WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.740 Our first reading tonight, or the only reading tonight, comes from the book of Ephesians, verses 1 to 21. 00:00:05.379 --> 00:00:11.179 You can find it on page 1134 in the guest Bibles in front of you, if you didn't bring one. 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:20.179 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, for the sake of you Gentiles, 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.679 surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you. 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:30.500 That is the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:36.140 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:43.039 which is not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:49.659 This mystery is that through God, the gospel of the Gentiles and heirs together with Israel, 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:54.079 members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:01:01.199 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given to me through the working of his power. 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:07.920 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given to me to preach to the Gentiles 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:14.019 the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make plain to everyone the administrations of this mystery, 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:19.079 which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:27.200 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:32.840 according to his eternal purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:37.599 In him and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:43.700 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:51.579 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom in his whole family, in heaven and on earth, derives its name. 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:57.960 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your innermost being, 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:00.960 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:04.140 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:10.439 may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.579 and to know that his love that surpasses all knowledge, 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:17.060 that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:21.280 Not to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.800 according to his power that is at work within us. 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:27.659 To him be the glory in the church and in Christ throughout all generations. 00:02:28.180 --> 00:02:29.139 Forever and ever. Amen. 00:02:29.139 --> 00:02:39.500 Well, good evening, everyone. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:41.439 It's great to be here tonight. 00:02:42.399 --> 00:02:48.839 Just in case you were interested, this talk is pre-recorded on video 00:02:48.839 --> 00:02:52.339 because there was a chance that I may not be here tonight. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:54.699 In fact, there's a chance I might not even be here on Sunday. 00:02:55.339 --> 00:02:56.619 We're seeing how things go. 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:59.580 But so it's pre-recorded. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:03.360 And so if you want a copy of it, I'm sure we can give you a copy of it if that need be. 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:08.200 And so if I sleep in on Sunday, we're covered, which is great as well. 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:13.259 Let's pray as we dive into Ephesians 3. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:19.340 And please, if you haven't got it already, get a Bible, open it up, put it in your lap at Ephesians 3. 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:23.200 You really do need to be engaging with God's word. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:29.439 And if you want to be convinced of that, then come on Sunday and I'll tell you why. 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:32.019 So bow your heads, let's pray. 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:37.899 Father God, we thank you for the wonderful privilege of joining together right now. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:49.540 We ask that you would do, as Paul prayed for the Ephesian church, immeasurably more than we could possibly ask or imagine over the course of this weekend. 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:54.159 Lord, we pray for your word to be powerful amongst us. 00:03:54.239 --> 00:04:06.120 We ask for your spirit to come so that the glorious gospel which has brought Jew and Gentile and people from every tribes and language and nations together under the headship of Jesus, 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:13.539 that gospel will impact us, that we would understand the heightened depths of the love of Christ in such a way, Father, 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:19.259 that you would make us a beacon of your glory and your wisdom in this world. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.160 So, Lord, that is huge. 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:31.959 And so we ask that you would do more than we could possibly imagine amongst this little church here in Chatswood. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:33.720 And we ask it for your glory. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:34.340 Amen. 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:45.740 And so here we are tonight for the continuation of our commitment series and the beginning of our partners weekend. 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:48.399 I wonder why. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.759 I wonder why are you here? 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:54.759 It's Friday night. 00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:56.519 It's wet. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:58.060 It's cold. 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:00.340 Why are you here? 00:05:00.339 --> 00:05:09.599 Why are you here and not out at the movies down at Hoyts tonight where Jack and Jill is playing, Adam Sandler, right now? 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:14.839 I wonder why you're not at home discovering better homes than yours on Channel 7. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:24.099 Or dreaming about an escape to the country on 7-2 and then realising why you haven't when you're flicked over to ABC and discover another Midsummer Murder. 00:05:25.859 --> 00:05:28.959 Why aren't you at home winding down in front of the TV? 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:35.680 I wonder why you're not down the road at the Bavarian Beer Cafe having, enjoying a leisurely dinner. 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:39.519 I wonder why you're not at the gym, walking the dog. 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:40.399 That might be obvious. 00:05:41.919 --> 00:05:44.120 Why are you not visiting family and friends? 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:45.679 Why are you not playing a board game? 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:47.919 Why are you here tonight? 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:49.299 Why are you here this weekend? 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:54.340 Because nothing much better to do? 00:05:56.960 --> 00:05:57.819 Maybe that's it. 00:05:57.939 --> 00:06:05.580 If there was something better to do or something more pressing, then you would have maybe given tonight a flick or maybe the course of this weekend a flick. 00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:08.240 You may not have even given it much of a second thought. 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:11.620 After all, it's only church, isn't it? 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:19.519 I wonder if you're comfortable in me putting those two words together like that, only church. 00:06:21.780 --> 00:06:25.920 I wonder if meeting as a church is in fact an afterthought. 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:32.120 It fits in and around other programs, plans, other agendas that I have. 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:34.420 Maybe that's a little strong. 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:41.600 Maybe it's not really an afterthought, but still you wouldn't make too big of a deal about it. 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:51.199 If you're comfortable with the words, it's only church, and if you're comfortable not making too much of a deal about it, 00:06:51.459 --> 00:06:56.379 I want to invite you into Ephesians 3 and have a look at it here with me. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:03.500 You've noticed there as it was read through by Josh that the word church is mentioned twice in this chapter. 00:07:04.280 --> 00:07:06.840 In verse 10 and in verse 21. 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:09.340 I want you to notice the wording. 00:07:09.339 --> 00:07:12.219 Have a look there first of all with me in verse 10. 00:07:13.619 --> 00:07:22.899 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. 00:07:23.859 --> 00:07:28.779 The word manifold there literally means many-coloured. 00:07:29.239 --> 00:07:31.219 It means multifaceted. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:36.580 It's the same word used in the Old Testament for the fancy coat that Joseph wore. 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:39.340 The many-coloured coat of Joseph. 00:07:39.760 --> 00:07:47.480 And what it's saying here is the church is God's brightly coloured neon sign to the universe. 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:55.000 The church is the public advertisement campaign of the wisdom of God. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:08:03.839 Strange to glibly call it only church. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:16.939 And again in verse 20 and 21, Paul prays now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his wisdom that is at work within us. 00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:46.919 To him be the glory in the church. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:49.799 Of course, if you aren't doing anything else with your life. 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:57.159 We've been called the Stabo generation, which stands for subject to a better offer. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:05.620 In the older days, you would probably, someone might call it the more polite older days, I would question that. 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:13.080 You'd send out invitations and you would ask people to RSVP, which is French for let us know if you're coming. 00:09:14.139 --> 00:09:17.500 And now apparently, hardly anyone does nowadays. 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:23.539 Because instead of committing to being somewhere, we're Stabo people. 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:26.779 Yep, you'll probably be there. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:32.120 But in your head, you're thinking, unless of course a better offer comes along. 00:09:32.779 --> 00:09:37.620 Don't want to commit to anything too strongly right now, because a better offer might come up. 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.959 But if it doesn't, I'll be there. 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:45.240 And often we take a Stabo approach to the gathering of God's people. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:51.100 This is reflected at St Paul's, as it is in many churches. 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:55.480 I regularly attend four congregations in our church. 00:09:56.460 --> 00:10:01.580 And every one of those congregations has people arriving late. 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:04.779 Some as much as half an hour late for church. 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:06.000 Regularly. 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:07.620 Regularly. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:08.240 Every week. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:16.100 And the other striking thing is the number of people who don't come to church regularly. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:18.000 It's not a weekly thing. 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:18.860 It's not a committed thing. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:19.960 It's Stabo. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:22.620 We'll see what else comes up. 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:30.080 What it's saying here, and let us not miss the point here, 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:40.180 the gathering together of church is God's beacon of his glory to the universe. 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:47.020 And that is the case, even if your experience of church is disappointing. 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:51.120 Even if your experience of church might be slightly boring. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:55.879 Even if your experience of church might be that relationships are less than they could be. 00:10:55.879 --> 00:11:05.220 We are here this weekend to catch a glimpse of God's intentions and to commit ourselves to that. 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:07.799 All of us. 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:13.439 Whether you've been coming to church for a week, or been coming to church for 50 years. 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:20.279 God's plan here is devastatingly simple and disarmingly beautiful. 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:25.639 Paul's language bubbles over here with greatness and beauty. 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:31.839 It's the sort of vocab that wants you to go grabbing for your dictionary just to explore a little bit more. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:35.860 He's talking about the unsearchable riches of Christ in verse 8. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.079 And the manifold wisdom we've already seen in verse 10. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.100 The glorious riches of the Father in verse 16. 00:11:42.459 --> 00:11:46.220 And the love of God that surpasses knowledge in verse 19. 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:50.840 In wonderfully rich language that all talk about the same thing. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:12:01.240 The eternal plan of God to bring a new society together under Christ from all kinds of people who are bound together in love. 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:14.259 At this point, it might be a good thing for us, I think, to think back over where we've been in the last few weeks in Ephesians 1 and 2. 00:12:14.680 --> 00:12:16.440 Paul says that there is a great inheritance. 00:12:17.019 --> 00:12:20.539 The great promises of God that the people of Israel had. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:25.180 The great hope of the coming King of the Jews had held onto for generations. 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:29.279 Had finally arrived in the coming of the Lord Jesus. 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:31.919 Jesus' death on the cross brought forgiveness of sins. 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:36.919 His resurrection and return to the Father brought the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:48.819 But the big surprise, the big surprise, is that when he says, you Gentiles are sharing in it. 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:51.179 That's the surprise. 00:12:51.179 --> 00:13:03.599 And we saw how Paul talked about us Jewish Christians, who he called the saints, and you Gentile Christians, sharing in the hope. 00:13:04.099 --> 00:13:05.759 Sharing the inheritance together. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:11.799 Jews and Gentiles are being built together into one new humanity under Christ. 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:16.799 And that is exactly the idea he continues on into chapter 3. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:30.099 And that is why he is praying that this church in Ephesus would be the beacon of unity and love and the display of God's wisdom and glory to the universe. 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:34.980 Now, chapter 3 is one of those chapters that's sort of messy. 00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:40.580 So you need to have your Bibles open right now so I can show you what's going on here. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:43.139 It's one of those, it is messy. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:48.860 What happens is Paul picks up on the thought at the end of chapter 2, which says, 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:53.879 You two are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his spirit. 00:13:54.259 --> 00:14:01.220 And then he begins chapter 3 sort of like, well, I'm going to pray that this, in fact, is what you will become. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:05.700 So he starts chapter 3 with, 00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:11.320 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, for the sake of you Gentiles. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.000 And then he breaks his thought. 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:16.580 And he does this detour. 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:23.460 And the detour lasts for 14 verses, where he says, again, 00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:26.620 For this reason I kneel before the Father. 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:28.920 And then he continues on with the original thought. 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:35.139 So we've got to kind of hold Paul's train of thought together 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:40.840 while we travel on this detour with him from verses 2 to 13. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:47.340 It's sort of like he starts into chapter 3, continuing the thought of chapter 2, 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:52.379 but then he sort of says, hang on, before I go any further, 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.960 let me remind you again of the theory. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:57.080 Let me remind you of God's plan. 00:14:57.160 --> 00:15:00.500 Let me remind you of why I am here in prison 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:04.120 and why Gentiles like you find yourself part of God's family. 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:08.120 It's all because of this mystery that's no longer a mystery. 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:11.460 It's all because of the plan has all finally come together. 00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:13.279 So let me remind you of that. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:17.379 And as you run your eye down, verses 2 to 13, 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:21.120 you'll see he makes the same point over and over again. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:25.740 The plan that wasn't known before is now clear. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:32.399 The mystery that wasn't understood is now made known. 00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:35.039 Follow it down. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:35.659 Verse 2. 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:41.000 I'm assuming you've heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:44.399 and the way God made me a steward of his message. 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.500 Verse 3. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:50.419 I'm assuming you've heard how the mystery was made known to me by revelation 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:52.500 as I've written briefly. 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:56.279 That is, when you read this, this letter that I'm writing, 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:00.799 you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:06.460 which wasn't made known before, but now is made known through the apostles. 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:11.159 What used to be a mystery is now crystal clear. 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:14.240 In verse 7, Paul is saying, 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:19.179 and my job is to talk about this mystery made clear. 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:24.099 I was made a minister, a servant of this good news. 00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:29.239 My job, verse 8, is specifically to preach to the Gentiles 00:16:29.239 --> 00:16:31.719 the unsearchable riches of Christ. 00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:35.319 And verse 9, to bring to light for everyone 00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:39.000 what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.199 who created all things. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:44.919 And what is this mystery that's now crystal clear? 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.279 Verse 6. 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:49.199 This mystery is that through the gospel, 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.959 the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.120 members together of one body, 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:58.779 and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:06.440 Well, that doesn't seem like much of a mystery, does it? 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:13.460 Until we remember that he's talking about the crossing 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:17.240 of the biggest ethnic dividing walls you can imagine, 00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:21.500 some of which Chris revealed to us last Sunday. 00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:31.519 The gospel created instant hostility in Paul's culture. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:34.420 Because if you were Jewish, 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:39.220 it was important to know that everyone had their place. 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:44.359 Of course, we all think that everyone has their place, 00:17:44.639 --> 00:17:46.799 and we're very quick to put them there in our minds, 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:48.319 if not with our words and our actions. 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:52.119 But the level of hostility here is much greater 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:54.019 than we can understand in our current culture. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.420 For instance, you get an idea of it, 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:02.300 not a full idea, but an idea of it, 00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:05.320 if you lived in America in the southern states in the 1960s, 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:08.200 where there were riots, 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:11.380 very significant riots, 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:14.060 over the fact that a black woman refused to stand up 00:18:14.060 --> 00:18:15.620 and give her bus seat to a white man. 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.539 People died for that. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.980 That gives you an idea of the sort of hostility. 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:27.059 How do you cross dividing walls like that? 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:31.400 How do you get this group and that group to mix together 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:37.539 in a culture like that? 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.960 No matter where you come from, 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:41.680 this is what Paul says, 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:42.640 the mystery is this, 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.220 no matter where you come from, 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.640 no matter what color you are, 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.380 no matter what your ethnic background is, 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.480 no matter how long you've been in the church family, 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:51.980 if you've put your faith in the Lord Jesus, 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:53.779 you're all part of the same body 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:57.480 and we are all equal in the eyes of God. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:02.700 The church, according to verse 10, 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.720 is meant to be the display of that, 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:07.700 the display of God's wisdom, 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:11.700 God's full technicolor wisdom 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.920 displayed in a grayscale world. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.799 We're meant to stand out in that regard. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:23.000 God's glory and wisdom displayed in the church 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:27.900 as these dividing walls are torn down in the gospel. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:31.860 And there's nothing that Paul wants to see more 00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:34.099 than the Ephesians live out that reality. 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:38.700 As he comes back from his detour into verse 14, 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:42.660 this is the thing that he most wants to pray for. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:47.420 Verses 14 to 21 is a long and complex thought. 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:49.480 But in the end, 00:19:49.560 --> 00:19:51.680 it breaks down to a very simple prayer. 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.700 A prayer to the Father 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:58.160 that the Ephesian church might really be a family. 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:01.160 A prayer that God, 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.539 out of the riches of his glory, 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:05.460 might do something amazing in them by his spirit. 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:09.140 A prayer that boils down to this in verse 17, 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:13.420 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:18.020 And I pray that you being rooted and established in love. 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:21.980 Remember, he's talking to a church 00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:23.980 made up of Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:29.500 He prays that Jesus may so fill their hearts 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:32.460 that they will really know what true love is. 00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:35.380 Paul says in the middle of verse 14, 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:37.660 I'm praying that you being rooted and established in love 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.880 may have power. 00:20:39.040 --> 00:20:41.020 You Gentiles together with the saints 00:20:41.020 --> 00:20:45.040 to comprehend what is the breadth and length 00:20:45.040 --> 00:20:47.300 and height and depth of the love of Christ 00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:49.880 and to know the love of Christ 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.700 that goes way beyond, 00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:55.360 way beyond all knowledge. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:00.760 Way beyond all human wisdom. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:05.660 He says here, in other words, 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:07.819 that this love of Christ doesn't make sense. 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:13.039 It doesn't make sense that the love of Christ 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:15.339 on a human wisdom scale 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:18.160 encompasses all people. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:20.980 Everyone. 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:27.519 Do you really get that? 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:31.359 I'm not asking you, do you know it? 00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.720 I'm asking you, do you feel it? 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:41.599 Because I think so often in the church, 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:46.579 our love isn't that kind of love. 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:53.500 He says, I'm praying that you will together catch on 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:57.480 to just how big the love of Jesus is 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:00.960 and be so filled with the fullness of God. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:05.400 He prays for it because when the church does it, 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:09.400 it becomes God's great advertising campaign 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:12.259 of his wisdom and his glory to the world, 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.759 to the whole world. 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.640 And yet so often we forget that. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:22.079 We're still so tribal in our thinking, aren't we? 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.319 We draw lines. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:27.699 I draw lines in my mind about who I think will respond 00:22:27.699 --> 00:22:31.259 and who I don't think will respond to the good news, 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.099 the love of Christ. 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:35.339 I mean, we may not all do it literally, 00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:37.119 but you can imagine doing it. 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:40.819 You sit, you can imagine who sits with who 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:42.879 and who won't sit with who else, 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.059 even on a night like tonight. 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:51.259 Which family, which tribe, which generation, 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.720 people who have been part of the church for 50 years, 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.000 people who are just brand new, 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.579 lines that you won't cross over 00:22:57.579 --> 00:23:00.720 because perhaps you haven't absorbed 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:05.019 how grand and great the love of God is in Christ. 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:16.019 It's not so long ago we were watching killing in Kosovo 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.619 on the news. 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:20.680 Serbs and ethnic Albanians, 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.539 a hate that runs back a thousand years. 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:28.099 And yet in that scenario, 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:30.059 on both sides of the conflict, 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.980 there were churches. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:34.299 And in the middle of the conflict, 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:37.460 one pastor of an Albanian Baptist church 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:40.180 crossed over the racial divide 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:45.200 and knocked on the door of a pastor in Belgrade. 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.920 And the pastor in Belgrade 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:50.319 invited him into his church, 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.400 invited him into his home 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:55.539 and put him in the pulpit 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:59.180 against all the background of all the hate 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:01.240 that the pastor of this church in Belgrade 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.039 took him in 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:04.360 and welcomed him as a Christian brother. 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.660 And this is what he says. 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:10.100 We don't have anything in common 00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:12.840 apart from Christ. 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.180 Is that not the point? 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:23.320 Is that not the point of this chapter? 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:29.819 If you really catch on to the breadth and depth 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.919 and height and width of the love of Christ, 00:24:32.419 --> 00:24:34.720 then you've started down the path 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.559 of loving one another 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:38.359 against the odds, 00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.319 across generations, 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:41.619 across cultural dividing lines 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:44.720 in a way that not only astounds 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:47.019 the world in which we live, 00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:52.079 but the spiritual powers as well. 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:55.379 It's enough to make the angels rejoice 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:57.279 and the demons to hang their heads. 00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:58.639 Paul says, 00:24:59.279 --> 00:24:59.899 God's intent, 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.599 God's design, 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.159 God's plan, 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.720 verse 10, 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.259 is that through the church, 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.939 the manifold wisdom of God 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:06.720 might be known to the rulers 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.619 and authorities 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:09.119 in their heavenly places. 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.159 Imagine that. 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:13.059 Imagine the angels 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:16.359 looking down on St. Paul's Chatswood 00:25:16.359 --> 00:25:19.339 and marveling at God's eternal purposes 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:21.119 being worked out in us 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.859 and seeing the wisdom 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.299 and the glory of God 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.799 in a church like this. 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:30.099 And them going, 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:33.099 that's what it's all about. 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:38.859 They see God's eternal plans 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:40.479 and purposes worked out 00:25:40.479 --> 00:25:41.879 throughout the history of the church. 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:44.399 They don't know what we know. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:47.759 They see it displayed in front of them. 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.440 Marvelling at the love 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.900 that's shown in small ways 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.860 but a thousand ways. 00:25:53.280 --> 00:25:55.340 Marvelling at the church of Christ 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:57.000 as the boundaries of the world 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.480 that the world puts up, 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:01.420 the gospel tears down between us. 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:04.660 And so why are you here tonight? 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:07.019 Why are you here this weekend 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.340 and not at home tonight 00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.400 watching TV? 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:09.920 TV. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:14.620 You're here to be part of God's church. 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:18.580 You're here to actively love one another. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:21.519 You're here to demonstrate that to this world 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:23.400 and you're here to demonstrate it 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:25.019 to the angels in the heavenly realms. 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:29.200 The wonder of God's plan 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.540 being worked out in Christ. 00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:33.200 The wisdom of God displayed in the church. 00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.580 The manifold wisdom of God. 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:36.180 You're here to reveal to the world 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:38.180 that alienation and self-centeredness 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:39.299 and hatred and division 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:42.560 don't have the final word. 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:45.140 You're here to work together 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:47.019 to display Christ's love 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:48.460 in real ways to a world. 00:26:51.320 --> 00:26:53.299 There's always lots of work to be done 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:57.480 to make the reality measure up to that 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:59.180 but here's the challenge. 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.460 First of all, 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.039 be here every week. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.900 Be here every week. 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:07.060 I am very glad 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:09.820 that the man who discipled me 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:11.740 instilled that into me. 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.120 No question, Steve. 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.259 You go to church. 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.080 No question. 00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:19.440 And when you go to church, 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:21.019 you're not there for yourself. 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.840 You're there to serve. 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:26.200 Be part of it. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.820 Because church on a Sunday 00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:31.080 is frankly just scratching the surface 00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:32.240 of what church is all about. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.579 Look for ways to love people, 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:36.579 to build bridges every way you can. 00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:37.740 Don't wait for an invitation. 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:39.779 Don't wait to fill out an acts of service form. 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:42.519 Come here with the anticipation 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:44.019 that I'm going to love 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:45.000 and I'm going to serve. 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:47.019 Pray for it on a Saturday night. 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:49.799 Keep looking at the love of Jesus 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:52.120 as you see it at the cross 00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:55.079 and look for ways to imitate that 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:57.799 amongst your brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.119 Instead of looking for things to complain about, 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.639 look for ways to love others 00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.680 and you'll find, 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.119 you will actually discover 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.819 that the things to complain about 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.720 actually diminish. 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.539 There's a great reminder 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.759 at the end of Paul's prayer 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:12.379 that the potential for the church to be 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.980 what it should be 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.359 goes way beyond 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:17.139 even what we can dream about. 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.480 I mean, 00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:23.500 so often it is disappointing, isn't it? 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:26.319 Because we're so lukewarm 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:28.039 about being what we're called to be 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.380 because we're self-interested 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.779 even as we come together. 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:32.700 And yet Paul prays this in verse 20. 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.960 Now to him 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:36.880 who is able to do immeasurably more 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:38.359 than all that we ask 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:39.740 or even imagine 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:41.960 according to his power 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.140 that is at work within us. 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:46.700 And he prays that God would be glorified 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:49.319 as people see his church 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:51.059 being what the church should be. 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:52.640 That the church, 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.200 sorry, 00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:55.160 that God would be glorified 00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:56.220 in the church 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:59.040 as well as in Christ Jesus 00:28:59.040 --> 00:29:00.640 from generation to generation. 00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:03.600 What an astounding prayer. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:07.060 I'd encourage you to go away tonight 00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:08.200 in the course of this weekend 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:10.200 to read through this prayer. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:12.380 And will you join me 00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:14.080 in making it our prayer 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:18.440 that God's reputation in the world 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.920 would be increased 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:22.020 by St. Paul's Chatswood. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:28.000 To pray for that. 00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:30.860 As God's reputation 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:32.780 is being torn to shreds 00:29:32.780 --> 00:29:34.980 by new atheism 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:37.320 that St. Paul's Chatswood 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:39.880 would increase 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:42.580 God's reputation in the world. 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:47.000 that the way we love, 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:48.519 that the way we care for one another 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.919 and the way we're united 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:52.299 under the Lord Jesus Christ 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.720 will bear the sort of fruit 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:56.939 that we cannot even possibly imagine 00:29:56.939 --> 00:29:59.599 and are even too afraid to ask for. 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.259 Let's pray. 00:30:00.699 --> 00:30:01.240 Father God, 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:01.899 work this out 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:02.599 and ask we pray 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:04.039 that this prayer might be our prayer. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.019 Lord, 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.160 I pray that your glory 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.160 and your wisdom 00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.579 might be known to the world 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:10.539 that your reputation in this world, 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.879 your renown 00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:14.319 will be increased 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:16.900 because of the ministry of this church 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:18.400 no matter how small, 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.099 no matter how large. 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.180 Lord, 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.299 whatever it might be, 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:22.960 Father God, 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.460 I pray that you would help us 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.420 to consistently 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.879 week after week 00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:28.160 grapple with how high 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:28.740 and wide 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.600 and deep and long 00:30:29.600 --> 00:30:30.920 is the love of Christ 00:30:30.920 --> 00:30:31.800 in the Lord Jesus. 00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:32.840 Love of God 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.480 in the Lord Jesus. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.200 Father, 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.740 we pray that we will continually 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.580 go to the cross, 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:39.900 see the love of Christ there 00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:41.279 and realize that that love 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.320 is for all people 00:30:42.320 --> 00:30:44.240 and that we would take those steps 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:45.160 to love each other 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:46.640 and we ask it for your sake. 00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.200 Amen.