For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 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, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

A.  The Meaning of Christ’s Dwelling in His People:  Eph. 3:17b

1.  Christ’s dwelling is not a temporary visit (Not Savior, no Lord): Eph. 1:13

2.  Christ’s dwelling is a permanent and comfortable habitation: Eph. 1:3-4

B.  The Heart that Christ will Dwell

1.  A God-given new heart:  Jer. 32:39-40, 2 Cor. 2:5

–  The necessity of the new birth:  John 3:1-3

2.  A set apart heart:  John 17:16-17

–  For Christ:  2 Cor. 5:14-15

–  For Others:  Phil. 2:3-5

–  From an unholy world:  1 Peter 1:14-16

3.  A Christ-seeking whole heart:  Prov. 8:17

 –  To know Him:  Phil. 3:10

–  To conform to Him:  Phil. 3:10

4.  A diligent watching heart:  Prov. 4:23

–  Against the schemes of the devil:  Eph. 6:10-12

–  Against the allurements of the world:  1John 2:15-17

–  Against the passions of the flesh:  1 Peter 1:14-16

Climbing the Prayer Ladder of Ephesians 3:14-19

Step # 1 – Strengthening of the believer’s new inner life in Christ.

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.

Step # 2 – Strengthened for the abiding sense of Christ’s presence

Ephesians 3:17 – so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love

Step # 3 – Resulting in a life of vital and stable Christianity

Ephesians 3:17b – so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love.

Step # 4 – Leading to greater experiences of Christ’s love

Ephesians 3:18-19 – may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Step # 5 – Arriving at the height of Christian experience

Ephesians 3:19 – may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.