Ephesians | Session 6 Paul’s Prayer for Strength & Insight (Eph. 3:14-21) Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Paul’s Prayer for Strength and Insight: Ephesians 3:14-21 Ephesians 3:14-15; 21(NKJV) 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named… 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Big Ideas: - Strengthened by the Spirit - Christ dwelling in our hearts - The indescribable love of Christ - God is able to do beyond Strengthened by the Spirit Ephesians 3:16(NKJV) 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, Romans 8:11(NKJV) 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Acts 1:8 (NKJV) 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Christ dwelling in our hearts Ephesians 3:17 (NKJV) 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, John 14:23(NKJV) 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Galatians 4:19(NLT) 19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. The indescribable love of Christ Ephesians 3:18-19(NKJV) 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18-19 (The Message) You’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Jeremiah 31:3(NKJV) 3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Luke 19:10(NKJV) 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” “Jesus Christ knows the worst about you. Nonetheless, He is the one who loves you the most.”- A.W. Tozer Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV) 20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. “The Devil knows your name but calls you by your sin. God knows yours sin but calls you by name.” ~ Ricardo Sanchez Mentalities that can sidetrack us from abiding in Christ’s love: - Complacency - Comparison - Competition - Complaining - Contempt “Abiding in Love- Means regularly realigning our hearts to focus on and live in the Love of God.” ~ Mike Bickle God is able to do beyond Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV) 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  Galatians 5:16(NLT) 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. Take away questions 1. In what areas are you needing the Holy Spirit to strengthen you? 2. How are you allowing Christ to dwell in your heart? 3. What does “being rooted and grounded in Christ’s love” mean to you in your life? 4. Do you spend more time trying to earn or achieve God’s love verses experiencing it? How have you allowed complacency, comparison, competition, complaining, or contempt to remove you from God’s love? 5. How may God be asking you to share His love with those around you? 6. How has Christ’s love awakened you to experience life in a greater way in this past season?