10/5/13

From Gary.... My Must's...


Coffee, oh, how I love coffee!!!  Truth is, I have always loved it- in my youth, to EXCESS.  In my 20's it was very common for me to drink 15-20 cups a day (with a minimum of three teaspoons of sugar for each cup, I might add).  Over the years, I have cut my consumption down to two cups a day, with a measured amount of creamer and "Nectaresse" (thank you Dr. Oz!).  Today, as I write this, I am enjoying my third cup (and feeling a little guilty about it).  But, today, I absolutely, positively, had to have that third cup!!!  It wasn't that I wanted it- it was a MUST HAVE!!!  And how many things can you put in THAT CATEGORY???!!! Humm, I wonder.... did Jesus have any things that were imperatives to him; things he must have, must do, must be???  Here is but one I thought of...


Luke, Chapter 2
 39  When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.  40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.  41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 

  42  When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,  44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.  45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” 


  49  He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”   50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.  51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus needed to be in the temple, listening, learning and growing.  With zeal like that, do you suppose he missed a single synagogue service???  And yet on Sunday morning, many people elect NOT to go to Bible class, and the same can be said for the evening assembly.  We can all learn how important it is to BE THERE from Jesus himself.  A long time ago, while I was in my last year of preaching school, our preacher (Max T. Neel) asked me what I was going to do that upcoming weekend.  I told him that I had to preach at (I don't remember which congregation) a local church.  His response was swift and to-the-point- "You don't have to, you have the honor of"!!!!  Somehow, those words reverberate in my mind,  each time I decide to leave for church services.  As good as coffee is, it will never get me to heaven; but learning what God has to say.... well, you get the idea.  And the good news is - there is no caffeine or sugar involved at all!!!!  Well, that's not the whole "good news", but you get the idea!!!

From Ben Fronczek.... I’m Only Human


I’m Only Human

 Acts 14:8-20    

(based on a sermon by Steve Shepherd)
There was a preacher who was an avid golfer. Every chance he got, he could be found on the golf course swinging away. It was his obsession. One Sunday was a picture-perfect day for golf. The sun was out, no clouds in the sky, and the temperature was just right. The preacher was in a quandary as to what to do. The urge to play golf overcame him. He called his assistant minister and told him that he was sick and could not attend church. Then he packed up the car, and drove three hours to a golf course where no one would recognize him. Happily, he began to play the course.
An angel up above was watching the preacher and was quite perturbed. He went to God and said, “Look at the preacher. He should be punished for what he’s doing.” God nodded in agreement.
The preacher teed up on the first hole. He swung, and the ball sailed effortlessly through the air and landed right in the cup three hundred and fifty yards away. A perfect hole-in-one. The preacher was amazed and excited. The angel was a little shocked. He turned to God and said, “Begging Your pardon Lord, I thought you were going to punish him.” God smiled. “Think about it — who can he tell about that shot?”

Is it possible that a preacher would miss church for a game of golf? Or for something else: fishing, hunting, a ball game, etc.? Possibly. Depending on the preacher. And why would he do such a thing as that? BECAUSE PREACHERS ARE ONLY HUMAN, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!
Have you heard that phrase used before by anyone? “I did thus and so but it’s just because I’m only human.”Is that an excuse or an admission? I think many people use that expression as an excuse for any wrongdoing or error in their life. And it is true that preachers are just human like everybody else. But honestly, don’t we generally expect a little more from a preacher? That is, don’t we expect him to be more faithful, more committed, more serving, more dedicated than the average person? We probably do expect more from the preacher but that doesn’t mean it will happen. Some are even worst than others in the church.
Also, another problem that comes with being in front of people is the temptation of wanting and hungering after praise. Some televangelists seem like they “eat up” this praise and sometimes get to the point where some almost act like they can do nothing wrong.
In our text we have Paul and Barnabas doing something good by the power of God and the people wanting to give them the credit for it. Paul was quick to say, “Wait a minute here, just wait, we are only human like you.”  He was honestly trying to get the people to realize that it was God who deserved the glory and not him.As we look at this text, I’d like to consider what good we “humans” can do in life and what the proper attitude we should have as we look here at Paul and Barnabas..   

Read Acts 14:1-10  “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.
In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.”

I. WE MUST DO GOOD
 
ILL.- The story is told about a fellow who opened a delicatessen where there was 2 other delis in the same neighborhood. One promoted his line of baloney with this line of baloney: “Finest in the world!”The other delicatessen declared, “Best in the Universe.”The last put up a sign reading: “Nicest in the neighborhood!”

What about you? Are you the nicest person in the neighborhood? Are you kind and courteous toward others? Here in verses 9 and 10 we see Paul doing a really good deed. He saw this man who had never walked in his whole life, that he had faith enough to be healed, and so he blessed him by telling him to stand up on his feet.  Vs. 10 says that at once he jumped up and began to walk. Can you just imagine the scene, and how that man felt. God used Paul to bring healing to the lame man. Paul was God’s instrument of kindness, of doing good. There have been times when I wish that I could bring physical healing into a person’s life like this but that has never happened. However, just because God doesn’t heal someone through my prayers like this doesn’t mean I can’t still do good to people in some form or another.

Gal. 6:9-10 says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Here he said, ‘Don’t give up doing good.’ Others will be blessed by our good deeds and we will too! As a man soweth that shall he also reap. It is sometimes easy to give up on certain people but we must never give up doing good. Some people will respond in different ways than others. I’ve been disappointed by some but also surprised by some others.Paul also said, “As we have opportunity..” We all have opportunity every day to do something good for someone. We need to stay awake to these opportunities. Our goodness may lead to godliness. That is, doing good to others may lead some to Christ, which should be our ultimate goal in life!
In Eph. 2:10 Paul also wrote  

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

So based on this verse I guess God always had in mind for us to do good works.
In Acts 10:38 Peter characterized Jesus as a man who went about doing good because God was with Him. And the same should be true of us! If God is with us and working in us through His Spirit  we should be doing good things to others and for them!

ILL.- When Charles Schwab was 70 years old, he made the following statement. He said, “I’d like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as an old man, that 9/10ths of my troubles are traceable to my being kind to others. Look you young people, if you want to steer away from trouble, be hard-boiled. Be quick with a good loud ’no’ to anyone and everyone. If you follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you tread life’s pathway. Except you’ll have no friends, you’ll be lonely, and you won’t have any fun!”

And I’d like to add, you won’t honor Christ either. We all need to be open to opportunities to doing good for others, even if it’s just something simple like opening a door for someone or saying a kind word or offering a friendly smile. And don’t forget that laughter is not only good medicine, it’s also a great witness for Christ!

II. Regarding the attitude we should have: WE MUST BE HUMBLE     

Read Acts 14:11-16 “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way.”

“We’re only human…like you!”

ILL.- George Gordon Liddy, a Watergate conspirator, once said: “I have found within myself all I need and all I ever shall need. I am a man of great faith, but my faith is in George Gordon Liddy. I have never failed me.”

Perhaps you’ve met someone like this in your life, a person who was completely sold on themselves. They had all the answers and thought they knew everything. No matter how good we are or no matter how good we think we are, we should never get a “big head” over anything we do in life. We are only able to live and serve and do by the grace of God.

In I Tim. 1:15-17, Paul wrote,  ”Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

No matter how much good Paul did in life he still felt as though he was a sinner, the worst of sinners. Most people, however, don’t like to admit they’ve ever done anything wrong in their life. We prefer to think of ourselves as being pretty good people.

However, Solomon wrote  pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”. (Proverbs 16:18)

In I Peter 5:5-6 Peter wrote “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”

I’d rather be humble and receive God’s grace than have him upset with me for having a proud or haughty attitude. In our text, after the healing of the lame man, Paul was humble and quick to give God the credit, “We too are only men, human like you.” And then he pointed to the God of heaven as being the author of that good healing.    There it is! That’s the right spirit! The right attitude! The right way to think! Be humble! Give God His rightful glory.   And then…..

III. WE SHOULD EXPECT SOME OPPOSITION

Here’s the part I don’t like. If you do good in this world and live for Christ, some will oppose you.

Read 14:18-20 “Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.  Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.”

Wow!;  they STONED HIM, THINKING HE WAS DEAD.
Brothers and Sisters, I’m not afraid to die but I’m not in a hurry to go to my grave either. That’s one reason I don’t intend to preach the gospel in a country like Turkey. And it may have been that bad for the apostle Paul as he went place to place.

2 Timothy 3:10-15 says  “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Opposition will come to you no matter what you do or how kind you are. If you live for Christ opposition will come. If you are kind and present a witness for Christ out in the world some people will frown at you, some will merely pass you by but others may accuse you of being stupid or even worse. Some accused

Jesus of being in league with the devil.

But How do we silence our opponents?

One day a man met preacher Charles Spurgeon on the street, took off his hat and bowed, and said, “The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon–a great humbug!” Spurgeon took off his hat and replied, “Thank you for the compliment. I am glad to hear that I am a great anything!”

How do we silence our opponents? It’s best to respond in as positive a manner as possible. Instead of fighting fire with fire, just laugh and be positive. It will confuse them for sure.

ILL.- While contending with all kinds of problems in the building of the Panama Canal, Colonel George Washington Goethals had to endure criticism of countless busybodies back home who freely predicted that he would never complete his great task. But the determined builder pressed steadily forward in his work and said nothing.  Someone asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer your critics”. “In time,” Goethals replied. “How?” The great engineer smiled. “With the canal,” he replied.

How do we silence our opponents and critics? Just keep on doing our work and doing what’s right. People will see the truth and come to believe in time.  (That’s what Paul did)


CONCLUSION: I’m only human. I’m just a man. Yes, we are just human but we are God’s people and that makes a difference in our lives. Because we belong to the Lord, we should be different people, better people, kinder people, thoughtful of others. We should be going around doing good.

In Eph. 3:7-8 Paul wrote “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Did you hear it? Although I am less than the least, God still gave me His grace to preach. The same is true of you. No matter who you are or what you think of yourself, God gives you His grace to do good, to serve, to give, to love, etc. and in order that ultimately He might be glorified. We may be only human but we serve a divine and all-powerful God!


For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan.... CHRISTIAN HOPE & HISTORY WILL RHYME

CHRISTIAN HOPE & HISTORY WILL RHYME




The famous Irish poet and playwright, Nobel Prize winner, Seamus Heaney, died recently. What prize did he not win? Google him and see for yourself. I’m not competent to judge the structure and depth of great poets but I know what I like; I know what moves, inspires and enriches me and much of the little I’ve read of him did just that.
Some years back he adapted a play of Sophocles ("Philoctetes"). The central character is Philoctetes, a Greek hero who possessed a charmed bow and arrows given to him by Hercules. On the island of Lemnos a serpent bit him and his foot began to rot. The intolerable pain made him scream all the time and the stench from the foot became unbearable to those around him so they deserted him. He endured ten years of loneliness, pain and the anguish of betrayal. Days became weeks, weeks became months and months became years and hope of rescue faded as his bitterness grew.

But an oracle told the Greeks they couldn't take Troy without the bow of Philoctetes so they went back to ask him if he would go with them. His years of disappointed hope were over and when he emptied himself of the bitterness that had built up inside him the cripple marched off with them to glory.

Heaney puts these words in the mouths of the chorus at the end of the play:
           History forbids us to hope this side of the grave. But once in a lifetime, the longed-for tide of justice can arise and hope and history rhyme.
 
With Northern Ireland as its setting, with its long history of feuds and killings, dashed hopes, treachery and unfulfilled promises, Heaney's call was well contextualized. Don't cease to hope for one day hope and history will rhyme and crippled truths will walk!  [To a marked degree that has indeed happened in Northern Ireland.]
Much of history is humdrum. When isolated and seen as a long series of independent happenings it is meaningless! Much of it forbids us to hope any side of the grave. Some biblical history [isolated or thrown together] shares this feature since it too shares a God-denying look as much of modern daily living does.
Not every event recorded in the Bible is filled with theological significance but here and there, an event or a cluster of events seizes our attention and God has reached from behind the curtain of his hiddenness and in these events we catch a glimpse of him. And once we've seen him we can't unsee him. In light of those events the entire history of humanity is given a different complexion.
The Exodus shoves the curtain aside and generations live in the strength of that vision. The Incarnation catches us by the breath and the Cross of the Christ drives us to joyful amazement. Paul, on whom the shadow of the cross fell, was driven, careering off across half a world to proclaim triumph and hope in the name of the God who was hung on a public gallows. And when friendly hands would try to slow Paul down, telling him to take it easy, he would shrug them off and say: "I can't be different, the love of Christ compels me and the world needs hope." (2 Corinthians 5:14)
And it doesn't matter that we moderns hang Christ again and again, thinking we've got rid of him, he's been there and done that!
Christ can't be harmed by crucifixion.
In fact there's every reason to believe that he is never as powerful as he is when he's weak so to crucify him over again is in some ways to turn him loose on society.
Even to watch him die (as, for example, when we seriously trouble the church, which is his body—2 Corinthians 4:7-12) is to put ourselves in danger of being drawn to him because he said when he was "lifted up from the earth" he would draw all men unto him [John 12:32].
The mourning and lamentation [and in some quarters, almost panic] about the dwindling number of believers is pathetic in many ways. Believers, don't you know, aren’t to be excused when they turn from the Lord Jesus [either in an overt act of rejection or in the more subtle loss of spirit that wishes Jesus well but cares little to run the race with and for him and the world he so loves]. The Church of Jesus Christ has been called to be a faithful steward of the gospel but its weakness won’t lead God to vanish in a puff of purple smoke.
There’s always that cross...that strange cross.
And then there’s always that Sunday morning: “Good morning!” [Matthew 28:9]
One day history and the Christian hope will rhyme and nail-pierced Truth will walk.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Paul's Second Prayer For The Ephesians (3:14-21)


                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS"

             Paul's Second Prayer For The Ephesians (3:14-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the previous lesson we saw where Paul was about to start his
   second prayer for the Ephesians in Ep 3:1...
   a. However, he interrupts himself when describing himself as "the
      prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles"
   b. Lest they be troubled at whatever tribulations he endured as a
      prisoner (Ep 3:13), Paul stresses the fact that:
      1) His apostleship to the Gentiles (even with its tribulations)
         was a gift to him through the wonderful grace of God - Ep 3:2-7
      2) His purpose was to "preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
         riches of Christ" - Ep 3:8-11
      3) That in Christ he had "boldness and access with confidence
         through faith" in Christ - Ep 3:12

2. Having completed his brief interruption, in Ep 3:14-21 Paul now 
   continues with his second prayer for the Ephesians (the first having
   been in Ep 1:15-23)

3. The phrase "For this reason..." (Ep 3:14; also 3:1) indicates 
   that Paul expresses his prayer in response to those things mentioned 
   earlier, such as:
   a. The wonderful salvation by grace through faith - Ep 2:1-10
   b. The work by Christ on the cross whereby Gentiles can now become 
      "fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise" 
      - Ep 2:11-22; 3:6

[With gratitude in his heart for God's grace toward the Gentiles, Paul 
now prays in their behalf, starting with...]

I. THE "INVOCATION" (14-15)

   A. POSTURE IN PRAYER...
      1. In this prayer, Paul "bows the knee", a posture in prayer 
         commonly found throughout the Scriptures - cf. Lk 22:41; Ac 9:40; 20:36; 21:5
      2. However, there does not appear to be an "official posture" when 
         it comes to prayer...
         a. Solomon "stood" when he prayed to dedicate the temple - 1 Kin 8:22
         b. David "sat" before the Lord when he prayed about the future 
            of his kingdom - 1 Chron 17:16
         c. Jesus "fell on His face" when He prayed in Gethsemane - Mt 26:39

   B. THE ADDRESSEE IN PRAYER...
      1. The pattern and example of prayer in the New Testament church 
         was:
         a. "To" the Father - Ep 3:14; 5:20
         b. "In the name of" or "through" the Lord Jesus Christ - Ep 5:20; Col 3:17
         c. And "in" the Spirit - Ep 6:18; Jude 20; cf. Ro 8:26-27
      2. There is little evidence of anyone praying "to" Jesus, and even
         less of praying "to" the Holy Spirit; clearly it is the Father
         to whom we are to address our prayers - cf. Mt 6:9

[To the Father, then, Paul addresses his prayer.  The prayer itself is
divided into three parts (indicated in the Greek by the word "hina"),
and is like a staircase with three steps, each step leading to the
next...]

II. THE "PETITION" (16-19)

   A. TO BE STRENGTHENED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD... (16-17)
      1. Paul had mentioned earlier about God's power "toward us who
         believe" - Ep 1:19
      2. Now he prays that the Ephesians might be "strengthened with
         might"
      3. Such strength is "according to the riches of His glory"
      4. God's strength is administered "through His Spirit in (lit.,
         into) the inner man"
         a. A Christian's body is "the temple of the Holy Spirit who is
            in you" - cf. 1Co 6:19
         b. One design of the indwelling Spirit is to help one "put to
            death the deeds of the body" - cf. Ro 8:11-13
      5. But the purpose of such "strengthening" by the Spirit in our
         text is for a different purpose, first hinted at in verse
         17...
         a. First, that "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith"
            1) To the degree God strengthens (by the Spirit) the
               believer's "inner man", so it is said that Christ Himself
               indwells the heart of the believer
            2) Thus the Spirit is the instrumental agent by which Christ
               indwells the believer, just as Ep 2:22 suggests the
               Spirit is instrumental agent by which God inhabits His
               church
         b. Second, that they may be "rooted and grounded in love"
            1) One work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer
               is to instill the love of God in the heart - cf. Ro 5:5;
               Ga 5:22
            2) When strengthened by God through the Spirit in the inner
               man, one becomes "rooted and grounded in love"

   [Strengthened by God through His Spirit, so that Christ is dwelling
   in our hearts and we are well-established "in love", the next step
   is ...

   B. TO COMPREHEND THE LOVE OF CHRIST... (18-19a)
      1. "may be ABLE..."
         a. The word "able" means "to be eminently able; to have full
            strength"
         b. Thus the prayer for strength in the first part of the prayer
            - Ep 3:16
      2. "...to comprehend"
         a. I.e., to understand, to grasp
         b. As Paul says later in verse 19, "to know..."
      3. It is the "love of Christ" that Paul is praying that we be 
         strong to grasp...
         a. He wants us to know everything about this wonderful love 
            ("width and length...")
         b. But this love of Christ is something which "passes 
            knowledge"!
            1) How is it possible for us to "know" the love of Christ, 
               if it "passes knowledge"?
            2) Only in the sense that no matter how much we learn about 
               Christ's love, even with the strength God's Spirit 
               provides, there is always much more to grasp!
            3) "...there is a real knowledge of Christ's love possible 
               to us, a knowledge that is capable of increase as we are
               the more strengthened by power in the inner man, while a 
               complete or exhaustive knowledge must ever remain beyond 
               our capacity." (The Expositor's Greek Testament, W. 
               Robertson Nicoll, editor, vol. 3, p. 316)

   [It is only as we begin to know the love of Christ that passes 
   knowledge that we are beginning to experience the last step for which
   Paul is praying...]

   C. TO BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD... (19b)
      1. This is the objective, the goal, of all that was said 
         previously
      2. One begins to be filled with "all the fullness of God"...
         a. As they are strengthened by God (i.e., the Father)
         b. Which is through His Spirit (i.e., the Holy Spirit)
         c. Whereby in their hearts may dwell the Christ (i.e., the Son)
      3. With the help of the all members of the Godhead, then, one is
         "filled" the more they begin to comprehend the wonderful "love
         of Christ" ("For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead
         bodily" - cf. Col 2:9)

[Such is the petition that Paul makes on behalf of the Ephesians...

   1. That they be strengthened by the Spirit of God
   2. So they can comprehend the love of Christ
   3. And thus be filled with all the fullness of God

Is God "able" to fulfill this petition?  There is no doubt in Paul's
mind, as we see how he closes the prayer...]

III. THE "DOXOLOGY" (20-21)

   A. GLORY TO GOD, FOR WHAT HE IS ABLE TO DO! (20)
      1. As Paul ascribes praise to God, he does so for what he 
         confident God is able to do
      2. As expressed by Paul, God's "ability to do" is...
         a. "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (far
            beyond our imagination!)
         b. "according to the power that works in us" - cf. Ep 1:19; 
            3:16
   
   B. GLORY TO GOD, IN THE CHURCH BY CHRIST JESUS FOREVER! (21)
      1. Paul sees "the church" as the means by which much glory can be 
         given to God
      2. Certainly if Paul's prayer is answered...
         a. That "all the saints" may be able to comprehend the love of 
            Christ - Ep 3:18
         b. That they may all be 'filled with all the fullness of God" - 
            Ep 3:19
         ...the church will have the potential to bring much glory to
         God! - cf. 2Th 1:11-12
      3. Of course, such potential is to come only "by Christ Jesus";
         but if it does, then it will be "throughout all ages, world
         without end"!

CONCLUSION

1. Do we desire to give God glory throughout all ages, world without
   end?
   a. We ought to, in view of all things we have considered in Ep 1-3
   b. If so, then it must be "by Jesus Christ", and that can be only as
      we...
      1) Come to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge
      2) Allow ourselves to "be filled with all the fullness of God"

2. How can we be sure to be filled with all the fullness of God?
   a. For one who is already a Christian, we should follow Paul's
      example and start with prayer (such as the one in our text)...
   b. For one who is not a Christian, then one needs first to become a
      child of God - cf. Ga 3:26-27

In our next lesson, we will begin to consider how we can "walk" so as to
bring glory to God...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011