SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 3:16-21 [MESSAGE]
16 I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— 17 that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18 you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! 19 Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. 20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
21 Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
OBSERVATION
This is Paul's prayer then for the Ephesians, this is God's prayer now for us through Paul.
Hear these words: "you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love"
The next verse says: Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!
go to: http://www.crazylovebook.c
APPLICATION
Get to know Him, let Him know me.
at: http://www.crazylovebook.c
PRAYER
Father,
play verse 20 out in my life: "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
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3 comments:
Joe,
Great led on the Crazy love video. I feel like sometimes I do forget how awesome GOD is. I shouldn't forget. Thanks for the reminder. It leaves me challenging myself with, "Am I really sold out for God?" and "If not, how do I get there?"
-Brian S.
this much I've come to understand -
"getting there" isn't something we do, it's something we become.
Ephesians 3:16-21
Paul had an incredible calling, “a gift of God’s grace,” to present the good news to the “dogs” – the Gentiles; the ones who are the “others” – the outsiders. Yet, he did his calling with devotion; to the point of even suffering for them – the dogs! This is truly part of the manifold wisdom of God on display through the church – to bring the others into the family of God. Now, that is power based on God’s rich inclusion that invites the last, least and lost to be included “with all the saints.” Now, that is love that brings ballast to my life. Now, that is being “in the know” – knowing and experiencing what and who is vastly beyond and greatly surpasses knowledge and love and yet fills me with his fullness. Now, that is abundance and more!
”Dear God, a dog’s life is a good life!”
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