FOR THIS REASON

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-20 NIV

I. THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING PAUL SAYS AND DOES IS JESUS. IT SHOULD BE THE SAME WITH US.
- SPIRITUAL MATURITY DOES NOT MEAN TO BE IN DENIAL OF OURSELVES AND LIVE LIFE BY OURSELVES. SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS ACKNOWLEDGING OUR HUMANITY AND ALLOWING GOD’S PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR US.

II. THERE ARE TWO REASONS PAUL PRAYS FOR THEM AND US:

1. HE PRAYS THAT BECAUSE OF JESUS, GOD WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH WITH POWER IN YOUR INNER BEING.
2. HE PRAYS THAT WE WILL GRASP HOW WIDE, LONG, HIGH AND DEEP IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
   

III. OUR INABILITY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND JUST HOW MUCH JESUS LOVES US TELLS US THAT HE LOVES US SO MUCH, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE NEW ASPECTS OF HIS LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT.

WHEN YOU ASK YOURSELF:

HOW LONG IS THE LOVE OF GOD?
- A PERFECT GOD STEPPED OUT OF A PERFECT HEAVEN INTO A BROKEN WORLD, TO DIE FOR YOU AND FOR ME.

HOW HIGH IS GOD’S LOVE FOR US?
- WHEN WE WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM, HE LOVED US.

HOW DEEP IS GOD’S LOVE FOR US?
- WHILE WE WERE BROKEN AND OUT OF HIS WILL, HE LOVED US.