ULTIMATE POWER (Ephesians 1:15-19)
Part One: Goals and Objectives
Sunday, January 20, 2008
1.
REASONS FOR PRAISE
For this reason
(because of what God has done for us, vss 1-14),
ever since I heard about YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS
and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped
giving thanks for you…
2.
REASONS FOR PRAISE
For this reason
(because of what God has done for us),
ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and
YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS, 16 I have not stopped
giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers…
RESULTING PETITIONS
I keep asking that the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, SO THAT
1. YOU
MAY KNOW HIM BETTER.”
►John 10:14 -
SHEEP are dumb animals!
If Jesus had written a book, it
would be very short – 2 words: “Follow me”
No test of doctrine, no
background checks, no resume review, no 13-week course in
the way –Just said “I am the way” – FOLLOW ME, they learned
his teaching on the way.
For us to KNOW HIM BETTER means getting into Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John.
WWJD vs. What DID Jesus
do! If you know what He did well enough, it will govern your
ability to do what He did
“Tempted in all the ways
we are, yet without sin…”
Torah School
drop-outs
“I pray that that the eyes of
your heart may be enlightened in order that…”
Satan gets to us through our
feelings and passions
HS comes to us through
understanding (Spirit of wisdom and revelation, “eyes of our
heart”)
(Tony Fontane)
1 Cor 14:15 - I will pray with
the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I
will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
understanding also.
2.
YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH
HE HAS CALLED YOU
BLESSINGS TO HOPE FOR (HERE/NOW;
THERE/THEN)
Jesus at Nazareth, Moses’ seat,
reading about Him
►Luke 4: 18 The Spirit of the
Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good
news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release
the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Appreciate what we have; long
for it for poor, blind, oppressed…
3.
“THE
RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS…”
Besides the heavenly inheritance
prepared for the saints, there is a present
inheritance in the saints;
Grace is glory begun, and
holiness is happiness in the bud.
(MH)
Luke 5 Matthew called
Matthew throws a party
Going to heaven but going
through hell to get there
“When I think of all the
disagreeable, obnoxious people I know who have gone to a
better place, I’m not sure I want to go there.”
Churches ought to be known for
the hilarity of their lifestyles, their ability to have fun!
Fun matters! Fellowship
matters! Family matters! Formality (traditions) matter!
4.
HIS INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER for us who believe…”
NEXT WEEK
ACTION STEPS
Instead of trying to find ways
to fit Jesus into our already overcrowded plans and
schedules, what if we determined to discover what Jesus is
doing and join Him in it.
1. Follow! Eventually, Peter
could say, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”!
Belonging BEFORE believing. “Taste and see…” (Psalm 34) You
can belong even if you never believe!
2. Love people! Offer HOPE,
Titanium Rule: Do unto others as Jesus had done unto you.
3. Enjoy!
