WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.120 our at least first half of the series in the book of Ephesians tonight in chapter 3, the end of chapter 3. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:17.440 That is page 977 in the Pew Bible, if you want to turn with me there, and I'd encourage you to do that. 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:20.600 We're going to be walking through this text tonight. 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:33.039 Amen. So Ephesians chapter 3, verses 14 through 21, the end of chapter 3. 00:00:35.880 --> 00:00:39.480 Let me pray for us before I read this text for us. 00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:47.320 God, we do thank you for this moment that we get at the beginning of our week. 00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:56.460 Lord, as many of us are looking out upon a week of work, and Lord, back to the callings that you've given us in the world. 00:00:57.299 --> 00:01:07.019 And Lord, we are here before you this evening, and we ask that by your spirit you would help us to attend well to your word. 00:01:07.980 --> 00:01:16.599 And God, that you would meet us now, and fill us, and equip us, and speak to us, reveal yourself to us, God, through your word. 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:23.919 So that we might go forth into the world as your people, as salt and light, as you call us, as you've made us. 00:01:24.839 --> 00:01:26.919 We ask this, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:33.039 All right. Ephesians 3, verses 14 through 21. Let me read this for us. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:40.380 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:48.080 That according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being, 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:51.900 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:01:51.900 --> 00:02:03.360 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, 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:07.520 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. 00:02:08.480 --> 00:02:11.480 That you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:02:12.860 --> 00:02:16.000 Now to him it was able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.240 according to the power at work within us, 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:23.819 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:25.020 Amen. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:27.139 Amen. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:35.039 Well, I think that one of the great spiritual dangers that we face as Christians 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:38.479 is actually the danger of familiarity. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:44.000 That is, we become overly familiar with the things that we believe. 00:02:44.799 --> 00:02:48.060 I remember when I first moved to New Haven, over a decade ago now, 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:52.959 when I first moved to the city, I really fell in love with the look of New Haven. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:55.439 Some of you might be thinking, that guy's crazy. 00:02:55.579 --> 00:02:56.419 What is he talking about? 00:02:56.780 --> 00:02:57.799 But I loved it. 00:02:57.839 --> 00:03:01.759 I loved the gothic architecture of the colleges and the universities around town. 00:03:01.839 --> 00:03:06.959 I loved the colonial green with those like quintessential New England churches just sort of sitting there. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:10.560 I even like the modernness and the contemporary buildings. 00:03:10.659 --> 00:03:13.520 I thought, and I still think, that this is a beautiful city. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:16.960 And you know, for the first six to twelve months of living here, 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:18.460 I was pretty regularly impressed by it. 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:20.900 I thought, wow, I'm pretty thankful to be living in such a cool place. 00:03:22.820 --> 00:03:26.240 But of course, soon enough, you know what happened. 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:28.500 It just became familiar. 00:03:29.480 --> 00:03:31.060 I got used to it. 00:03:32.140 --> 00:03:33.600 And no, I still think it's a beautiful city. 00:03:33.600 --> 00:03:36.439 It no longer sort of fills me up and excites me like it used to. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:39.920 Every once in a while, I'll still get a little flicker. 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:42.939 But not as often as I used to. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:45.659 I've grown familiar. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.379 You've probably had similar experiences to that. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:56.780 Well, what we have in our passage tonight is a prayer from the Apostle Paul. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:04:08.680 It's a prayer that God would shatter our familiarity, our over-familiarity with the thing that's at the center of our faith. 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:11.960 A thing that we've all become too familiar with. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:17.460 And this familiarity is a problem. 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:24.840 It's a problem because this over-familiarity with this thing at the center of our faith has left us empty. 00:04:26.840 --> 00:04:30.480 Take a look at how the prayer ends in verse 19. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.540 Paul prays that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:04:34.640 --> 00:04:36.960 That's the sort of summary, the climax of what he's praying for. 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:39.040 But I don't know about you. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:42.240 I don't think that's how many of us feel, is it? 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:44.920 I think we feel spiritually empty. 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:46.600 Dry. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:47.780 Dull. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:49.080 Lifeless. 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:59.819 And this emptiness has caused a whole host of problems in our lives. 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:04.459 For one, at a very simple level, right? 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:06.599 No one likes feeling empty. 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:15.120 What a contradiction it is for us to be joyless, empty Christians. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.180 This is just a rotten feeling at a personal level. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:21.379 So that's one problem. 00:05:21.459 --> 00:05:22.139 Second problem. 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:28.019 What's more, this emptiness, it drives us to seek for other things other than God, doesn't it? 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:35.160 When it seems that God in Christ hasn't done the trick, we go searching for something else that will. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:37.540 We've tried Christianity and we're still empty. 00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:38.360 That's what we think. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:45.759 I wonder how many of us are in a relationship that we know we shouldn't be in. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:52.720 Or how many of us are tempted to overeat or overdrink. 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:59.680 Or how many of us are perhaps even contemplating leaving the church or leaving Christianity altogether? 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:02.040 Because we're empty. 00:06:03.400 --> 00:06:04.720 And we don't know what to do about it. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:10.840 Third, this emptiness is a problem. 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:20.560 It's because it leaves us ill-equipped to live in the new way that Christ has for us. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:27.460 In the new year, in early January, we're going to pick up again with our Ephesians series. 00:06:27.940 --> 00:06:30.960 And we're going to walk through chapters 4 through 6 of this book. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:40.979 And in those chapters, Paul is going to begin to describe for us a whole new way of being human. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:46.319 He's going to say, this was your old way of being human. 00:06:46.479 --> 00:06:52.719 But now, through what Christ has done, by the work of his spirit in you, 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:57.319 he has opened up a whole new way of being a human. 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:01.779 One full of glory. 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:03.839 One full of joy. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.659 One characterized ultimately by love. 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:12.460 But you see, we can't walk in that way. 00:07:13.380 --> 00:07:14.460 In our own strength. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:15.640 In our own wisdom. 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:17.180 In our own resources. 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:23.740 It's no surprise that this prayer comes right before we're about to launch into that new way of being human. 00:07:23.840 --> 00:07:28.900 Because Paul knows that we need to be filled with the fullness of God if we're going to live in that way. 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:34.879 If we're going to live in that way and be the new humanity that we truly are in Christ, 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:36.679 we need to be filled with God's fullness. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:40.839 So what is it? 00:07:41.939 --> 00:07:44.819 What is it that we've become so overly familiar with? 00:07:46.659 --> 00:07:51.539 What is it that needs to become fresh again in our hearts so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God? 00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:54.540 How do we need to start praying? 00:07:54.640 --> 00:07:56.200 What do we need to start praying for? 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:01.840 Well, let's look at our text again. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.300 And let's make some observations. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:07.400 We're going to build up to an answer to that question. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:10.220 And we're going to just let this text kind of unfold before us. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:14.800 And we're going to let it teach us how we need to be praying in the face of this problem that I think we all face. 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:17.840 So let's do that. 00:08:17.900 --> 00:08:18.460 Let's look again. 00:08:18.459 --> 00:08:22.779 And probably the most obvious observation that it's a prayer, right? 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:26.639 For this reason, Paul's looking back over the whole book up to this point saying, 00:08:26.739 --> 00:08:28.379 for this reason, I'm praying. 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:29.919 And as such, it's a model for our own prayer. 00:08:29.979 --> 00:08:32.019 And first, we see it's a very reverent prayer, is it not? 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.980 Paul says, I'm bowing my knees before the Father. 00:08:35.059 --> 00:08:40.620 Now, that bowing of knees has almost become sort of synonymous with us and praying, right? 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:44.220 But that was not the typical way that you prayed in the first century. 00:08:44.439 --> 00:08:47.720 You didn't normally pray in Paul's day by bowing your knees. 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:50.460 You prayed standing up, probably with your hands about like this. 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:52.040 This is how you prayed in the first century. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:54.240 This was a posture of reverence, of respect. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:09:02.860 But if you were bowing your knees, that was a sign of deep reverence. 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:08.399 Getting down low before God. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.059 Acknowledging him as God. 00:09:13.939 --> 00:09:16.100 So friends, do you get low before him? 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:17.840 On your knees? 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:20.399 What would be an equivalent for us today? 00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:21.199 On our face? 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:25.120 Not just literally, not just physically, but metaphorically. 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:28.779 Are we engaged in reverent prayer? 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:33.000 Second, notice that this is also a very Trinitarian prayer. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.259 Paul prays here to the Father. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:40.200 For the Father's spirit to work. 00:09:40.700 --> 00:09:42.560 So that Christ may dwell in us. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.279 So there it is. 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:47.279 Father, Spirit, Son, the one God. 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:49.680 Who exists eternally as three persons. 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:50.820 It's the sort of ground. 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:51.539 It's the logic. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:54.139 It's the soil of Paul's prayer here. 00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:58.199 So Paul in his prayer has God before him. 00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:00.639 But not just any God. 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:02.799 The God of the Bible. 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:06.919 God as he reveals himself to be. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.159 Not some idol or figment of our imagination. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:12.939 Paul is praying to the true God. 00:10:13.719 --> 00:10:18.120 To the God who exists in freedom and power and holiness. 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:19.819 He's praying to the triune God. 00:10:21.539 --> 00:10:26.679 And friends, when we pray, when you and I pray, is this the God that we pray to? 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:29.439 Or are we praying to some other God? 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:33.219 As you approach God in prayer, do you pause? 00:10:33.579 --> 00:10:34.500 And do you consider? 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:39.659 Do you sort of arrange your thoughts for a moment that this is the God to whom you must pray? 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:42.620 Not some cold, distant deity. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:45.620 You're not praying to some impersonal force. 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:52.500 You're not praying to some cosmic Santa Claus who's just sitting in heaven trying to figure out who's naughty and nice. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:54.879 No. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:59.220 You are praying to the Lord. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:05.100 The one true living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:08.139 A Trinitarian prayer. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:11.740 Third, it's also a very confident prayer, is it not? 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:13.399 Verse 15. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:18.639 We're led to pray to the Father, Paul says, from whom every family on heaven and on earth is named. 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:23.039 Now, to sum it up, that is a picture of God the Father's sovereignty. 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:28.019 To name in the Bible is to impart a meaning. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.240 You know, we use sort of names just to sort of label things, right? 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:36.100 But in the biblical sort of picture of things, to name something was to sort of call forth its essence. 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:41.120 To name in the Bible was to impart meaning. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:46.899 And that means that what we're being taught here about God the Father is that every family, 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:53.000 every category and grouping of people on earth and angels in heaven are named. 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:59.759 That is, they are given their nature and place and meaning and purpose by God the Father. 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:07.740 So, we pray to a God who is mighty, the namer of all. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:14.480 But who, as verse 16 tells us, see there, who is also rich in glory according to the riches of his glory. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:20.919 You see, friends, there is an infinite store in this God. 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:24.340 An infinite treasure house, if you will, of glory. 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:31.080 Out of which he can supply your deepest spiritual need. 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:39.500 The God who hears your prayer will never turn to you and say, 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:43.700 well, you know, that's a really wonderful request. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:46.680 But you see, we're waiting on a shipment. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.259 The warehouse is a little low. 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:51.039 It's Christmas after all. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:53.700 Lots of people are praying for patients and praying for new family members. 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:56.259 Lots of orders are coming in. 00:12:57.040 --> 00:12:58.340 You'll have to wait a few more days. 00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:02.180 By the way, if you tried Amazon, they might have some in stock. 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.120 You could call them. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.860 Friends, that's never how God responds to our prayers. 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:12.540 There is no lack in God. 00:13:13.040 --> 00:13:15.240 He is rich in glory. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:19.259 But, you know, there's even more to this. 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:33.580 To pray according to the riches of his glory is to pray knowing not just that there are limitless resources available from which God will sort of pool when he answers our prayer. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:42.320 No, it's not just that there are limitless resources, but this is also the measure whereby he answers us. 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:55.320 What I mean by that is that God gives to us not only out of the riches of his glory, but he also gives as lavishly as he can according to the riches of his glory. 00:13:55.400 --> 00:13:55.759 Do you see? 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:59.200 It's not just the source. 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:01.120 It's the measure by which he gives. 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:07.179 Here is a God who has what we need and who gives what we need, you see. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:11.100 Who is both able and also willing. 00:14:14.319 --> 00:14:21.600 And so the prayer that we pray is a confident prayer that God is strong and God is rich in glory. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:26.560 For this is also a prayer for the spirit's power. 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.940 A prayer for the spirit's power. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:33.379 The first petition there is that we be strengthened with power through his spirit. 00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:45.139 I wonder how often do we turn to our own devices or resources or abilities to try to answer our deep existential personal spiritual needs. 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:49.759 How often is our first attempt to turn to something we can do? 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:53.059 Or, if not that, we turn to something someone else can do. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:54.179 We expect it from others. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:08.819 You know, I think often time, and I am guilty of this, often time our prayers amount to much, nothing much more than sort of taking our own plans to God and asking that God would then make them his plans. 00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:10.720 Do you know what I mean by that? 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:12.620 Something like this. 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:15.600 God, I'm really struggling at work. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:18.440 So help me to get a different job. 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:23.139 And give me a job that pays a little more money because I've got all these other problems too. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:27.860 And definitely give me a boss who's less of a jerk because my boss is a total jerk. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.279 And, well, that's a good plan. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.040 Right, God? 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:33.399 There it is. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:34.700 Over and out. 00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:40.360 Now, of course, there's nothing wrong with praying for a new job, right? 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:44.700 There's nothing wrong for praying that God might even give you a new boss. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.820 Nothing wrong with that. 00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:51.180 But along with that, are we, are you praying for the Spirit's power to strengthen you in the midst of that? 00:15:51.460 --> 00:16:02.360 Are you acknowledging that you are out of your depth and out of your resources and out of your own plans and you're out of your own strength and you really don't have it figured out? 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:07.500 And your own resources and your own plans and your own strength isn't going to cut it. 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:14.340 In other words, are you praying for God to give you the strengthening of his Spirit? 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:19.080 And not just the strengthening of his Spirit, but the strength of his Spirit in your inner being. 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.700 This is the fifth thing we see in this prayer. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:26.039 That God may strengthen you according to the power of his Spirit in your inner being. 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.360 That's the end of verse 16. 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:35.800 So you see, this isn't necessarily praying for our outward circumstances to change, is it? 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.259 Now, there's nothing wrong with that kind of prayer. 00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:42.820 It's okay to pray that things would change around you. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:45.279 But Paul's pushing us a little deeper here. 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.820 We're praying here with regard to our inner being, our inner person. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:54.560 Or as he'll say in the next verse, our heart. 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:59.800 Which we saw way back in chapter 1, the heart is that center of who we are. 00:17:00.660 --> 00:17:03.400 That core of our personhood. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.840 That driver's seat of all else that we do. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:13.519 And Paul's saying, don't you see, you need the Spirit's strengthening ministry there. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:16.480 Deep down in the center of who you are. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.099 Underneath all the layers that define who you think you are and all your different identities. 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:24.000 Deep down, underneath all those things. 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:27.920 You need the Spirit, God's Spirit, to give you strength there. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.619 And to grant you power there. 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:35.720 Yes, of course, the Spirit can do miraculous works of power in our outward being. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:39.480 We see that throughout the pages of Scripture, healing, signs, wonders, yes. 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:43.740 But we need the Spirit's power perhaps even more in our inner being. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:48.039 We need Him to come and we need Him to do a heart work. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:55.600 Because at that level, friends, even for us who are in Christ, we grow weak. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:00.360 Have you ever tried starting a fire? 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:08.679 Remember, where the house Beth and I moved into a year and a half ago, there's a fireplace. 00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:11.039 Which, we never had a fireplace. 00:18:11.439 --> 00:18:13.139 So, I have no idea how to work a fireplace. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:16.000 I've been learning how to use a fireplace over the last 18 months. 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.979 Have you ever tried starting a fire? 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.419 Have you ever tried rekindling a fire? 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.799 Maybe you're out camping and the fire goes out. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.719 And in the morning, you want to start it back up. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:34.100 If you have a couple of small coals sitting there in your fireplace or in your fire pit 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:36.740 and they're growing dim and they're losing their light, what do you do? 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:41.799 Imagine you were to take a big sort of stack of wood, a bunch of thick logs, 00:18:41.860 --> 00:18:43.200 and just sort of pile them right on there. 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.980 Thinking, well, fire's almost out. 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:45.900 It needs some fuel. 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.240 Well, you know what would happen. 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.700 It would just put those coals out, right? 00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:53.860 What do you need to do instead? 00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:59.439 Instead, over those barely surviving coals, you need to get down low. 00:19:00.219 --> 00:19:02.879 And you need to gently begin to blow, don't you? 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.159 To let air pass over them. 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:07.379 To let some wind and some oxygen come through. 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:10.879 And then you need to start gently putting some small pieces there. 00:19:10.979 --> 00:19:11.599 Some sticks. 00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:13.979 Some maybe some leaves or something. 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:16.559 And keep blowing until it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.679 And then you can put a log. 00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.979 And then you can put more wood. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:21.339 And then you can blow a little more until it gets hotter and hotter. 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:23.559 And bigger and bigger until it's ablaze. 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:34.039 Friends, the Spirit of God is like the breath that comes over the coals of our heart. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:39.139 We can pile up as much wood as we want. 00:19:39.219 --> 00:19:40.240 As much of our own effort. 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:46.359 As much of our own stuff and plans and attempts and whatever. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:53.119 But nothing is going to catch fire without the wind of the Spirit. 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.939 Which is why we need to pray. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:06.619 Pray for the Spirit to come and strengthen our inner being with His mighty wind. 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:11.119 I wonder if you're seeking God tonight. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:14.799 And you think, I don't know. 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:16.159 I don't know if God's really there. 00:20:17.219 --> 00:20:20.319 Have you prayed for His Spirit to come? 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.579 And to start to move across the coals of your heart. 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:27.079 To start to bring you to life spiritually to see Him. 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:33.379 Well, what does the Spirit's strength in our inner being produce? 00:20:34.179 --> 00:20:36.099 What's the strengthening for? 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:39.279 And here at last, we come to the crux of the matter. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.779 And this is the center of Paul's prayer. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:48.599 This reverent, Trinitarian, confident prayer for the Spirit's power in our inner being is all for this end. 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.859 This point. 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.419 Look again. 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:56.719 That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 00:20:56.819 --> 00:21:05.159 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. 00:21:05.459 --> 00:21:10.859 And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:17.819 This is what we need to know and grasp and own and experience. 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:21.039 The love of Christ. 00:21:24.679 --> 00:21:29.699 We need the Spirit to come, strengthen our hearts in faith so that Christ can dwell in our hearts. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:35.519 That is, that we would let Him have His place and take up residence there. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:41.279 Not just as a visitor, as a guest, but as the Lord of the house. 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:42.559 That He would dwell in our hearts. 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:47.460 Of course, everyone who turns from sin and puts their trust in Christ, Christ comes and indwells us by His Spirit. 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:52.400 What Paul is saying here is that we need to pray that Christ who dwells would really dwell. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.400 And take up seat. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.639 And be the Lord of our hearts. 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.160 And as such, what happens? 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:04.099 We become rooted and grounded in His love. 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:07.919 Rooted, of course, is an image from the plant world. 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.519 It's a botanical image, right? 00:22:10.199 --> 00:22:13.439 Think of roots that dig down, sinking down into the soil. 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:14.039 What are they doing? 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:18.819 They're sinking down in there to draw up nutrients, water, and life, and energy. 00:22:18.939 --> 00:22:20.719 It's getting all that it needs out of the soil. 00:22:21.139 --> 00:22:22.159 It's rooted there. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:26.980 And then this word grounded, well, that's an architectural image. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.059 That's a construction metaphor. 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:32.099 It's like a well-dug, well-placed foundation. 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:34.139 You're grounded there. 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:37.899 And that provides stability and permanence for the rest of the house. 00:22:38.679 --> 00:22:46.919 And what's being said here is that Christ's love, Christ dwelling in our hearts is just that for us. 00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:55.279 It's what our spiritual roots need to sink down into so that we can be nourished and fed. 00:22:56.620 --> 00:23:06.140 It's what our soul's foundation needs to be laid upon so that we can be stable and permanent and not blown and tossed. 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:33.100 But then do you notice from the root, from the foundation, from the ground in verse 17, our eyes are then lifted up in verse 18 to behold all the dimensions, how wide and how long and how high and how deep is the love of Christ. 00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:40.259 You see, friends, the love of Christ isn't just our beginning, our root, our ground. 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:42.459 But it's our end, too. 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.379 It's our goal. 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:49.319 That no matter how far you travel in any direction, you can't exhaust its perfection. 00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:52.099 This love of Christ. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:59.980 But oh, how we've become so familiar with that phrase, haven't we? 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.639 The love of Christ. 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:09.399 And that's one reason why we need the Spirit's strength to grasp it. 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:16.599 That's why we need the Father to grant the Spirit to come and ravish us with the love of Christ once again. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:19.439 Because we're so familiar with it. 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:23.139 Now, there are other reasons, too, right? 00:24:23.659 --> 00:24:25.959 We need the Spirit to come and overcome our doubts. 00:24:26.679 --> 00:24:29.259 Our doubts which say, can you really love me? 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:33.859 We need the Spirit to come and we need Him to overcome our distraction. 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:37.139 Our distraction that says, oh, there's just too much going on. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.659 Too much taking up my mental energy. 00:24:38.719 --> 00:24:40.199 I don't have time to focus on these things. 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:43.799 And we need the Spirit to overcome our pride. 00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:49.640 Our pride that says, of course, Christ loves me. 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:52.299 I'm me, after all. 00:24:56.080 --> 00:25:00.640 All these things steal that thrilling, world-shattering reality of Christ's love for us. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:06.299 But we need the Spirit to overcome our familiarity, I think, most of all. 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.920 We've heard these words so many times. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:14.519 The love of Christ that we've stopped realizing. 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:18.700 They've stopped becoming the wonder that they are. 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:25.700 So we need the Spirit to comprehend the breadth of Christ's love, don't we? 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.480 How wide it is. 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:31.320 Have you thought about how wide the love of Christ is for you? 00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:38.060 Paul's been telling the Ephesians over and over again in this letter that the love of God in Christ is not just for Jews. 00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.940 It's for the Gentiles. 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:45.299 It's not just for the religious and the moral, at least the people who look like that on the outside and do a good job hiding all their junk, which is everybody. 00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:52.720 It's not just for those kind of people, but it's for the people who are irreligious and immoral and can't hold it all together. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.720 It's for the insiders. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:56.940 It's for the insiders and it's for the outsiders. 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:59.539 It's for people of every class and race and background. 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:03.960 Christ's love extends to all of us without discrimination. 00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:09.519 Friend, I wonder, what do you think disqualifies you? 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:14.000 What quality about you? 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:18.420 What part of your history or your background or whatever? 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:21.879 What makes you feel unwanted or unwelcomed? 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:31.580 Do you see how broad and how wide the love of Christ is embracing us all? 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:38.519 But we need the spirit strength to comprehend the length of Christ's love, don't we? 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.439 How long it is. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:47.759 Again, this book has been showing us that the love of Christ for you began not just when you came to faith. 00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:54.920 Christ's love for you doesn't start when you turn from living life your own way to trusting in him. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.960 No, no, no. 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.940 Long before that, Christ has loved you. 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:01.559 Remember chapter two? 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:08.859 When you were dead in sins, when you were far off from God, even then God loved you. 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:17.899 In fact, because he loved you, because of the richness of his mercy, he came out and made you alive in Christ. 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:25.019 But, you know, it's not just our sort of personal story that shows us how long the love of Christ is. 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:29.539 Long before that, for generations, God had been preparing and working out his love. 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:39.519 Think about the whole story of the Bible through the long history of Israel from Exodus to exile to return to the climax in Christ's life and death and resurrection and ascension. 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:47.960 And then through the power of the spirit poured out at Pentecost down through the church age over 2,000 years, the love of Christ barreling through the ages. 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:52.220 Through this long story that God has been telling. 00:27:52.220 --> 00:28:00.620 Coming down from age to age to age over land, over seas, right down here to you and me in New Haven, Connecticut. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:02.700 How long is the love of Christ? 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:07.180 But, you know, it's even more than that. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:13.200 The length of Christ's love stretched the length of our lifetime, the length of human history. 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:16.240 But, friends, have we not been learning from this book? 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:20.319 But the love of Christ stretches the length of eternity. 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:27.779 Before the foundation of the world, Ephesians chapter 1 told us. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:34.279 Before the foundation of the world, in Christ, you have been loved. 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:38.640 From eternity past. 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.960 And on into eternity to come. 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:44.960 Remember? 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:46.860 Chapter 2, verse 7. 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:50.920 In the coming ages, that is in eternity to come. 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:58.400 He will show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.720 That as far back as you can go. 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:05.840 And as far forward as you can go. 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:11.740 And in a sense, those terms don't even make sense when we're thinking about God's limitless eternity. 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.660 But there it is. 00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:14.799 The love of Christ for you. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:19.519 You see how long he set his affection on you. 00:29:20.620 --> 00:29:21.640 Brother, sister. 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.000 Through your whole life. 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.860 Through all of eternity. 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.620 Through all of human history. 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:33.059 And don't we too need the spirit strength to comprehend the height of Christ's love? 00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.059 How high it is. 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.139 How high it is again and again. 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:38.659 Here we read in Ephesians that Christ raised us up with him. 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:41.599 And seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.980 That's chapter 2, verse 6. 00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:49.059 When Christ brings us to him, his love doesn't just take us sort of like, sort of in the door. 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:50.799 Okay, you're sort of in the family now. 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:52.419 But you need to sit kind of out in the corner. 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:55.300 No, it's raised us up to the heavenly places. 00:29:55.300 --> 00:29:57.440 It's seated us with Christ Jesus. 00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:07.000 The church, we're told, you and I in Christ, in chapter 3, verse 10, we are the supreme display of God's manifold wisdom. 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:08.820 How high his love has taken us. 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:13.359 We are the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:15.099 Chapter 1, verse 23. 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:20.139 Could you think of any higher place that his love has taken us? 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:26.859 But we also need the spirit strength to comprehend the depth of Christ's love. 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:28.259 How deep it is. 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:32.559 And here, friends, we step into the heart of the good news. 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:36.200 And what this Advent season is all about, isn't it? 00:30:36.200 --> 00:30:36.600 Down. 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:39.380 The depth of Christ's love. 00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:40.400 Down. 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:43.720 The love of Christ took him. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:44.600 For you. 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:48.440 Down from heaven Christ came. 00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:51.620 Down from the praise of heavenly hosts. 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:53.460 Down from the presence of his Father. 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:55.779 Down into our fallen human world. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:59.100 Down into our own human corrupt flesh. 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:03.059 Down into our hunger and thirst. 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:06.019 Down into our sorrow and loss. 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:06.640 Down. 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:09.279 Could he go further down? 00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:12.299 We think as we read the gospel accounts. 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:17.720 And then strangely, mysteriously, he does. 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:25.920 Down into the place where our own sin and our own rebellion from God. 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:31.039 Into the darkness of alienation from the God who made us. 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.799 There Christ goes. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:42.200 Down into the darkness of all that our rejection of God deserves. 00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.299 Down he goes. 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:50.799 Bearing the weight of our death and our shame and our guilt. 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:53.339 Going down in there. 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:54.839 Why? 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.339 He goes down. 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:58.339 He goes down. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:00.339 So that we can come up. 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:04.399 He goes down in our place. 00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.859 As our substitute. 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:07.359 Bearing our penalty. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.519 Taking our wrath. 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.519 So that we can come out. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:11.619 So that we can come out. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:15.779 And enjoy his favor and his acceptance and his peace. 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:20.440 Down he goes so we can be reconciled to God. 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:26.880 Paul calls that in another letter. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.680 The foolishness of God. 00:32:29.940 --> 00:32:34.940 You see why we need the spirit strength to comprehend the depth of Christ's love for us. 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:39.100 One of the ancient church fathers to Tertullian said. 00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:42.500 Yes Christianity is absurd. 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.339 But I believe. 00:32:43.699 --> 00:32:44.740 Because it is absurd. 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:47.719 Could any human mind have created this? 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:54.259 Do you see why Paul says that the love of Christ surpasses knowledge? 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:58.879 For all eternity we will not get to the bottom of it. 00:32:59.659 --> 00:33:01.099 And it will never bore us. 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.799 And it will never lose its beauty. 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:08.099 So friend here is the big idea of our text tonight. 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:09.019 As we kind of wrap up. 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:13.919 Do you see how great the love of Christ is for you? 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.799 And here is the application. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:19.039 Do you pray. 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.599 To the father. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:24.960 That he would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being by his own spirit. 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.639 So that Christ would do this. 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.500 Dwell in your heart. 00:33:28.419 --> 00:33:30.339 So that you would have strength. 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:32.359 Because you need strength to comprehend. 00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:34.240 His love. 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:36.240 That is so incomprehensible. 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:41.319 This is the path to spiritual fullness. 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:45.319 The fullness of God that verse 19 speaks of. 00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:49.159 The reality is you can't get it any other way. 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:50.980 Than the spirit. 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.759 Strengthening your inner being. 00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:54.500 Giving you faith as verse 17 says. 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:56.700 So that you can grasp Christ's love. 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.059 In all its limitless dimensions. 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:01.119 There is no other path. 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:02.680 And there is no other door. 00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:04.279 And there is no other fountain. 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:06.119 Than this one. 00:34:08.179 --> 00:34:09.599 But here is the good news friends. 00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:11.519 This path. 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.119 This door. 00:34:12.259 --> 00:34:12.840 This fountain. 00:34:13.259 --> 00:34:15.119 Is open for everyone who wants it. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.799 It is open. 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.900 It is open for all to come. 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:19.460 No. 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.920 You cannot find it anywhere else. 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:23.099 If you are looking for fullness with God. 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:25.259 You are not going to find it anywhere else. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.859 You might find a counterfeit. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.219 You might find a parody. 00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:30.679 But you will not find the authentic real thing. 00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:33.059 You will not find it anywhere else. 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:34.099 But here it is. 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:37.380 For all to receive. 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:41.000 For all to come and take it. 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.660 So pray. 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.500 Brothers and sisters. 00:34:45.660 --> 00:34:45.980 Pray. 00:34:47.180 --> 00:34:48.220 Pray for yourself. 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:50.360 Pray for your friends here. 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.800 That are a part of this family. 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:55.240 Pray for other churches. 00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:57.280 Pray for the church. 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:58.660 That is being persecuted. 00:34:59.160 --> 00:34:59.880 Pray for the church. 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.800 That is being bored. 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:03.280 Pray. 00:35:03.620 --> 00:35:05.019 Ask God for it. 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.300 Ask God. 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.960 The living. 00:35:07.140 --> 00:35:07.340 True. 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:07.700 Only. 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:08.360 Triune God. 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.180 Ask with reverence. 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:10.380 Ask with confidence. 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:13.140 But trust when you ask. 00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:16.740 That just as this passage ends. 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:18.519 He is able to do far more abundantly. 00:35:18.640 --> 00:35:19.820 Than all we ask or think. 00:35:20.560 --> 00:35:21.840 According to the spirit's power. 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.640 At work within us. 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:25.060 Let's pray. 00:35:29.640 --> 00:35:31.040 God we confess before you. 00:35:31.120 --> 00:35:32.120 That we have often sought. 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:34.380 In our own resources. 00:35:34.620 --> 00:35:35.640 And in our own strength. 00:35:36.200 --> 00:35:37.500 And in our own cleverness. 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:40.060 We have often sought. 00:35:40.160 --> 00:35:41.000 In our own means. 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:44.320 To draw near to you. 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.380 To be filled up. 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.200 Spiritually. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.320 God how often. 00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.620 I have seen this in my own life. 00:35:49.680 --> 00:35:50.440 In my own heart. 00:35:52.600 --> 00:35:53.360 And yet Lord. 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.420 What good news it is. 00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.560 That we can come to you. 00:35:55.640 --> 00:35:56.140 And ask. 00:35:58.540 --> 00:35:59.880 Ask for your spirit. 00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:00.800 Your own self. 00:36:00.900 --> 00:36:01.780 To come and move. 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:04.300 And enliven our hearts. 00:36:06.100 --> 00:36:08.440 To see how deeply you love us. 00:36:08.560 --> 00:36:09.100 Lord Jesus. 00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:13.060 Come and make it real and fresh. 00:36:14.120 --> 00:36:14.760 And Jesus. 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:16.500 As we gather around your table tonight. 00:36:16.560 --> 00:36:17.920 As we take communion. 00:36:18.580 --> 00:36:19.840 This institution. 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.980 This act that you've given us. 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:23.940 To remind us of just that. 00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.100 How much you love us. 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:26.480 And all that you've done for us. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.219 Oh I pray. 00:36:27.420 --> 00:36:27.699 Jesus. 00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.679 That as you're present here. 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.260 At your table. 00:36:29.639 --> 00:36:30.800 You by your spirit. 00:36:31.260 --> 00:36:31.960 Would come. 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.420 And bring your wind. 00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.639 Over the coals of our hearts. 00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:35.820 And bring us to life again. 00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:38.019 Feed us we pray. 00:36:39.740 --> 00:36:40.699 Fill us we pray. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:44.179 Father we ask this in Christ's name. 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:44.659 Amen. 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:44.799 Amen. 00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:48.960 Well friends. 00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:49.859 We are going to do just that. 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.359 We are going to. 00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:51.879 Take up the Lord's Supper together. 00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:55.079 If you are.