For This Reason - We Must Worship! (Ephesians 3:14-21, Isaiah 45:18-25)
Rev. William L. Barron, May 12, 2024Part of the Advent Series: Christ Coming To Build His Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Rather than simply bowing his knees, Paul really falls on his face in honor to God. He means that the sufferings he has endured are worth knowing God. God is the father of Christian families. There is a distinction between Christian and non-Christian families, as with Cain and Abel. He is the God of all believers. Paul bows along with all the saints, who see the riches of His glory. We receive these through the strength of the Holy Spirit. What would we be without God's Spirit? We receive the boldness to stand for God. Two metaphors follow: we are rooted and grounded. Rooted is an agricultural metaphor, and grounded is a construction metaphor. We are nourished in love, and we grounded by means of a sure foundation. We are like a building, stones built up into the house of God with Christ as the cornerstone. This is done by the Holy Spirit. We gather together to worship Him in Spirit and truth. Our worship is directed by the Holy Spirit, who points always to Christ, the one who is Immanuel, God with us. In addition to the Spirit, we have the Word, God's truth. The Spirit brings us back in discipline when we go astray. Discipline and disciple have the same root. We are disciplined so that we can be taught and grow. We are brought together in the Spirit to care for one another. We encourage one another in our worship and in our daily life with one another. We come with one voice to praise our God, and we are filled with all the fullness of God. We will be able to comprehend the fullness of God. Paul references four--not just three--dimensions: length, height, breadth and depth. In fullness we are always with God, extending to the new heavens and earth. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the fullness of what God has in store for us. Paul breaks out into doxology (praise). Paul's sufferings were for the good of the church to the glory of God, as he understood it. There are three aspects of our worship. We are commanded to. He is worthy of our worship. He describes how we are to worship: in Spirit and truth. We are to be proclaiming Him, showcasing God before people. Paul finishes with "Amen." It has a Hebrew root meaning all of the promises of God are YES. We use Amen instead of clapping, which is the world's way. It is a statement that God is reliable, and He is in our midst.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « A Prayer for Enlightenment | None | Jesus: Back to the Future » |
Ephesians 3:14–21 (Listen)
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.
(ESV)
Isaiah 45:18–25 (Listen)
18 For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it empty,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
“I am the LORD, and there is no other.
19 I did not speak in secret,
in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
‘Seek me in vain.’
I the LORD speak the truth;
I declare what is right.
20 “Assemble yourselves and come;
draw near together,
you survivors of the nations!
They have no knowledge
who carry about their wooden idols,
and keep on praying to a god
that cannot save.
21 Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.
22 “Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
24 “Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
are righteousness and strength;
to him shall come and be ashamed
all who were incensed against him.
25 In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
shall be justified and shall glory.”
(ESV)