July 9, 2023; Sunday Evening Worship

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 107:1-9
• Hymn — All Praise to God Who Reigns Above (#4)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Hymn — Amazing Grace (#460)
• Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26

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Sermon Title: Knowing Christ as God's Power for Spiritual Growth

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19

I. Why We Need This Power

A. Paul's prayer follows from the soaring declarations of Ephesians 1–2 — God's redeeming work in Christ, adoption, the gift of the Spirit, salvation by grace through faith B. The gap between who God has declared us to be and how we actually live reveals our need

1. We are declared righteous in Christ, yet we continue to struggle with sin
2. We are being built into a dwelling place of God, yet we still have conflict with one another C. Paul falls to his knees before the Father — the one from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named — because only God can give the transformation we long for D. God answers not out of his leftovers but according to the riches of his glory — the resources available are limitless (Ephesians 3:16) E. Illustration: newborn children are fully their parents' own from birth, yet need help to grow into the full expression of who they already are — spiritually, so do we

II. What This Power Is For

A. Strengthened through the Spirit in the inner being (Ephesians 3:16)

1. God changes us from the inside out; the focal point is the heart
2. The Spirit is the means by which God's power works in us

B. So that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17)

1. Where the Spirit truly is, there Christ is
2. The word dwell carries the idea of moving in, settling down, taking up permanent residence — not a temporary visit
3. Illustration: moving into a house — it is yours from the moment of purchase, but over time you make it more and more your own; similarly, Christ inhabits our hearts and sets about making them more and more fit for himself

C. Strengthened to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:17-19a)

1. Paul reaches for language — breadth, length, height, and depth — to capture the vastness of Christ's love
2. All doctrines of Ephesians (adoption, redemption, forgiveness, justification, sanctification) are fueled by the love of Christ
3. The full arc of Jesus's life — incarnation, ministry, suffering, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and return — was done out of love for us
4. Paul prays not merely for intellectual knowledge but for the heart to be touched and enlivened by this love

III. Where This Power Leads

A. That we may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)

1. Fullness carries the idea of growth and maturity — growing up into what God has made us to be
2. Ephesians 4:11-13 — God gave leaders to equip the church to grow to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

B. The goal of spiritual growth is to reflect Jesus — his love for God and people, his holy life, the fruit of the Spirit, his self-sacrificial love even for enemies

C. The key insight of the prayer: Paul does not simply ask for power to do good actions, but for power to know Jesus and his love, which then produces growth and love for others

1. God, give us the power to know Jesus Christ and his great love, so that we may love one another
2. Knowing Christ is not a step toward spiritual growth — it is God's power for spiritual growth

D. Application: We are easily consumed by news cycles, fears, debates, and problems — when did we last stop and meditate on the love of Jesus Christ that we do not deserve?

1. We may look for power in our own giftedness, personality, work ethic, the praise of others, programs, or books
2. This passage declares with divine authority: the key is simply and gloriously knowing Jesus Christ and his great love
3. We will not reach full maturity in this life, but God is truly at work to change us as we keep looking to Jesus