THE POWER Ephesians 3 Pastor Dennis Clanton

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THE POWER Ephesians 3 Pastor Dennis Clanton Woodland Church Sunday, September 16, 2018

“When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles … assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. 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, NLT)

1. I AM IN GOD’S HANDS. “When I think of all this, …” (Ephesians 3:1, NLT) “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,” (Ephesians 3:14, NLT) 2. I HAVE BEEN GIVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY. “God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.” (Ephesians 3:2, NLT) 3. I SERVE GOD BY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. “By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.” (Ephesians 3:7, NLT)

MY LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER CHRIST Before Dead in transgressions Followed the ways of the world Objects of wrath God’s enemies Enslaved to Satan

After Made alive with Christ Stand for Christ and truth Shown God’s mercy and given salvation God’s children Free in Christ to love and serve Him

There is no pit so deep that Jesus is not deeper still. Corrie ten Boom We have not merely been saved that we might escape hell; we have been saved in order that God may present a people which will astonish the whole world. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones 4. I BOLDLY COME AND KNEEL AND TALK TO GOD WITH A YIELDED HEART. “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.” (Ephesians 3:14–16, NLT) “He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,” (Luke 22:41, NLT) “He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.” (Acts 7:60, NLT) “Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up!” (Acts 9:40, NLT) “When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them.” (Acts 20:36, NLT) 5. THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS ME TO LIVE SUCCESSFULLY! “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16, NLT) “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” (Romans 8:26–27, NLT) “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22–23, NLT) “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19–20, NLT)

6. GOD WILL ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN I WILL EVER ASK. “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. b. c. d.

Are my prayers for unlimited possibilities? Are my prayers believing for the fullness of God and his abundance? What are my desires in prayer? How is my thought life?

7. I WILL GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY! “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)

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