INFINITELY MORE Ephesians 3:14-21 Pastor Dennis Clanton

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INFINITELY MORE Ephesians 3:14-21 Pastor Dennis Clanton Woodland Church Sunday, August 23, 2020 “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14–21, NLT) 1. Falling to my knees in prayer before the Lord is an act of submission. “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,” (Ephesians 3:14, NLT) a. Submission is an act of faith. “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” (Matthew 8:10, NLT) b. Submission to God brings healing, restoration, sanity, and clarity. “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” (Matthew 8:10, NLT) c. Submission to God’s order gives us whole relationships. “Shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?” (Hebrews 12:9, NLT)

2. Falling to my knees in prayer allows the power of God to flow through me. “From his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16, NLT) a. The power to be generous. “God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, NLT) i. Time – the breadth and breath of your life. ii. Talents – your abilities and capabilities iii. Treasures – your money iv. God’s heart is to bless you! “You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” (Malachi 3:9–10, NLT) b. The power to bless your children. “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” (Matthew 3:17, NLT) c. The power of a loving touch. “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.” (Isaiah 42:3, NLT) d. The power to sing. “This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NLT)

3. Falling to my knees in prayer break the old mold. “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:17, NLT) “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT) a. Write down the kind of person you want to be. “Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” (Habakkuk 2:2–3, NLT) b. Ask yourself, “How able is our God?” …who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more… c. God is taking us out of the realm of natural and human power. d. Ask yourself what if God wants to do something infinite in you? In us? 4. God wants Woodland Church to be the church that asks for the infinitely more! “Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21, NLT)

Growthwork 1. Memorize: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NLT) 2. Think about what it means for Christ to make his home in your heart. 3. Take time to kneel in prayer daily, if you are physically able. 4. What does the Bible say God is able to do? 5. What is your favorite praise and worship song? Sing it several times a day to the Lord. 6. Pray for the pastors, your small group, and your Woodland family this week.