Sermon Central
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Prayer Focus
Contributed by Monte Brown on Feb 6, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: In the world that we live in it is so easy to let our prayer life slide. We need to learn to gear our lives to focus on prayer.
Introduction
Scripture
14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3: 14-21 (KJVR)
Prayer
I. In Prayer God is ACKNOWLEDGED (verses 14-15)
A. Relationship to Us (verse 14)
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, verse 14
1. Father of the Savior
2. Our Father
B. Relationship to All (verse 15)
From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, verse 15
1. Father of creation & mankind
2. NOT an argument of the universal fatherhood of God to all men
II. In Prayer God is ASKED (verses 16-19)
A. Power of Christ (verse 16)
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
1. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation;
but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18
2. James 4:2, “…ye have not because ye ask not”
B. Presence of Christ (verse 17a)
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; verse 17a
1. Hebrews 13:5, “never leave or forsake you”
2. That His presence be felt
C. Passion of Christ (verses 17b-19a)
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; verses 17b-19a
1. To know the love of Christ in its fullness
2. That its expression would be found in us (rooted &
grounded)
D. Plentiful Fullness of Christ (verse 19b)
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Verse 19b
1. That God would ooze from our pores
2. Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
III. Our God is Able
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21.
As children of God, we can rest in the assurance that God is more than able to save, keep, deliver, sustain, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
1. God is Able to Save Us to the Uttermost!
"Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25.
“The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
“...I [the Lord] speaketh in righteousness, mighty to save!” Isaiah 63:1
2. God is Able to Keep Us!
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29.
3. God is Able to Deliver Us!
The three Hebrew children expressed this truth eloquently:
“If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O King.” Daniel 3:17.
4. God is Able to Sustain Us!
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” II Corinthians 9:8.
5. God is Able to Present Us!
"Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." Jude 24.
