Series Outline

•A Mile High and a Mile Wide Aren’t Enough.

•Deepening Your Faith in God.•Deepening Your Love of God.

•Tapping into God’s Power.•Experiencing the “Fullness” of God.

Tapping Into God’s Power

Series Verses:Ephesians 3

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Series Verses:Ephesians 3

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Series Verses:Ephesians 3

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

Series Verses:Ephesians 3

18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Series Verses:Ephesians 3

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Series Verses:Ephesians 3

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

First Point

Prayer unleashes the power of God.

Ephesians 1

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1

18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 1

19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

Ephesians 1

20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 1

21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Shared Themes

Ephesians 316 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Ephesians 119 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,

Shared Themes

Ephesians 316 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Ephesians 118 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…

Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians 1

Paul is praying that we might KNOW God’s

Power.John MacArthur

The Genre of Ephesians 3

For this reason I kneel (v. 14)… I pray (v16) … And I pray (v. 16)

Paul is praying in this passage.

The Purpose of Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians 3

I Pray:• that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power.

• that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power.

• that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians 3

Paul is praying that we might

USE God’s Power.

John MacArthur

Ephesians 3: The Ignition

“It’s amazing how many people try to

‘run the race’ without ever starting

the engine.”John MacArthur

Question to Ponder

What happens when we “run the race” in our own

power?

Second PointWe begin to USE God’s power

when we live in accordance with God’s PURPOSE for us.

The Purpose of Paul’s Prayer•Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,

•Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

•Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Ephesians 2

21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2

“YOU ARE A PALM…

ACT LIKE ONE!!!”

“You are a Christian – God’s Dwelling Place”

“It is inconceivable that the very

habitation of God should exist in

impotence.”John MacArthur

Third PointWe grow in power as we grow bolder in our

requests to God.

Ephesians 320 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

What about my weaknesses?

•Admit my weaknesses.•Be content with my weaknesses.

•Honestly share my weaknesses.

•Glory in my weaknesses.Rick Warren