Ephesians Series Week # 19 Experiencing the Love of God Ephesians 3: /17/2013

Transcription

1 Ephesians Series Week # 19 Experiencing the Love of God Ephesians 3: /17/2013 I. Introduction and review A. Last week we started to look at this prayer of Paul s and what he is really saying to us B. We got through the first three verses C. In verse 16 Paul uses the phrase: to be strengthened with power... in the inner man, 1. This process of being strengthened with power is the opposite of losing heart, a process spoken about in verse 13 a. Going through this strengthening process prevents losing heart 2. The verb we translate as to be strengthened is the word krataio,w krataioo {krat-ah-yo'-o} 3. Paul uses it in the form of a passive infinitive a. An infinitive can be used to reflect purpose or result b. Here Paul is speaking of the purpose of the prayer, that is to enable us to do the three things we will study today c. But we should also note that the verb is passive d. That means that the strengthening is not something we can do to ourselves, but must be done to us by the Father by means of His Spirit Page 1 of 9

2 e. We don t earn this empowering, nor do we deserve it or inherit it, we instead must earnestly plead with God for it, both for ourselves and for others D. Now what does this strengthening do for us or what is its purpose? II. Ephesians 3:17-19 A. The phrase so that is one of connection and purpose 1. What Paul is praying for in verse 16, has as its purpose what follows the so that in verse We should also note that this purpose is compound, have three distinct purposes a. The one that immediately follows the so that in verse 17 b. The purpose that follows the second that in verse 17 c. And the purpose that follows the that in verse 19 B. The first purpose is that: Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 1. What does that mean, in that it appears that Paul asks for something that we already have 2. The verb dwell is the word katoike,w katoikeo {kat-oy-keh'-o} a. Meaning: 1) to dwell, settle 1a) metaph. divine powers, influences, etc., are said to dwell in his soul, to pervade, prompt, govern it 2) to dwell in, inhabit 2a) God is said to dwell in the temple, i.e. to be always present for worshippers b. Origin from: (1) oivke,w oikeo {oy-keh'-o} Meaning: to dwell in as a Page 2 of 9

3 home, and (2) kata, kata {kat-ah'} Meaning: 1) down from, through out c. We should understand this word to mean to settle down and be at home in d. That is Jesus will rule and reign from the inner sanctuary of our hearts 3. This phrase does not speak of Christ indwelling our human spirit, but taking over control of our hearts or to use Paul s terminology, our inner man 4. This process is one of faith a. We must come to understand that we were initially saved by faith b. But that that process does not stop there c. The process of salvation, in this case sanctification, continues on by means of faith d. Consider Colossians 2:6 5. Consider the effect of this process on a man a. Gen. 39:2-3 b. Gen. 39:20-23 c. Gen. 41: So as we come to the end of this first purpose, what Paul is really asking the Father for, is the presence of Christ in our lives and that we experience that presence on a regular and consistent basis Page 3 of 9

4 C. The second purpose starts in verse 17 and continues on into verse and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, 2. The initial and is added by the translators to help the English flow better but is not in the original text 3. The words rooted and grounded bear some consideration a. Rooted is the word r`izo,w rhizoo {hrid-zo'-o} (1) Meaning: 1) to cause to strike root, to strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded (2) it speaks of a tree or other vegetation that is supported by a strong root system (3) our Lord s love is like that, a root system that provies us stability (4) consider the tree in Psa. 1:3 (a) the Psalmist describes this tree a s firmly planted and providing fruit and shelter to those around it (b) in the same way, a life rooted in God s love provides for and shelters others b. The word grounded instead speaks of an edifice that is built upon a firm foundation (1) the word is qemelio,w themelioo {them-el-ee-o'-o} Page 4 of 9

5 Meaning: 1) to lay the foundation, to found 2) to make stable, establish (2) if the love of Christ is built into the foundation of our lives, then we will be like the house built on the rock of which our Lord speaks in Matt 7:24ff (3) the house could not be blown or washed away because it was firmly founded on the love of Jesus 4. But Paul is not praying that we be rooted and grounded in love, we already are, but that we a. Are able to comprehend the love of God, and b. Then experience God s love 5. That you... may be able a. evxiscu,w exischuo {ex-is-khoo'-o} b. Meaning: 1) to be eminently able, able, to have full strength 6. But in order to understand part one, we must understand the word translated comprehend 7. The word is katalamba,nw katalambano {kat-al-am-ban'-o} a. Long Greek word means compounding has taken place (1) NKJV and NASB translate it as to comprehend (2) NIV as to grasp (3) NLT as to understand (4) such a word is difficult to translate into English and still have it maintain its power Page 5 of 9

6 b. This word can have two meanings (1) first: to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain for yourself or to seize upon, take possession of (a) Mark 9:18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it." i) he doesn t know when its coming ii) it could surprise or ambush him (b) John 8:4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. (2) The second meaning is to detect, or to catch that is to lay hold of with the mind or to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend (a) John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. (b) 1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; i) that is come as a surprise Page 6 of 9

7 (c) Acts 10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality c. Maybe the word is best translated here as to apprehend (as in mentally grasping some idea or truth) 8. as with all the saints not just a few select believers but available for all 9. what is the breadth and length and height and depth, these words speak of the vastness of Christ s love, the ends of which cannot be reached a. Some translate as follows: (1) as to breadth boundless (2) as to length endless (3) as to height measureless (4) and as to depth fathomless b. How deep or high or long is that (1) it so wide that it covers the breadth of our experience and that of the rest of the world (2) it is so long it continues for the length of our lives and into eternity (3) it is so high it rises beyond any celebration or elation we experience and is a means of knowing God and His vastness (4) and it is so deep that it reaches to the depths of our discouragement, despair, and even death Page 7 of 9

8 10. To know ginw,skw ginosko a. Meaning: to come to know, recognize, perceive b. Whereas the word katalambano refers to conceptual knowledge, this word has to do with knowledge acquired by experience 11. surpasses knowledge it can never be fully known experientially because there is always more than you can experience D. The final purpose is that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 1. filled filled to the brim or to capacity a. What limits your filling b. Your capacity c. Consider the story of the widow and Elisha the prophet 2. fullness of God a. See Col. 1:17-19; 2:9 b. The dwelling of Jesus within you and the manifestation of His love within you c. It is a fullness that brings satisfaction, purpose, completion, worthiness 3. To be filled fully, we must be empty of self III. A poignant example A. In 1481 there was established The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Tribunal 1. It was better known as the Spanish Inquisition 2. It did not officially end until It was established by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. Page 8 of 9

9 4. Its purpose was to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms B. At the end of the Spanish Inquisition 1. They were clearing out a dungeon 2. They found a skeleton in a cell 3. He was laying on the floor 4. His leg bones were still encased in iron shackles attached to the wall 5. But on the wall beside him he had made an inscription a. It was a cross scratched into the the stone wall b. To the left he had written width c. To the right of the cross member he had written breadth d. Above the cross he had written height e. And below was the word depth 6. Do you think he had been meditating on God s word and its promises to him C. Sometime a picture or symbol help us to remember what God has promised, recollect what He has done, and experience what He wants to do Page 9 of 9