In Ephesians 3:20-21 Paul details the power and ability of God. He tells us of the extent of God’s power, the objects of God’s power, and the goal of God’s power. As Paul writes to Christians who are discouraged they need to remember that God can do far more than they think or ask. As Christians, we frequently can become discouraged when our prayers aren’t answered as we would like. However, we can trust that God can do far more…
In Ephesians 3:14-19 we see Paul petitioning the Lord on behalf of the Church. He first asks that the Church be strengthened. This tells us that we need to be strengthened spiritually. We are naturally weak, but Paul is not confused about where the source of strength comes from for the Christian. It comes through the Spirit of the living God. The purpose of this strengthening is so that Christ would further dwell in our hearts. The more Christ dwells in our hearts the more we will love God and others. He then asks that the Lord would cause the saints to know the love of God. God’s love is beyond human comprehension and it takes a work of God for us to grasp and experience it. But when we do – we are transformed by it. This leads to Paul’s final petition that the Church be filled with the fullness of God. In essence, that the Church would be mature like Christ. That’s the end goal of His prayer and should be our goal as Christians. However, it takes the supernatural strength of God to bring this about. So let’s pray to that end!
Paul breaks off mid-sentence in the beginning of chapter 3 to recap and marvel over a profound revelation. This is Good News…perhaps we don’t realize how good. At the center of this text lies a great, deep mystery (the word ‘mystery’ is repeated three times): a mystery reserved for the body of Christ – His Church.
Everyone understands a parent’s natural affection for her child; also the beauty and usefulness (for multiplying and filling the earth) of romantic love, but it seems that very few moderns recognize the value of genuine friendship.
True spirituality manifests itself in certain dominant desires. These are ever-present, deep-settled wants sufficiently powerful to motivate and control the life
Caz Church seeks to be above reproach in our stewardship of God’s financial resources given to the local church. We maintain an open book policy and choose to hold quarterly business meetings where all members can attend and have access our to financial information.