Experiencing God's Grace and Power in Our Lives
Summary
Today, we gathered to remember the grace of God and the power of the cross, and to reflect on what it truly means to know God—not just intellectually, but experientially. Drawing from Ephesians 1:15-23, we explored Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus, a diverse and growing community facing both cultural challenges and the need for unity. Paul’s words remind us that our faith is built on four foundational truths: we are chosen by God, adopted as His children, forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice, and sealed with the Holy Spirit. These truths are not just theological concepts, but the bedrock of our identity and hope.
Knowing God is not about accumulating facts or doctrines, but about entering into a living relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The mystery of the Trinity is not meant to confuse us, but to invite us into the deep communion and love that exists within God Himself. Just as Jesus set aside His divine power to live as a human, relying on the Holy Spirit, we too are called to live in dependence on the Spirit, receiving wisdom, revelation, and the assurance of our identity as beloved sons and daughters.
Hope is essential for the human soul. Without it, we are vulnerable to despair and anxiety. I shared my own journey through loss, divorce, and the pain of feeling alone, and how God met me in that darkness—not with easy answers, but with His presence and the assurance that I was not abandoned. In the emptiness, God brought healing, growth, and eventually new beginnings. Our hope is not in circumstances, but in the unshakable inheritance we have in Christ.
Finally, we are invited to know God’s power—the same power that raised Christ from the dead and is at work in us through the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in our own strength, but as a Spirit-filled journey. We need continual fillings of the Spirit, daily asking, “Come, Holy Spirit,” so that we can live out our calling with love, hope, and power.
Key Takeaways
- Experiential Knowledge of God: True knowledge of God goes beyond intellectual understanding; it is an experiential, heart-level relationship. Paul’s prayer is that we would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we might truly know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This kind of knowing shapes our identity and anchors us in God’s love, even when life is uncertain. [37:21]
- Identity Rooted in Christ: Our sense of self is not defined by our achievements or failures, but by our adoption as God’s children. Before we do anything, God speaks over us: “You are my beloved.” Remembering who we are in Christ is essential, especially when life’s storms threaten to shake us. [44:38]
- Hope in the Midst of Brokenness: When life falls apart—through loss, failure, or disappointment—our hope is not in our ability to fix things, but in God’s faithfulness. Even in seasons of deep pain and emptiness, God meets us, heals us, and brings new life. The darkest valleys can become the places of our greatest growth if we hold on to hope in Christ. [53:09]
- The Power of Repentance and Responsibility: Healing begins when we take responsibility for our own hearts and actions, refusing to blame others or hide in shame. Confession and repentance open us to God’s grace, allowing Him to transform our pain into a testimony of His faithfulness. Owning our story, even the broken parts, is a pathway to freedom. [52:14]
- Living by the Spirit’s Power: The Christian life is impossible without the ongoing filling of the Holy Spirit. We are invited to daily ask for more of the Spirit—not just a one-time experience, but a continual dependence. It is the Spirit who empowers us to love, to hope, and to live out our calling as the body of Christ. [55:48]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Opening Prayer and Confession
[03:10] - Worship and Offering
[19:07] - Gratitude for Community
[25:09] - Personal Journey and Church History
[27:55] - Family and Life Update
[31:56] - Foundations of Faith in Ephesians
[34:55] - Reading Ephesians 1:15-23
[37:21] - Knowing God: The Trinity Explained
[38:44] - Jesus’ Example and the Holy Spirit
[44:38] - Identity in Christ and Staying Close to the Father
[46:54] - Knowing Hope: Personal Story of Brokenness
[49:36] - Divorce, Loneliness, and God’s Presence
[53:09] - Healing, Growth, and New Beginnings
[55:48] - Knowing God’s Power: Life in the Spirit
[56:53] - Closing Prayer and Invitation for the Spirit
[58:28] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Knowing God, Living by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:15-23)
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### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 1:15-23
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 1:17, what does Paul pray that the Spirit would give to the believers in Ephesus?
2. What are the four foundational truths about our identity in Christ that the sermon highlighted? ([31:56])
3. In the sermon, what does the word “know” (from “that you may know him better”) mean in the original Greek, and how is it different from just knowing facts? ([44:38])
4. What kind of power does Paul say is available to believers, and how is it described in the passage? ([34:55])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize knowing God “experientially” rather than just intellectually? How does this shape a person’s relationship with God? ([44:38])
2. The sermon mentions that our identity is rooted in being chosen, adopted, forgiven, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. How might forgetting these truths affect a believer’s life, especially during hard times? ([31:56])
3. The pastor shared about a season of loss and brokenness. How did his understanding of hope in Christ help him through that time? ([49:36])
4. What does it mean to live by the Spirit’s power, and why is it necessary for the Christian life according to the sermon? ([55:48])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon said that knowing God is more than knowing about Him—it’s about experiencing Him. What is one way you can seek to know God more personally this week? ([44:38])
2. When life gets hard or you feel like you’ve failed, do you tend to forget your identity as God’s beloved child? What is one practical thing you can do to remind yourself of who you are in Christ during those moments? ([31:56])
3. The pastor shared about feeling alone and broken after his divorce, but also about how God met him in that emptiness. Have you ever experienced God’s presence in a dark or painful season? If so, what did that look like? If not, what would it look like to invite God into your pain? ([49:36])
4. The sermon talked about taking responsibility for your own heart and actions, rather than blaming others or hiding in shame. Is there an area in your life where you need to own your story or confess something to God? What’s holding you back? ([52:14])
5. Paul prays that believers would know the “incomparably great power” of God. Where in your life do you need to see God’s power at work right now? How can you ask the Holy Spirit to fill you in that area? ([55:48])
6. The pastor encouraged everyone to pray “Come, Holy Spirit” daily. What would it look like for you to make this a regular part of your routine? How might your day or week change if you did? ([55:48])
7. The sermon said that hope is essential for the human soul. What is one area of your life where you are struggling to have hope? How can the group pray for you to experience hope in Christ in that area? ([46:54])
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Close in prayer, asking for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, for a deeper experience of God’s love, and for the power and hope that come from knowing Christ.
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing God: Knowing Him Beyond Head Knowledge
To truly know God is more than just understanding facts about Him; it is an experiential, heart-level relationship that transforms our identity and anchors us in His love. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, not simply to accumulate knowledge, but so that they might know God personally and deeply. This kind of knowing—epignosis in Greek—means encountering God in a way that shapes who we are, reminding us that before we do anything, we are beloved sons and daughters. Staying close to the Father is the only way to truly know ourselves and walk in the fullness of our calling. [44:38]
Ephesians 1:15-17 (ESV)
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to move from simply knowing about God to truly experiencing Him? How can you intentionally seek His presence today?
Day 2: Hope in Christ: Light in the Darkest Seasons
Hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in God’s promises and our identity in Christ. Even when life brings pain, loss, or unexpected turns, the hope to which God calls us is unshakeable because it is anchored in His faithfulness and our inheritance as His children. When the eyes of our hearts are enlightened by the Spirit, we can hold on to hope even in seasons of loneliness, shame, or brokenness, knowing that God is with us and that our story is not over. [51:02]
Ephesians 1:18 (ESV)
Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
Reflection: When have you felt hopeless or alone, and how might God be inviting you to see your situation through the lens of His hope and your secure inheritance in Him today?
Day 3: The Power of the Holy Spirit: Living Beyond Our Strength
The Christian life is impossible to live in our own strength; it is only by the incomparably great power of the Holy Spirit that we can thrive, overcome, and bear fruit. This power is the same that raised Christ from the dead and is available to all who believe, not just in a one-time experience but through continual fillings and daily dependence. Asking for more of the Holy Spirit is not a sign of weakness but the very source of our strength, character, and ability to live out God’s purposes. [56:53]
Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV)
And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely less on your own strength and more on the power of the Holy Spirit? Will you pause and ask, “Come, Holy Spirit,” today?
Day 4: Embracing Identity: Living as God’s Beloved Child
Our truest identity is not found in our achievements, failures, or what others say about us, but in the unchanging truth that we are adopted, forgiven, and sealed by the Holy Spirit as God’s beloved children. When we root ourselves in this identity, we are able to face life’s challenges, disappointments, and even our own shortcomings with confidence and grace, knowing that nothing can take away our place in God’s family. This identity is the foundation for all spiritual growth and resilience. [31:56]
Romans 8:15-17 (ESV)
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Reflection: What would change in your attitude or actions today if you truly believed you are God’s beloved child, fully accepted and secure in Him?
Day 5: Repentance and Renewal: The Gift of Confession
Repentance is not about shame or hiding our failures, but about honestly coming before God, confessing our sins, and receiving His forgiveness and cleansing. God’s faithfulness means that no failure is final, and even in our lowest moments, He offers us the gift of a new beginning. Confession opens the door to healing, growth, and the experience of God’s grace, reminding us that He makes all things new and that our hope is always in Him. [53:09]
1 John 1:9 (ESV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to confess and receive God’s forgiveness today? What step can you take to bring that into the light and embrace His renewal?
Quotes
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