Open your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 3.
! We're taking a break from our series in the Gospel of Matthew
!
Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.
Heavenly Father,
Father,
we are your people,
the sheep of your pasture.
Where else can we turn but to you?
You have the words of eternal life.
We come to you to learn about the office of elder.
We come to you to learn about the ministry of the Gospel.
We come to you to learn about what we should be as a church.
We ask that you will speak to us.
We ask that you will make your priorities our priorities.
Your marching orders are our drive and passion in life.
Impress deeply upon us
with the love of Christ
by which we might be strengthened and filled with more and more of you,
with your fullness.
Amen.
in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Please stand to honor God
as we read from His Word,
Ephesians chapter 3, verses 1 to 21.
For this reason,
I, Paul,
a prisoner for Christ Jesus
on behalf of you Gentiles,
assuming that you have heard
of the stewardship of God's grace
that was given to me for you,
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation
as I have written briefly.
When you read this,
you can perceive my insight
into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known
to the sons of men in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
This mystery is that the Gentiles
are fellow heirs,
members of the same body,
and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus
through the gospel.
Of this gospel,
I was made a minister
according to the gift of God's grace,
which was given me
by the working of His power.
To me,
though I am the very least of all the saints,
this grace was given
to preach to the Gentiles
the unsearchable riches of Christ
and to bring to light for everyone
what is the plan of the mystery
hidden for ages in God
who created all things,
so that through the church,
the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known
to the rulers and authorities
in the heavenly places.
This was according to
the eternal purpose
that He has realized
in Christ Jesus, our Lord,
in whom we have boldness
and access with confidence
through our faith in Him.
So I ask you not to lose heart
over what I am suffering for you,
which is your glory.
For this reason,
I bow my knees before the Father.
from whom every family in heaven
and on earth is named,
that according to the riches
of His glory,
He may grant you
to be strengthened with power
through His Spirit
in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith,
that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
may have strength
to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth
and length
and height
and depth
and to know
the love of Christ
that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled
with all the fullness
of God.
Now,
to Him who is able
to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask
or think,
according to the power
at work within us,
to Him be glory
in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations
forever and ever.
Amen.
Please be seated.
We begin by addressing
the role of elders
in the church
before I dive into this text.
The elders of the church
are called upon
in the Bible
to govern the church
and to labor
in preaching and teaching.
That's why in
1 Timothy 5, 17,
it says,
Let the elders
who rule well
be considered worthy
of double honor,
especially those
who labor in preaching
and teaching.
Every local church
that you see
in the New Testament
is governed by elders.
The church in Jerusalem
is governed by elders.
The church in Ephesus
is governed by the elders.
And at the end
of his first missionary journey,
after having preached
the gospel in Cyprus,
Pisidian, Antioch,
Iconium, and Lystra,
it says in Acts 14,
20 through 23,
that Paul and Barnabas
backtracked their way
through those very cities,
strengthening the souls
of the disciples,
encouraging them
to continue in the faith,
and saying that
through many tribulations
we must enter
the kingdom of God.
And when they had
appointed elders
for them
in every church,
with prayer and fasting,
they committed them
to the Lord
in whom they had believed.
I should also note
that every instance
of elders being mentioned
in the New Testament,
it's in the plural,
which is intentional.
The plurality provides
more wisdom
and accountability
and protection
and mutual encouragement
for the eldership.
After many years of trying,
we are finally going to have
a local plurality of elders.
By God's grace,
we're becoming
a more biblical
and healthier church today.
So if that's what elders are,
why do we speak
of ordaining elders?
What does that mean?
That's not a word
we use often.
The word ordain
comes from a Latin word
that simply means
to appoint,
to put in charge
or to invest with authority.
Paul does this
for his protege Titus
and he calls upon him
in Titus 1.7,
this is why I left you in Crete
so that you might put
what remained into order
and appoint elders
in every town
as I directed you.
So that word appoint
is what we mean
by ordain.
When we ordain an elder,
we as the congregation
are attesting to his fitness
for eldership
and we are appointing him
to the office of elder
and thereby setting him apart
for the ministry
of the gospel.
And that's what Paul speaks
of here in Ephesians 3.
And the main point
of this passage
is that God makes
gospel ministers
according to his grace
so that through their preaching
and prayer,
he might fill his church
with himself.
So I'm going to break this down
into two main roles
of elders.
One,
to preach
the unsearchable riches
of Christ.
Two,
pray for the unknowable
love of Christ.
The first response
we mentioned here
is to preach
the unsearchable riches
of Christ.
It says in verse 7,
of this gospel,
I was made a minister
according to the gift
of God's grace
which was given me
by the working
of his power.
It says,
of this gospel.
It doesn't say
of a gospel
because there's only
one gospel.
An elder
is a minister
of this gospel,
this particular gospel
that Christ proclaimed
and his,
that is,
his apostles
preached
2,000 years ago
and has been handed down
faithfully to us
in our generation.
Paul just told us
what this gospel is
in verses 1 to 6.
It's the mystery
that was hidden
in the previous ages
but has been revealed
to us in the coming
of Jesus Christ.
That's what we celebrate
in the Advent season.
The gospel is the message
of Christ crucified
and risen.
And because Jesus,
the Messiah,
died on the cross
for the sins
of God's people
and because he was
raised from the dead
in triumph,
now both Jews
and Gentiles
are reconciled
to each other
in God
and saved
and adopted
into the household
of God.
Not by their own
observance of the law,
not by their own
righteousness,
but by the grace
of God
through faith.
Paul spoke
of his own eagerness
to preach
the gospel
in Romans 1.16.
He says,
for I am not ashamed
of the gospel
for it is the power
of God
for salvation
to everyone
who believes.
No other message
in the world
saves.
Only the gospel.
So he says
in 1 Corinthians
chapter 2,
verse 2,
I decided to know
nothing among you
except Jesus Christ
and him crucified.
There is an
ever-present pressure
from the world
for pastors
to be about
many things.
They need to be
leadership
and management
gurus.
They need to be
a therapist
conversing
with the latest
psychology.
They need to be
political activists.
They need to be
social media influencers
and know the power
of images
and angles
and product placement.
They need to be
masterful presenters
and motivational speakers
that can galvanize
a crowd.
But Paul says
in 1 Corinthians
1.17
that he
intentionally
avoided
the eloquence
of the Greek
orators
because he feared
that by using
their principles
of eloquence
he would empty
the cross of Christ
of its power
and make it seem
as though it's
human eloquence
that saves people.
What saves people
is not
our eloquent
turn of phrase
or clever
witty sayings
or a viral
marketing principle
from successful
businesses
or the latest
insights
from the modern
world
or the creative
programming
or our own
personality
or charisma
it's none
of these things.
There's only
one
gospel
and only
the gospel
is the power
of God
for salvation.
And so my prayer
for you Ed
this morning
is that you
would be a man
of one thing
and preach
this one thing.
19th century
British pastor
Charles Spurgeon
once told
one of my
favorite stories
of a Welsh
minister
who offered
constructive
criticism
to a younger
preacher.
After his sermon
he said
it was a very
poor sermon
and the young
man replied
will you tell
me why
you think
it was a poor
sermon?
because
said the Welsh
minister
there was
no Christ
in it.
Well
said the young
man
starting to
regain his
confidence
Christ
was not
in the text.
We are not
to be preaching
Christ always
we must
preach what
is in the
text.
The exchange
continued
don't you
know young
man
that from
every town
and every
village
and every
little
hamlet
in England
wherever
it may
be
there is
a road
to
London?
Yes
said the
young
man
ah
said the
old
divine
and so
from
every
text
in
scripture
there is
a road
to the
metropolis
of the
scriptures
that is
Christ
and my
dear brother
your
business
is when
you get
to a
text
to say
now
what
is
the
road
to
Christ
and
to
preach
a
sermon
running
along
the
road
towards
the
great
metropolis
Christ
and
said he
I have
never
yet
found
a
text
that
had
not
got
a
road
to
Christ
in
it
and
if
I
ever
do
find
one
that
is
not
a
road
to
Christ
in
it
I
will
make
one
I
will
go
over
hedge
and
ditch
but
I
would
get
at
my
master
for
my
sermon
cannot
do
any
good
unless
there
is
a
savor
of
Christ
in
it
so
find
the
way
to
Christ
in
your
ministry
of the
word
from
this
pulpit
in
this
church
or
in
your
private
office
chair
as
you
counsel
others
find
your
way
to
Christ
crucified
the
enemy
will
sow
doubt
in
your
head
and
tell
you
that
the
gospel
is
not
enough
people
will
not
be
impressed
by
you
unless
you
offer
them
something
more
than
the
gospel
people
will
not
grow
or
change
unless
you
offer
them
something
more
leave
the
gospel
behind
find
something
else
find
something
new
and
exciting
but
don't
deviate
from
the
road
to
Christ
we
preach
the
unsearchable
riches
of
Christ
he
says
in
verse
eight
the
riches
of
Christ
in
the
gospel
are
inexhaustible
and
unsearchable
a
person
who
thinks
that he
already
knows
all
there
is
to
know
and
appreciate
about
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
is
like
someone
who
looks
at
a
fish
tank
in
his
living
room
and
declares
confidently
I
have
seen
all
there
is
to
see
of
the
ocean
the
glorious
riches
of
Christ
in
this
gospel
our
justification
and
sanctification
and
glorification
our
redemption
and
liberation
our
regeneration
and
reconciliation
and
adoption
and our
cleansing
and
purification
it's
bottomless
of
this
gospel
Ed
is
being
made
a
minister
today
the
word
minister
means
servant
ministers
are
servants
of
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
yes
ordination
confers
authority
of
the
office
of
elder
but
it
is
a
Christ
like
authority
our
Christ
who
came
not
to
be
served
but
to
serve
and
gave
his
life
as
a
ransom
for
many
so
it's
an
authority
that
is
wielded
not
for
the
sake
of
self
advancement
but
in
the
service
of
others
the
gospel
ministry
is
not
for
the
advancement
of
our
personal
agendas
or the
promotion
of
our
personal
reputation
the
gospel
ministry
is
not
a
means
of
gain
it
is
no
mere
profession
it
is
an
entrance
into
servitude
of
Christ
and
his
gospel
we
are
a
!
possession
!
the
movable
property
of
our
master
Jesus
has
absolute
rights
over
our
services
he
and
he
is
our
exclusive
preoccupation
to
please
him
and
him
alone
and
notice
that
every
verb
in
verse
7
is
passive
of
this
gospel
I
was
made
a
minister
according
to
the
gift
of
God's
grace
which
was
given
me
by
the
working
of
his
power
God
is
the
one
who
makes
us
ministers
and
gives
us
this
gift
no
one
but
God
makes
ministers
of
the
gospel
it
is
according
to
the
gift
of
God's
grace
and
by
the
working
of
his
power
Ed
has
studied
diligently
has
prayed
earnestly
He has
served
tirelessly
to get
to this
point
he has
passed
all his
exams
with
flying
colors
and
our
church
has
deemed
that
he
is
qualified
to be
an
elder
as
delineated
in
1 Timothy
3
1-7
but
even
after
all
that
in
the
final
analysis
Ed
did
not
earn
this
it
has
been
given
to
him
as
a
gift
by
our
sovereign
God
he is
being
made
a
minister
not
according
to his
many
wonderful
qualities
and
giftedness
but
according
to the
gift
of
God's
grace
this
is
why
Paul
can
say
that
this
grace
was
given
to
him
in
spite
of
the
fact
that
he's
the
very
least
of
all
the
saints
how
can
he
call
himself
that
in
verse
8
the
word
translated
very
least
is
a
comparative
form
of
the
superlative
word
least
so
it
literally
means
something
like
less
than
the
least
or
least
!
you
say
you're
the
least
well
I'm
leister
it's
kind
of
a
one
up
man
ship
from
Apostle
Paul
may
have
coined
the
word
for
this
particular
occasion
because
he
deemed
that
the
simple
superlative
least
was
not
strong
enough
and
all
true
Christians
share
this
sense
of
wonder
you
remember
who
you
were
I
remember
who
I
was
I
was
once
a
lying
and
cheating
and
gossiping
and
slandering
and
fornicating
insubordinate
Gentile
dog
that's
what
I
was
why
should
God
love
a
sinner
such
as
I
but
that
wonder
of
God's
grace
goes
even
a
step
further
imagine
a
clumsy
child
with
butter
fingers
that
tends
to
trip
and
fall
and
drop
and
break
everything
she
has
shattered
many
precious
treasures
in her
father's
house
a
gracious
father
might
forgive
her
even
though
she's
broken
many
of his
things
and
still
love
her
and
embrace
her
but
when
it
comes
moving
day
he
sensibly
would
not
ask
her
to
carry
the
family
heirloom
the
fine
china
that's
been
passed
down
to
generations
I
love
you
daughter
but
I
can't
trust
you
with
something
as
precious
as
that
you
understand
right
leave it
to your
older
sister
but
God
doesn't
treat
us
that
way
he
doesn't
say
I
love
you
are
forgiven
but
stay
put
over
there
in
that
corner
and
don't
touch
any
of
my
precious
things
don't
touch
the
precious
people
of
God
don't
touch
my
precious
gospel
no
he
entrusts
to us
the
pearl
of
great
price
he
entrusts
to us
the
treasure
of
the
ages
and
tells
us
to
go
and
proclaim
it
to
all
the
world
he
calls
gospel
ministers
to
oversee
and
care
for
the
church
of
God
that
he
obtained
with
his
own
blood
it
says
in
Acts
20
28
how
can
God
give
such
an
entrustment
to
the
very
least
of
all
the
saints
it's
an
evidence
of
God's
grace
in
Ed's
life
that
he
does
have
this
sense
of
wonder
pray
for
him
that
he
never
loses
it
we
steward
a
greater
wealth
and
treasure
than
the
world's
richest
billionaires
and
what
is
the
purpose
and
effect
of
preaching
the
unsearchable
riches
of
Christ
verse
10
tells
us
so
that
through
the
church
the
manifold
wisdom
of
God
might
now
be
made
known
to
the
rulers
and
authorities
in
the
heavenly
places
what
do
you
think
reveals
the
manifold
!
wisdom
of
God
maybe
you
think
of
the
Niagara
Falls
with
the
largest
waterfall
in
North
America
with
164
feet
vertical
drop
and
more
than
5.9
million
cubic
feet
of
water
falling
every
minute
it's
pretty
awe-inspiring
reveals
to us
the majesty
of God
maybe
you think
of the
Grand
Canyon
277
miles long
18
miles wide
and a
mile deep
which dwarfs
all of us
as we
stand
in front
of it
geologists
claim that
its
variegated
rock layers
have the
appearance
of 1.6
billion years
of earth's
history
surely
that reveals
the manifold
wisdom of
God
right
maybe you
think of
the 200
billion
trillions
of observable
stars in
our universe
with no
two stars
exactly the
same
all of
these are
amazing works
of God's
creation
and we
are supposed
to learn
something of
God by
observing
them as it
says in
Romans 1
19 to
20
they reveal
to us
his invisible
attributes
his eternal
power and
divine nature
but interestingly
as we see
in our passage
this morning
God is not
pointing to
these marvels
of creation
to show
his divine
nature
to show
his manifold
wisdom to
the rulers
and authorities
in the heavenly
places
instead
what does he
point to
God reveals
his manifold
wisdom to
these angelic
heavenly
awe inspiring
beings
through the
church
it's hardly
believable
when people
visit the
United States
they go
tour the
Niagara Falls
and Grand
Canyon
they don't
come to
tour Trinity
Cambridge
Church
yet
God's
ultimate
plan
for revealing
his manifold
wisdom
God's
end game
we might
say
is the
church
the church
is the
culmination
of the
mystery
hidden
for ages
in God
it is the
fulfillment
of God's
eternal
purpose
in Christ
Jesus
our Lord
and at
the end
of history
the new
Jerusalem
that comes
down
from heaven
from God
the bride
of the
lamb
that comes
down
from heaven
above
in Revelation
21
is the
church
of Christ
God
wasn't
kidding
when he
said
that his
people
are his
special
treasured
possession
it's easy
to forget
this truth
a pastor
sees
the pride
the sin
the suffering
and brokenness
of people
in the church
up close
and personal
destructive
choices
and their
consequences
relational
conflicts
and fallout
doctrinal errors
and the wayward
ways that stem
from them
persistent
patterns of
sin
unrepentance
there are
many sighs
and groans
and laments
and tears
in ministry
not only that
the church
of Christ
has its own
fair share
of the world's
critics
that malign
and belittle
the church
and the devil
never stops
whispering lies
in your head
what's the point
of serving
the church
what difference
does your ministry
make
you should pursue
other more
glorious
more lucrative
careers
but it bears
to remember
that the church
is God's
ultimate plan
for revealing
his manifold
wisdom
when the
United Nations
and the
World Health
Organization
and the
World Bank
are no more
when Harvard
MIT
and Oxford
are no more
when Apple
Microsoft
and Amazon
and Google
are no more
when China
and the United
States of America
are no more
the church
of Christ
will be standing
in all her glory
for all eternity
I believe
with all my
heart
there is no
vocation
more glorious
than to be
a minister
of the gospel
to be a
pastor
of the church
of Christ
to me
to become
the president
of the United
States
will be
a demotion
despite all
its present
and temporary
imperfections
and weaknesses
and infirmities
in the church
the church
is the eternal
bride of Christ
and a pastor
gets to serve
as the friend
of the bridegroom
a groomsman
of sorts
who rejoices
greatly
to see the bridegroom
united with his bride
the other main
responsibility
of an elder
is to pray
that the church
grows to know
the unknowable
love of Christ
it says
in verses
14 to 15
for this reason
I bow my knees
before the father
from whom
every family
in heaven
and on earth
is named
why is Paul
driven to his knees
in prayer
at this point
the phrase
for this reason
continues Paul's
train of thought
from verse 1
where he began
with for this reason
before digressing
to talk about
his ministry
so the reason
that Paul
is alluding to
goes back
to chapter 2
verses 11 to 22
when he spoke
of the glorious
reality
that the Gentiles
are now no longer
strangers and aliens
but are fellow citizens
with the saints
and members
of the household
of God
built on the foundation
of the apostles
and prophets
Christ Jesus himself
being the cornerstone
in whom the whole structure
being joined together
grows into a holy temple
in the Lord
a dwelling place
for God
by the spirit
the sheer scale
of Christ's saving work
and the crushing weight
of gospel ministry
drive Paul
to his knees
remember verse 8
it said
the gospel ministers
are commanded
to preach
the unsearchable
riches of Christ
the riches
of God's grace
in kindness
toward us
is unsearchable
it is fathomless
the same word
translated in Romans
11 33
as inscrutable
or incomprehensible
so
get this
how are pastors
supposed to preach
what is incomprehensible
inscrutable
unsearchable
that is
which is impossible
to fathom
how are pastors
supposed to explore
the bottomless ocean
of the riches
of Christ
even
our own oceans
they say
that 99%
of the deep sea floor
remains unobserved
and our oceans
have a definite bottom
we see a similar dilemma
in verse 19
we're supposed to
help each other
to know the love
of Christ
that surpasses
knowledge
in other words
as Christians
we're supposed to know
the unknowable
love of Christ
it's the same thing
as the unsearchable
riches of Christ
imagine being hired
for a job
and then your job
description
instructs you
to do something
that is
impossible
humanly impossible
what do you do
it's humanly impossible
so you have to seek
divine help
that's why
the conclusion
of Paul's prayer
in verse 20 and 21
is timely and necessary
now to him
who is able
to do far more
abundantly
than all that we ask
or think
according to the power
at work within us
to him be glory
in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations
forever and ever
amen
if far more
abundantly
sounds redundant
that's because
it is redundant
it means more
than immeasurable
abundance
how can elders
preach
the unsearchable
riches of Christ
so that the church
might know
the unknowable
love of Christ
we must seek
help in prayer
from the God
who goes beyond
our limitations
and is able
to do immeasurably
more than all
that we ask
or think
this is why
Paul bows his knees
before the father
in prayer
in verse 14
kneeling is a
well attested
manner of praying
in scripture
you know
might remember
that prophet Daniel
prayed three times
a day on his knees
to God
it's a posture
of humility
before God
it's a posture
of submission
and dependence
it is a proper
posture
because
it is
it is a posture
of dependence
say father
I do not have
what it takes
to do
what you have
asked me to do
I am not able
to do
in my own strength
what you have
asked me to do
for this church
so I come
empty handed
I need your help
your power
your authority
help me
a pastor
Ian Bounds
once said
a pastor
who does not
pray
is prideful
why does he
say that
because
he presumes
that he can do
a God sized
work
on his own
without a regular
habit of prayer
a pastor
cannot last
long
in gospel
ministry
how can
you go
on
think
about
this
how can
you go
on
preaching
one
inadequate
sermon
after another
week
after week
floundering
in the
unsearchable
depths of
the gospel
knowing that
you can
never do
a single
verse of
scripture
justice
knowing that
you can
never
adequately
convey
the
glories
of
God
how can
you go
on
seeing
the
vast
spiritual
needs
of the
people
of God
and then
looking
yourself
in the
mirror
looking
yourself
up and
down
in the
mirror
and
seeing
your own
impoverished
spirituality
how am I
supposed to
help these
people
how am I
supposed to
feed
these
people
you will
succumb
in short
order to
hopelessness
and despair
and self
loathing
unless
you
yourself
drink
from the
fathomless
depths of
God's
grace
and trust
that God
is able
to do
immeasurably
more
than all
that we
ask
or
think
if we
don't
pray
the
limiting
factor
is our
limited
selves
but if
we
pray
the
limiting
factor
is the
unlimited
God
is able
to do
more
than we
can
think
it says
we mistakenly
think
that sometimes
it's God's
power
that's
limited
and we
can
think
up
quite
a few
things
it's
the
exact
opposite
God's
power
is not
limited
it's
our
imagination
that's
limited
it's
our
faith
that is
limited
so here's
a God
sized
prayer
that
every
elder
should
pray
and all
of you
should
join
in
praying
the
prayer
of
verses
14
to 21
continue
the
thought
of
chapter
2
that we
are being
built up
together
as the
household
of God
as a
holy
temple
in the
Lord
and being
indwelled
by
God
himself
being
filled
by
God
himself
and you'll
see similar
ideas
expressed
here in
these
verses
verse 17
speaks
of Christ
dwelling
in your
hearts
through
faith
verse 19
speaks
of being
filled
with all
the
fullness
of
God
this
clues
us
into
what
that
ambiguous
phrase
in verse
18
means
the
breadth
and length
and the
height
and depth
these
are
dimensional
terms
that
convey
the
idea
of
being
filled
with
all
the
fullness
of
God
being
indwelled
by
Christ
I
think
that's
confirmed
by a
parallel
in
Job
11
79
can
you
find
out
the
deep
things
of
God
can
you
find
out
the
limit
of
the
almighty
it
is
higher
than
heaven
what
can
you
do
deeper
than
Sheol
what
can
you
know
its
measure
is
longer
than
the
earth
and
broader
than
the
sea
this
is
the
only
other
place
in
the
Bible
where
all
these
four
dimensional
terms
are
used
and
it's
can
you
find
out
the
limit
of
the
almighty
the
passage
speaking
of
the
immensity
of
God
the
eternality
of
God
who
has
no
limits
or
boundaries
so
then
Paul
is
praying
for
nothing
less
than
the
church
of
Christ
to
be
indwelled
by
and
filled
with
the
infinite
boundless
God
himself
Colossians
1
19
says
in
Christ
all
the
fullness
of
God
was
pleased
to
dwell
so
now
he
prays
that
fullness
of
God
will
dwell
in
the
same
way
in
the
church
which
is
the
body
of
Christ
and
that's
what
he
said
earlier
in
Ephesians
1
22
to
23
God
put
all
things
under
Christ's
feet
and
gave
him
as
head
over
all
things
to
the
church
which
is
his
body
the
fullness
of
him
who
fills
all
in
all
the
same
thing
that
he
enjoys
later
in
Ephesians
4
13
that
we
might
attain
to
the
knowledge
of
the
Son
of
God
to
mature
manhood
to
the
measure
of
the
stature
of
the
fullness
of
Christ
of
course
Christians
are
individually
already
indwelled
by the
Spirit
but
that
does
not
mean
that
we
cannot
become
more
full
of
the
Holy
Spirit
Ephesians
5
18
commends
us
to
be
filled
with
the
Spirit
all
Christians
have
the
Spirit
but
not
all
Christians
are
full
of
the
Holy
Spirit
and
that's
what
we
all
have
to
pray
for
to
be
more
fully
possessed
by
and
controlled
by
and
ruled
by
and
empowered
by
the
very
Spirit
of
God
it's
an
inconceivable
!
prayer!
How do
you put
a
consuming
volcanic
fire
in
a
fireplace?
How do
you put
a tsunami
in a
water
bottle?
The
infinite
God
filling
His
people
the
church
is
an
even
more
staggering
thought?
And
that
fireplace
and
water
bottle
would
need
major
reinforcements
and
that's
exactly
what
Paul
prays
for.
In
verse
16
he says
God
may
grant
you
to
be
strengthened
with
power
through
His
Spirit
in
your
inner
being
and
again
in
verse
18
that
we
may
have
strength
to
comprehend
with
all
the
saints
what
is
the
breadth
and
length
and
height
and
depth
and
how
do
these
reinforcement
on
the
church
verse
19
tells
us
knowing
the
love
of
Christ
that
surpasses
knowledge
verse
17
again
being
rooted
and
grounded
in
love
the
word
rooted
is
an
agricultural
term
and
the
word
grounded
is
an
architectural
term
that
means
to
lay
a
foundation
only
a
plant
that
is
rooted
!
will
sprout
up
leaves
and
bear
fruit
only
a
foundation
that
is
rooted
only
a
house
that
is
grounded
and
has
foundation
laid
can
then
become
a
habitation
for
someone
to
dwell
in
therefore
knowing
the
love
of
Christ
is
a
prerequisite
for
the
feeling
of
God
the
more
we
know
not
just
theoretically
but
experientially
know
the
love
of
Christ
that
surpasses
knowledge
the
more
we
are
filled
with
all
the
fullness
of
God
so
how
did
Christ
love
us
Ephesians
5
23
tells us
husbands
love
your
wives
as
Christ
loved
the
church
and
gave
himself
up
for
her
do
you
know
church
that
you
are
the
bride
of
Christ
we
were
once
an
enslaved
prostitute
abused
by
devilish
pimps
but
and
clothed
with
the
squalid
filth
and
torn
garments
of
our
sinfulness
but
to
redeem
us
from
our
slavery
Jesus
Christ
gave
his
own
life
he
died
on
the
cross
for
our
sins
he
paid
the
debt
that
we
could
not
pay
that's
why
it
speaks
repeatedly
of
Christ
riches
the
unsearchable
riches
of
Christ
in
verse
8
he
speaks
of
the
riches
of
his
glory
why
so
many
riches
why
does
Christ
have
riches
!
insurmountable
debt
of
sin
he
died
as
our
substitute
and
he
was
raised
from
the
dead
and
he
did
all
of
this
to
set
us
apart
as
a
bride
for
himself
so
that
he
can
love
us
eternally
16th
century
English
poet
John
Don
captured
this
tale
of
love
in
his
holy
sonnet
the
14th
batter
my
heart
three
person
God
I
like
an
usurped
town
to
another
do
labor
to
admit
you
but
oh
to
no
end
reason
your
viceroy
in me
me
should
defend
but
is
captive
and
proves
weak
or
untrue
yet
dearly
I
love
you
and
would
be
loved
fain
but
I'm
betroth
unto
your
enemy
divorce
me
untie
or break
that
knot
again
take
me
to
you
imprison
me
for
I
except
you
enthrall
me
never
shall
be
free
nor
ever
chased
except
you
ravish
me
let's
pray
that
this
ravishing
love
of
Christ
would
be
deeply
known
by
all
of
us
and
would
mark
Ed's
ministry
for
the rest
of
his
life
father
strengthen
everyone
here
in their
inner
being
by your
spirit
help
them
to
know
the
love
of
Christ
that
surpasses
knowledge
so that
they might
be filled
with all
the
fullness
of
God
thank you
for the
gift
of
Ed
to our
church
that he's a
faithful man
who loves
you
a man
of the
gospel
oh lord
help us
as a
church
to
humbly
receive
him
and to
receive
the
gospel
that he
preaches
in
Jesus name
we pray
amen