759 --> 00:09:04.540 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. 00:09:04.640 --> 00:09:05.320 What is he saying here? 00:09:05.340 --> 00:09:09.220 He's saying that God will be your strength. 00:09:09.220 --> 00:09:13.460 Paul is letting the church in here on his prayer closet. 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:25.740 He's appealing to God by all the power and might that God has, the power of his Holy Spirit, the power of the resurrecting glorious grace that God does when he raises us from the dead, right? 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:29.379 He's already talked about us being raised from death to life. 00:09:30.060 --> 00:09:34.620 He's already blessed God for the infinite riches and blessings we receive in Christ. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:41.980 And now he's saying from these riches and from this grace, this is what we are drawing from. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:48.299 This is the God who I'm appealing to for this prayer that I'm about to pray for you guys. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:52.379 And in this prayer, he highlights the totality of God's rule and omniscience. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:10:03.620 He said this in Ephesians 1, 1 21 says 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. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.539 God is a big God. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.820 And he is appealing to this God on behalf of his people. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:12.120 Everything is subject to him. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:15.600 Everything that exists owes its existence to him. 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:18.039 God is a big God. 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.519 He is worthy to be praised. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:20.659 Christ. 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:28.899 And in this text, Paul is saying he's calling upon the power of this God for one specific thing. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.819 It is to strengthen his people. 00:10:32.279 --> 00:10:38.960 And the means of that strengthening of this people, we'll get to this in greater detail in just a moment, is to understand his love. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:45.019 I love that last song we just sang, just exalting the glory and the majesty of God. 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:45.819 He's the great I am. 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:46.579 He's the great I am. 00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:47.899 Nothing should be able to touch him. 00:10:48.199 --> 00:10:48.879 Nothing can touch him. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:55.519 And yet here we are appealing to this God to give us personal strength. 00:10:55.559 --> 00:10:57.200 And he says, yes, I will do it. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:05.279 Can we take a moment to simply relish and glory in the reality of the Christian faith? 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:08.019 Both of these things are true. 00:11:08.019 --> 00:11:17.759 God is untouchable and is majestic and glorious and perfect and omniscient. 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:20.600 He is other than us. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:23.980 God is God. 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:31.919 And he would be completely justified if he said, I want nothing to do with you. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.719 You are full of sin. 00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:36.479 You have rejected me. 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:38.159 You are beneath me. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.120 And we would say that makes sense. 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:44.599 But that's not who our God is. 00:11:44.699 --> 00:11:46.759 And that's not what our God does. 00:11:46.759 --> 00:11:57.860 What our God does is he sees us and he loves us and he rescues us and he protects us and he keeps us. 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:00.580 And he draws us near. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.799 God draws near to us. 00:12:03.299 --> 00:12:05.240 You know what should happen if God draws near to us? 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.700 We should die because of his holiness. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:12.919 But what happens when God draws near to us is we feel his care and his love. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:20.000 He allows us to put our burdens upon him and he allows us to take refuge in the shadow of his wings. 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:23.100 This is what our God does. 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:35.000 One commentator writes that signifying out of the wealth of his glory also indicates that God's giving corresponds to the inexhaustible riches 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.799 of that glory. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:39.259 It is on a scale commensurate equal with his glory. 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:43.840 He gives as lavishly as only he can. 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:48.419 No one can give like God can give and God gives all that he can. 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:56.340 So we receive the maximum benefits possible because God is so overflowingly generous with what he gives us. 00:12:56.340 --> 00:13:05.139 There is hope in this text because life can oftentimes feel hopeless. 00:13:05.540 --> 00:13:09.660 I think we need to be fine admitting that like this. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:12.759 This we are operating in a Genesis three world. 00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:14.620 Things are not the way that they should be. 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.940 Suffering will come. 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:18.560 Depression will hit you in waves. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:25.859 Sometimes things can seem to be going so well and yet there's still an emptiness inside of you day by day by day. 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:27.239 Things are difficult. 00:13:27.239 --> 00:13:32.500 And yet in the midst of that, we can draw strength from God himself because he loves you. 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:39.959 And he sent his son for you to die for you so that you can be brought into his family so that you can be redeemed so that you can be a saint. 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:43.980 But this is the love of God that we have. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:49.200 You are a part of the household of God and you are not in a spare bedroom. 00:13:49.300 --> 00:13:50.420 He is not putting up with you. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.500 You are his beloved. 00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:58.700 And out of this inexhaustible glory that we've been talking about, we receive strength. 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:02.740 To be strengthened in our inner being. 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.980 Well, what is our inner being? 00:14:04.040 --> 00:14:06.940 The inner person, the interior of our being. 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:08.780 This is how Peter O'Brien described it. 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:11.539 He says it is the seat of personal consciousness. 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.539 Our moral being. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:20.539 It is the focal point at the center of a person's life where the spirit does his strengthening and renewing work. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.559 Do you need to be renewed by the spirit this evening? 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.919 This is what God wants to do. 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:28.159 He wants to renew you. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.579 Refresh you. 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:33.819 Make his face shine upon you. 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:38.659 This is the business that our God does. 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:43.299 To be strengthened is a theme that Paul hits often. 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:45.519 You see it later in his book in Ephesians 6. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.379 He says, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:51.039 Philippians 4.13. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:54.459 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:55.819 Colossians 1.11. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:02.120 Be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:05.159 God wants to strengthen you. 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:12.219 What these texts do is it eliminates the facade of self-sufficiency. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:18.120 We cannot do this on our own or in our own strength. 00:15:18.699 --> 00:15:21.059 I mean, we're at a retreat and we are completely exhausted. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:22.579 It's been like a day and a half. 00:15:22.580 --> 00:15:28.560 There is nothing impressive about our strength. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:32.139 We need God to do it. 00:15:32.339 --> 00:15:37.879 And yet we can trick ourselves into thinking that we have the skill set so we have to grind and do it ourselves and friends. 00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:39.159 It's just not the reality. 00:15:40.119 --> 00:15:41.059 It's just not the reality. 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:47.299 And the fun and beautiful thing about it is once you realize that and you stop trying to just, yeah, I'm going to make this work. 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:51.399 When you stop doing that, you experience the freedom of joy in Christ. 00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:55.019 And you're like, oh, my weakness is actually something I can boast in. 00:15:55.219 --> 00:15:56.699 That's what Paul gets to eventually. 00:15:57.219 --> 00:16:01.879 He's like, I'm actually going to boast in my weakness because why would I want to boast in anything else? 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.659 And that dude had some credentials. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.120 I'm in a different book now, but it's still important. 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:05.679 Same author. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.179 He's talking about his credentials. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:08.799 He says, I was a Hebrew among Hebrews. 00:16:08.859 --> 00:16:09.819 I did this, that, and the third. 00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:10.959 I was shit-protected. 00:16:11.099 --> 00:16:11.399 All these things. 00:16:11.479 --> 00:16:12.819 And I counted as nothing. 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:13.799 Nothing. 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:19.159 If Paul's not bragging about that, then we definitely need not brag over our petty little degrees. 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:21.500 Right? 00:16:22.599 --> 00:16:23.620 We are not. 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:29.279 When we got saved, the Trinity wasn't like, all right, we got a fourth member, baby. 00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:31.599 No. 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:34.559 God was completely fine on his own. 00:16:35.979 --> 00:16:39.019 Him rescuing us is just an overflow of his grace. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.779 And we need him so desperately. 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:46.279 And he gives himself to us so freely. 00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:50.500 We must live dependent on God's strength. 00:16:50.839 --> 00:16:54.740 There should be no person more dependent than a Christian. 00:16:54.839 --> 00:16:55.779 It's what we do. 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.480 How do we make it through? 00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:59.379 We simply depend on the one who made it all. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.419 How do we do it? 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:02.779 We simply depend on the one who gave his life for us. 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:04.000 How do we do this? 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:09.599 We depend on the one who strengthened us by the power of his Holy Spirit, by the Holy Spirit transforming us. 00:17:09.639 --> 00:17:10.559 That's how we do this. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:12.980 Nothing in my hands I bring. 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.419 Nothing. 00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:16.279 Nothing. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.420 Nothing. 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:21.960 There's this wonderful paradox that God didn't need to save us, yet he did. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:33.120 And all we have to do is receive his salvation as a free gift of grace with faith that he himself actually already gives us. 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:36.140 There is nothing we are bringing to the table. 00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:40.400 And he doesn't stick up his nose and say, I don't need you guys. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.200 No, he says, come. 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.860 Come to this table. 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:47.440 It's like so often when my kids will try to help us cook. 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:52.400 It's like, one of my daughters would be like, Mom, can I help you bake a cake? 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.400 And she's like, yes. 00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:55.500 And she is destroying the whole kitchen. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:00.660 Like, dropping powder, dumping sugar on the floor, stepping on with her hands. 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.340 She didn't wash her hands. 00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:02.400 Just boogers in the cake. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:05.519 And Bethany's just smiling along. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:07.300 Just, yeah, all right, let's do this. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.220 She's not saying, get out of here. 00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:13.080 And that's a flawed, sinful mother. 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:20.440 Imagine the love of a perfected father coming alongside us as we're just bumbling. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.600 Bumbling around through life. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:24.780 He smiles at us. 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.320 He says, I'm going to help you. 00:18:26.340 --> 00:18:26.960 I'll clean it up. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:30.759 Someone said, even our prayers, that the Holy Spirit fixes our prayers on the way up. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:35.960 No other person should be more dependent than the Christian. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:38.559 Let's look at response number two. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:42.079 This one's glorious. 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:47.160 We live filled with the fullness of God. 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.579 Verses 17 through 19. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:02.000 So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:05.440 That you being rooted and grounded in love. 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:07.240 So you hear that in love. 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:12.100 May have strength to comprehend with all the saints. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:15.840 What is the breadth and length and height and depth. 00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:20.480 And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:24.640 That you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:31.460 There is unlimited power available to the Christian as we contemplate the love of Jesus. 00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:37.720 The love of Jesus is going to be the vehicle which drives our power and drives our belonging to one another. 00:19:38.020 --> 00:19:39.759 Christ dwells in our hearts. 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.740 Ephesians 2.22. 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:46.000 In him, you are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 00:19:46.060 --> 00:19:47.720 We talked about that this morning. 00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:50.000 Real quick, Peter O'Brien says this. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:53.059 If Christ has taken up residence in our hearts. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:59.400 He is at the center of our lives and exercises his rule over all that we are and do. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:02.059 This indwelling is through faith. 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:05.920 That is, as they trust him, he makes their hearts his home. 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.900 It's beautiful. 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:13.200 The implication of the apostles prayer then is that the more the Spirit empowers their lives, 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:18.400 the greater will be their transformation into the likeness of Christ. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:23.980 If I asked you, what does it mean? 00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:28.340 How would you become filled with all the fullness of God for power? 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:35.140 I don't think our instincts would be fully understand the love of Christ. 00:20:36.040 --> 00:20:38.340 But that's the connection that Paul makes here. 00:20:38.339 --> 00:20:44.039 He's praying these giant prayers, calling on the familial glory of God, 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:48.279 the riches of inexhaustible riches of his glory to do what? 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:50.139 To have strength with all the saints. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.779 To do what? 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:52.259 To be holy. 00:20:52.699 --> 00:20:53.039 No. 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.220 To be righteous. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.179 No. 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.339 What is he calling on God to help us do? 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:06.000 To give us strength to comprehend with all the saints the love of Christ. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:11.740 Do you think about the reality of the love of Christ in this way? 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:20.799 That I need supernatural help from the Holy Spirit to understand the love of Jesus Christ. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.900 This gives us security. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.620 This gives us joy. 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.940 This gives us strength. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:33.019 And as Paul is talking to the church in Ephesus, you've got to remember, right? 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:37.740 After all these pagans and witches were converted, they gave this giant gift, right? 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.539 They were doing things for the church. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:41.900 They burned all of their former idols. 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:45.799 And he's saying, that's not what your security is in. 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:49.339 For the Jewish people, it's like, it's not in keeping these ceremonial laws. 00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:52.240 Both of you guys, both look at me. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:54.480 Listen, it is not what you have done. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:22:00.860 What you need to be filled with the fullness of God is to understand the love of Christ. 00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:03.519 I love St. Patrick's prayer. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:11.720 And I feel like it is one way that we can try to step into beginning to understand the love of Christ. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.380 Because you will never understand it fully. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.440 At least not on this side of heaven. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.680 Probably not on the other side either. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.860 It's that deep. 00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:22.939 But listen to this desperation of wanting a nearness to Christ. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.799 He says, Christ with me. 00:22:25.479 --> 00:22:26.899 Christ before me. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.519 Christ behind me. 00:22:28.659 --> 00:22:29.579 Christ in me. 00:22:29.719 --> 00:22:30.799 Christ beneath me. 00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.899 Christ above me. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.099 Christ on my right. 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.699 Christ on my left. 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.159 Christ when I lie down. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.399 Christ when I sit down. 00:22:37.699 --> 00:22:38.740 Christ when I arise. 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:41.119 Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me. 00:22:41.439 --> 00:22:43.539 Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me. 00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:45.779 Christ in every eye that sees me. 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:47.679 Christ in every ear that hears me. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.180 I arise today through a mighty strength. 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.880 The invocation of the Trinity. 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:54.600 Through belief in the threeness. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:59.000 Through confession of the oneness of the creator of creation. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:04.680 Do we have that desperation to be near Christ? 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:07.299 To speak of Christ? 00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:11.500 To dedicate our lives to loving and singing Christ? 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:15.480 What does this look like for us? 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:23.799 There is no truth of scripture more crucial to strength in the Christian life than understanding the fullness of Christ's love for you. 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:29.019 Focusing on the love of Christ is not wishy-washy Christianity. 00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.720 There's a version of it that's out there. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.420 Right? 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.819 That's just like, I don't want to talk about atonement. 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.460 I don't want to talk about the cross. 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.819 I don't want to talk about holiness. 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:39.079 I don't want to talk about obedience. 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.319 That's not where we are. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:46.339 Being too focused on the love of Christ is not a pit I believe that we fall into. 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:51.700 What I believe that can help us is kind of a rekindling and a re-understanding. 00:23:51.700 --> 00:24:00.299 That Jesus loves me. 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:03.759 Jesus loves you. 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:07.000 Jesus does. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:21.960 And it's not a fickle love. 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:28.180 It's not a love that is changing by how you do. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.640 It's not a love based on your performance. 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:35.119 It's not a love based on your job. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:38.699 It's not a love based on your attendance to church events. 00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.659 Though that is important. 00:24:40.939 --> 00:24:43.139 But that's not what his love is based on. 00:24:45.459 --> 00:24:47.639 Jesus loves you. 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.919 Full stop. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.179 That's the end of the sentence. 00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:56.039 And what Paul is saying here is in the Christian life, 00:24:56.039 --> 00:25:02.159 this is a doctrine you have to understand and hold close to your heart. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:07.620 It has to be readily accessible at all times. 00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:11.700 It's the only way we'll make it through suffering. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:14.580 Because one of the hardest things in suffering, 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:17.400 I believe is when your world is falling apart. 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:19.040 And then all of a sudden you're wondering, 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:21.019 am I loved? 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.460 Am I kept? 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:27.340 Will I be carried by my savior to the end? 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.620 And the answer to that is yes. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:33.220 Nothing has changed about the love of Jesus for you in that situation. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:37.539 So what you can do is you can hold on to the tiny thread of hope. 00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:39.400 That is not a hope that like, 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:39.519 oh, 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.200 I hope this is true, 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:43.140 but a hope that is secure and steady and unchanging. 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.600 Christ loves you. 00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.539 Understand this. 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.440 Hold on to this. 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.819 Draw strength from this. 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:51.919 And as he slowly draws you in, 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:57.500 you will be kept by him because of his love for you. 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:00.919 The love of Christ is not abstract. 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:04.519 Paul takes an attempt to measure his love. 00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:07.740 He's starting to say the length and height and breadth and depth of his love. 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.200 And he's saying, 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:08.939 guess what? 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:11.919 I want you to understand this thing that cannot be understood. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:14.200 It's incomprehensible. 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:16.000 You can't put it in a box. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.420 Paul's saying, 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:18.099 I can't put it in a box, 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.880 but I need you to understand this. 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:23.759 I need you to comprehend the reality of the importance of Christ's love. 00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.819 And if you really, 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:27.000 really want to know Christ's love for you, 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:30.039 all you must do is look at the bloodied cross. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:34.799 Because that is the greatest display of his love for you. 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:39.000 Christ loves you and Christ died for you. 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:44.359 I oftentimes like to think about this reality. 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:47.019 I don't know how it worked if I'm the only one, 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:48.240 because someone would have to crucify him. 00:26:48.459 --> 00:26:51.459 But if you were the only person on planet earth, 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:55.419 Jesus would still go through the crucifixion to save you. 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:58.359 If it was just you, 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:00.179 he would still do it. 00:27:00.219 --> 00:27:01.939 And he would do it with joy. 00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:06.299 This is the love of Christ for you. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:08.899 And even now I can even, 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.399 I can sense it that there's these, 00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:10.819 well, 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:12.359 but what about no, 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:14.659 that's his love for you. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:19.700 And we need the spirit to help us understand that. 00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:22.339 We need the spirit to help us comprehend this. 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.259 Romans 8, 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:23.859 38 says, 00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:24.979 there is no height, 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.819 nor depth, 00:27:25.899 --> 00:27:28.519 nor anything else in all creation. 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:34.500 We'll be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ. 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.259 Jesus, 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.259 our Lord. 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.899 Peter O'Brien says, 00:27:38.979 --> 00:27:42.639 we can never plumb its depth or comprehend its magnitude. 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:45.819 No matter how much we know of the love of Christ, 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:47.979 how fully we enter into his love for us, 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:53.160 there will always be more to know and experience. 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.200 Charles Spurgeon, 00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:59.019 the homie, 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:01.579 but brethren, 00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:06.099 we get the best idea of the breath of Christ's love. 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:11.039 When we behold it flowing to our lost and guilty selves, 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:16.380 I never thought it so broad a stream till I found that it reached to me, 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:18.080 even to me. 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:22.720 I feared that I was far away from its blessed margin, 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:28.420 but the river swelled and overflowed its banks until at last it washed me, 00:28:28.780 --> 00:28:30.280 even me. 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:36.140 How broad it must have been to have reached to some here present who had 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:39.940 wandered into the plains of sin and had followed after their own wanton 00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.460 devices. 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:45.420 But yet the breath of the river embraced even them. 00:28:46.380 --> 00:28:49.240 This is the love of Christ for us. 00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:50.220 Philippians four, 00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:52.360 seven and the peace of God, 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:55.240 which surpasses all understanding will. 00:28:55.520 --> 00:28:56.320 This is what it does, 00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:57.320 right? 00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.060 Peace of God, 00:28:58.100 --> 00:29:00.380 the peace that we have with God that was brought, 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.640 bought by Jesus Christ, 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.740 connected to the love of Jesus. 00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.760 The peace of God, 00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:09.100 which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:10.640 Christ Jesus. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:10.920 Jesus. 00:29:11.540 --> 00:29:12.940 When we know this, 00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:17.020 we will live more stable and more steadfast. 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:20.200 And what else happens is your love for others will grow. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:20.960 Listen, 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:24.800 it is really hard to continue in a petty argument with someone when you recognize 00:29:24.800 --> 00:29:27.960 and remember that Christ had died for your sins. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:32.880 When Christ has forgiven me in light of all of the sins that I have done against 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.259 him, 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:38.539 it helps me be quick to forgive someone who was wronged me in any kind of way. 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:44.399 When you're aware of Christ love for you, 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:47.659 you are better able to pour that love out towards others. 00:29:47.659 --> 00:29:50.420 Your response and conflict will be gentler. 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:56.579 Your pursuit of humility will be prioritized and your joy will be abounding. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.319 I think of a buddy, 00:29:58.399 --> 00:30:01.700 the elf after his date, 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:03.299 he bursts up on the door. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:03.519 He says, 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:04.180 I'm in love. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.879 I'm in love. 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.420 I'm in love. 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.940 And I don't care who knows it. 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:09.240 That ought to be our experience. 00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:14.440 Christ loves us and it transforms us and it gives us joy. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:18.820 We get to experience joy because of the love of Christ. 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.620 And finally, 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:27.840 we are used by God to glorify Christ. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.320 This is verses 20 through 21. 00:30:30.080 --> 00:30:31.460 This verse is insane. 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:37.460 And it closes the first half of the book before he gets to the practicals. 00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:44.500 Now to him who was able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:47.279 according to the power at work within us, 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:53.340 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:55.299 forever and ever. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.480 Amen. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:31:00.640 We'll be used by God to glorify Christ. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:06.299 The him being able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:09.380 It's not like a cheat code where we pray this thing and God gives us whatever we want. 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.720 What it is though, 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:14.640 it is a reality that nothing is too difficult for God. 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.480 What it is though, 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:19.380 is it's an understanding that God can use us, 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:22.740 even us for the purposes of his glory. 00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:24.839 Guys in high school, 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:26.500 I was a silly, 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.620 stupid jock. 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:31.099 I just was a ridiculous human being. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:36.120 I didn't think I liked reading until there was no spark notes for the great Gatsby. 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:36.920 So I had to read it. 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.440 And I was like, 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.380 me like book. 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.380 It's like book, 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.019 like movie, 00:31:41.120 --> 00:31:42.180 but more words. 00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:52.680 But God decided in his kindness to call me pastoral ministry. 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:56.019 And literally like my favorite thing to do now is read. 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.340 I'm like, 00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.539 who is this guy? 00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.600 Sophomore in high school, 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.920 JT would have been like nerd. 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.580 And then I would have beat him up because I'm stronger than him. 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:11.839 But God will use fools and bumbling buffoons like me to glorify Christ. 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:14.159 That is a miracle. 00:32:15.419 --> 00:32:16.419 It's a miracle. 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.819 I think I get into this tomorrow, 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.619 but in Ephesians four, 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:24.859 he talks about everyone's been given a gift, 00:32:24.939 --> 00:32:25.139 right? 00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:30.000 And everyone is being used by God for the work of ministry. 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.940 And when he says the work of ministry, 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:33.859 he's not talking about pastors pastoring. 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:37.019 He's talking about the saints doing the work of ministry. 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:38.420 All of you guys, 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:42.740 are you going to be used by God and are being used by God? 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:44.940 Because that's the power that his love can do. 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:46.460 When you know his love, 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:52.160 you recognize he's giving you a gift and you can be deployed to spread his gospel to those who don't believe. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:57.420 You can be deployed to glorify his name in whatever city or context you find yourselves in. 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.119 And we can say, 00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.240 are you kidding me? 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.160 And God's like, 00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:00.680 yes, 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.240 actually, 00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:03.000 you saw what I did with old Pete. 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:05.539 Peter was a wild disciple. 00:33:05.660 --> 00:33:08.240 I find a lot of like comfort and knowing like, 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:08.460 okay, 00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:10.359 Peter was a knucklehead all throughout the gospels. 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:12.460 And then he was just a total stud, 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.400 like praise the Lord. 00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:19.920 But what this does do is it stops us from having small thoughts of God. 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:24.500 He can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think there's, 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:27.420 there's no room for small thoughts of God. 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:32.320 But Paul connects the scope of what God can do. 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:35.580 All that we ask or think to the power that is at work within us. 00:33:35.580 --> 00:33:39.740 The power that works within us is the strengthening power we receive through his spirit, 00:33:39.800 --> 00:33:41.580 according to the riches of his glory. 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:45.519 Do you see the kind of help that we have in living the Christian life, 00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:49.160 which means that we can attack our weaknesses and our sin, 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:49.839 anger, 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.420 addiction, 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.079 lust, 00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:51.539 doubt, 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.279 whatever it is. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:55.779 We can attach these things according to the power at work within us, 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:57.099 which is God himself. 00:33:57.819 --> 00:34:00.180 God himself is at work within us. 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:03.860 And he has limitless power to help us. 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:08.860 So live your life as if the gospel really covers all your sin, 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:12.940 as if the gospel is something that you can actually draw power from because you can. 00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:17.440 Do you believe that God has the capacity to forgive all of your sins? 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:22.820 Do you believe that the love of Christ is so deep that it can transform every aspect of your life? 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:31.519 Do you believe that the love of Christ is so grand and powerful that it empowers you to fight against sin and win? 00:34:32.620 --> 00:34:34.559 To empower you to endure suffering. 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:38.260 This is the power at work within us. 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:46.780 God wants us to respond by letting the reality of Christ's love wash over us and to affect how we live, 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.820 how we process, 00:34:48.220 --> 00:34:49.280 what we strive for, 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:51.860 and in whose strength we work out of, 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:52.100 right? 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.539 Before this session, 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:55.059 I was like, 00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:57.519 I don't even know who's going to preach tonight because I am so tired. 00:34:57.800 --> 00:34:59.660 And now I'm jumping around sweating and screaming. 00:34:59.780 --> 00:34:59.980 Why? 00:35:00.180 --> 00:35:01.420 Because God's at work. 00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:04.000 Because his power helps me. 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.300 I was looking around. 00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:06.600 I was like, 00:35:06.640 --> 00:35:09.160 I don't know if any of y'all going to be awake while I'm preaching. 00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:10.019 And everyone's awake. 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:10.740 Praise the Lord, 00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:11.100 I think. 00:35:13.660 --> 00:35:14.600 Why is that happening? 00:35:14.600 --> 00:35:16.080 Because the spirit's at work. 00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:20.900 And the things that we would normally label mundane and in the things that we would label as extraordinary, 00:35:20.900 --> 00:35:24.300 the spirit is at work. 00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:30.720 And the purpose of the strength that we receive is not so we get to pat ourselves on the back and say, 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.140 oh man, 00:35:31.140 --> 00:35:33.200 I'm doing such a good job at Christianing today. 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:34.940 That's not the purpose. 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:39.019 The purpose is to glorify Jesus Christ and the church. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:45.440 What greater purpose would we have than to glorify Jesus Christ? 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:52.619 What's the last line in verse three of all I have is Christ. 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.139 Oh, 00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.559 father, 00:35:57.739 --> 00:36:02.219 use my ransomed life in any way you choose. 00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.679 In any way, 00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:06.539 it was just fully giving our lives to him. 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:06.840 Lord, 00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:12.400 use me in any way you choose and let my song forever be. 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:15.340 My only boast is you. 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:16.260 Hallelujah. 00:36:16.420 --> 00:36:17.300 All I have is Christ. 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:18.660 Right? 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:24.940 I think Jordan Coffin was talking about that song on a panel when he was writing it and he actually started with a chorus and then it kind of took a different shape. 00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:31.940 But what he wanted to convey in the chorus is that like if everything got stripped away from us and we had nothing else, 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:33.599 the response is not, 00:36:33.700 --> 00:36:33.900 oh, 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.320 geez, 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:36.059 all I've got is Christ. 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:38.760 But that would actually be all that we would ever need. 00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:39.559 Hallelujah. 00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:42.500 All I have is Christ. 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.219 Christ. 00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:45.440 Second Corinthians nine. 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:51.920 And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times times, 00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:54.320 you may abound in every good work. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:57.440 God is helping us in every good work. 00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:02.400 God's glory in the church cannot be separated from his glory in Christ Jesus. 00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:02.679 Right? 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:08.279 So the glory and the power that empowers us is going to help us glorify God in the church. 00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:12.079 Why do we have such confidence that God's going to meet us Sunday after Sunday after Sunday? 00:37:12.319 --> 00:37:14.779 Because we know that Christ wants to build his church. 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:21.059 We know that no power can come against the gates of hell cannot prevail against the gates of the church, power of the church. 00:37:24.099 --> 00:37:26.799 God's love for you is greater than you think. 00:37:27.259 --> 00:37:27.659 Period. 00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:27.779 Period. 00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:36.159 This great love that God has for you infuses you with power for mission and stability and suffering. 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:41.659 This great love that God has for you has folded you permanently into the family of the church. 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:43.319 Therefore, you are not alone. 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:44.379 You are not other. 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:48.079 You are beloved and you are strengthened. 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:55.139 And this is what God is planning to use for all future generations. 00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.659 From this time forth and forevermore. 00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:59.299 This was written a long time ago. 00:38:00.339 --> 00:38:05.219 And God's power is still going forth generation after generation after generation after generation after generation. 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:07.219 How and why? 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:10.159 Because of the immeasurable power of the love of Christ. 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:16.699 It's just continuously keeping his people and empowering us for mission and for love. 00:38:16.699 --> 00:38:28.799 The unlimited power that the Christian receives as we are rooted in the love of Christ gives us an unstoppable security and belonging and unshakable ability to glorify Christ in the church. 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:30.800 And the amazing far more abundantly. 00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:32.760 And the amazing far more abundantly. 00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:33.840 I'm closing here. 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:39.360 The amazing far more abundantly that God can do is have us live lives pleasing to him. 00:38:40.100 --> 00:38:41.980 In spite of our sin. 00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:44.200 God has made us saints. 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:48.960 God will use us to share the hope of the gospel to the lost. 00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:52.220 God will ensure that we are kept to the end. 00:38:52.219 --> 00:39:00.159 God will make disciples of him through us for the glory of his name and the continuation of the church. 00:39:01.819 --> 00:39:04.359 These are his promises to us. 00:39:04.859 --> 00:39:07.639 Let me close with Paul's words here. 00:39:07.639 --> 00:39:18.339 Now to him who was able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us. 00:39:18.739 --> 00:39:25.259 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. 00:39:25.879 --> 00:39:26.199 Amen. 00:39:26.920 --> 00:39:27.920 Would you pray with me? 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:41.039 Lord, as we are about to take extended time to pray and seek your face and seek your presence and seek your power. 00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:45.400 We do ask that you would fill us afresh. 00:39:46.200 --> 00:39:48.720 A fresh and filling of your Holy Spirit. 00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:55.300 Lord, it is nothing that we do that's going to quote unquote conjure up your spirit. 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:59.120 But it is going to be a free gift of grace that you would visit us in a particular way. 00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:01.980 Open our eyes and ears to see what is really true. 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:08.500 That by the spirit we would operate in the power of the spirit. 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.380 That we would be able to be still before you. 00:40:17.820 --> 00:40:20.740 That we would glory in the truth of your gospel. 00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:25.200 That we would experience the effect of Christ's love for us. 00:40:26.100 --> 00:40:29.620 That we would be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:40:30.600 --> 00:40:32.240 And know the love of Christ. 00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.660 For your glory. 00:40:35.140 --> 00:40:36.160 And for our good. 00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:38.060 Because you are good. 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:42.460 And because you graciously and lavishly give yourself to us. 00:40:42.940 --> 00:40:44.680 Would you help us to experience that now. 00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:47.820 And have a greater awareness of Christ and his gospel through it all. 00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:48.800 Amen. 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:48.940 Amen. 00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:48.960 Amen. 00:40:48.960 --> 00:40:48.960