GRASPING the love of God Sermon GRASPING the love of God EPH 3:14-20 Introduction

A Most Familiar Concept A Most Misunderstood Concept

[14] For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being

[17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

[20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)

“God’s love is an exercise of His goodness toward individual sinners whereby, having identified himself with their welfare, He has given his Son to be their Savior, and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation.”

The reality of the experience The nature of it How we can know it The reality of the experience The nature of it How we can know it? the reality of the experience

-Christ to dwell in hearts by faith - To Be filled to fullness of God

the nature OF IT what it isn’t: -It is NOT a split of emotion and thinking -It’s NOT withdrawing from the world to get this reality

WHAT IT IS - IT IS INSIDE OUT IT IS POWERFUL INFORMATION BECOMES SENSATION

How we can know it –WE NEED TO PRAY and ask God to do this in our lives. -Memorize this passage, meditate on it and pray it every day for 30 days -Get plugged in with other believers – there is a corporate dynamic

Have you noticed how nothing gets in the way of doing other things you want to do, but everything gets in the way of spending time pursuing God

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

SPIRITUAL THERMOMETER THE LOVE OF CHRIST IS THE TRUMP CARD FOR THE HEART.