“Growing in the Greatness of God”
(Ephesians 3:14-21)
Series: Christ and the Church [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
February 14, 2021
The Passage
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 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, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 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— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Introductory Comments:
How many of you remember what happened last week with Paul? He got totally sidetracked! He started to talk about something and then he took a beautiful detour to talk about the mystery of Christ. Now, he comes back to where he started.
Look, if you will, at Ephesians 3:1, which we covered last week. It says, “For this reason . . .” Now, look at verse 14, which we’ll cover this week. It says, “For this reason . . .” It’s the same reason! Paul never finished his thought! So, let’s look at that reason again this week.
Before we go any further, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.
(prayer)
Paul is now back on track and his intention is to share with the Ephesians a prayer that he prays for them. Finally, this passage will conclude with one of the most beautiful doxologies in all of the Bible.
As we look at Paul’s prayer, we can see three steps that we should take when we come to God.
First, . . .
I. Be humble before God (vv. 14-15) [on screen]
In Ephesians, Paul has spoken about God’s sovereign choice of people to salvation, he’s spoken about God’s adoption of us as His children, he’s spoken about the tearing down of the wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles, he’s spoken about the mystery of Christ, and he’s spoken about the fact that he is a prisoner of Christ.
After speaking about all of that, Paul speaks of a humble posture that he takes as he comes to God in prayer. Let’s read about it. Look at verses 14 and 15:
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
Most of us probably know that there are several different stances that we can take when it comes to prayer.
We can stand with our hands lifted up. We can simply bow our heads and close our eyes, we can sit with our head bowed, we can lie prostrate on the ground with our face in the floor, or we can kneel before God.
Kneeling before God in prayer seems to communicate humility and loyalty to God.
As subjects will often kneel in the presence of kings or queens, so also Paul chose to kneel before God in prayer. Although we are free to take any stance we would like before God in prayer, we should definitely do so in humility, understanding who God is and who we are in relationship to God.
Don’t forget that we are saved by grace, this is not from ourselves. We did not earn our relationship with God. We are in Christ, before God, and we have come to God only by His magnificent love and grace. So, we should be humble before God.
Remember Paul says at the beginning of verse 14, “For this reason . . .” For all the reasons that are listed in Ephesians 1:1-3:13; for all the reasons that Paul has already spoken about the work of God, we should come to God with a posture of humility and reverence. Let us come humbly before Him.
Not only should we come before Him humbly because He is king, but also because He is the giver of life to all!
In verse 15, Paul says that God is the one, “ . . . from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.”
The King James Version of the Bible says, “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”
The New American Standard Bible says, “ . . . from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
Remember, Paul has just spoken about the mystery of Christ and that salvation is available to any and all who will come to God in Christ, through the work of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, Paul points out that all the people of the earth owe their existence to God. Everything that has breath and life, in heaven and on earth, owes its very heartbeat to God, who is the Father of all things.
So, not only is our salvation found only in Christ, from God; but also, our created-ness is owed to God, the Creator; the one from whom every family on earth is named. Every family, every people, and every nation owes their very existence to God!
As we come to God, let us come before God in humility.
Second, let us . . .
II. Be filled with God (vv. 16-19) [on screen]
Last week, after our monthly prayer walking, I went to my in-laws’ house to watch the big football game. I filled myself with way too much food, which was delicious, yet not very healthy. Because I was filled with so much food, it affected my body, and it had lasting effects. When I woke up Monday morning, I felt just as bloated as I did Sunday evening. What I filled myself with affected me.
In these verses, Paul speaks of strengthening ourselves through God’s Spirit, having Christ dwell in our hearts, being rooted in love, comprehending the love of God, knowing Christ’s love, and being filled with the fullness of God. Let’s check it out. Look at verses 16-19:
16 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, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
So, Paul is still voicing his prayer requests for the Ephesian followers of Jesus. He asks for certain requests to be given to them, and as he does so he appeals to the riches of God’s glory. Again, we see the blessings of God spoken about as riches. These are invaluable blessings that come from God to those who are in Christ.
Once again, let’s look at these requests. These are requests for the Ephesian believers but, indeed, they are blessings that all believers should seek from the richness of God’s grace:
First, we see strength for our inner being that is given by God’s Holy Spirit (verse 16). Paul has already spoken in chapter 1, verse 18 about the eyes of our hearts being enlightened. Now, he prays that God’s Spirit will give us strength for our inner being. What a beautiful prayer request! We need God’s Spirit to strengthen us daily, hourly, and every minute of our existence.
Second, we see the dwelling of Christ in our hearts through faith (verse 17). Though we are in Christ, Paul also prays that Christ would dwell in us; that His presence will be with us and live within our inmost being.
Third, that we will be firmly rooted in love (verse 17). Jesus Himself spoke elsewhere of the necessity of love. When asked about the most important command, Jesus replied this way in Matthew 22:37-40: 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” [on screen]Church, may we be rooted in love!
Fourth, that we may comprehend the greatness of God’s love (verse 18). Paul uses this language that is not even perfectly discernible in the Greek in terms of what type of measurement he is using. He speaks of length and width, and height and depth. It’s sort of like when a child says that he or she loves you a zillion gallons. You don’t know exactly how much that is, but you know that the child loves you a lot. Paul is praying that the Ephesians will know how greatly God loves them and that they will know the transforming power that God’s love has!
Fifth, that we may know Christ’s love (verse 19). Paul prays that the Ephesians will know something that is beyond knowing: Christ’s love. He says the love of Jesus, “ . . . surpasses knowledge.” The love of Jesus is so great that we could never know it fully, but Paul’s prayer (and this should be ours as well) is that followers of Jesus will know the love of Jesus more and more!
Finally, that we may be filled with the fullness of God (verse 19). All of these blessings result in us being filled with the fullness of God. Not in the sense that we have everything that God has; that’s not what Paul is saying. Rather, God has so much to give, He is so full, that He can fill us up all the way so that we can be all that He has called us to be, all that He has created us to be, and all that He desires for us to be! Church, we must be filled with the fullness of God!
Paul has a desire to see the Ephesian believers blessed and changed by the generous grace of God. That should also be our desire for ourselves and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. By receiving the blessings of God, we are filled with all the fullness of God; we are filled with the superb and supernatural spiritual blessings secured by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let us be filled with God.
Finally, may we . . .
III. Be mesmerized by God (vv. 20-21) [on screen]
Now, Paul concludes this passage and this section of the letter with a beautiful doxology.
You may wonder what a doxology is. A doxology is an expression of praise to God, usually used in a worshipful way. Often, doxologies are meant to be used as a conclusion to a thought or a time of worship. For instance, we sing a doxology at the end of our worship service each week.
Well, Paul is offering this doxology now as a conclusion to his train of thought in this part of Ephesians. Let’s look at this doxology. Look at verses 20-21:
20 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— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
These two verses beautifully point the Ephesians back to the greatness and glory of God. Paul is giving his readers, and us, reason to be mesmerized by God.
To be mesmerized means to focus your attention on something so much that you lose focus on anything else. My son Jeremiah is mesmerized by video games. My son Levi is mesmerized by cartoons. My son Samuel is mesmerized by his mommy. His mommy is mesmerized when she looks into my eyes. You get the point! Church, we should be mesmerized by God! Paul is pointing us to the greatness of God, which makes everything else pale in comparison.
Paul says God is able to do above and beyond anything that we ask.
Perhaps you think that God can’t really accomplish that prayer request that you’ve been praying for. Paul says that God can!
Perhaps you think that God can’t really forgive you because you’ve got some really dark sins in your life. Paul says that God can!
Perhaps you think that God can’t really cause our church to thrive during a pandemic when only half of our attendance is here. Paul says that God can!
Perhaps you think that God can’t use you to take the Gospel across the street or across the world. Paul says that God can!
Paul says that not only can God do above and beyond all that we ask, but God can do above and beyond what we think! You can’t even think of something that is beyond the greatness and ability of God!
Paul says that this is who God is. We must reflect upon His greatness! After understanding who He is, we must realize the glory that He is due. Paul says in verse 21, “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
God deserves all the glory! The glory of God is manifested in Jesus Christ, seen in His obedience, His faithfulness, His suffering, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and His work of salvation.
So also, the glory of God is manifested in the Church, which is the body of Christ, the vehicle through which God blesses the world, and the dwelling place of God’s presence.
To Him be all the glory, honor, and praise!
Once we understand all that God has done in us, the only appropriate response is to praise and glorify Him!
Church, may we be mesmerized by the work of God, the love of God, the grace of God, the incalculable riches of God, the inheritance of God, God’s election of us, God’s adoption of us, God’s redemption of us, God’s equipping of us for good works, God’s dwelling within us, and so much more! To Him be the glory!
Concluding Thoughts:
What a wonderful goal for us to pray towards and strive towards: be humble before God, be filled with God, and be mesmerized by God. Church, if we do that, we’ll see something great happen among us.
Let’s draw it down to this single bottom line:
Bottom Line: Behold the power and glory of God. [on screen]
(repeat)
God can do so much more in and through us than we can even imagine. Let us press into Him more and more and see how He glorifies Himself through us!
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
1. Kneel. [on screen]
As Paul took a posture of humility, let me encourage you to challenge yourself this week to practice taking a posture of humility before God.
Perhaps you literally need to kneel before God in prayer. Perhaps you’re not able to kneel easily. I encourage you to lay your head facedown in your hands and come before the throne of God. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord.
2. Ask. [on screen]
Ask God to bless you with some of those blessings for which Paul prayed in today’s passage. Ask God to give you more of Himself. Ask God to help you understand the greatness of Jesus more. Ask God to fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit. To be clear, you can ask God for anything. However, don’t just ask for the little stuff like healing, finances, and happiness; ask Him for the big things, like His power, and His love, and to understand His greatness and glory!
Ask this week.
3. Reflect. [on screen]
Imagine going back to the 1950s and presenting someone with an iPhone 12. They may ask what this is, and perhaps you’ll respond that it’s a phone. They may respond, “Oh, I can make phone calls with this, even without a cord!” Then you would laugh and say this phone can do way more than that. You can find any information about any topic that you want at any time using this thing called the Internet. You can navigate to any place in the world using this thing called GPS. You can take pictures at any time and you can take as many as you want, and you can see them instantly! You can waste lots of time by playing games and reading about other people’s lives on social media. You can catch up with any news from anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes. This phone can do far beyond what you can even imagine! It would take quite some time for that person to comprehend the greatness of an iPhone.
Church, there is so much to drink in and enjoy when it comes to the greatness of God. There is so much to discover. The length, width, height, and depth of God’s love is wonderfully vast. He can do far above and beyond all that we can ask or think.
Take some time this week to reflect upon the beauty, greatness, and glory of God. Come to Him with humble and eager hearts.
Challenge yourself to reflect upon God this week.
Closing:
God is the Great One from whom all the families of the earth owe their very existence. He is worthy of glory from all the families of Bartow, all the families of Polk County, all the families of Nigeria, Nicaragua, Nepal, the Netherlands, and Nebraska.
If you’ve been changed by Jesus, ask God for more of Himself. Ask Him to continue to sanctify you and make you holy. If you’ve not been changed by Jesus, come to Him today and experience the great power and love of God. Be changed forever!
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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