We Can Know God Four Dimensionally Which Surpasses Knowledge To Fulfill His Plan Eph 3 13-21 Sermon Notes 6-23-19

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”We Can Know God Four Dimensionally Which Surpasses Knowledge To Fulfill His Plan Eph 3 13-21 Sermon Notes 6-23-19″ _builder_version=”3.26.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” z_index_tablet=”500″]

Walk Thru The Word: Ephesians 3: 1-16  (ESV) The Uncircumcised of Heart are Alienated from God

¹³So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

¹⁴For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Walk Thru The Word: Ephesians 3:

²⁰Now 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, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Message Map Ephesians 3: 13-21

Ephesians lesson #6

“WE CAN KNOW God Four Dimensionally WHICH SURPASSES Knowledge TO Abundantly Fulfill His plan”

• Eph 3: 13 (1 & 2) We should not lose heart over the suffering of other Christians who Are Stewards of Grace!
• Eph 3: 14-15 God is The Genesis the Born Once earth bound & The Born Twice heaven bound
• Eph 3: 16-17 Christ dwells in Our Hearts through the Power of the Spirit that Roots & Grounds Us in love
• Eph 3: 18-19 18comprehension Requires Strength to know & Be Filled with God in A four dimensional Way
• Eph 3: 20-21 God Advocates To Abundantly Provide What is according to His plan

Eph 3: 1-2 Paul’s Stewardship Involved suffering as a prisoner of Christ To Serve His Church    

I, Paul, a prisoner of (one who is bound as a captive (one forced into subjection) to Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship (management  and administration whereby a person looks after another’s affairs) of God’s grace (a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ,) that was given to me for you

CAPTIVE, NW 1828 noun

1. A prisoner taken by force.
2. A slave. Anciently captives were enslaved by their conquerors. But in modern times, they are not made slaves in Christian countries; and the word captive in a literal sense, rarely signifies a slave.

Eph. 3: 13 13So I ask you not to lose heart (be negatively influenced by experiencing inner weariness or weariness of heart) over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Eph 3: 13 & 1-2 Paul’s Stewardship Involved Being a prisoner of Christ To Serve His Church    

Paul was arrested and made a captive — taken prisoner; brought into subjection by …

• The Politically Appointed Religious Establishment in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-40, for proclaiming “in Christ Gentiles are ‘fellow heirs’ in God’s commonwealth with Jews)
• Felix The Governor (Acts 23: 23-35)
• Festus the Governor (who replaces Felix), King Agrripa & Queen Bernice (Acts 24: 27 – 26:32)
• The Roman government (Acts 27: 1 – 28:30-31)
• CHRIST Jesus Christ (Eph 3:2, who is recorded in Acts 23:11 & 1 Tim 4:17 as coming to Paul to encourage and instruct him what God’s plan is for his captivity!)
• Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.
• Also 2 Tim 4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.)

Eph 3: 13 & 1-2 Biblical Stewardship Is dedicated service to Christ

Biblical Stewardship is not being a Flunky of Tolerance (willingness to endure an allowable amount of variation) but a determined and purposeful servant of Christ.

A flunky is • a person who performs relatively menial tasks for someone else, especially obsequiously.

• Other terms for “flunky include “minion, lackey, hireling, subordinate, underling.”

Tolerance is the capacity and willingness to endure what we mistakenly believe is an allowable amount of variation from God’s Word! 

• If a little leaven leavens the entire lump, how much toleration can we allow when it comes to what The Word of God says?

Our capacity for tolerance is increased like the diminution in the body’s response to a drug after continued exposure to or use of what the Bible calls Leaven that corrupts whatever with which it is mixed! (Gal 5:9, 1 Cor. 5:6, Matt 13:33, Luke 13:21, Hosea 7:4).

When we allow what we think is a minuscule amount of variation, we leaven the entire lump.

1. Michael Ortiz, director of The Strike Force of Prayer, said this to me about 2 weeks ago: “The Devil will use a lake of truth to hide an ounce of poison.” 
2. That is because the little poison of leaven turns the entire body of knowledge.

Eph 3: 13 & 1-2 Biblical Stewardship Is dedicated service to Christ

True of False …  (Let congregation answer first, and then show the answers by hitting the down button on the computer)

Christ, His Disciples and Paul …

1. were “minions, lackeys to people who were offended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? T/F  
2. subordinated themselves to people who were offended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? T/F
3. were obsequious (obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree) with those who told them to stop preaching the Gospel? T/F
4. obeyed God over man! T/F

When we allow what we think is a minuscule amount of variation, we leaven the entire lump.

• Michael Ortiz, director of The Strike Force of Prayer, said this to me about 2 weeks ago: The Devil will use a lake of truth to hide an ounce of poison
• If a little leaven leavens the entire lump, how much toleration can we allow when it comes to what The Word of God says?

A flunky is • a person who performs relatively menial tasks for someone else, especially obsequiously.

Other terms for “flunky include “minion, lackey, hireling, subordinate, underling.”

Was Christ or Paul …

1. ever a “minion, lackey, hireling, subordinate, underling”?
2. ever subordinated to people who were offended by the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
3. ever obsequious (obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree) with those who told them to stop preaching the Gospel?

Galatians 5:9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of … A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. …

1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? … Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? …

Matthew 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of … Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough …

Luke 13:21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about . Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every … It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour …

Hosea 7:4 They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker: the city rested a little from the mingling of the leaven, till the whole was leavened. …  

Eph 3: 14-15 God is The Genesis of 2 Types of People: the Born Once earth bound & The Born Twice heaven bound

Eph 3: 14–15 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

God is the Originator of those who are a) born once and are bound (tied, confined or restricted) on earth, and b) those who are born twice (John 3;3-7) and are bound (on their way to) heaven.

The Heaven Bound are born Again.  The Earth Bound are entrapped in Adam, but can be born again. 

God is the Heavenly Father of those who are both born once on earth and those born twice for Heaven.

God is the Father of those who are both born once and are bound (= an adjective for those who are tied, confined or restricted) on earth, as they are trapped in their carnal-Adamic nature. and those born twice for Heaven…

• For the Heaven bound, “bound” = verb for being on their way to heaven
• For the earth bound “bound” = an adjective for those who are tied, confined or restricted to the Earth, as they are trapped in their carnal-Adamic nature.

These two types of people in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 also are called first Adam of dust and second Adam  of heaven people. 

• 15:45-49 ⁴⁵Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. If you only are born once on earth, you will die twice, once on earth, and then again at judgement in the second death — lake of fire (Rev. 2:11, Rev. 19:20, Rev. 20:10, 14-15, Rev. 21:8 ).

If you only are born born once on earth (John 8:24),  you will die twice, once on earth, and then again at judgement, with the second death being the lake of fire (Rev. 2:11, Rev. 19:20, Rev. 20:10, 14-15, Rev. 21:8  ).

• John 8:24 That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
• Revelation 20:14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
• Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
• 19:20 But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
• Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (The its resurrection seems to be the Harpazo/Rapture, where the dead in Christ shall rise first
• Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
• Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
• Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
• 1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
• God gave Christ has power over the second death, so that all may honor the Son! John 5:22 -24 says, “ ²²For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. ²⁴Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
• Revelation 1:18 the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

Eph 3: 16-17 We must be strengthened with Spiritual Power for Christ  to dwell in our hearts through faith

¹⁶that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened (confirmed) with power (ability) through his Spirit in your inner (the soul, conscience) being, (man, both male and female as both are created in the image of God – each equally vested with individual personhood and destiny (cf. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus).

Accordingly, the Bible uses 444 (ánthrōpos) of a specific man, woman, or class (type, group) of people – i.e. mankind in general (inclusive of every man, woman and child; see also 1 Cor 11:7). (435 /anḗr specifically refers to a male and 1135 /gynḗ to a female.))

Through the inner ma , we are rooted and grounded ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Eph 3: 17b-19  —that you, being rooted (cause to strike root, be firmly planted, fixed, established) and grounded (have a firm foundation laid) in love ()good-will, love, benevolence, ¹⁸may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

• being born again is what activates our inner being to the Spirit’s power (John 3:3-7)
• The enlightening and renewing influences of the holy spirit gives instruction its proper weight and efficacy, that we may not be blind to the light of heaven, or deaf to the strains of truth. While the Lord alone acts upon us, he acts by his own instruments. It is therefore the duty of pastors diligently to teach, — of the people, earnestly to receive instruction, — and of both, not to weary themselves in unprofitable exertions, but to look up for Divine aid.
• the internal, inner man, i. e. the soul, conscience 2 Corinthians 4:16 L T Tr WH; Romans 7:22; οἱ ἔσω, those who belong to the Christian brotherhood (opposed to οἱ ἔξω (which see in ἔξω, 1 a.)), 1 Corinthians 5:12.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV) So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
• 7:22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,

Fullness

“it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell,” (Colossians 1:19,)

so he who has Christ dwelling in him can want nothing. It is a mistake to imagine that the Spirit can be obtained without obtaining Christ; and it is equally foolish and absurd to dream that we can receive Christ without the Spirit. Both doctrines must be believed. We are partakers of the Holy Spirit, in proportion to the intercourse which we maintain with Christ; for the Spirit will be found nowhere but in Christ, on whom he is said, on that account, to have rested; for he himself says, by the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me.” (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18.) But neither can Christ be separated from his Spirit; for then he would be said to be dead, and to have lost all his power.

Isaiah 61:1 (ESV) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Luke 4:18 (ESV) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Eph 3: 14-15  the Transition from Earth Bound

To Heaven Bound People [bctt tweet=”born again (John 3: 3- 7. 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spiritic 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.)” username=”LibertyCF3″]

Eph 3: 14–15 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

Eph 3: 14–15 14 The Heaven Bound are Born Again The Earth Bound are entrapped in Adam, but can be born again. 

Here’s the Process for them to Transition:

1. bow in Confession (bend) their knees only to Him, and not so-called “iconic” intermediaries

• 1 Tim.2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
• 8:6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
• Heb. 9:15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
• Heb. 12:24 – and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
• confess their sins in acknowledgment of God’s Ten Commandments (thou shall not’s = sins of commission, which are breaking Commandments 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Sins of omission are committed when we break commandments 4 & 5.

7. born again (John 3: 3- 7. 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spiritic 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.)

• Barnes Notes Regarding Nicodemus not knowing of The Born Again experience As such a teacher he ought to have understood this doctrine. It was not new,” but was clearly taught in the Old Testament. See particularly
• Psalm 51:10 (KJV) Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Of which Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, says a new clean heart is needed. “Mending will not avail; my heart is altogether corrupted; it must be new made, made as it was in the beginning. This is exactly the sentiment of St. Paul: Neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation; and the salvation given under the Gospel dispensation is called a being created anew in Christ Jesus.
• A right spirit within me = `a constant, steady, determined spirit; called Psalm 51:12, a noble spirit. a free, generous, princely spirit; cheerfully giving up itself to thee; no longer bound and degraded by the sinfulness of sin.
• Psalm 51:16-17 16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
• Ezekiel 11:19 & 36 basically say the exact same thing! (NLT) 16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (NLT 36- And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.)
• Barnes says, “ It may seem surprising that a man whose business it was to teach the people should be a stranger to so plain and important a doctrine; but when worldly-minded men are placed in offices of religion when they seek those offices for the sake of ease or reputation, it is no wonder that they are strangers to the plain truths of the Bible; and there have been many, and there are still, who are in the ministry itself, to whom the plainest doctrines of the gospel are obscure. No man can understand the Bible fully unless he is a humble Christian, and the easiest way to comprehend the truths of religion is to give the heart to God and live to his glory. A child thus may have more real knowledge of the way of salvation than many who are pretended masters and teachers of Israel,
• John 7:17 ESV — 17If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
• Matthew 11:25; 25At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
• Psalm 8:2, 2Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger
• Matthew 21:16. (Jesus Cleanses the Temple) 12And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”  14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

Calvin notes regarding Ephesians 3:14

Pelagianism is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special divine aid..

We are thus enabled to refute the slanders of the Pelagians [those who believe that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special divine aid] and Papists, who argue, that, if the grace of the Holy Spirit performs the whole work of enlightening our minds, and forming our hearts to obedience, all instruction will be superfluous.”  [This means, the Catholic Church proclaims its teaching is a necessary supplement to the Bible, and in actuality, supersedes it!]

Eph 3: 18  It requires strength to comprehend the breadth, length, depth, height = the Four dimensions of the spiritual temple, Representing “the fulness of God”

Eph 3: 17b-19  —that you, being rooted (cause to strike root, be firmly planted, fixed, established) and grounded (have a firm foundation laid) in love, ¹⁸may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

• breadth the broad expansion & wide plain the love of Christ – Embracing all mankind. (John 3:16)
• length (From everlasting to everlasting. used in shadowing forth the greatness, extent, and number of the blessings received from Christ)(used in shadowing forth the greatness, extent, and number of the blessings received from Christ)
• height (high, lofty dignity and eminence, Not to be reached by any enemy) (Is 55:9)
• 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• depth (that has been realized in Christ Jesus our Lord)
• Christ knows what is in the depths of the earth and sea and of what is in our hearts – Luke 5:4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Jesus provided a similar miracle in John 21:6.
• 51:10 Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?
• Psalm 139:8 (NIV) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths (ESV&NAS = Sheol KJV = Hell), you are there.
• 1Kings 4;20 -30 29And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore. 30Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt

¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses (xxx) knowledge, (xxx) that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

• Philippians 4:7 “the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< 

• Wesley — Ye may comprehend – So far as an human mind is capable. What is the breadth of the love of Christ – Embracing all mankind. And length – From everlasting to everlasting. And depth – Not to be fathomed by any creature. And height – Not to be reached by any enemy.
• JFB – breadth … length … depth … height—namely, the full dimensions of the spiritual temple, answering to “the fulness of God” (Eph 3:19), to which the Church, according to its capacity, ought to correspond (compare Eph 4:10, 13) as to “the fulness of Christ.” The “breadth” implies Christ’s world-wide love, embracing all men: the “length,” its being extended through all ages (Eph 3:21); the “depth,” its profound wisdom which no creature can fathom (Ro 11:33); the “height,” its being beyond the reach of any foe to deprive us of (Eph 4:8) [Bengel]. I prefer to understand “the breadth,” &c., to refer to the whole of the vast mystery of free salvation in Christ for all, Gentile and Jew alike, of which Paul had been speaking (Eph 3:3-9), and of which he now prays they may have a fuller comprehension. As subsidiary to this, and the most essential part of it, he adds, “and to know the love of Christ” (Eph 3:19). Grotius understands depth and height of God’s goodness raising us from the lowest depression to the greatest height.
• Calvin – 18. May be able to comprehend. The second fruit is, that the Ephesians should perceive the greatness of Christ’s love to men. Such an apprehension or knowledge springs from faith. By desiring that they should comprehend it with all saints, he shows that it is the most excellent blessing which they can obtain in the present life; that it is the highest wisdom, to which all the children of God aspire. What follows is sufficiently clear in itself, but has hitherto been darkened by a variety of interpretations. Augustine is quite delighted with his own acuteness, which throws no light on the subject. Endeavoring to discover some kind of mysterious allusion to the figure of the cross, he makes the breadth to be love, — the height, hope, — the length, patience, and the depth, humility. This is very ingenious and entertaining: but what has it to do with Paul’s meaning? Not more, certainly, than the opinion of Ambrose, that the allusion is to the figure of a sphere. Laying aside the views of others, I shall state what will be universally acknowledged to be the simple and true meaning.
• Ephesians 3:17-19. That Christ may dwell in your hearts — May be always present with you, and may reside continually in you, by his purifying and comforting influences, so as to direct your judgment, engross your affections, and govern all your passions and tempers. See on John 17:23; Galatians 2:21. By faith — By means of a continual exercise of faith in him, and in the truths and promises of his gospel.
• “The apostle had called the church the temple of God, Ephesians 2:21; here he represents every individual believer as the habitation of Christ, who came from heaven that he might rule in the hearts of men. And surely the indwelling of Christ in our hearts by faith in his doctrines and promises, is a much greater honour than that which the temple of Ephesus was said to possess, through the residence of an image of Diana, falsely reported to have fallen down from Jupiter, Acts 19:35 : also a better preservative from evil than the votaries of that idol pretended to possess, by carrying about her shrine, mentioned Acts 19:24.” That being rooted and grounded — Deeply fixed and firmly established; in love — Both in an experimental knowledge of God’s love to you, and in the exercise of a fervent love to him in return, and to each other, which will be a never-failing source of piety and virtue in your hearts and lives. The word τεθεμελιωμενοι, here rendered grounded, is used in allusion to a building, agreeably to the apostle’s representation of the Christian Church as the temple of God, built not of stones, but of men who believe and obey the gospel. And, (as the pious Professor Frank observes,) in the following clause, “he expresses his wish that the foundation might be so extensively and deeply laid, and that a superstructure might be raised, extending itself to such a magnificent length, and breadth, and height, as to be fitted to receive the sacred guest, that he might dwell, as it were, uncrowded in their hearts.” May be able to comprehend — So far as a human mind is capable; with all saints — That which all, who are worthy of the name of saints, do in some measure attain unto here, and shall fully understand hereafter; what is the breadth — Of the love of Christ, embracing all mankind; and length — From everlasting to everlasting; and depth — Descending into the abyss of our sin and misery to rescue us thence; and height — Exalting us to the summit of heavenly glory and felicity, to the dignity of God’s sons and daughters here, and to the vision and enjoyment of him hereafter. And to know the love of Christ — Continually aspiring after more enlarged and affecting views thereof, even of the love which he hath displayed in purchasing his church with his own blood, and redeeming it out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, Revelation 5:9; which, however, after all we can say or think of it, as to its nature, extent, and excellence, does and ever will infinitely surpass our knowledge and comprehension. “This prayer of the apostle does not imply any contradiction, for though the love of Christ be so great that it cannot be comprehended by the understanding of men, the apostle with great propriety prayed that they might know as much of it as the limited nature of their faculties permitted them to know, in order to their being sensible of the wisdom and power of God in gathering the Christian Church, not only from among the Jews, but from among the idolatrous Gentiles also;” and in bestowing on the members of that church such unspeakable blessings of grace here, and in preparing for them such blessings of glory hereafter. That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God — Macknight, who applies this clause to the church at Ephesus, collectively considered, rather than to the individuals of which it was composed, observes, “Having told the Ephesians, (Ephesians 2:21-22,) that the Jews and Gentiles were formed into a holy temple, for a habitation of God by the Spirit, he prays that this great temple might be filled with all the fulness of the presence of the true God, inhabiting every part of it by the gifts and graces of the Spirit, chap. Ephesians 4:6. For in that respect the Christian Church far exceeded the temple at Ephesus, which had nothing in it pretending to divinity, but the lifeless image of an idol placed in a corner of it.” The apostle, however, rather intended this, as he evidently did all the preceding clauses of his prayer, to be applied, not so much to that or any other church in general, as to each individual believer therein in particular. He therefore prayed that the mind and heart of each might be enlarged more abundantly, so as to admit larger communications than ever of divine light, love, wisdom, holiness, power, and glory, till at length
• they should arrive in the heavenly state, to full perfection in the knowledge, image, and enjoyment of God, where that which is perfect being come, they should know even as they also were known, and possess love in proportion to their knowledge.

Calvin – 19. And to know the love of Christ. By those dimensions Paul means nothing else than the love of Christ, of which he speaks afterwards. The meaning is, that he who knows it fully and perfectly is in every respect a wise man. As if he had said, “In whatever direction men may look, they will find nothing in the doctrine of salvation that does not bear some relation to this subject.” The love of Christ contains within itself the whole of wisdom, so that the words may run thus: that ye may be able to comprehend the love of Christ, which is the length and breadth, and depth, and height, that is, the complete perfection of all wisdom. The metaphor is borrowed from mathematicians, taking the parts as expressive of the whole. Almost all men are infected with the disease of desiring to obtain useless knowledge. It is of great importance that we should be told what is necessary for us to know, and what the Lord desires us to contemplate, above and below, on the right hand and on the left, before and behind. The love of Christ is held out to us as the subject which ought to occupy our daily and nightly meditations, and in which we ought to be wholly plunged. He who is in possession of this alone has enough. Beyond it there is nothing solid, nothing useful, — nothing, in short, that is proper or sound. Though you survey the heaven and earth and sea, you will never go beyond this without overstepping the lawful boundary of wisdom.

Philippians 4:7 “the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

No man can approach to God without being raised above himself and above the world. On this ground the sophists refuse to admit that we can know with certainty that we enjoy the grace of God; for they measure faith by the perception of the bodily senses. But Paul justly contends that this wisdom exceeds all knowledge; for, if the faculties of man could reach it, the prayer of Paul that God would bestow it must have been unnecessary. Let us remember, therefore, that the certainty of faith is knowledge, but is acquired by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, not by the acuteness of our own intellect. If the reader desire a more full discussion of this subject, he may consult the “Institutes of the Christian Religion.”

That ye may be filled. Paul now expresses in one word what he meant by the various dimensions. He who has Christ has everything necessary for being made perfect in God; for this is the meaning of the phrase, the fullness of God. Men do certainly imagine that they have entire completeness in themselves, but it is only when their pride is swelled with empty trifles. It is a foolish and wicked dream, that by the fullness of God is meant the full Godhead, as if men were raised to an equality with God.

><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Eph 3: 20 God Advocates To Abundantly Provide What is according to His plan for His Glory 

Eph 3: 20 ²⁰Now 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, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

NLT Eph 3: 17-20  ¹⁷Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

²⁰Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.²¹Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Websters 1828 Here the whole preceding parts of the sentence are to accord, i.e. agree with, correspond with, or be suitable to, what follows. according here, has its true participial sense, agreeing, and is always followed by to. It is never a preposition.       

God promises us victory, and that He’ll advocate for us, but we have to follow His Will and do His work, according to  His way, but God doesn’t work through passivity:

• In Ex. 6:1 God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and told Moses exactly what He would do to Pharaoh: ¹But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”  Moses had to walk through a process that spanned Ex 6: 1- Ex 14:8 and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.  Even so the battles though won in advance, had to be walked through, and in Ex 14:30 we see, ³⁰Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. ³¹Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the L

 Let’s Pray that God ReAwakens, ReInvigorates & ReEstablish Us in Our Calls In Christ!

 Let’s Pray:

Thank You, LORD for giving us the ability to know You, and giving us the capacity to be filled with your love, and understand what Your will is for us!    [email-download-link namefield=”YES” id=”392″]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]