Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Prayer that Defines and Directs the Christian Life – Part 7

 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

B.  The Prayer:  Its Main Petitions

1.  Strength to live the whole of the Christian life: Eph. 3:15-17

1st Necessity: Need for strength for this abiding life

“For apart from me you can do nothing” – John 15:5b

2nd Necessity: Need for strength to defeat what hinders this abiding life

–  The designs and schemes of the devil: 2 Cor. 2:11, Eph. 6:11, John 17:1

–  The allurements and deceptions of the world: 1 John 2:15-17

–  The cravings of our flesh for ease and comfort: 1 Cor. 9:24-27

2.  Strength to grasp the limitlessness of Christ’s love: Eph. 3:18-19, Rom. 5:1-5, 2 Cor. 5:14, Gal. 2:20

 –  The power to handle suffering in a God-honoring way: Romans 5:1-5

 –  The power to be delivered from the greatest bondage – selfishness:  2 Cor. 5:14

 –  The power to maintain the joyful and vibrant Christian life: Galatians 2:20