Paul’s Amazing Prayer
Eph. 3:14-21

Bill Vaughan , Preached @ Grace Hill Church 6/23/19

Introduction

A. A Couple of weeks ago: “The Man Christ Jesus” 

1. Saw how Christ set aside His powers as God in becoming a man
     (Kenosis Phil 2)
2. LIVED 100% by the power of the Holy Spirit!
3. Gave us confidence that He could be our example in suffering – and             we could walk in His footsteps.

B. Today – see how the Holy Spirit AND Christ can take us to the highest level of Spiritual Maturity this side of eternity

1. To be filled with all the fullness of God!
2. = To be Christ-like in this life!
3. = to be 100% controlled by God
4. Beyond our comprehension YET achievable by EVERY Christian.
5. IOW – What the Holy Spirit did for Christ, He will do for us in spiritual maturity – being like Christ without actually being God (not doing miracles either!)

C. There are levels of spiritual maturity FAR BEYOND the average Christian’s maturity today. ALL attainable this life

     1 Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men
     of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you
     were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

     Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again
     for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you
     have come to need milk and not solid food.

     1 Jn2:12 I am writing to you, little children, … 13 I am writing to you, fathers, … 
    14…I have written to you, young men, …

    Col 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with
    all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

    Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as
     evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints
     for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all
     attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature
     man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

D. TODAY: SEE ULTIMATE SPIRITUAL MATURITY – It’s AMAZING! ATTAINABLE! -For the AVERAGE Christian! Us!

E. Outline of Ephesians

 1. Two TYPICAL Paul Sections

a) Doctrine: 1-3
b) Application 4-6 (4:1 Therefore…)
c) = Doctrine then Duty
d) = Position then Practice

2. Doctrine Section Divides nicely

a) God’s PURPOSES in Christ
b) God’s POWER to achieve His Purposes

3. God’s PURPOSES: Every Spiritual blessing

a) 1:3-14 PURPOSES
b) 1:15-19 FIRST PRAYER – He “PRAYS V.3-14 IN” -FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING of God’s PURPOSES in
CHRIST!

c) 1:19 POWER Section begins! –POWER of GOD MANIFEST

(1) First to CHRIST – Eph 1:19-23
(2) Second to US INDIVIDUALLY – Eph 2:1-10
(3) Third to US CORPORATELY (group)– Eph 2:11-22
(4) Fourth to PAUL PERSONALLY – Eph. 3:1-13

d) Then Eph 3:14-21 is ANOTHER PRAYER!

e) Paul’s DONE TELLING us ABOUT the POWER of GOD!

f) Eight VERSES from NOW

(1) How WE MUST LIVE
(2) How WE can HAVE THE POWER FLOW THROUGH US

g) SO – what does he do in 3:14-21?  HE prays for ENABLEMENT – FOR POWER! –

h) 3:14-21 = KEY TRANSITION section – THE BRIDGE – TO THREE CHAPTERS of APPLICATION!!!

F. Turn to Eph 3:14 –to study Paul’s Prayer

1. PRAYER For the POWER of GOD to ENABLE you to WALK in a MANNER worthy (4:1) – to glorify God through the CHURCH!

2. Prayer Outline:

  a) Opening (v.14-15) – no detail coverage today
  b) Petition (v.16-19) – where we’ll focus today
  c) Closing (v.20-21) – highlight only as a praise!

G. TURN TO Passage to read…

     Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom
     every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you,
     according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His
     Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
     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, that you may be filled up to
     all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly
     beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to
     Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and
     ever. Amen.

H. Opening

     3:14 For this reason

a) = CONTINUATION of AN INTERRUPTED PRAYER in 3:1
      Ephesians 3:1 For this reason …

–> Then interrupts to talk about God’s POWER in his life

b) V.14 “reason” Paul is drawing in SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC as THE BASIS –THE REASON for HIS PRAYER

(1) Look at 2:19-22!
Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

(a) V.19-22 = the CHURCH! Metaphor for the Church (= 1Peter 2)

(b) V.20-22 having been built… a building – a Holy Temple in the Lord – a DWELLING of GOD!

(c) YOU ARE PART of GOD’S DWELLING PLACE! (Eph 2:22) – THE CHURCH!

c) Therefore, when Paul SAYS “FOR THIS REASON” in 3:1/3:14

(1) BECAUSE you are PART of the DWELLING place –the building / “holy Temple in the Lord”

(2) I’M PRAYING that YOU GET THE POWER FLOWING in YOUR LIFE – I want MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT for the SAKE of GOD – IN THE
CHURCH!

(3) BUT – MORE THAN THIS!

d) There is SPIRITUAL MATURITY BEYOND our wildest dreams – ATTAINABLE in this life! FOR average Christians!

(1) Jesus Christ – to be AT HOME in YOU – comfortable, enjoying being there –greater than just indwelling. = personal fellowship with Christ.

(2) Your LIFE characterized ENTIRELY by Love to others

(3) Experientially KNOWING the Love of Christ – which surpasses knowledge! (oxymoron)

(4) “Filled up to all fullness of God”= 100% Spiritual Maturity

(5) = 100% controlled by God, Conscious Fellowship with Christ – see Him work in Your life and through Your life.

Petition Overview

Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 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, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

A. V.16-19 is ONE LONG GREEK SENTENCE!
     1. NOTABLE Feature: FOUR purpose statements in the Greek
a) “SO THATs” (“so that” / “that” MARK PURPOSE phrases)
   (1) V.16 that He would grant you
             (2) V.17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
             (3) V.17b…and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
             (4) V.19b that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God
2. In between those “so that’s” are phrases/statements/ petitions in the Prayer

B. = The prayer is BUILDING PROGRESSIVELY
     1. Layer upon layer /Level to Level
2. Each level DEPENDENT on the PREVIOUS ONE!
3. Start at the bottom–that Holy Spirit would strengthen you with power
4. End at the Climax with you “filled up to all the fullness of God”!

C. Notice too – WHOLE TRINITY in the prayer!
     1. God the Father grants you the power to be strengthened
2. Holy Spirit is the agent of that strengthening
3. Christ then dwells – Makes His Home in you!
4. Then back to God – that you are filled up to all the fullness of Him

D. Summary: builds Level-to-Level with whole Trinity involved!

E. Outline will follow the phrases in the levels!
     1. That the Holy Spirit Strengthen you in the inner man
     2. That Jesus Christ is at home in you
     3. (That) your life shows the Love of Christ to others
     4. That you know the Love of Christ TO YOUR which Surpasses Knowledge
     5. That you be filled with all the fullness of God
     6. That you Burst out in praise after contemplating what God wants to do for
you / with you in this life.

Petition (1): V.16 That the Holy Spirit Strengthen you in the inner man

A. V.16 that He would grant you,= “that He would give you”

B. according to the riches of His glory,
     1. Key – “according to” IS TIED to how much God has!
a) If two different RICH men gave “according to” their riches, you would get
something proportionate to HOW rich each is
b) Like percentage vs. amount.
(1) $1M man giving you a million dollars / Bill Gates (say $50B) giving you a
million dollars = 100% vs. .0002%
(2) BUT if I said give 1%, then, Million Dollar Man would give you $10,000 and
Bill Gates would give you $50M dollars! ACCORDING to more like %.
2. Paul NEVER asks for anything small!
a) Riches = wealth
b) “glory” = God’s ESSENCE / BEING
c) = “according to the INFINITE WEALTH of YOUR BEING, GOD!” – WE can’t
fathom this!
3. AND – how much does God have? INFINITE!
a) = AS MUCH AS YOU NEED AND MORE!
(1) Is FAR MORE than you DESERVE
(2) Is ALWAYS ENOUGH for WHATEVER God wants!

C. This amazing prayer begins with a requested for the UNLIMITED, UNFATHOMABLE, RICHES of God’s GLORY to be THE BASIS for “GRANTING YOU”…

D. V.16 …to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man
     1. “to be strengthened” = PASSIVE! = GOD is THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN
SPIRITUALLY STRENGTHEN YOU!
2. “to be strengthened with power” = DUNAMIS = ACTION POWER = root for
Dynamite
3. through His Spirit = Here’s how you get the Power!
a) Holy Spirit is the AGENT! The MEANS!
b) THE SAME as the HOLY SPIRIT DID for JESUS CHRIST!!! (“The Man Christ
Jesus Sermon)
c) PULL THAT WHOLE SERMON IN HERE!
4. in the inner man = You, the person
a) = the heart, the mind, the PERSON YOU
b) = Your UNDERSTANDING, INTELLECT, WILL, thoughts
c) God’s WORK
(1) BEGINS with the INNER MAN at SALVATION
(2) CONTINUES with the INNER man in SANCTIFICATION BECAUSE that is
where YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE is!
d) As Holy Spirit “strengthens with power” your INNER MAN, you grow in
SPIRITUAL MATURITY!
e) Remember Phil 1:6! For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a
             good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

E. This prayer is for SPIRITUAL GROWTH in US.
1. REMEMBER: ONLY God, through the Holy Spirit can grow us.
a) Like weight lifting / exercising.
b) You do the work, the body does the growth after.
c) You don’t really know how you get faster / stronger. BUT, you know it will
happen IF you exercise
2. SAME with Holy Spirit strengthening you.
3. You work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Ph 2:11-12), He who
         began a good work in you will complete it (Ph 1:6).
4. Here: Paul is praying for God’s side.
5. The next three chapters are our side!
6. WITHOUT this strengthening, DOING the “walk” of Ephesians 4-6 is
IMPOSSIBLE.

F. Q: do you pray for own strengthening / growth? For others?

Petition (2): That Jesus Christ is at home in you

A. 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
1. “so that” = Purpose for that strengthening!
2. “Christ may dwell in your hearts”
a) You already have Christ in You – through the indwelling Holy Spirit! So – what
is Paul talking about here?
b) “dwell” = compound word = “to live in as a home” + “down”
(1) = to settle down and feel completely at home in you!
(a) = FULLY at home! COMFORTABLE!
(b) ENJOYS being there!
c) “in your hearts” = same as “inner man” (v.16)
(1) “heart” = center of Your UNDERSTANDING, INTELLECT, WILL, THOUGHTS
d) = Difference between just “in a house” and AT HOME / comfortable! (house vs
home usage).
3. “through faith”= Ch 4-6! WE LIVE BY FAITH! OBEY by FAITH!
a) NOT faith for Salvation – NOT the issue here!
b) through faith = OBEY IN DAILY LIFE
c) Prayer is NOT let go and let God stuff! NO– Paul is praying for God’s part.
Chapters 4-6 are OUR PART! 😊😊

B. Summary: 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; = THAT
     Christ is AT HOME, IS COMFORTABLE in you – BECAUSE you LIVE/OBEY by
     FAITH!
     1. BEYOND just salvation and indwelling Holy Spirit and Christ in you (Col. 1:27;
UwC).
2. AT HOME / ENJOYS / LOVES being in you!
3. And – “by Faith” – when is that the case?
a) A: WHEN YOUR ATTITUDES, ACTIONS are GODLY!
b) He’s NOT at HOME in a SINFUL, BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN
c) He’s NOT at HOME in someone NOT FOCUSED on HIM and IS OPERATING
under THEIR OWN POWER (flesh)!
d) He’s NOT at home in a SUNDAY Christian who thinks only of Him during their
favorite songs on Sunday morning!
4. Q: IS Christ at home IN YOU? ENJOYS being there? AMAZING THOUGHT!!! GOD
ENJOYING BEING IN ME!
5. This is FIRST HUGE PURPOSE of Paul’s prayer!
a) That Holy Spirit would strengthen you in the inner person (man) SO THAT
JESUS CHRIST ENJOYS / is AT HOME in you!
b) We are often SO amazed that Christ / Holy Spirit / Father would even be IN
US!
c) This is FAR BEYOND THAT – every Christian is indwelt – even the most
backslidden CORINTHIAN!
d) = Christ ENJOYING being in you! LOVES being in YOU!
e) Can you even imagine this?
f) When Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
(1) Can you imagine Christ LIVING HIS LIFE IN YOU / THROUGH YOU
(2) AND ENJOYING / LOVING being there!
6. Christ is REALLY IN YOU – RIGHT NOW!
a) DOES HE ENJOY it?
b) IS HE SETTLED DOWN? At Home? Comfortable?

Petition (3): (That) your life shows the Love of Christ to others

A. And that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
     1. And that you: end of V.17 is the PURPOSE of the strengthening and at-home
Christ in you
2. “being rooted and grounded in love” BECOMES the BASIS for the NEXT STEP UP
in the PROGRESSION of this PRAYER!
3. “being rooted” = to cause to take root, fix firmly , put on a firm foundation”
4. “grounded” = foundation of building (ties to 2:19-22)
5. “in love” = Christian love (learned from Christ) for one another
a) = SACRIFICIAL LOVE!, SELFLESS LOVE for Christians!
b) Have DEEP Christ-like love for one another
c) = OUR love for others (NOT Christ’s love for us)

B. Pull this together: “and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” =
     1. = You have a SPIRITUALLY MATURE LIFE that is FIRMLY GROUNDED on A
FOUNDATION of LIVING CHRIST-LIKE LOVE – SELFLESS, SACRIFICIAL LOVE!
2. Christ-like love is part of EVERYTHING you do – moment-by-moment, day-by-
day, thought-by-thought, action-by-action.
3. Q: is the FOUNDATION of YOUR LIFE: Attitudes, Thoughts, Actions, Emotions – is
that foundation the LOVE of CHRIST NOW being LIVED TO OTHERS?
4. DO you CONSTANTLY LIVE a LIFE THAT DEEPLY LOVES OTHER CHRISTIANS?

C. MLJ: “LOVE – the dominating factor in the whole of your life, controlling it and directing it.”

D. This is FOR AVERAGE CHRISTIANS! ALL of US! NOT just for the great men/women of God we all know about!
     1. LOVE is the FIRST FRUIT of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
2. We SEEK the PERSON of CHRIST through OBEDIENCE – focusing on Him as
person – you learn a person (Eph. 5:20)
3. Live in Union with Christ and Holy Spirit strengthens/grows us!

E. This is JUST the FOUNDATION of the Prayer! We haven’t gotten to the peak yet!

F. Review how prayer is building!
     1. Petition begins with STRENGTHENING your INNER MAN
     2. Purpose: SO THAT Christ is at HOME In YOU
         a) = ACTIONS / ATTITUDES are CHRIST-LIKE
         b) YOU LIVE and THINK in a WAY that PLEASES HIM and SO He is at HOME IN
             YOU!
     3. Purpose / Result: = You have a SPIRITUALLY MATURE LIFE that is FIRMLY
         GROUNDED on A FOUNDATION of LOVE – SELFLESS, SACRIFICIAL Christ-like
         LOVE for OTHERS!

Petition (4): That you know the Love of Christ which Surpasses Knowledge

A. NOTE: now switching to the LOVE of Christ FOR US. HIS LOVE to US.

B. 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
     1. “may be able” = Literally “have the strength to”
a) POWER to CARRY OUT
b) Ties all the way back to V.16 – STRENGTHENING by the Holy Spirit in the
INNER MAN
c) Add to that the GROUNDING and ROOTING in the LOVE of CHRIST!
d) NOW –“You have the STRENGTH…to comprehend”
2. “to comprehend” =grasp, understand, comprehend MENTALLY.
a) = You understand it with your mind
b) And – YOU OWN IT! = internalize its meaning
3. with all the saints
a) Paul says that THIS LEVEL of SPIRITUAL MATURITY is AVAILABLE to ALL
CHRISTIANS!
b) Not ISOLATED PRIVILEGE to a FEW EXTREMELY GODLY Christians!
c) Context – Gentiles at Ephesus – ORDINARY CHRISTIANS!
4. v.18…what is the breadth and length and height and depth
a) = EXPERIENTIALLY KNOW ALL of the Love of CHRIST!
b) “breadth and length and height and depth” = implying the whole from giving
the parts! -DON’T interpret them Separately!
5. 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge
a) “And to know” = EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
(1) You started with mental comprehension
(2) MOVED up to experiencing His love.
(3) = LOVE only known in a deep, intimate, personal fellowship / communion /
relationship with another.
b) Key: This LOVE is “the LOVE of CHRIST!” =CHRIST’S LOVE TO US!
c) And so to know the love of Christ “which surpasses knowledge” = OXYMORON
(1) “surpasses”= exceeding, surpassing, extraordinarily beyond!!!
(2) We Can GROW to MATURITY in CHRIST and COME TO “KNOW” His LOVE
which is extraordinarily beyond (far/way beyond) KNOWLEDGE!
(a) MOST Christians DON’T know His love like this! (Most think they do,
but they don’t)
(b) Young IMMATURE CHRISTIANS “know” the SAVING love of CHRIST
“FOR THEM”
(c) ONLY the MOST MATURE CHRISTIANS “know” the EXPERIENTIAL love
of CHRIST –
(i) SEEN IT WORK “ TO THEM and THROUGH THEM”– REGULARLY!
(d) Commentator: “direct knowledge” of Christ’s love. “Not conceptual!”
6. This = FELLOWSHIP, COMMUNION, CONSCIOUS awareness / relationship with
CHRIST IN YOU.
a) He’s at HOME in you, in COMMUNION / FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU.
b) MLJ: “Conscious state of fellowship”/Realization of His presence!”
c) HIS love FLOWS THROUGH you and TO you.
d) NOTE: this prayer has GROWN from Christ BEING COMFORTABLE / at HOME
TO you CONSCIOUSLY / DIRECTLY KNOWING HIM – HIS LOVE
(1) Relationship has DEEPENED
(2) The Rough edges of Obedience are smooth curves of gentleness,
compassion, mercy, etc –
(3) You have an INTIMATE, CONSCIOUS fellowship / communion with Him
7. DO you KNOW His love to YOU as FULLY as it can be known?
a) Remember what is coming – WHAT is REQUIRED of US! = LOTS of LOVE –
SELF SACRIFICE / SELFLESS LIVING!
(1) Paul’s -APPLY LOVE at least 10 MORE times in next 3 chapters! – even in the
over-riding commands of 4:1-3!

Petition (5): That you be filled with all the fullness of God
        v.19… that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

A. “that” = the PURPOSE for being made able to grasp and know the love of Christ is…

B. “that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God!”
     1. OBVIOUSLY, NOT “filled” until we BECOME GOD! Not that!
2. BUT YOU ARE going to be Christ-like – be like God.
3. = FULLEST MATURITY on THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY!
4. = FILLED with AS MUCH of the PERFECTION of GOD as we can be IN HUMAN
FLESH!
5. “fulness” is big theme in Ephesians
a) the church is Christ’s “body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23).
         b) He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the
             heavens, that He might fill all things” (4:10).
        c) “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18).

C. AND Turn the page to
     Eph4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as
     evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints
     for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all
     attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature
     man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
1. Eph 3:14-21 FOCUSES on GOD’S PART of the EQUIPPING of the SAINTS!
2. Paul: “God – in response to US doing the EQUIPPING you’ve called us to do (Eph.           4:11-16), YOU FILL THEM!”
3. = ENTIRE LIFE DOMINATED by GOD / Acting like Christ. 100% Controlled by the
Holy Spirit. Christ lives through you completely!

D. When you follow the progression of this Prayer:
     1. Strengthened in the inner man by the Holy Spirit
2. Jesus Christ at HOME in you
3. Your life CHARACTERIZED by His Love pouring out
4. You EXPERIENTIALLY KNOWING His Love
5. A life of Personal Conscious Fellowship / relationship with Christ in You
6. THEN – you find yourself FILLED with all the fullness of God
7. You find yourself LIKE GOD. Christ-like.
8. Filled / flowing WITH HIS ATTRIBUTES in your life.
9. His Knowledge, His wisdom, His peace, joy, love, compassion, kindness, self-
         control – TO WHATEVER EXTENT POSSIBLE.
10. You’re not God, but as Christ-like as is possible this side of eternity.
11. We have no problem talking about our glorification – being Christ-like in
eternity. BUT, have that now? NO way! 😊😊
12. But HERE – You can attain something CLOSE TO THAT here – the FULLNESS of
GOD – Here! Perfection? NO.

E. = a life COMPLETELY 100% CONTROLLED by God

F. AND – if you are FILLED to FULLNESS of God, what room is left for the World, selfishness, etc.? NONE.

G. AND – this is for US – NORMAL Christians!

H. = REAL, COMPLETE SPIRITUAL MATURITY!

I. MacArthur: To be filled up to all the fulness of God is indeed incomprehensible, even to God’s own children. It is incredible and indescribable. There is no way, this side of heaven, we can fathom that truth . We can only believe it and praise God for it…Even to begin to grasp the magnitude of that truth, we must think of every attribute and every characteristic of God. We must think of His power, majesty, wisdom, love, mercy, patience, kindness, longsuffering, and every other thing that God is and does.

J. Is it ANY SURPRISE to see the next two verses? NO!

Closing: You Burst out in praise after contemplating what God wants to do for you / with you in this life!!!

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

A. BURST OUT like this Doxology after that prayer!

B. IF you’ve PROGRESSED ALONG THIS PRAYER
     1. THEN (last big THEN) YOU will SEE GOD DO FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY in
YOUR LIFE – BEYOND all we ask of think!

C. “Now to Him who is able to do”= THE POWER to DO!”

D. far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think = SUPER MORE ABOVE all that we ask or think = WAY BEYOND our feeble thinking!
     a) = MAXIMUM SPIRITUAL MATURITY
b) =Maximum Spiritual USEFULNESS
c) USED by God beyond anything we can ask or think!

E. according to the power that works within us= Holy Spirit! – JUST LIKE “The Man Christ Jesus!
     1. Do you seen now HOW the Holy Spirit can do for us SO MUCH of what He did
for Christ?
2. NOT miracles, NOT forgiving sin – BUT all that spiritual maturity and MUCH
spiritual work/deeds – JUST LIKE CHRIST – because WE will be FILLED WITH
ALL THE FULLNESS of Christ!
3. And – Back to power again! Direct tie back to v.16 again!
a) Holy Spirit is POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US!
b) THE SAME as HE did with Jesus Christ!
c) Go through and count some time HOW MANY POWER words are in this
passage!

F. 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
     1. To Him = TO GOD the Father
2. be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus= IT’S ALL FOR HIS GLORY= in the
Church and its head Christ Jesus
3. “to all generations forever and ever.” = ETERNITY!

CONCLUSION

A. This letter is ALL ABOUT UNITY in the CHURCH – UNITY in the BODY of CHRIST! – based on UNION with Christ
     1. Ch 1-3 Union with Christ, Unity GIVEN to us
2. Ch 4-6 LIVING out that UNITY in the CHURCH

B. The Questions are:
     1. HOW WELL HAS this PRAYER been ANSWERED in YOUR LIFE?
2. Do you KNOW this level of SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
3. Is the HOLY SPIRIT and CHRIST working in your LIFE as this prayer calls for?
4. Are you HELPING or HURTING the “Church” – the Body of Christ? 😊😊
5. ARE YOU READY for the COMMANDS of Chapters 4 to 6?. Finally – Are you “filled
up to all the fullness of God?”