WEBVTT 00:00:01.008 --> 00:00:06.556 Ephesians 3 will be the portion of Scripture 00:00:06.556 --> 00:00:15.688 we'll be looking at this morning. 00:00:15.688 --> 00:00:29.878 You can look with me at chapter 3:14. 00:00:29.878 --> 00:00:33.880 I might entitle this sermon, 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:41.350 "Expectation." 00:00:41.350 --> 00:00:48.361 To those of you that are weary, 00:00:48.361 --> 00:00:50.867 maybe heavy-laden, 00:00:50.867 --> 00:00:57.142 to borrow a couple Scriptural terms; 00:00:57.142 --> 00:01:00.963 Hebrews - you've got the imagery 00:01:00.963 --> 00:01:03.684 of somebody's whose arms 00:01:03.684 --> 00:01:08.490 are hanging down. 00:01:08.490 --> 00:01:10.401 We ought to pray and not faint. 00:01:10.401 --> 00:01:18.443 Maybe some feel faint. 00:01:18.443 --> 00:01:25.093 Anyway, this message is to the weary, 00:01:25.093 --> 00:01:29.370 the distracted. 00:01:29.370 --> 00:01:31.306 I'm calling it "Expectation." 00:01:31.306 --> 00:01:34.205 Let's look at the verses, 00:01:34.205 --> 00:01:36.383 3:14, "For this reason 00:01:36.383 --> 00:01:39.053 I bow my knees before the Father..." 00:01:39.053 --> 00:01:41.656 Just a reminder, 00:01:41.656 --> 00:01:44.653 Paul is telling the Ephesians 00:01:44.653 --> 00:01:47.924 about how he prays for them. 00:01:47.924 --> 00:01:50.546 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father." 00:01:50.546 --> 00:01:52.601 That's prayer. 00:01:52.601 --> 00:01:54.548 "...From whom every family in heaven 00:01:54.548 --> 00:01:57.920 and on earth is named, 00:01:57.920 --> 00:02:02.455 that according to the riches of His glory 00:02:02.455 --> 00:02:04.151 He may grant you to be strengthened 00:02:04.151 --> 00:02:05.982 with power through His Spirit 00:02:05.982 --> 00:02:09.560 in your inner being, 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:15.490 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." 00:02:15.490 --> 00:02:18.440 Literally, "so that Christ may dwell 00:02:18.440 --> 00:02:21.001 in your hearts through faith 00:02:21.001 --> 00:02:26.398 in love being rooted and grounded, 00:02:26.398 --> 00:02:28.927 that you may have strength 00:02:28.927 --> 00:02:31.424 to comprehend with all the saints 00:02:31.424 --> 00:02:34.852 what is the breadth and length 00:02:34.852 --> 00:02:38.398 and height and depth 00:02:38.398 --> 00:02:40.392 and to know the love of Christ 00:02:40.392 --> 00:02:43.301 that surpasses knowledge 00:02:43.301 --> 00:02:45.678 that you may be filled 00:02:45.678 --> 00:02:50.177 with all the fullness of God." NOTE Paragraph 00:02:50.177 --> 00:02:53.133 So let's just think about this a second. 00:02:53.133 --> 00:02:59.317 Notice, I want to primarily dive into v. 18. 00:02:59.317 --> 00:03:01.510 That's the primary text I want us 00:03:01.510 --> 00:03:04.640 to be absorbed with. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:06.691 I'll pull in the surrounding verses 00:03:06.691 --> 00:03:09.621 as may be necessary. 00:03:09.621 --> 00:03:11.246 But you notice, 00:03:11.246 --> 00:03:15.178 breadth - that's got to do with the width. 00:03:15.178 --> 00:03:21.316 Length, height, depth. 00:03:21.316 --> 00:03:24.589 We've got dimensions that are called out here. 00:03:24.589 --> 00:03:26.575 Some would argue 00:03:26.575 --> 00:03:28.653 about what breadth and length 00:03:28.653 --> 00:03:33.398 and height and depth refers to. 00:03:33.398 --> 00:03:38.196 And even before preparing to preach on this, 00:03:38.196 --> 00:03:42.795 I've come across that in the past. 00:03:42.795 --> 00:03:44.951 Some suggest these words 00:03:44.951 --> 00:03:47.403 do not refer to the love of Christ, 00:03:47.403 --> 00:03:49.218 but to something else. 00:03:49.218 --> 00:03:51.285 Because in their estimation, Paul doesn't 00:03:51.285 --> 00:03:53.001 directly say that these words apply 00:03:53.001 --> 00:03:54.673 to the love of Christ. 00:03:54.673 --> 00:03:57.114 But my question would be, 00:03:57.114 --> 00:04:00.619 well, what then do they refer to? 00:04:00.619 --> 00:04:02.913 I mean, if you just look at the context, 00:04:02.913 --> 00:04:04.841 what are the other options? 00:04:04.841 --> 00:04:06.806 What's right before it? 00:04:06.806 --> 00:04:09.386 "Being rooted and grounded in love." 00:04:09.386 --> 00:04:11.578 And as I sought to make the case last time, 00:04:11.578 --> 00:04:13.670 certainly, our own love 00:04:13.670 --> 00:04:15.844 doesn't make a good foundation. 00:04:15.844 --> 00:04:17.741 The foundation we want to be planted on 00:04:17.741 --> 00:04:19.076 is the love of Christ. 00:04:19.076 --> 00:04:20.631 And then if you go after, 00:04:20.631 --> 00:04:26.962 you go into the following verse 19, 00:04:26.962 --> 00:04:31.750 "...and to know the love of Christ." 00:04:31.750 --> 00:04:34.155 Now, I recognize that the way Paul says this 00:04:34.155 --> 00:04:36.786 is a little odd. 00:04:36.786 --> 00:04:40.016 But, think about it, what's he praying for? 00:04:40.016 --> 00:04:44.042 He's praying that we would have strength 00:04:44.042 --> 00:04:46.108 to comprehend something. 00:04:46.108 --> 00:04:47.522 Well, just in the context, 00:04:47.522 --> 00:04:50.690 what would we need strength to comprehend? 00:04:50.690 --> 00:04:54.072 The love of Christ surpasses knowledge. 00:04:54.072 --> 00:04:55.976 That's the thing being put on the table 00:04:55.976 --> 00:04:58.541 that is so difficult 00:04:58.541 --> 00:05:03.303 and takes a supernatural strengthening 00:05:03.303 --> 00:05:04.777 to comprehend. 00:05:04.777 --> 00:05:08.134 So, I think you're just left with no other options 00:05:08.134 --> 00:05:09.928 and I don't really know why anybody 00:05:09.928 --> 00:05:11.940 would want to waste their time 00:05:11.940 --> 00:05:15.074 arguing about that. NOTE Paragraph 00:05:15.074 --> 00:05:19.978 But now, you notice, 00:05:19.978 --> 00:05:25.005 he wants us to comprehend and to know. 00:05:25.005 --> 00:05:26.926 You can basically take that "and" 00:05:26.926 --> 00:05:28.820 at the beginning of v. 19 - 00:05:28.820 --> 00:05:33.037 you know, the height, the length, 00:05:33.037 --> 00:05:35.068 or the breadth, the length, 00:05:35.068 --> 00:05:36.688 the height, the depth - 00:05:36.688 --> 00:05:38.928 that's kind of additional information. 00:05:38.928 --> 00:05:40.882 Those are modifiers in there. 00:05:40.882 --> 00:05:43.656 Basically what he's saying is this: 00:05:43.656 --> 00:05:47.674 he's praying that we with all the saints 00:05:47.674 --> 00:05:50.564 would have the strength to comprehend, 00:05:50.564 --> 00:05:52.715 and then after that, just take that out. 00:05:52.715 --> 00:05:54.622 Everything else in there is a modifier. 00:05:54.622 --> 00:05:56.733 But it's to comprehend, 00:05:56.733 --> 00:05:59.723 and - you have that "and" right there, 00:05:59.723 --> 00:06:02.048 that conjuntion at the beginning of v. 19, 00:06:02.048 --> 00:06:03.463 "and to know..." 00:06:03.463 --> 00:06:06.455 It's to be strengthened to comprehend 00:06:06.455 --> 00:06:09.897 and to know something 00:06:09.897 --> 00:06:12.217 that he then immediately turns around 00:06:12.217 --> 00:06:14.179 and says is incomprehensible 00:06:14.179 --> 00:06:16.057 and unknowable. 00:06:16.057 --> 00:06:17.464 Almost contractory. NOTE Paragraph 00:06:17.464 --> 00:06:20.198 What sort of talk is that? 00:06:20.198 --> 00:06:22.128 I'll tell you this, 00:06:22.128 --> 00:06:24.738 it's the sort of talk 00:06:24.738 --> 00:06:27.582 that people who are going to live forever 00:06:27.582 --> 00:06:29.678 want to hear. 00:06:29.678 --> 00:06:31.217 You say, what do you mean? 00:06:31.217 --> 00:06:34.073 Well, it means that our Christian life 00:06:34.073 --> 00:06:38.040 all through eternity is never going to reach stagnation. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:39.326 That's a good thing! 00:06:39.326 --> 00:06:41.212 That's a good thing for you to know. 00:06:41.212 --> 00:06:42.907 If the love of Christ was something 00:06:42.907 --> 00:06:44.333 that we might easily measure 00:06:44.333 --> 00:06:45.577 and get our hands around 00:06:45.577 --> 00:06:47.303 and get an adequate estimation of, 00:06:47.303 --> 00:06:48.411 what? 00:06:48.411 --> 00:06:49.585 Then we'd be done. 00:06:49.585 --> 00:06:51.582 I mean, if I brought out my tape measure 00:06:51.582 --> 00:06:53.041 and I measured it, 00:06:53.041 --> 00:06:56.801 and it's 24 inches long, 00:06:56.801 --> 00:06:58.764 well, that's it. 00:06:58.764 --> 00:07:00.505 I mean, that's it. We sized it up. 00:07:00.505 --> 00:07:02.742 There it is. There's no more. Now what? NOTE Paragraph 00:07:02.742 --> 00:07:06.092 I mean, you know, as I was thinking about this, 00:07:06.092 --> 00:07:10.738 just the ideas that are put in the mind. 00:07:10.738 --> 00:07:13.315 This comes from the theology 00:07:13.315 --> 00:07:17.266 taught by Bugs Bunny. 00:07:17.266 --> 00:07:18.864 You know, as a kid, 00:07:18.864 --> 00:07:20.939 you watch people die and they float up 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:23.595 and they sit on a cloud. 00:07:23.595 --> 00:07:25.846 Yosemite Sam - he's still angry, 00:07:25.846 --> 00:07:28.036 and he's up there and he's got the harp. 00:07:28.036 --> 00:07:30.746 And you know, you get that kind of imagery. 00:07:30.746 --> 00:07:33.502 Well, that idea of heaven is like: 00:07:33.502 --> 00:07:35.361 I don't want to go there! 00:07:35.361 --> 00:07:37.352 That's like miserable. 00:07:37.352 --> 00:07:39.671 This idea of just sitting on a cloud 00:07:39.671 --> 00:07:42.957 and that's it. Is that heavenly? 00:07:42.957 --> 00:07:44.708 In some people's minds I suppose. 00:07:44.708 --> 00:07:49.898 But listen, we are people - 00:07:49.898 --> 00:07:50.943 you know it - 00:07:50.943 --> 00:07:53.390 we are born to worship. 00:07:53.390 --> 00:07:55.306 We are born to admire. 00:07:55.306 --> 00:07:56.504 We love that. 00:07:56.504 --> 00:07:58.129 We love being impressed. NOTE Paragraph 00:07:58.129 --> 00:08:00.273 I was just talking to a brother yesterday, 00:08:00.273 --> 00:08:02.133 and he was telling me in his lost days 00:08:02.133 --> 00:08:05.402 how he was really absorbed with horror movies. 00:08:05.402 --> 00:08:07.531 Well, you know, that ought not to shock us. 00:08:07.531 --> 00:08:08.961 Many of us, when we were lost, 00:08:08.961 --> 00:08:11.272 we were absorbed with that kind of thing. 00:08:11.272 --> 00:08:13.157 And even though it's the kind of thing 00:08:13.157 --> 00:08:15.908 where you didn't really want to sometimes 00:08:15.908 --> 00:08:18.477 because it left horrible nightmares 00:08:18.477 --> 00:08:19.741 and thoughts in your mind, 00:08:19.741 --> 00:08:21.473 but there was something attractive. 00:08:21.473 --> 00:08:25.210 Why? Because we like to feel emotions. 00:08:25.210 --> 00:08:28.136 We like to feel. 00:08:28.136 --> 00:08:29.601 We're created that way. 00:08:29.601 --> 00:08:31.038 God created us to worship 00:08:31.038 --> 00:08:32.424 and you know this very well. 00:08:32.424 --> 00:08:33.837 If we're not worshiping God, 00:08:33.837 --> 00:08:35.820 we are master idolaters 00:08:35.820 --> 00:08:38.087 and we're going to find all manner of things. 00:08:38.087 --> 00:08:39.737 We love to be wowed. 00:08:39.737 --> 00:08:41.254 We love that! 00:08:41.254 --> 00:08:43.758 And listen, if you could bring out the tape measure 00:08:43.758 --> 00:08:45.239 and it's like: there it is! 00:08:45.239 --> 00:08:46.828 That's it. That's done. 00:08:46.828 --> 00:08:48.036 Can you imagine? 00:08:48.036 --> 00:08:49.565 You size it up in this life. 00:08:49.565 --> 00:08:50.774 That's all there is. 00:08:50.774 --> 00:08:53.104 We've basically experienced the fullness of it, 00:08:53.104 --> 00:08:54.560 now we got to glory and what? 00:08:54.560 --> 00:08:56.428 Same old thing? 00:08:56.428 --> 00:08:57.887 No, that's not the way it is. 00:08:57.887 --> 00:08:59.835 See, this thing can never be reached. 00:08:59.835 --> 00:09:01.568 This thing has no limits to it. 00:09:01.568 --> 00:09:04.890 It's way beyond our comprehension 00:09:04.890 --> 00:09:07.497 every time - both now 00:09:07.497 --> 00:09:09.067 and far out into eternity. 00:09:09.067 --> 00:09:10.191 You think about that. 00:09:10.191 --> 00:09:12.922 When you've been in glory 00:09:12.922 --> 00:09:15.738 for 10 billion - not years - 00:09:15.738 --> 00:09:17.634 10 billions ages, 00:09:17.634 --> 00:09:21.165 the beauty is it's still beyond knowledge. 00:09:21.165 --> 00:09:22.616 All knowledge! 00:09:22.616 --> 00:09:24.872 Not God's knowledge, but all of our knowledge. 00:09:24.872 --> 00:09:26.217 All the knowledge of angels, 00:09:26.217 --> 00:09:28.278 all the knowledge of men. 00:09:28.278 --> 00:09:29.964 Even eternal knowledge. 00:09:29.964 --> 00:09:31.652 There's always more to explore. 00:09:31.652 --> 00:09:34.942 I mean, the very mountain peak of this love - 00:09:34.942 --> 00:09:37.114 who's tread there? Who lives there? 00:09:37.114 --> 00:09:40.090 Not you. Not me. Not the angels. 00:09:40.090 --> 00:09:41.760 We'll never get there. 00:09:41.760 --> 00:09:42.685 That's the beauty! 00:09:42.685 --> 00:09:44.741 It's like we're climbing this mountain 00:09:44.741 --> 00:09:47.273 and Paul's praying: 00:09:47.273 --> 00:09:50.116 Go up! Climb higher! Climb higher! 00:09:50.116 --> 00:09:52.625 Even though he knows we can never reach the top. 00:09:52.625 --> 00:09:57.399 Why? Because going up it is glorious! 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:59.995 And you don't want it to have an end. 00:09:59.995 --> 00:10:01.555 Because even if we said, 00:10:01.555 --> 00:10:03.548 well, 10 billion ages out, 00:10:03.548 --> 00:10:05.546 we're going to get there. 00:10:05.546 --> 00:10:07.455 You plant the flag on top. 00:10:07.455 --> 00:10:08.627 And here we are. 00:10:08.627 --> 00:10:09.761 We made it to the moon 00:10:09.761 --> 00:10:11.479 or we made it to the top of Everest. 00:10:11.479 --> 00:10:12.948 And now what? You look around. 00:10:12.948 --> 00:10:16.981 Man always wants to go higher. 00:10:16.981 --> 00:10:18.647 And you know that. 00:10:18.647 --> 00:10:20.769 Why? Because it's like the horror movies. 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:22.475 You know, you watch a certain one 00:10:22.475 --> 00:10:24.608 and it's like terrifying, but the next time, 00:10:24.608 --> 00:10:26.406 you need it scarier. 00:10:26.406 --> 00:10:29.293 We always are looking for something bigger, 00:10:29.293 --> 00:10:32.971 something beyond, something more impressive. NOTE Paragraph 00:10:32.971 --> 00:10:35.671 The picture I had in my mind, 00:10:35.671 --> 00:10:37.706 you know those little plastic rulers. 00:10:37.706 --> 00:10:39.717 Home schoolers - yes, of course you do. 00:10:39.717 --> 00:10:41.440 You know the little plastic rulers 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.407 that little kids have. 00:10:44.407 --> 00:10:46.285 And the thing is, 00:10:46.285 --> 00:10:47.793 we're like little children 00:10:47.793 --> 00:10:49.920 with this little plastic ruler. 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:52.589 And we're trying to measure this thing. 00:10:52.589 --> 00:10:56.722 And Paul's saying - he's praying 00:10:56.722 --> 00:10:59.787 that we'd pull out the Hubble telescope. 00:10:59.787 --> 00:11:02.904 But you know how it is with the telescopes. 00:11:02.904 --> 00:11:05.664 Every time the new and latest version comes out 00:11:05.664 --> 00:11:10.160 and man peers out into the universe, 00:11:10.160 --> 00:11:13.075 he thinks, this is it. 00:11:13.075 --> 00:11:14.114 Isn't it amazing? 00:11:14.114 --> 00:11:16.708 Man always thinks whatever measuring device he has, 00:11:16.708 --> 00:11:18.024 that's the limit. 00:11:18.024 --> 00:11:19.790 And now we see it. 00:11:19.790 --> 00:11:21.107 The universe is this big. 00:11:21.107 --> 00:11:23.130 But then they get the bigger telescope 00:11:23.130 --> 00:11:25.332 and they look out there and they say, okay, we were wrong. 00:11:25.332 --> 00:11:26.556 Now it's this big. 00:11:26.556 --> 00:11:28.301 Well, see, that's the thing. 00:11:28.301 --> 00:11:30.597 The limit is with us. 00:11:30.597 --> 00:11:32.266 And it's like Paul wants us 00:11:32.266 --> 00:11:34.658 to put away our little ruler, 00:11:34.658 --> 00:11:36.722 and he wants us to take out the Hubble telescope 00:11:36.722 --> 00:11:38.237 and start measuring this thing. 00:11:38.237 --> 00:11:41.232 But even then, how far have we gone? 00:11:41.232 --> 00:11:42.561 With the Hubble telescope, 00:11:42.561 --> 00:11:45.606 how far do you think we've really seen? 00:11:45.606 --> 00:11:46.654 Because you know this, 00:11:46.654 --> 00:11:48.359 they're going to put up another one 00:11:48.359 --> 00:11:50.701 this year or next year. 00:11:50.701 --> 00:11:52.735 And then what we're going to see 00:11:52.735 --> 00:11:55.627 is going to blow our minds all the more. 00:11:55.627 --> 00:12:00.006 This is how this is. NOTE Paragraph 00:12:00.006 --> 00:12:05.178 Now, I really want to stop at this point. 00:12:05.178 --> 00:12:08.827 And I want to press home a reality here. 00:12:08.827 --> 00:12:12.509 Because I called this message "Expectation." 00:12:12.509 --> 00:12:16.948 We're talking about the love of Christ. 00:12:16.948 --> 00:12:20.006 I'm talking about the heart of Christianity. 00:12:20.006 --> 00:12:22.527 I'm talking about the thing that makes it worthwhile 00:12:22.527 --> 00:12:26.556 to be a Christian. 00:12:26.556 --> 00:12:29.099 You say, I thought the thing that made it worthwhile 00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:31.866 was the fact that we got to escape hell. 00:12:31.866 --> 00:12:35.670 That's just the negative. 00:12:35.670 --> 00:12:40.427 That's not the primary glory. 00:12:40.427 --> 00:12:42.447 When Jesus summed up eternal life, 00:12:42.447 --> 00:12:43.728 what did He say? 00:12:43.728 --> 00:12:47.325 He didn't say it's to miss hell. 00:12:47.325 --> 00:12:49.717 It's to know. And that's what we have here. 00:12:49.717 --> 00:12:53.534 To know the love of Christ 00:12:53.534 --> 00:12:58.236 which surpasses knowledge. 00:12:58.236 --> 00:13:02.050 It's to know the true and the living God 00:13:02.050 --> 00:13:06.058 and the Christ Whom He has sent. 00:13:06.058 --> 00:13:09.180 But I want to stop here 00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:11.438 and just point something out. 00:13:11.438 --> 00:13:17.302 Paul is not telling us to do anything here. 00:13:17.302 --> 00:13:19.185 Yes, I recognize 00:13:19.185 --> 00:13:23.960 that when it comes to the word "comprehend," 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:26.642 "know," - we can deduce things 00:13:26.642 --> 00:13:28.502 that we can be about 00:13:28.502 --> 00:13:30.501 to increase our comprehension 00:13:30.501 --> 00:13:31.931 and to increase our knowledge. 00:13:31.931 --> 00:13:32.932 I recognize that. 00:13:32.932 --> 00:13:35.658 I recognize that you can deduce 00:13:35.658 --> 00:13:37.048 something we should do, 00:13:37.048 --> 00:13:39.158 but you need to recognize 00:13:39.158 --> 00:13:42.830 that Paul isn't telling us to do anything. 00:13:42.830 --> 00:13:48.665 Paul is praying for us. 00:13:48.665 --> 00:13:50.954 He's asking God the Father 00:13:50.954 --> 00:13:57.585 to make something happen. 00:13:57.585 --> 00:13:59.233 He's not just praying; 00:13:59.233 --> 00:14:02.220 this is an inspired prayer. 00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:05.280 God is being prayed to, 00:14:05.280 --> 00:14:08.326 but it's God Himself Who is moving upon Paul 00:14:08.326 --> 00:14:10.085 to pray this way. 00:14:10.085 --> 00:14:16.481 And I want you to feel this. NOTE Paragraph 00:14:16.481 --> 00:14:21.141 Now look, Friday, 00:14:21.141 --> 00:14:24.327 my air conditioner was making 00:14:24.327 --> 00:14:26.290 this horrendous noise. 00:14:26.290 --> 00:14:28.438 All through the week, 00:14:28.438 --> 00:14:29.798 the pounding in the attic 00:14:29.798 --> 00:14:32.904 became more and more violent. 00:14:32.904 --> 00:14:38.375 And walking by the air return, 00:14:38.375 --> 00:14:41.179 such noises were coming through there 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:43.259 that I recognized, okay, 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:45.271 I better go deal with this. 00:14:45.271 --> 00:14:46.417 And when I opened it up, 00:14:46.417 --> 00:14:50.399 I found the blower motor was busted. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:55.007 The squirrel cage fan was busted. 00:14:55.007 --> 00:14:57.466 So I took them out and we haven't had 00:14:57.466 --> 00:14:59.263 air conditioning since then. 00:14:59.263 --> 00:15:04.252 I know this is a lowly illustration, 00:15:04.252 --> 00:15:07.212 but I want to try to bring something out here. 00:15:07.212 --> 00:15:12.236 My air conditioner - it's broken. 00:15:12.236 --> 00:15:15.222 I ran over to Grainger, OEM Motors, 00:15:15.222 --> 00:15:17.305 I couldn't get it there. 00:15:17.305 --> 00:15:22.117 So, David Luciano works for 00:15:22.117 --> 00:15:26.220 John Wayne Air Conditioning. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:30.970 And so, I looked into them. 00:15:30.970 --> 00:15:33.106 I had them come out and give me a quote. 00:15:33.106 --> 00:15:35.550 The main reason I had them come 00:15:35.550 --> 00:15:36.617 give me a quote 00:15:36.617 --> 00:15:38.185 is because David works there. 00:15:38.185 --> 00:15:41.668 And he thought that perhaps 00:15:41.668 --> 00:15:44.758 he could get a discount for me 00:15:44.758 --> 00:15:47.838 because I'm his pastor. 00:15:47.838 --> 00:15:49.688 Now, I want to use this example 00:15:49.688 --> 00:15:53.478 and I want to focus in on level of expectation. 00:15:53.478 --> 00:15:55.536 Just think with me here 00:15:55.536 --> 00:15:58.722 because I'm going somewhere with this. 00:15:58.722 --> 00:16:00.690 If David didn't work there 00:16:00.690 --> 00:16:02.429 and I still thought, okay, 00:16:02.429 --> 00:16:03.832 I'm going to call John Wayne. 00:16:03.832 --> 00:16:07.372 I'm going to get a quote from them. 00:16:07.372 --> 00:16:10.699 What would my expectation level be 00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:14.135 of getting a good deal? 00:16:14.135 --> 00:16:18.053 Getting a discount? 00:16:18.053 --> 00:16:21.726 Low. Very low. 00:16:21.726 --> 00:16:23.717 But the thing is, to have somebody 00:16:23.717 --> 00:16:25.678 that I know has an "in" 00:16:25.678 --> 00:16:28.179 and is going to plead my case? 00:16:28.179 --> 00:16:31.274 What happens to your expectation? 00:16:31.274 --> 00:16:34.142 It goes up. And it is. 00:16:34.142 --> 00:16:37.641 I'm like what can David do for me? 00:16:37.641 --> 00:16:43.004 So, yes, it goes up. 00:16:43.004 --> 00:16:47.813 But, if I heard that the owner of the company 00:16:47.813 --> 00:16:53.030 personally came to David 00:16:53.030 --> 00:16:55.362 and he told David, 00:16:55.362 --> 00:17:01.505 "David..." David communicated this to me 00:17:01.505 --> 00:17:03.190 when I was asking about this. 00:17:03.190 --> 00:17:04.419 If he would have said, 00:17:04.419 --> 00:17:05.367 hey, you know what? 00:17:05.367 --> 00:17:07.914 My boss - the guy that owns the company - 00:17:07.914 --> 00:17:09.860 actually came to me six months ago 00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:11.689 and he told me 00:17:11.689 --> 00:17:14.311 that he has a real burden for pastors, 00:17:14.311 --> 00:17:20.791 and he especially wants to try to help pastors. 00:17:20.791 --> 00:17:22.550 And he instructed David, 00:17:22.550 --> 00:17:26.591 "Make sure if your pastor ever has a need, 00:17:26.591 --> 00:17:29.301 I'm determined to help him." 00:17:29.301 --> 00:17:31.265 Now, if I heard that, 00:17:31.265 --> 00:17:34.706 what do you think would happen to my expectation? 00:17:34.706 --> 00:17:36.089 It'd go up. 00:17:36.089 --> 00:17:37.834 But if even more than that, 00:17:37.834 --> 00:17:40.212 the owner of John Wayne said, 00:17:40.212 --> 00:17:44.585 "David, I want you to know this, 00:17:44.585 --> 00:17:47.698 that if your pastor ever needs help, 00:17:47.698 --> 00:17:51.829 I'm going to help him according 00:17:51.829 --> 00:17:55.068 to the riches of the glory of my company 00:17:55.068 --> 00:17:56.799 and my wealth. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:00.191 And David, if you ever have to come to me 00:18:00.191 --> 00:18:02.060 and ask me for help for your pastor, 00:18:02.060 --> 00:18:04.175 I want you to ask me 00:18:04.175 --> 00:18:06.737 and remind me of that very reality 00:18:06.737 --> 00:18:08.491 that I told you, 00:18:08.491 --> 00:18:10.849 I encouraged you to come ask me 00:18:10.849 --> 00:18:13.562 that way - according to these riches." 00:18:13.562 --> 00:18:15.250 And then, my expectation 00:18:15.250 --> 00:18:16.657 is going to go even higher. 00:18:16.657 --> 00:18:18.597 But if on top of all that, I found out 00:18:18.597 --> 00:18:20.433 the guy that owns this thing 00:18:20.433 --> 00:18:21.389 is a billionaire, 00:18:21.389 --> 00:18:23.268 and the riches of his glory are untold, 00:18:23.268 --> 00:18:26.189 unfathomable - what then? NOTE Paragraph 00:18:26.189 --> 00:18:28.794 See, you have to recognize this. 00:18:28.794 --> 00:18:31.443 Paul isn't just praying this. 00:18:31.443 --> 00:18:33.088 Paul's under inspiration. 00:18:33.088 --> 00:18:34.500 God told him, 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:36.533 "Paul, pray this way, 00:18:36.533 --> 00:18:38.371 and I want you to plead 00:18:38.371 --> 00:18:40.663 the riches of My glory. 00:18:40.663 --> 00:18:44.162 I want you to do that. 00:18:44.162 --> 00:18:47.076 Paul, when you see that God's people 00:18:47.076 --> 00:18:50.474 need to have their perception 00:18:50.474 --> 00:18:52.969 and comprehension 00:18:52.969 --> 00:18:57.992 of the love of My Son to them increased, 00:18:57.992 --> 00:19:00.896 I want you to ask Me on their behalf. 00:19:00.896 --> 00:19:03.908 Paul, I'm inspiring you 00:19:03.908 --> 00:19:06.055 to come and plead based on 00:19:06.055 --> 00:19:07.836 the riches of My glory. 00:19:07.836 --> 00:19:15.935 Do not come and ask less than that." NOTE Paragraph 00:19:15.935 --> 00:19:20.740 You see what I'm driving at here? 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:23.796 Brethren, in the weeks ahead, 00:19:23.796 --> 00:19:26.481 I want to explore the love of Christ. 00:19:26.481 --> 00:19:29.880 But I know this, if we attempt to look 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:31.455 in these coming weeks - 00:19:31.455 --> 00:19:37.230 we look and admire - we attempt to - 00:19:37.230 --> 00:19:40.116 and delve into the love of Christ, 00:19:40.116 --> 00:19:41.458 and you know what? 00:19:41.458 --> 00:19:43.228 If six months from now it's like 00:19:43.228 --> 00:19:45.511 you don't even remember what I was preaching on 00:19:45.511 --> 00:19:48.099 back in June, 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:50.175 you're left unaffected, 00:19:50.175 --> 00:19:52.356 you're left dry, 00:19:52.356 --> 00:19:55.148 you're left still feeling like "I need revival," 00:19:55.148 --> 00:19:57.573 you're left distant, you're left cold, 00:19:57.573 --> 00:19:59.021 you're left calloused, 00:19:59.021 --> 00:20:03.373 you're left unmoved - 00:20:03.373 --> 00:20:04.303 you know what? 00:20:04.303 --> 00:20:05.869 That would be like a billionaire 00:20:05.869 --> 00:20:08.481 promising the most astounding air conditioning system 00:20:08.481 --> 00:20:09.771 that money could buy - 00:20:09.771 --> 00:20:11.912 something so magnificent 00:20:11.912 --> 00:20:14.327 as to give expression to the glory 00:20:14.327 --> 00:20:17.329 of his riches and the glory of his kindness, 00:20:17.329 --> 00:20:22.802 but in the end I'm left feeling unimpressed. 00:20:22.802 --> 00:20:25.191 I'm left with a unit out there 00:20:25.191 --> 00:20:30.059 that's unimpressive and average. 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:32.019 You know what? 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:36.700 It's unimpressive and average 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:38.463 when we talk about the love of Christ 00:20:38.463 --> 00:20:39.962 for people to yawn; 00:20:39.962 --> 00:20:41.184 for people to think about 00:20:41.184 --> 00:20:43.060 what they're doing in the afternoon. 00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:46.184 It's unimpressive and average 00:20:46.184 --> 00:20:48.171 for our church to look 00:20:48.171 --> 00:20:52.244 at the love of Christ over a number of weeks 00:20:52.244 --> 00:20:55.814 and then determine that movies are better. 00:20:55.814 --> 00:20:59.073 That's unimpressive. 00:20:59.073 --> 00:21:00.450 What I'm saying here is, 00:21:00.450 --> 00:21:02.291 look, if God Himself said, 00:21:02.291 --> 00:21:03.807 "Paul, I want you to pray 00:21:03.807 --> 00:21:06.537 according to the riches of My glory 00:21:06.537 --> 00:21:09.408 for them to be strengthened to comprehend 00:21:09.408 --> 00:21:12.665 the love of Christ," 00:21:12.665 --> 00:21:18.805 does that sound unimpressive and average? NOTE Paragraph 00:21:18.805 --> 00:21:22.677 And see, this is an appeal to God. 00:21:22.677 --> 00:21:25.149 If I said, well, you know what this is really about; 00:21:25.149 --> 00:21:26.888 you know what Paul's teaching here. 00:21:26.888 --> 00:21:29.030 Paul's teaching that we really have to strive. 00:21:29.030 --> 00:21:31.189 Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't really strive. 00:21:31.189 --> 00:21:32.792 We do need to really strive, 00:21:32.792 --> 00:21:34.597 but that's not the point of the text. 00:21:34.597 --> 00:21:35.704 The point of the text 00:21:35.704 --> 00:21:37.561 is that God is being appealed to 00:21:37.561 --> 00:21:41.986 to give us according to the riches of His glory. 00:21:41.986 --> 00:21:43.582 And you know what? 00:21:43.582 --> 00:21:45.877 If people are going to prefer sports, 00:21:45.877 --> 00:21:47.694 or they're going to prefer the movie, 00:21:47.694 --> 00:21:49.583 or they're going to prefer their hobby, 00:21:49.583 --> 00:21:54.001 or they're going to prefer some other thing, 00:21:54.001 --> 00:21:58.173 the truth is that's normal. 00:21:58.173 --> 00:22:01.286 That's man left to his own strength. 00:22:01.286 --> 00:22:04.817 Is that an indication of the riches 00:22:04.817 --> 00:22:07.018 of the glory of God to comprehend 00:22:07.018 --> 00:22:09.848 much more the dimensions of the love of Christ? 00:22:09.848 --> 00:22:11.806 I mean, certainly, we would expect 00:22:11.806 --> 00:22:15.660 something impressive and life-changing. NOTE Paragraph 00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.567 Listen! 00:22:16.567 --> 00:22:19.909 If God answers this prayer, 00:22:19.909 --> 00:22:21.664 what would you expect? 00:22:21.664 --> 00:22:24.101 What are your expectations? 00:22:24.101 --> 00:22:26.664 You say, "I don't really have any." 00:22:26.664 --> 00:22:28.504 I'm saying look at this prayer 00:22:28.504 --> 00:22:30.420 and have an expectation! 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:33.105 Listen! If God is telling Paul 00:22:33.105 --> 00:22:34.325 to pray for you 00:22:34.325 --> 00:22:36.900 and to pray not some meager little thing, 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:39.066 but to ask God and beseech Him, 00:22:39.066 --> 00:22:42.576 "Father, according to the riches of Your glory, 00:22:42.576 --> 00:22:45.046 make this happen." 00:22:45.046 --> 00:22:46.880 I would expect more 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.772 than four weeks down the road here, 00:22:49.772 --> 00:22:52.674 we're all basically unaffected. 00:22:52.674 --> 00:22:54.445 Well, we're just the same as we were 00:22:54.445 --> 00:22:56.245 four weeks ago or six weeks ago. 00:22:56.245 --> 00:22:57.615 Because then that's like, 00:22:57.615 --> 00:23:02.173 "Father, why? Why did You put this here?" 00:23:02.173 --> 00:23:03.985 We may say, well, we didn't pray it. 00:23:03.985 --> 00:23:05.528 Well, I've been praying it. 00:23:05.528 --> 00:23:06.909 And I'll continue to pray it. 00:23:06.909 --> 00:23:10.637 And Paul prayed it. 00:23:10.637 --> 00:23:13.997 I mean if we get down the road and that happens, 00:23:13.997 --> 00:23:17.397 Lord, why would You stir Paul to pray 00:23:17.397 --> 00:23:20.925 this way and in inspired fashion, 00:23:20.925 --> 00:23:23.363 unless You truly mean to give us 00:23:23.363 --> 00:23:25.993 what's being talked about here? 00:23:25.993 --> 00:23:29.710 This is a prayer for God to do something. 00:23:29.710 --> 00:23:30.936 It's in the song. 00:23:30.936 --> 00:23:34.333 We're praying, "God, revive us again." 00:23:34.333 --> 00:23:36.393 This is the heart of revival. 00:23:36.393 --> 00:23:37.752 This is where it is. 00:23:37.752 --> 00:23:39.121 It always has been. 00:23:39.121 --> 00:23:40.609 When revival comes, what is it 00:23:40.609 --> 00:23:42.070 that happens to God's people? 00:23:42.070 --> 00:23:45.368 There's an awareness of God. 00:23:45.368 --> 00:23:47.062 There is an awareness 00:23:47.062 --> 00:23:49.488 of His love for His people. 00:23:49.488 --> 00:23:52.493 Will you be content, brethren, 00:23:52.493 --> 00:23:54.006 to be unmoved? 00:23:54.006 --> 00:23:55.653 To be untouched? 00:23:55.653 --> 00:23:57.473 To not be strengthened? 00:23:57.473 --> 00:23:59.802 I would say God forbid 00:23:59.802 --> 00:24:02.170 that that should happen. NOTE Paragraph 00:24:02.170 --> 00:24:05.472 You know what? You know what came to my mind? 00:24:05.472 --> 00:24:07.370 I read in Scripture 00:24:07.370 --> 00:24:12.709 that the heavens - the heavens - 00:24:12.709 --> 00:24:16.188 we are told in Psalm 8, 00:24:16.188 --> 00:24:22.772 it is the work of God's finger. 00:24:22.772 --> 00:24:26.200 I asked myself this question: 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.467 Does that sound like it exhausted 00:24:28.467 --> 00:24:33.663 the riches of God's glory 00:24:33.663 --> 00:24:38.574 when it's the work of His finger? 00:24:38.574 --> 00:24:41.858 Oh, it declares His handiwork. 00:24:41.858 --> 00:24:43.774 It declares something of His glory. 00:24:43.774 --> 00:24:47.947 But it's the work of His finger. 00:24:47.947 --> 00:24:50.871 When I hear "according to the riches of His glory," 00:24:50.871 --> 00:24:54.291 to me, that sounds bigger. 00:24:54.291 --> 00:24:56.033 If I went in my backyard 00:24:56.033 --> 00:24:58.500 and I did some work with my fingers, 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:00.387 does that reflect the riches 00:25:00.387 --> 00:25:01.767 of the glory of who I am? 00:25:01.767 --> 00:25:03.843 Paul wasn't asking that we be strengthened 00:25:03.843 --> 00:25:05.710 according to the work of God's finger, 00:25:05.710 --> 00:25:07.217 but asking to be strengthened 00:25:07.217 --> 00:25:10.494 according to the entire riches of God's glory. 00:25:10.494 --> 00:25:12.324 That makes me think something greater 00:25:12.324 --> 00:25:19.350 than the universe. 00:25:19.350 --> 00:25:21.707 This really ought to give us an expectation 00:25:21.707 --> 00:25:25.422 that God will do something. 00:25:25.422 --> 00:25:28.095 I have it. NOTE Paragraph 00:25:28.095 --> 00:25:31.116 Shall we be content to be confronted 00:25:31.116 --> 00:25:32.719 with all of this? 00:25:32.719 --> 00:25:37.409 Are you content to just remain unchanged? 00:25:37.409 --> 00:25:39.899 Listen, you may be weary 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:42.065 and you may be heavy-laden, 00:25:42.065 --> 00:25:45.517 you may be tired, exhausted, 00:25:45.517 --> 00:25:47.787 your arms may be hanging down, 00:25:47.787 --> 00:25:50.101 you may be discouraged, 00:25:50.101 --> 00:25:51.823 depressed, 00:25:51.823 --> 00:25:53.795 but is there an ache? 00:25:53.795 --> 00:25:56.056 Are you just willing to be content with that? 00:25:56.056 --> 00:25:57.892 Or can you look at a promise 00:25:57.892 --> 00:26:01.430 and does the Spirit of God give you some hope? 00:26:01.430 --> 00:26:05.806 Yes. Yes, there is a promise here. 00:26:05.806 --> 00:26:07.203 What I want you to do 00:26:07.203 --> 00:26:11.117 is I want you to have your expectations raised. 00:26:11.117 --> 00:26:17.033 Like, Lord, if You said this, You mean it. 00:26:17.033 --> 00:26:19.044 And I'm going to hold You to it. 00:26:19.044 --> 00:26:21.099 And I'm going to keep reminding You of this 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:25.460 until I get this. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:28.476 I mean, what do you think God wants us to think 00:26:28.476 --> 00:26:29.955 when the riches of His glory 00:26:29.955 --> 00:26:31.443 are put on the table 00:26:31.443 --> 00:26:34.572 as the ground of all this? 00:26:34.572 --> 00:26:38.290 You think He wants you to be content? 00:26:38.290 --> 00:26:40.241 You should ask yourself that question. 00:26:40.241 --> 00:26:42.210 I would say no. NOTE Paragraph 00:26:42.210 --> 00:26:43.814 If we get a month down the road 00:26:43.814 --> 00:26:45.408 and basically nothing happens - 00:26:45.408 --> 00:26:47.429 we can't even remember what was preached, 00:26:47.429 --> 00:26:48.623 what shall we say? 00:26:48.623 --> 00:26:50.821 I mean, yes, we can say 00:26:50.821 --> 00:26:52.486 the problem is with us. 00:26:52.486 --> 00:26:53.904 Yes, we can say that. 00:26:53.904 --> 00:26:57.134 I mean, brethren, that is exactly 00:26:57.134 --> 00:27:02.438 what Paul is praying about here. 00:27:02.438 --> 00:27:03.984 We're weak. 00:27:03.984 --> 00:27:05.763 And we need to be stregthened. 00:27:05.763 --> 00:27:07.851 I recognize the probelm's with us. 00:27:07.851 --> 00:27:10.551 I recognize the problem lies in our weakness. 00:27:10.551 --> 00:27:12.201 But you see, that's the very thing 00:27:12.201 --> 00:27:13.566 Paul is praying 00:27:13.566 --> 00:27:15.960 is that our weakness would be strengthened. 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.680 Yes, our weakness is the issue. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:19.399 But the expectation is that God 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:23.216 will do something to overcome our weakness. 00:27:23.216 --> 00:27:24.777 Are you feeling lethargic? 00:27:24.777 --> 00:27:28.080 Yes, but that's why you need strength. 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:30.118 Or do you feel like you need revival? Yes. 00:27:30.118 --> 00:27:32.099 Do you feel cold? 00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:34.041 Listen, maybe some of you are 00:27:34.041 --> 00:27:37.495 kind of riding a high spot in your Christian life, 00:27:37.495 --> 00:27:40.273 but listen, wherever you're at, 00:27:40.273 --> 00:27:44.058 there's infinite depths to explore 00:27:44.058 --> 00:27:46.672 beyond where you are. 00:27:46.672 --> 00:27:49.173 You don't want to be content. 00:27:49.173 --> 00:27:51.286 Not at all. 00:27:51.286 --> 00:27:52.795 This is the prayer. 00:27:52.795 --> 00:27:55.050 He will intervene and come 00:27:55.050 --> 00:27:58.165 and strike power into our weakness 00:27:58.165 --> 00:28:00.377 and give us comprehension at a level 00:28:00.377 --> 00:28:02.015 that we would otherwise never have 00:28:02.015 --> 00:28:03.395 if He doesn't come and deal with us 00:28:03.395 --> 00:28:05.145 according to the riches of His glory. 00:28:05.145 --> 00:28:06.158 That's the issue. 00:28:06.158 --> 00:28:07.112 Yes, we're weak. 00:28:07.112 --> 00:28:08.869 Yes, we're perhaps dull. 00:28:08.869 --> 00:28:11.133 We're forgetful. 00:28:11.133 --> 00:28:13.239 Oh, we are forgetful. 00:28:13.239 --> 00:28:14.592 Because you know what? 00:28:14.592 --> 00:28:16.725 I've had past seasons in my Christian life 00:28:16.725 --> 00:28:18.924 that were wonderful, that were glorious, 00:28:18.924 --> 00:28:20.807 and that were up there on the plateau. 00:28:20.807 --> 00:28:22.544 But I know two things, 00:28:22.544 --> 00:28:24.768 one, we're very forgetful - 00:28:24.768 --> 00:28:27.263 we forget about how glorious it was - 00:28:27.263 --> 00:28:30.785 but two, we don't live too well 00:28:30.785 --> 00:28:32.763 on yesterday's manna. 00:28:32.763 --> 00:28:36.011 We don't live well on yesterday's revival. 00:28:36.011 --> 00:28:38.981 We need it today. We need fresh things today. 00:28:38.981 --> 00:28:40.138 Yes, we're slow. 00:28:40.138 --> 00:28:43.104 Yes, we're far too content to spend our time 00:28:43.104 --> 00:28:46.051 in the lowlands 00:28:46.051 --> 00:28:48.191 paddling around the edges of the ocean 00:28:48.191 --> 00:28:50.197 when there's such things to be discovered 00:28:50.197 --> 00:28:51.694 that we've never imagined. NOTE Paragraph 00:28:51.694 --> 00:28:53.624 The question is this: 00:28:53.624 --> 00:28:58.490 I ask you, do you expect God 00:28:58.490 --> 00:29:00.047 to help us? 00:29:00.047 --> 00:29:02.193 To come and empower? 00:29:02.193 --> 00:29:04.296 Do you embrace this with a determination 00:29:04.296 --> 00:29:06.053 to have God do what He undoubtedly 00:29:06.053 --> 00:29:07.551 is promising to do? 00:29:07.551 --> 00:29:10.310 He wouldn't have put this prayer 00:29:10.310 --> 00:29:13.469 in His Word if it wasn't His desire 00:29:13.469 --> 00:29:15.950 to give us a hope that He intends to do 00:29:15.950 --> 00:29:17.470 something with regards to it. NOTE Paragraph 00:29:17.470 --> 00:29:19.321 Now, look at verse 18. 00:29:19.321 --> 00:29:21.380 Do you see the word "comprehend?" 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.913 "That you may have strength 00:29:22.913 --> 00:29:26.167 to comprehend with all the saints 00:29:26.167 --> 00:29:27.754 what is the breadth and length 00:29:27.754 --> 00:29:29.620 and height and depth..." 00:29:29.620 --> 00:29:31.413 The word "comprehend," 00:29:31.413 --> 00:29:33.571 like I said before, 00:29:33.571 --> 00:29:36.213 in an off-handed way, he's praying 00:29:36.213 --> 00:29:39.185 that the Spirit would strengthen us 00:29:39.185 --> 00:29:43.034 so that we might comprehend. 00:29:43.034 --> 00:29:47.898 Obviously, we are not left in a place 00:29:47.898 --> 00:29:50.757 where we're just passive. 00:29:50.757 --> 00:29:53.658 This implies something. 00:29:53.658 --> 00:29:58.864 But he's praying that the Spirit of God 00:29:58.864 --> 00:30:02.775 would so blow upon the people of God 00:30:02.775 --> 00:30:05.202 that we would be strengthened for this to happen. NOTE Paragraph 00:30:05.202 --> 00:30:08.216 Comprehend. What's the word? 00:30:08.216 --> 00:30:11.986 It has a prefix: kata, 00:30:11.986 --> 00:30:14.855 which brings intensity to it. 00:30:14.855 --> 00:30:19.163 It's to grasp with force. 00:30:19.163 --> 00:30:20.518 To comprehend. 00:30:20.518 --> 00:30:22.735 To lay hold of. 00:30:22.735 --> 00:30:28.923 The idea here is to seize, 00:30:28.923 --> 00:30:32.743 to acquire with significant effort. 00:30:32.743 --> 00:30:34.670 So let's try to grasp Christ's love 00:30:34.670 --> 00:30:36.228 with an effort that at least 00:30:36.228 --> 00:30:40.166 looks somewhat significant. 00:30:40.166 --> 00:30:41.033 We know. 00:30:41.033 --> 00:30:43.864 "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 00:30:43.864 --> 00:30:45.669 And on the other side of the coin, 00:30:45.669 --> 00:30:46.941 "it's God Who works in us 00:30:46.941 --> 00:30:50.275 both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 00:30:50.275 --> 00:30:53.145 We can trust God to do this, 00:30:53.145 --> 00:30:54.924 but we need to be putting ourselves 00:30:54.924 --> 00:31:00.531 in the place for this to happen. 00:31:00.531 --> 00:31:08.747 (Iincomplete thought) NOTE Paragraph 00:31:08.747 --> 00:31:10.486 Charles Leiter - 00:31:10.486 --> 00:31:12.751 this undoubtedly is in one of his books, 00:31:12.751 --> 00:31:14.663 but I just remember him telling me 00:31:14.663 --> 00:31:18.200 about how Mona visited 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:22.124 some of these Welsh folks 00:31:22.124 --> 00:31:26.478 where Martyn Lloyd-Jones used to vacation. 00:31:26.478 --> 00:31:30.762 And they lived in this farm. 00:31:30.762 --> 00:31:35.842 They got their power from water 00:31:35.842 --> 00:31:39.244 that flowed off the mountain 00:31:39.244 --> 00:31:41.376 and turned a generator. 00:31:41.376 --> 00:31:42.687 They got their power, 00:31:42.687 --> 00:31:44.809 but sometimes their power would go out. 00:31:44.809 --> 00:31:47.230 What would happen? 00:31:47.230 --> 00:31:52.016 Well, limbs and garbage 00:31:52.016 --> 00:31:53.872 would collect in there. 00:31:53.872 --> 00:31:55.370 And right before the generator 00:31:55.370 --> 00:31:56.635 was a screen, 00:31:56.635 --> 00:31:58.663 and so this stuff would come down 00:31:58.663 --> 00:32:00.935 pushed by the torrent of water 00:32:00.935 --> 00:32:05.705 and it would collect there on this grating. 00:32:05.705 --> 00:32:09.305 And if it impeded the flow? 00:32:09.305 --> 00:32:11.466 No power. No electricity. 00:32:11.466 --> 00:32:15.476 No flow beyond that point. 00:32:15.476 --> 00:32:18.828 And so they'd have to go out and pull the stuff off. NOTE Paragraph 00:32:18.828 --> 00:32:20.441 Charles talks about that 00:32:20.441 --> 00:32:22.688 as being a good illustration 00:32:22.688 --> 00:32:24.260 of the Christian life - 00:32:24.260 --> 00:32:29.063 keeping those channels open. 00:32:29.063 --> 00:32:32.536 There's things that clog the screen. 00:32:32.536 --> 00:32:35.012 Putting ourselves in an optimal position 00:32:35.012 --> 00:32:38.683 to be visited by the Lord. 00:32:38.683 --> 00:32:41.112 Perhaps there's things in your life 00:32:41.112 --> 00:32:43.523 that you know they're impeding the flow; 00:32:43.523 --> 00:32:44.879 they're grieving the Spirit; 00:32:44.879 --> 00:32:49.428 they're quenching the Spirit. 00:32:49.428 --> 00:32:50.853 James just this morning 00:32:50.853 --> 00:32:53.386 was telling me about a covenant - 00:32:53.386 --> 00:32:55.486 reminding me - he'd told me before, 00:32:55.486 --> 00:32:58.509 that he made concerning 00:32:58.509 --> 00:33:01.023 a certain thing in his life. 00:33:01.023 --> 00:33:02.581 Brother Craig just the other day 00:33:02.581 --> 00:33:04.669 was talking about earlier back in January 00:33:04.669 --> 00:33:07.198 just making a determination about something. 00:33:07.198 --> 00:33:08.795 You know, some of us - 00:33:08.795 --> 00:33:10.468 and I've been at those points - 00:33:10.468 --> 00:33:13.095 where it's just like you get aggravated with something 00:33:13.095 --> 00:33:14.551 and you recognize it's impeded 00:33:14.551 --> 00:33:17.257 your Christian life long enough. 00:33:17.257 --> 00:33:18.733 And you say no more! 00:33:18.733 --> 00:33:20.300 I don't want that anymore! 00:33:20.300 --> 00:33:21.782 Lord, I'm done with it. 00:33:21.782 --> 00:33:24.178 For good. 00:33:24.178 --> 00:33:26.035 You want to be careful 00:33:26.035 --> 00:33:29.083 when you begin to make vows before the Lord. 00:33:29.083 --> 00:33:31.205 Be careful. 00:33:31.205 --> 00:33:33.897 But I know that. 00:33:33.897 --> 00:33:38.916 I know that inner feeling 00:33:38.916 --> 00:33:41.669 when you've had it with something 00:33:41.669 --> 00:33:46.284 that has been a distraction to you for too long. 00:33:46.284 --> 00:33:48.841 What is it? What's impeding? 00:33:48.841 --> 00:33:50.778 See, we want to put ourselves 00:33:50.778 --> 00:33:56.294 in the place where God is 00:33:56.294 --> 00:33:58.486 most likely to break through. 00:33:58.486 --> 00:34:01.542 We don't want to be grieving Him. 00:34:01.542 --> 00:34:05.501 We want to try to comprehend the love of Christ. 00:34:05.501 --> 00:34:09.635 Get the distractions out. 00:34:09.635 --> 00:34:12.145 If you really want to climb this mountain, 00:34:12.145 --> 00:34:15.906 because this is what will fuel everything - 00:34:15.906 --> 00:34:18.972 you're rooted and grounded in this love. 00:34:18.972 --> 00:34:21.410 You're overcome by this. 00:34:21.410 --> 00:34:23.586 I remember years ago when I preached on this, 00:34:23.586 --> 00:34:25.846 and I think I got this actually from something 00:34:25.846 --> 00:34:27.206 John Piper said. 00:34:27.206 --> 00:34:28.772 But you know, when you're filled 00:34:28.772 --> 00:34:30.259 with the fullness of God 00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:32.829 and you're overwhelmed by the love of Christ for you, 00:34:32.829 --> 00:34:35.986 you don't easily go out 00:34:35.986 --> 00:34:39.078 and have sex with your neighbor's wife. 00:34:39.078 --> 00:34:41.522 That might be an exaggerated way to put it, 00:34:41.522 --> 00:34:43.584 but you get the reality. 00:34:43.584 --> 00:34:45.758 You don't easily go have an argument 00:34:45.758 --> 00:34:46.891 with your own wife. 00:34:46.891 --> 00:34:51.210 You don't easily just go off into sin. 00:34:51.210 --> 00:34:53.715 Because there is something about the love of Christ 00:34:53.715 --> 00:34:56.757 that is compelling and constraining. 00:34:56.757 --> 00:34:59.074 It constrains us. 00:34:59.074 --> 00:35:02.525 It's hard to be melted by the kind of love 00:35:02.525 --> 00:35:05.206 we're going to look at in the weeks ahead 00:35:05.206 --> 00:35:06.670 and then just to say, 00:35:06.670 --> 00:35:09.476 you know, I think I'm going to go get drunk. 00:35:09.476 --> 00:35:12.300 Or, well, that's nice, but after all, 00:35:12.300 --> 00:35:15.922 "Lord of the Rings" is better than that. 00:35:15.922 --> 00:35:19.276 You don't do that. 00:35:19.276 --> 00:35:27.267 This love of Christ has an influence. NOTE Paragraph 00:35:27.267 --> 00:35:30.786 Well, I'm going to give you some examples here 00:35:30.786 --> 00:35:33.197 just to kind of prime the pump. 00:35:33.197 --> 00:35:35.407 But before I give you some of those, 00:35:35.407 --> 00:35:37.964 the Song of Solomon - 00:35:37.964 --> 00:35:39.464 this came up Friday night. 00:35:39.464 --> 00:35:42.715 Somebody said - Zach said, 00:35:42.715 --> 00:35:45.779 Song of Solomon - allegory? 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:49.871 Oh, I think so. 00:35:49.871 --> 00:35:53.931 Listen to the Song. 00:35:53.931 --> 00:35:56.438 "Let Him kiss me 00:35:56.438 --> 00:36:00.062 with the kisses of His mouth, 00:36:00.062 --> 00:36:04.214 for Your love is better than wine." 00:36:04.214 --> 00:36:05.798 See, that's the thing. 00:36:05.798 --> 00:36:08.380 His love is better. 00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:11.544 Better than... you can fill in the blank. 00:36:11.544 --> 00:36:13.023 But it's better. 00:36:13.023 --> 00:36:17.162 It's not better if you don't experience it. 00:36:17.162 --> 00:36:18.651 If it's just theory, 00:36:18.651 --> 00:36:20.562 if it's just dry doctrine, 00:36:20.562 --> 00:36:23.653 there's a lot of things better than that. 00:36:23.653 --> 00:36:28.094 If all we do is get into dictionary definitions 00:36:28.094 --> 00:36:29.889 of agape and phileo 00:36:29.889 --> 00:36:32.791 and we start sorting through all that, 00:36:32.791 --> 00:36:34.578 well, yeah, there's a lot of things 00:36:34.578 --> 00:36:37.463 better than that study if all it is 00:36:37.463 --> 00:36:43.113 is dry academics. 00:36:43.113 --> 00:36:45.591 "Your love is better than wine." 00:36:45.591 --> 00:36:47.865 People talk that way 00:36:47.865 --> 00:36:52.552 when they're being overwhelmed by that love. 00:36:52.552 --> 00:36:53.996 Not just when it's a theory. 00:36:53.996 --> 00:36:55.446 Not when you open the textbook 00:36:55.446 --> 00:36:57.433 and it's like, okay, today we're going to 00:36:57.433 --> 00:37:01.842 study agape love. 00:37:01.842 --> 00:37:04.611 That's not what people mean 00:37:04.611 --> 00:37:06.903 when they say, 00:37:06.903 --> 00:37:12.462 oh, their love is better than wine. 00:37:12.462 --> 00:37:14.857 And you just think about Jesus coming 00:37:14.857 --> 00:37:17.352 and what in the world was He trying to say 00:37:17.352 --> 00:37:19.399 to the world 00:37:19.399 --> 00:37:22.751 when His first miracle 00:37:22.751 --> 00:37:27.050 was actually to turn water into wine? 00:37:27.050 --> 00:37:31.853 It speaks something of this Christ. NOTE Paragraph 00:37:31.853 --> 00:37:35.620 The question is this: 00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:39.185 Can you say that to the Lord? 00:37:39.185 --> 00:37:42.353 Your love is better than wine, 00:37:42.353 --> 00:37:45.022 or whatever else you want to fill in to the blank. 00:37:45.022 --> 00:37:47.566 I mean the real question is 00:37:47.566 --> 00:37:49.709 how much do we know of this? 00:37:49.709 --> 00:37:51.753 Is this real to you? 00:37:51.753 --> 00:37:54.827 Has it ever been real to you? 00:37:54.827 --> 00:38:01.859 When's the last time you felt your heart quickened? 00:38:01.859 --> 00:38:04.343 Oh, I know, there's been seasons 00:38:04.343 --> 00:38:06.974 longer and shorter. 00:38:06.974 --> 00:38:11.228 I know what it is to be studying the Word of God, 00:38:11.228 --> 00:38:12.487 and I'll tell you this, 00:38:12.487 --> 00:38:14.706 you want to put yourself in the right position 00:38:14.706 --> 00:38:15.808 to be overwhelmed? 00:38:15.808 --> 00:38:20.748 You want to get the garbage off the grating? 00:38:20.748 --> 00:38:23.871 Then exchange a lot of things that you do in your life 00:38:23.871 --> 00:38:26.150 for getting into the Scriptures 00:38:26.150 --> 00:38:29.265 more often and more deeply. 00:38:29.265 --> 00:38:32.521 One of the things that we all need to recognize is this: 00:38:32.521 --> 00:38:36.805 Paul does not offer this prayer in a vacuum. 00:38:36.805 --> 00:38:39.286 Do you recognize that the people 00:38:39.286 --> 00:38:40.693 that were listening to this 00:38:40.693 --> 00:38:42.990 heard chapter 1 and chapter 2 00:38:42.990 --> 00:38:46.454 just moments before this? 00:38:46.454 --> 00:38:50.217 God's people typically 00:38:50.217 --> 00:38:52.543 almost always, 00:38:52.543 --> 00:38:55.694 they're overwhelmed by expressions 00:38:55.694 --> 00:38:58.822 of the love of God 00:38:58.822 --> 00:39:04.928 while meditating deeply in the Word. 00:39:04.928 --> 00:39:07.853 And if you think about this, 00:39:07.853 --> 00:39:12.088 chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2 00:39:12.088 --> 00:39:15.613 is largely about the love of the Father. 00:39:15.613 --> 00:39:19.539 It's really going through chapter 2 - 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:24.177 Ephesians 2, as you move 00:39:24.177 --> 00:39:26.291 through this chapter, 00:39:26.291 --> 00:39:31.875 it's really about verse 13 00:39:31.875 --> 00:39:34.337 where the love of Christ comes in. 00:39:34.337 --> 00:39:36.100 That doesn't mean that nothing's said 00:39:36.100 --> 00:39:37.342 about Christ before this. 00:39:37.342 --> 00:39:39.387 There's lots of references to Christ, 00:39:39.387 --> 00:39:41.746 but it's mainly what the Father is doing. 00:39:41.746 --> 00:39:45.727 It's here where we're brought near 00:39:45.727 --> 00:39:47.667 by the blood of Christ. 00:39:47.667 --> 00:39:49.730 He shed His blood. 00:39:49.730 --> 00:39:52.982 He Himself - that's Christ - is our peace. 00:39:52.982 --> 00:39:57.630 Christ has made us - Jew and Gentiles - both one. 00:39:57.630 --> 00:40:00.707 Christ has broken down in His flesh 00:40:00.707 --> 00:40:03.243 the dividing wall of hostility. 00:40:03.243 --> 00:40:06.744 Christ has abolished the law of commandments 00:40:06.744 --> 00:40:08.352 expressed in ordinances. 00:40:08.352 --> 00:40:10.531 Christ creates in Himself 00:40:10.531 --> 00:40:12.338 one new man in place of the two. 00:40:12.338 --> 00:40:13.753 Christ makes peace. 00:40:13.753 --> 00:40:16.766 Christ reconciles us both to God 00:40:16.766 --> 00:40:18.553 in one body through the cross. 00:40:18.553 --> 00:40:20.424 Christ kills the hostility. 00:40:20.424 --> 00:40:25.265 Christ came and preached peace. 00:40:25.265 --> 00:40:27.067 V. 18, through Christ 00:40:27.067 --> 00:40:29.708 we have access in one Spirit 00:40:29.708 --> 00:40:31.690 to the Father. 00:40:31.690 --> 00:40:36.644 You see, this is what's been talked about. NOTE Paragraph 00:40:36.644 --> 00:40:38.270 What I find is this, 00:40:38.270 --> 00:40:41.221 historically, when I find men and women 00:40:41.221 --> 00:40:45.139 who have really, they're living 00:40:45.139 --> 00:40:51.332 in a sense of the riches, 00:40:51.332 --> 00:40:54.621 their minds are being strengthened. 00:40:54.621 --> 00:40:56.781 These little rulers? 00:40:56.781 --> 00:40:59.636 They're our brains. 00:40:59.636 --> 00:41:02.147 If you're going to exchange that little ruler 00:41:02.147 --> 00:41:03.743 for the Hubble telescope, 00:41:03.743 --> 00:41:04.954 that's your brain. 00:41:04.954 --> 00:41:06.518 That's comprehension. 00:41:06.518 --> 00:41:09.589 That's what's being talked about here. 00:41:09.589 --> 00:41:13.097 Comprehension. 00:41:13.097 --> 00:41:15.929 Paul prays this prayer 00:41:15.929 --> 00:41:17.682 after he's been telling us 00:41:17.682 --> 00:41:21.103 these expressions of the love of Christ. 00:41:21.103 --> 00:41:22.848 It doesn't come in a vacuum. 00:41:22.848 --> 00:41:26.234 It comes in Scripture. 00:41:26.234 --> 00:41:29.088 If you are neglecting Scripture 00:41:29.088 --> 00:41:31.406 and continue neglecting Scripture, 00:41:31.406 --> 00:41:33.767 you're giving a great indication 00:41:33.767 --> 00:41:37.374 that you really have no desire for this. 00:41:37.374 --> 00:41:39.532 You can't say, 00:41:39.532 --> 00:41:44.352 God, please, I bend my knee before the Father 00:41:44.352 --> 00:41:48.057 to ask You, please Father, 00:41:48.057 --> 00:41:50.847 according to the riches of Your glory, 00:41:50.847 --> 00:41:56.142 please strengthen this church. 00:41:56.142 --> 00:41:58.426 And then if the church goes on 00:41:58.426 --> 00:42:02.689 no more committed to Scripture, 00:42:02.689 --> 00:42:06.211 then we're not really taking this serious. NOTE Paragraph 00:42:06.211 --> 00:42:09.327 Look, I'm not talking about in theory 00:42:09.327 --> 00:42:12.927 knowing that Christ loves His people. 00:42:12.927 --> 00:42:15.708 Or even in theory, trying to convince yourself 00:42:15.708 --> 00:42:18.682 Christ loves you. 00:42:18.682 --> 00:42:23.756 That's not it. 00:42:23.756 --> 00:42:25.764 I know this. 00:42:25.764 --> 00:42:30.062 I know that some of the greatest 00:42:30.062 --> 00:42:32.204 expressions of God 00:42:32.204 --> 00:42:36.283 speaking to my own soul - 00:42:36.283 --> 00:42:40.712 I'm pondering Scripture; medidating on it, 00:42:40.712 --> 00:42:42.627 and I recognize, when you're preaching 00:42:42.627 --> 00:42:45.215 week in and week out, 00:42:45.215 --> 00:42:49.144 speaking Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, 00:42:49.144 --> 00:42:53.505 and in the Word all the time - 00:42:53.505 --> 00:42:58.672 I recognize that if you're preaching, 00:42:58.672 --> 00:43:02.193 you have an advantage for being in the Word. 00:43:02.193 --> 00:43:06.083 There was a time when I wasn't a preacher. 00:43:06.083 --> 00:43:08.582 And I know that you can stay in the Word regularly. 00:43:08.582 --> 00:43:09.971 You can be in it a half hour, 00:43:09.971 --> 00:43:12.989 45 minutes, or an hour every single day. 00:43:12.989 --> 00:43:14.425 And you should be. 00:43:14.425 --> 00:43:16.810 There's been times when I've been sitting 00:43:16.810 --> 00:43:19.820 in my office and I'm looking, 00:43:19.820 --> 00:43:22.801 and suddenly, 00:43:22.801 --> 00:43:24.531 something happens. 00:43:24.531 --> 00:43:26.398 I mean, I am overcome 00:43:26.398 --> 00:43:29.966 by suddenly as the truth of something, 00:43:29.966 --> 00:43:31.736 I'm beginning to realize it, 00:43:31.736 --> 00:43:33.901 it's as though the Spirit of God 00:43:33.901 --> 00:43:40.676 just pours the reality, the riches, 00:43:40.676 --> 00:43:43.502 the joy, the love of it 00:43:43.502 --> 00:43:45.194 to where I can hardly contain it, 00:43:45.194 --> 00:43:46.866 I have to fall out of my chair. 00:43:46.866 --> 00:43:49.352 But see, the point is, 00:43:49.352 --> 00:43:51.858 it's in connection with the Word. 00:43:51.858 --> 00:43:54.006 It's in connection with the truth. 00:43:54.006 --> 00:43:55.832 It's in connection with studying 00:43:55.832 --> 00:43:57.913 the expressions of love. 00:43:57.913 --> 00:44:00.207 See, this is the thing: love. 00:44:00.207 --> 00:44:02.176 Love. NOTE Paragraph 00:44:02.176 --> 00:44:04.786 It was Peter Marshall - 00:44:04.786 --> 00:44:06.221 you guys know who that was? 00:44:06.221 --> 00:44:07.443 Scottish preacher. 00:44:07.443 --> 00:44:10.841 He was actually in the Congress 00:44:10.841 --> 00:44:13.023 as a chaplain. 00:44:13.023 --> 00:44:15.005 But I think it was Peter Marshall 00:44:15.005 --> 00:44:19.570 who said this, that love is like 00:44:19.570 --> 00:44:24.742 the fragrance from a flower. 00:44:24.742 --> 00:44:28.494 Who can dissect that? 00:44:28.494 --> 00:44:30.468 Lloyd-Jones said all you can do 00:44:30.468 --> 00:44:33.100 is say certain things about it. 00:44:33.100 --> 00:44:34.843 That's just as far as you can go. 00:44:34.843 --> 00:44:39.707 And typically when we talk about love, 00:44:39.707 --> 00:44:43.003 we look at what it does. 00:44:43.003 --> 00:44:45.993 I mean, we can try to talk about agape, 00:44:45.993 --> 00:44:47.899 and we can try to define love, 00:44:47.899 --> 00:44:51.088 but typically what you're left with 00:44:51.088 --> 00:44:52.959 is what it does. 00:44:52.959 --> 00:44:55.111 That's what impresses us about love. 00:44:55.111 --> 00:44:59.439 What bowls me over and causes me to fall out of my seat 00:44:59.439 --> 00:45:01.299 is not some dry theory 00:45:01.299 --> 00:45:03.838 about the different nuances 00:45:03.838 --> 00:45:05.351 of the four Greek words 00:45:05.351 --> 00:45:06.859 that could be interpreted love. 00:45:06.859 --> 00:45:09.092 That's not it. 00:45:09.092 --> 00:45:11.149 It's what He's done for me 00:45:11.149 --> 00:45:14.188 who does not deserve any of it. 00:45:14.188 --> 00:45:16.789 It's that personal - 00:45:16.789 --> 00:45:19.295 we're not just talking about 00:45:19.295 --> 00:45:26.410 comprehending that Christ is loving. 00:45:26.410 --> 00:45:30.439 We're talking about comprehending His love for you. 00:45:30.439 --> 00:45:34.229 That's the issue. NOTE Paragraph 00:45:34.229 --> 00:45:38.618 Listen to this. 00:45:38.618 --> 00:45:41.240 Thomas Charles. 00:45:41.240 --> 00:45:44.829 This guy - a Welsh non-conformist. 00:45:44.829 --> 00:45:48.269 He studied under John Newton. 00:45:48.269 --> 00:45:52.909 He says, "I had such a view of Christ 00:45:52.909 --> 00:45:55.097 as our High Priest..." 00:45:55.097 --> 00:45:57.871 Now, you probably need to stop right there. 00:45:57.871 --> 00:45:59.760 That ought to tell you something. 00:45:59.760 --> 00:46:02.973 He was meditating on Christ 00:46:02.973 --> 00:46:04.692 as a High Priest. 00:46:04.692 --> 00:46:06.826 He said, "I had such a view of Christ 00:46:06.826 --> 00:46:11.363 as our High Priest, of His love, 00:46:11.363 --> 00:46:14.760 compassion, power, all-sufficiency, 00:46:14.760 --> 00:46:20.884 as filled my soul with astonishment, 00:46:20.884 --> 00:46:23.445 with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 00:46:23.445 --> 00:46:25.222 My mind was overwhelmed 00:46:25.222 --> 00:46:28.320 and overpowered with amazement. 00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:31.004 The truths exhibited..." See, that's the thing. 00:46:31.004 --> 00:46:32.051 Truth. 00:46:32.051 --> 00:46:33.974 We're talking about experiences 00:46:33.974 --> 00:46:39.729 buried in the truth of Scripture. 00:46:39.729 --> 00:46:41.953 "The truths exhibited to my view appeared 00:46:41.953 --> 00:46:46.877 too wonderfully gracious to be believed." NOTE Paragraph 00:46:46.877 --> 00:46:50.502 Howell Harris. 00:46:50.502 --> 00:46:52.188 Another famous Welsh preacher 00:46:52.188 --> 00:46:53.814 of the First Great Awakening. 00:46:53.814 --> 00:46:56.566 Contemporary with Whitefield. 00:46:56.566 --> 00:46:59.417 Daniel Rowland. 00:46:59.417 --> 00:47:00.879 William Williams. 00:47:00.879 --> 00:47:02.993 He says this, 00:47:02.993 --> 00:47:08.392 "Love fell in showers on my soul 00:47:08.392 --> 00:47:11.407 so that I could scarcely contain myself. 00:47:11.407 --> 00:47:15.021 I had no fear or any doubt of my salvation. 00:47:15.021 --> 00:47:17.983 I felt I was all love. 00:47:17.983 --> 00:47:22.576 So full of it that I could not ask for more." NOTE Paragraph 00:47:22.576 --> 00:47:23.805 William Grimshaw. 00:47:23.805 --> 00:47:25.696 Seems like James spoke to us - 00:47:25.696 --> 00:47:29.541 gave us a biographical sketch on Grimshaw. 00:47:29.541 --> 00:47:32.294 He was another Methodist contemporary 00:47:32.294 --> 00:47:34.592 of John Wesley. 00:47:34.592 --> 00:47:37.482 He says, "I expect my stay on earth 00:47:37.482 --> 00:47:39.442 will be but short." 00:47:39.442 --> 00:47:41.794 I think there was a typhus epidemic. 00:47:41.794 --> 00:47:43.951 And he died one year older 00:47:43.951 --> 00:47:46.064 than I am right now. 00:47:46.064 --> 00:47:48.581 "I expect my stay on earth will be but short, 00:47:48.581 --> 00:47:50.642 and I will endeavor to make the best 00:47:50.642 --> 00:47:51.997 of a short life 00:47:51.997 --> 00:47:54.765 and so devote my soul to God 00:47:54.765 --> 00:47:57.459 as not to go creeping to heaven 00:47:57.459 --> 00:47:59.653 at the last." 00:47:59.653 --> 00:48:01.548 Don't you like that? 00:48:01.548 --> 00:48:04.593 May God help none of us to creep into heaven. 00:48:04.593 --> 00:48:11.679 Kevin, don't creep into heaven. 00:48:11.679 --> 00:48:13.647 And even if your life is cut short, 00:48:13.647 --> 00:48:16.418 live while you have life. 00:48:16.418 --> 00:48:17.903 No creeping. 00:48:17.903 --> 00:48:20.236 Church, don't creep! 00:48:20.236 --> 00:48:22.444 "His soul at various times 00:48:22.444 --> 00:48:25.753 enjoyed very large manifestations 00:48:25.753 --> 00:48:27.980 of God's love. 00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:29.320 His cup ran over. 00:48:29.320 --> 00:48:31.520 Higher degrees of spiritual delight 00:48:31.520 --> 00:48:35.161 would have overpowered his mortal frame." NOTE Paragraph 00:48:35.161 --> 00:48:37.090 George Whitefield. 00:48:37.090 --> 00:48:38.787 "I myself was so overpowered 00:48:38.787 --> 00:48:40.155 with a sense of God's love 00:48:40.155 --> 00:48:43.045 that it almost took away my life." NOTE Paragraph 00:48:43.045 --> 00:48:45.500 Sarah Edwards. 00:48:45.500 --> 00:48:49.271 "It seemed to be all that my feeble soul could sustain. 00:48:49.271 --> 00:48:51.265 All that fullness of joy 00:48:51.265 --> 00:48:53.006 which is felt by those who behold 00:48:53.006 --> 00:48:56.861 the face of Christ and share His love 00:48:56.861 --> 00:48:59.285 in the heavenly world." NOTE Paragraph 00:48:59.285 --> 00:49:02.366 Moody Stewart. 00:49:02.366 --> 00:49:04.172 Christian from the 1800's. 00:49:04.172 --> 00:49:07.663 I couldn't find out much on him. 00:49:07.663 --> 00:49:09.139 "When we were on our knees, 00:49:09.139 --> 00:49:11.735 I was so filled with a sense of the love of God 00:49:11.735 --> 00:49:13.875 that the joy was too much for me. 00:49:13.875 --> 00:49:16.069 It was all that I was able to bear, 00:49:16.069 --> 00:49:17.464 and it was with a struggle 00:49:17.464 --> 00:49:20.548 that I did not sink under it. 00:49:20.548 --> 00:49:22.612 It was a gracious outflowing 00:49:22.612 --> 00:49:25.123 of the love of the Lord Jesus 00:49:25.123 --> 00:49:30.247 making His servant sick of love." 00:49:30.247 --> 00:49:32.021 You say, "sick of love?" 00:49:32.021 --> 00:49:34.699 That's an expression from the Song of Solomon. 00:49:34.699 --> 00:49:36.732 Sick of love. 00:49:36.732 --> 00:49:40.897 May God according to the riches of His glory 00:49:40.897 --> 00:49:48.483 teach you what that expression means. NOTE Paragraph 00:49:48.483 --> 00:49:50.506 John Owen. 00:49:50.506 --> 00:49:52.764 "To give a poor, sinful soul 00:49:52.764 --> 00:49:55.628 a comfortable persuasion 00:49:55.628 --> 00:49:56.968 affecting it throughout 00:49:56.968 --> 00:49:58.779 in all its faculties and affections 00:49:58.779 --> 00:50:01.155 that God in Jesus Christ loves him, 00:50:01.155 --> 00:50:02.774 delights in him, 00:50:02.774 --> 00:50:04.615 is well pleased with him, 00:50:04.615 --> 00:50:07.593 have thoughts of tenderness and kindness towards him, 00:50:07.593 --> 00:50:11.083 to give a soul an overflowing sense hereof 00:50:11.083 --> 00:50:14.634 is an inexpressible mercy." 00:50:14.634 --> 00:50:17.028 And it may be. 00:50:17.028 --> 00:50:19.849 But inexpressible mercies in my estimation 00:50:19.849 --> 00:50:24.853 are right in league with: 00:50:24.853 --> 00:50:28.809 according to the riches of His glory. NOTE Paragraph 00:50:28.809 --> 00:50:34.359 D.L. Moody. Chicago. 00:50:34.359 --> 00:50:36.681 Actually, on this day, he was in New York City. 00:50:36.681 --> 00:50:38.791 "Day and night he would walk the streets 00:50:38.791 --> 00:50:41.372 desperate for the touch of God's power in his life, 00:50:41.372 --> 00:50:44.995 then suddenly, one day in the city of New York, 00:50:44.995 --> 00:50:46.789 oh, what a day! 00:50:46.789 --> 00:50:48.468 I cannot describe it. 00:50:48.468 --> 00:50:50.029 I seldom refer to it. 00:50:50.029 --> 00:50:54.058 It's almost too sacred an experience to name. 00:50:54.058 --> 00:50:57.772 I can only say that God revealed Himself to me 00:50:57.772 --> 00:51:01.117 and I had such an experience of His love 00:51:01.117 --> 00:51:07.044 that I had to ask Him to stay His hand." NOTE Paragraph 00:51:07.044 --> 00:51:09.668 You know what Lloyd-Jones said about all this? 00:51:09.668 --> 00:51:12.330 He said above all, 00:51:12.330 --> 00:51:15.832 you have to experience it. 00:51:15.832 --> 00:51:23.320 Because hearing these, 00:51:23.320 --> 00:51:27.062 I don't know about you, 00:51:27.062 --> 00:51:32.976 but if you all came in and said, 00:51:32.976 --> 00:51:34.428 "God has taught us, brother. 00:51:34.428 --> 00:51:36.365 God has taught us. God came. 00:51:36.365 --> 00:51:39.564 There's a revival in the church. 00:51:39.564 --> 00:51:42.639 What you asked for that Sunday there in June, 00:51:42.639 --> 00:51:45.105 that God would teach us what it means 00:51:45.105 --> 00:51:47.067 to be sick of love, 00:51:47.067 --> 00:51:48.576 He's taught me." 00:51:48.576 --> 00:51:51.505 And if all of you said it, 00:51:51.505 --> 00:51:58.425 and God passed me by... 00:51:58.425 --> 00:52:01.002 I know Scripture says rejoice with those who rejoice, 00:52:01.002 --> 00:52:03.836 but I can tell you, I would weep. 00:52:03.836 --> 00:52:08.323 And I would go out of here weeping. 00:52:08.323 --> 00:52:09.685 Because the truth is 00:52:09.685 --> 00:52:12.906 that love experienced by others 00:52:12.906 --> 00:52:17.673 does not satisfy your soul. 00:52:17.673 --> 00:52:21.044 And God doesn't intend it to. NOTE Paragraph 00:52:21.044 --> 00:52:25.325 What does it say in Jude about the love of God? 00:52:25.325 --> 00:52:30.058 "Keep yourself in the love of God." 00:52:30.058 --> 00:52:32.498 That doesn't mean keep yourself saved. 00:52:32.498 --> 00:52:34.717 Like Andy Hamilton says, 00:52:34.717 --> 00:52:38.633 keeping yourself in a sensible sense 00:52:38.633 --> 00:52:44.779 of God's love for you. 00:52:44.779 --> 00:52:47.343 What foolish people we are 00:52:47.343 --> 00:52:49.377 in light of these kinds of realities 00:52:49.377 --> 00:52:51.158 to be content. 00:52:51.158 --> 00:52:53.434 Our foolishness is found in our contentment 00:52:53.434 --> 00:52:56.296 with the things of this world. 00:52:56.296 --> 00:52:58.401 You know what? It is really foolish 00:52:58.401 --> 00:53:01.793 to be content to be an average Christian 00:53:01.793 --> 00:53:07.916 when there's promises like this. NOTE Paragraph 00:53:07.916 --> 00:53:11.374 Now, I'll say this, 00:53:11.374 --> 00:53:14.529 experiencing deeper and deeper 00:53:14.529 --> 00:53:17.226 and deeper revelations of the love of Christ 00:53:17.226 --> 00:53:18.688 is being prayed for. 00:53:18.688 --> 00:53:22.693 It ought to raise your expectation. 00:53:22.693 --> 00:53:26.863 And listen, it's for all Christians. 00:53:26.863 --> 00:53:30.640 Not all people - don't get me wrong there. 00:53:30.640 --> 00:53:32.491 It's for all Christians. 00:53:32.491 --> 00:53:35.313 Look at verse 18. It couldn't be more clear. 00:53:35.313 --> 00:53:37.914 "That you may have strength to comprehend," 00:53:37.914 --> 00:53:39.737 with who? 00:53:39.737 --> 00:53:42.582 "All the saints." 00:53:42.582 --> 00:53:44.902 Not the particularly godly ones. 00:53:44.902 --> 00:53:49.028 Not the early first century Christians. 00:53:49.028 --> 00:53:50.427 Not the apostles. 00:53:50.427 --> 00:53:52.552 That's not what it says. 00:53:52.552 --> 00:53:56.067 It's all saints. 00:53:56.067 --> 00:53:58.088 Look, of course, the man 00:53:58.088 --> 00:53:59.887 who is not a Christian 00:53:59.887 --> 00:54:01.584 can't experience these things. 00:54:01.584 --> 00:54:02.821 Why? 00:54:02.821 --> 00:54:04.946 Jesus Himself said His Father 00:54:04.946 --> 00:54:07.663 was going to send another Comforter - 00:54:07.663 --> 00:54:09.190 the Spirit of Truth - 00:54:09.190 --> 00:54:11.459 Whom the world cannot receive. 00:54:11.459 --> 00:54:13.719 You see, the world can't receive the Spirit. 00:54:13.719 --> 00:54:17.034 The Spirit is the One that Paul is praying 00:54:17.034 --> 00:54:18.970 would strengthen us 00:54:18.970 --> 00:54:21.440 that Christ may dwell in our hearts 00:54:21.440 --> 00:54:23.841 by faith. 00:54:23.841 --> 00:54:26.513 Strenthen us to comprehend. 00:54:26.513 --> 00:54:29.323 They don't have that. 00:54:29.323 --> 00:54:30.585 But if you're a saint, 00:54:30.585 --> 00:54:31.947 you could be the least - 00:54:31.947 --> 00:54:33.874 Jesus talked about those people, right? 00:54:33.874 --> 00:54:35.632 The least of My brothers. 00:54:35.632 --> 00:54:37.098 You can be the least, 00:54:37.098 --> 00:54:39.296 but this is for you. 00:54:39.296 --> 00:54:42.942 The least Christian can be brought in 00:54:42.942 --> 00:54:49.792 and overwhelmed by a comprehension 00:54:49.792 --> 00:54:55.713 of this love of Christ. 00:54:55.713 --> 00:54:58.597 Brethren, is there an ache? 00:54:58.597 --> 00:55:00.408 Is there a desire? 00:55:00.408 --> 00:55:06.658 Is there anything in you that wants this? 00:55:06.658 --> 00:55:09.149 Or are you just going to be content? 00:55:09.149 --> 00:55:14.880 I'm praying, Lord, sick of love. 00:55:14.880 --> 00:55:17.173 Teach us. 00:55:17.173 --> 00:55:19.964 Men and women have walked before us. 00:55:19.964 --> 00:55:30.236 They almost couldn't handle it. NOTE Paragraph 00:55:30.236 --> 00:55:34.704 Lord willing, in the weeks ahead, 00:55:34.704 --> 00:55:38.890 I want to begin to look into the depths of this 00:55:38.890 --> 00:55:43.525 with whatever ability God gives to me. 00:55:43.525 --> 00:55:48.123 We want to really start thinking about His love. 00:55:48.123 --> 00:55:49.832 Trying to grasp, 00:55:49.832 --> 00:55:53.166 trying to get a feel, 00:55:53.166 --> 00:55:55.256 trying to absorb the doctrine 00:55:55.256 --> 00:55:56.986 and hopefully in the midst of that, 00:55:56.986 --> 00:56:01.352 God is going to cause some expansion 00:56:01.352 --> 00:56:03.225 in our comprehension 00:56:03.225 --> 00:56:04.506 and in our knowledge 00:56:04.506 --> 00:56:07.950 and in our experience. 00:56:07.950 --> 00:56:12.519 I'm hoping for glory. NOTE Paragraph 00:56:12.519 --> 00:56:15.848 Father, please, 00:56:15.848 --> 00:56:17.971 You've promised. 00:56:17.971 --> 00:56:20.295 You've promised, Father, 00:56:20.295 --> 00:56:22.851 and if we are six weeks, eight weeks 00:56:22.851 --> 00:56:24.980 down the road and nothing happens 00:56:24.980 --> 00:56:26.348 and it's just average 00:56:26.348 --> 00:56:29.003 and it's unimpressive, 00:56:29.003 --> 00:56:31.326 Father, You stirred Paul to pray 00:56:31.326 --> 00:56:38.749 according to the riches of Your glory. 00:56:38.749 --> 00:56:40.876 Father, will it not be a testimony 00:56:40.876 --> 00:56:43.783 to the riches of Your glory 00:56:43.783 --> 00:56:48.563 if nothing happens? 00:56:48.563 --> 00:56:52.049 Father, by inspiring Paul to pray this way 00:56:52.049 --> 00:56:56.235 have You not put Your own name at stake here? 00:56:56.235 --> 00:56:59.793 Are You going to leave us the same? 00:56:59.793 --> 00:57:01.567 Lord, we recognize in this prayer 00:57:01.567 --> 00:57:03.751 there's an acknowledgement of our weakness. 00:57:03.751 --> 00:57:06.282 Otherwise, we wouldn't have to be strengthened. 00:57:06.282 --> 00:57:08.016 It doesn't say we're already strong. 00:57:08.016 --> 00:57:09.829 It said therefore we should comprehend this 00:57:09.829 --> 00:57:11.504 according to the strength that we have. 00:57:11.504 --> 00:57:13.279 Paul's praying that we would be strengthened 00:57:13.279 --> 00:57:16.792 obviously because we don't possess right now 00:57:16.792 --> 00:57:19.432 what we should possess or need to possess, 00:57:19.432 --> 00:57:22.992 must possess to be able to grasp these things. 00:57:22.992 --> 00:57:25.153 That means You have to give us something. 00:57:25.153 --> 00:57:28.144 Lord, we know this, that even if we tried 00:57:28.144 --> 00:57:29.874 and put forth our best effort 00:57:29.874 --> 00:57:31.164 to not grieve the Spirit 00:57:31.164 --> 00:57:33.269 and remove all the stuff on the grating, 00:57:33.269 --> 00:57:38.955 to allow this power to flow, 00:57:38.955 --> 00:57:41.459 Lord, if You don't come; if You don't help; 00:57:41.459 --> 00:57:43.685 if You don't enlarge; if You don't speak; 00:57:43.685 --> 00:57:47.987 if You don't give us comprehension; 00:57:47.987 --> 00:57:49.800 if You don't stretch us, 00:57:49.800 --> 00:57:51.428 then nothing will happen. 00:57:51.428 --> 00:57:56.126 Lord, we need You. We need You to help. 00:57:56.126 --> 00:58:00.548 And we ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:58:00.548 --> 00:58:04.837 Whose love it is that we're taken up with. 00:58:04.837 --> 00:58:05.801 Amen.