“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” —Ephesians 3:14-21
God’s loving presence is near to us.
Christ’s presence gives us
Ephesians 3:14-17a, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Psalm 18:1-3, Isaiah 40:28-31
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness,” —2 Corinthians 12:9
“I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies.” —Psalm 18:1-3
“The indwelling presence of God is a sheer and utter gift…God chooses to live among us, God’s glory fills us. This is sheer grace, unimaginable possibility, life-giving hope.” —Sally Brown
True
Ephesians 3:17b-21
“When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?” —Psalm 8:3-4
“he is asking God that they might have the power to grasp the dimensions of that love in their experience.” —D.A. Carson
“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” —Ephesians 3:20-21
For Further Study:
Scripture: Psalm 8, Romans 8:31-38, Isaiah 40
Resources: “Strength, Love, and the Faithfulness of God” by Matt Chandler
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF3SBKCm_No)
To Prepare for Next Week:
Ephesians 4:1-16