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Hello and welcome again to the Takeaway. I'm your host, pastor Harry Behrens, and in today's episode we're going to be covering Ephesians 3, verses 14-21, paul's prayer over the church so that we would receive everything God promised and that we could be fully equipped for the life God has for us. We see this pattern of prayer laid out for us by Jesus when he tells us how to pray in John 15, 7-8. If you abide in me and my words abide in you. In our last episode, we discussed the difference between living in the world and in the Lord. Paul had given us an example of that while he was in prison and said that it was the Lord's will and that it had turned out to be for the furtherance of the gospel. We too are to recognize that in whatever position we are currently in, whether it be in trials and tribulations or our freedoms, we have been placed precisely where God wants us. For the same reason, we should not seek to be loosed from our chains unless they cause us to live in sin, as that is the Lord's will. We are to be fruitful, right where we are and share the gospel with every opportunity. That is what Paul is praying for in these verses today that we would be effective Christians as we set our eyes on Jesus and his word.

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The question that needs to be asked is how much do you want change? Do you want to experience the fullness of God in you and in your life? If you do, it requires humbling yourself and imitating Christ, just as Paul did 1 Corinthians 11.1. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Starting in verse 14 of Ephesians, chapter 3. For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father. In verse 1 of this chapter, paul starts with for this reason, what reason? Well, chapters 1 and 2 show that the church is God's workmanship and dwelling place. Second, for that reason, he was made a minister to the church, to present them holy and blameless. And now, third, for that reason, he bows a knee in prayer to lift up the church to God.

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Paul cared deeply for the Ephesians, just as your pastor should care for you, and just as he wanted them to understand this new way in which we live and to experience all the riches of his grace in Christ Jesus, so do I for you. Pastors are to be men of prayer who drop down to their knees before the Father, asking them for everything they need to care for his flock. It is humbling to be in charge of the king's flock and we need his power, grace, wisdom and knowledge to care for you how he desires. Paul understood that and seeing the flock running around as if they belonged to the world pained him. He knew that his words had no power unless God gave the sheep ears to hear and eyes to see. That is my prayer every Sunday morning before fellowship that the people whom God draws will be open to the word he prepared for me to give. I realize nothing of me is of any value I can give people when they show up. All I can do or should I say, all that there is to do is teach his word as accurately as possible, in hopes that God will answer my prayer, that they will hear him and see him and that their lies will be radically changed. Romans 10, 14-15.

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Without someone preaching. And how are they to preach unless they are sent as it is written? How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news? Ephesians 3.15,. From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named? Paul is referring to the fact that God's family is vast, from Old Testament saints to angels in heaven, in verses 16 and 19,.

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We see four petitions that Paul makes for the believers. If we obtain these, we will experience the fullness of God's love for us. One is strength in the spirit. Two, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. Three, that we may know the dimensions of the surpassing love of Christ. And four, that we would be filled with the fullness of God.

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Think about that for a minute. Do you know if your pastor is praying for you like that? Have you ever asked him? You should, and you should encourage him by telling him that you pray for him the same way every day, because God knows he needs you to. If the enemy is ever attacking anyone in your church, it's your pastor and he needs you to hold him up in prayer. I can assure you we are attacked daily and often by people within the flock who have let their guard down, and the enemy gets to them and whispers a lie or a distaste in their ear that they eat right up. That then turns into complaining, gossiping and griping about the leader you should be praying for and caring for. Have you ever heard the saying don't bite the hand that feeds you? That's precisely what you do when you look to take down your leadership instead of building them up. All they want to do is feed you the truth. That's a hand I don't want to bite because of the one who upholds them and has called them into that position. Could you imagine your pastor going to the Lord, handing you back to him and saying to Jesus Lord, watch out for that one he bites. How will the Lord treat you on that day? That should give you something to think about.

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Let's look at Ephesians 3.16. That, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being. Notice Paul said according to God's riches, not out of them. He isn't just offering us something out of his riches. That would be like a person having a hundred dollars and out of that hundred dollars they give you $10. That would be out of, but he gives us according to his riches. That's like saying you can have the whole $100. And not only that, but I will allow you to invest it however you desire. The only thing is that someday he will ask how we invested it. He gives us full access to his riches, but he will take into account how it was used. Will you be a good steward or a bad one?

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In Matthew 25, we have the parable of the talents given to three different servants. The first two took what the master gave them and they invested it well that when he returned, they gave it back to the master more than he had received. But in verses 24 to 30, we see the results of the one who received and did nothing with the talent he was given Matthew 25, 24 to 30. He also, who had received the one talent, came forward saying Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. But his master answered him you, wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the 10 talents, for everyone who has will be, will more be given and he will receive and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away and cast the worthless servant into outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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The question is what have you done with the gifts God has given you? How are you investing them so that you will be able to return to God with interest? What he has given to you? Please make no mistake about it. There is coming a day when we will all have to give an account for what we did or didn't do with the gift of the Holy Spirit. How do you want to respond to him on that day? Notice again in verse 16 that Paul prays for the spirit to be strengthened, not the flesh. There is nothing we can offer God in the flesh, and whatever we do offer him needs to be from the spirit. John 15, 4-7.

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Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine. Neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the vine. Neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. Jesus gives us the gift to invest and allows us to ask anything in his name so that whatever we invested in will be fruitful. In no way does he want you to fail and in turn, he has given you everything you need to succeed in this world so that you don't enter the next empty-handed.

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Ephesians 3.17,. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you being rooted and grounded in love. Christ dwells in us and wants to be at home in us. That can only be accomplished through faith. John 14, 22. Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world? Jesus answered 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. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and and the word that you hear is not mine, but the father who sent me. Do we love the words of God? How much do you read your Bible? That's an excellent way to measure your love for his word.

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This is where the excuses start, like I'm not good at reading, or I can't remember what I read, so I don't bother. So on and on the excuses go, and I've heard them all. Nowadays, there are no good excuses for not being in the Word every single day. Just about everyone can read, and if you can't for some reason, there are audio Bibles. If you can't remember what you read, that doesn't matter. We are never told to remember, but to abide in the word.

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The remembering part is the work of the Holy Spirit Matthew 10, 19 to 20. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour, for it is not you who speaks, but the spirit of your father speaking through you. So again, I ask what's stopping you? And don't tell me you don't have enough time. That is the biggest cop out of all. I've never met someone who hasn't made time for what they wanted. The problem is that you don't want the word. So what does that say about you?

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Ephesians 3.18. May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth. The dimensions of Christ surpassing love are for all the saints, not just a select few, as we will see in verse 19,. The love of Christ surpasses understanding. That means understanding. The love of Christ requires walking in faith, not just head knowledge. It is the means through which we apply faith. The dimensions of his love are vast and Paul asks that we have the strength to understand this attribute of God that points to the vastness of his love for us and that it can be searched in every direction and dimension. Searched in every direction and dimension. There is no place, no distance that is out of his reach. The breath or width points to his arms around us. John 10, 9. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The length beginning to end, or from eternity past to eternity future. Ecclesiastes 3.11,. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart. Yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end, the height it reaches to the throne of God Philippians 2.6.

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Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped? Colossians 3.1. If, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. The depth points to Christ's death on the cross Philippians 2.8. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Ephesians 4.8.

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Therefore, it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives and he gave gifts to men. In saying he ascended, what does it mean, but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who he ascended. What does it mean, but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above the heavens that he might fill all things In? Colossians 2.13,. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and in your uncircumcision of your flesh, god made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open. Shame by triumphing over them in him.

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Paul's prayer is that the outcome or answer to it would be this in verse 19. And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. The first three petitions lead us to the fullness of Christ's love. Paul is saying that we must live in the Spirit, by faith in all areas of life, to experience the fullness of God's love for us. Paul is praying here for us to become as God-like as possible.

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Matthew 5.43 says you have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father, who is in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same. Your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect.

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1 Peter 1.13. Therefore, preparing your minds for action and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. Since it is written, you should be holy, for I am holy. Question is are you holy? Are we holy? Where do we fall short? How do we talk to each other? Do we have sarcasm when we speak? What about our words of encouragement? Are we tender, kind, affectionate, or do we complain or have expectations for each other? Most of us would admit we fall short in one or more of these areas. But here's what's awesome Ephesians 3.20.

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Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. According to the power at work within us, jesus can assist you in overcoming your shortcomings. He requires you to approach life with genuine faith and do your best and he will take care of the rest. Faith is simply believing in what God has said. All you need to do is believe that his word is true. Take a step forward and he will handle the rest. Instead of constantly seeking more knowledge and waiting until you feel fully prepared, move forward based on your current knowledge and have faith that he will compensate for your shortcomings. That's why Paul can say what he does in verse 21. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. The glory goes to God, because he has will and will always make up for man's shortcomings to fulfill his word. His promises are true and can be fully trusted. The only problem is that you will never know that until you step out in faith. So I ask you today what are you waiting for? What excuse do you have that Jesus will accept? On that day you meet him face to face? What excuse do you have that Jesus will accept? On that day you meet him face to face? When the conditions of verses 16 to 19 are met, god's power working in and through us will be unlimited and far beyond our comprehension. And only when we meet these conditions will Jesus be fully honored, the way he deserves.

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Let's pray, father. God, thank you so much for your word, thank you for your inspiration, thank you for the revelation that you showed Paul for his prayers for the church, that we would be fully equipped. Oh God, father, my prayer today is that our listeners would have a heart to hear these words that I have spoken, to hear the words that come from your holy scriptures that would penetrate their heart and change their lives. That they would submit to you, god, regardless of their shortcomings, regardless of their abilities, regardless of what they think they need to know God, and that they would trust you and your spirit living in them. That they are fully equipped, with all your power within them, right here, right now, to go and share the gospel, to share their faith with others. I pray that you would let them know that, god, that you would share with them your love, your kindness, your mercy, your grace. That they would know that they have their shortcomings made up by you, god, that it's your strength working in them and through them to reach this lost world. Thank you, god, so much for your love for us. We love you and we thank you in Jesus' name, amen. Now I want to thank you for joining us today, and I hope this message helped you take a step closer in your relationship with Jesus and that you have a better understanding of just how much God loves you and wants you to know Him.

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In our upcoming episode, we will transition into chapter 4, as we will discuss the practical aspects of this life God has planned for us. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness, but it is our responsibility to submit to his will by living a spirit-filled life that is pleasing to him. We must enact the faith that he has given us and no longer live as we once did, as Paul described in chapter 2. The rest of this letter will show us how to take the necessary steps to become fully equipped to live the life he has prepared for us and overcome the evil in this world. So be ready to take action as we begin this new section of Practical Christian Living, as this is now your calling as a believer in Christ to no longer live for yourself but for him who redeemed you and set you free in Christ, that you may be the light into this world to reveal the glory of the Father through the power of Christ that lives in you.

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Now, before we go, I want to encourage you to visit us at thetakeawayfaith. On our website, you can sign up to receive email notifications or send us a text message from the link provided in the description of this episode. We hope that you would use this podcast as a resource to help others and that you would send us a message, a word of encouragement or any questions or comments, as we would love to hear from you. God bless, and we'll see you next time on the Takeaway.