Jesus' disciples were amazed at how God answered Jesus' prayers. So much so that they asked Jesus how to pray. Even after training them how to pray, they always seemed to doubt that God would do anything through them like God did through Jesus. Do you ever feel like that? Do you ever feel like God answers other peoples' prayers and not yours?
As we are in this prayer series to start 2019 and as we are memorizing Eph 3:14-19, how is your prayer life? Do you find yourself praying more or less? Are you risking and asking for more or less? Are you letting God speak to you personally even if you do not like what you hear more or less? Has God amazed you with His answers to your prayers?
I have been praying for a handful of Atheist friends for many years. This past Sunday, one of them walked through our church doors and enjoyed our Sunday morning worship. We had a long conversation a few days later as he was still mulling over the sermon about forgiving others. Let's keep praying. Who knows what God will do...
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." Eph 3:18-19a
"Being rooted" means "to strengthen with roots."
It is the idea that daily our roots would continue to grow and deepen in what matters most, experiencing the love of God.
"Established" means "to lay a foundation"
It paints the picture of one of the most important steps of building, laying a sure foundation.
When I worked as a carpenter through college, before we laid the foundation of a new home, we would have to clear the lot of trees, bushes, weeds and grass. We would pull out chainsaws and cut down massive trees. Then we would hire an excavation company to dig up the ground. Then we would create the foundation forms that would hold the cement that was poured in them. Without this solid foundation, the house would be at risk when hit with strong winds, severe storms and unpredictable tornadoes.
How much more do our lives need the sure foundation of Christ's love but also a growing, living, strengthening root of Christ's love?
"Would have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."
Why do we need to be empowered to experience this multi-dimensional love of Christ?
Think about human relationships for a moment, isn't it hard to grasp, understand and experience love sometimes? Don't we question whether another person really loves us or not?
How much more difficult is it to grasp, understand and experience love from the invisible Jesus Christ? How do we experience this with Jesus whom we cannot see, touch, or be hugged by Him?
This prayer to experience Jesus' love is about receiving power to experience His love.
Power to create and hold the foundation strong.
Power of The Builder to create this foundation in us.
Power to keep growing the roots in our hearts, minds and soul.
Power of The Son to daily grow these roots deeper.
It's the Power of God to continue to help us experience Jesus' multi-dimensional love. Think about the differences among one dimensional, two dimensional, three dimensional and four dimensional... 2D (TV screen) to 3D (real person) to 4D (including invisible spiritual reality).
Multi-dimensional love...
"How wide" - this paints the picture of how wide is the door of Jesus' love. Who is welcome and loved by Jesus... EVERYBODY!
"How long" - this paints the picture of distance. Is there anyone too far gone, too far away from God for Jesus to love, NO!
"How high" - What does this mean?
"How deep" - What does this mean?
Please email me back your thoughts as we learn to pray these prayers together.
By the way, this verse was part of my vows to my wife 26 years ago.
Risking to pray for the impossible more and more,
Pastor Chris
As we are in this prayer series to start 2019 and as we are memorizing Eph 3:14-19, how is your prayer life? Do you find yourself praying more or less? Are you risking and asking for more or less? Are you letting God speak to you personally even if you do not like what you hear more or less? Has God amazed you with His answers to your prayers?
I have been praying for a handful of Atheist friends for many years. This past Sunday, one of them walked through our church doors and enjoyed our Sunday morning worship. We had a long conversation a few days later as he was still mulling over the sermon about forgiving others. Let's keep praying. Who knows what God will do...
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." Eph 3:18-19a
"Being rooted" means "to strengthen with roots."
It is the idea that daily our roots would continue to grow and deepen in what matters most, experiencing the love of God.
"Established" means "to lay a foundation"
It paints the picture of one of the most important steps of building, laying a sure foundation.
When I worked as a carpenter through college, before we laid the foundation of a new home, we would have to clear the lot of trees, bushes, weeds and grass. We would pull out chainsaws and cut down massive trees. Then we would hire an excavation company to dig up the ground. Then we would create the foundation forms that would hold the cement that was poured in them. Without this solid foundation, the house would be at risk when hit with strong winds, severe storms and unpredictable tornadoes.
How much more do our lives need the sure foundation of Christ's love but also a growing, living, strengthening root of Christ's love?
"Would have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."
Why do we need to be empowered to experience this multi-dimensional love of Christ?
Think about human relationships for a moment, isn't it hard to grasp, understand and experience love sometimes? Don't we question whether another person really loves us or not?
How much more difficult is it to grasp, understand and experience love from the invisible Jesus Christ? How do we experience this with Jesus whom we cannot see, touch, or be hugged by Him?
This prayer to experience Jesus' love is about receiving power to experience His love.
Power to create and hold the foundation strong.
Power of The Builder to create this foundation in us.
Power to keep growing the roots in our hearts, minds and soul.
Power of The Son to daily grow these roots deeper.
It's the Power of God to continue to help us experience Jesus' multi-dimensional love. Think about the differences among one dimensional, two dimensional, three dimensional and four dimensional... 2D (TV screen) to 3D (real person) to 4D (including invisible spiritual reality).
Multi-dimensional love...
"How wide" - this paints the picture of how wide is the door of Jesus' love. Who is welcome and loved by Jesus... EVERYBODY!
"How long" - this paints the picture of distance. Is there anyone too far gone, too far away from God for Jesus to love, NO!
"How high" - What does this mean?
"How deep" - What does this mean?
Please email me back your thoughts as we learn to pray these prayers together.
By the way, this verse was part of my vows to my wife 26 years ago.
Risking to pray for the impossible more and more,
Pastor Chris
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