Experiencing the Depth of Christ's Love
Summary
In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul prays for the Ephesians to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge. This prayer is not for unbelievers but for Christians who have yet to fully experience the depth of Christ's love. The journey to this knowledge is not mechanical; it is deeply personal and relational. It is about seeking Christ Himself, not just His blessings. This pursuit requires us to engage with Scripture and prayer in a way that is expectant and intentional. The Bible is not just a book to be read; it is a living word through which God reveals Himself. We must approach it with anticipation, seeking to encounter Christ in its pages.
Prayer, too, must be approached with a heart prepared to meet God. It is not enough to simply pray; we must examine ourselves, meditate on His grace, and express gratitude. Thanksgiving is a vital part of our relationship with God, as it reflects our faith and opens us to His love. Moreover, obedience to His commandments is crucial. Our love for Christ is demonstrated through our actions, and as we strive to please Him, He reveals more of His love to us.
The pursuit of Christ's love requires wholeheartedness and persistence. We must seek Him with all our hearts, as the Scriptures teach. This involves a single-minded focus, a determination to hold on to Him and not let go until we receive His blessing. Finally, we must be responsive to His approaches. Christ often reveals His love in subtle ways, and we must be attentive and ready to respond. When He knocks, we must open the door immediately, lest we miss the opportunity to experience His love.
Key Takeaways:
1. Experiential Knowledge of Christ's Love: The love of Christ is not just to be understood conceptually but experienced personally. This knowledge is available to all believers, not just a select few, and it requires a personal relationship with Christ, not a mechanical approach. [01:44]
2. Scripture as a Living Word: The Bible is a living document through which God reveals Himself. We must approach it with expectation and readiness to encounter Christ, using all our faculties and seeking the Holy Spirit's illumination. [10:57]
3. The Role of Prayer and Thanksgiving: Prayer should be preceded by self-examination and meditation. Thanksgiving is crucial, as it reflects our faith and opens us to God's love. We must express gratitude for what Christ has done, which deepens our relationship with Him. [22:28]
4. Obedience and Pleasing God: Our love for Christ is shown through obedience to His commandments. As we strive to please Him, He reveals more of His love to us. Avoiding actions that displease Him is essential for experiencing His love. [24:31]
5. Wholehearted Pursuit and Responsiveness: We must seek Christ with all our hearts, being persistent and single-minded in our pursuit. Additionally, we must be responsive to His subtle approaches, ready to act when He reveals His love, ensuring we do not miss His presence. [36:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Paul's Prayer
- [00:25] - Strengthened by the Spirit
- [00:48] - Comprehending Christ's Love
- [01:07] - Exceeding Abundance of God
- [01:25] - Experiential Knowledge
- [03:05] - Practical Steps for Christians
- [04:04] - Personal Relationship with Christ
- [07:21] - Seeking Christ Himself
- [09:04] - The Word of God
- [10:57] - Reading Scripture with Expectation
- [16:20] - The Role of Prayer
- [22:28] - Thanksgiving in Prayer
- [24:31] - Obedience and Pleasing God
- [32:18] - Wholehearted Pursuit
- [36:09] - Responsiveness to Christ's Approaches
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 3:14-21
- John 14:21
- Jeremiah 29:13
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Observation Questions:
1. In Ephesians 3:14-21, what specific requests does Paul make in his prayer for the Ephesians? How does he describe the love of Christ? [00:10]
2. According to the sermon, what is the difference between conceptual knowledge and experiential knowledge of Christ's love? [01:44]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Scripture in revealing Christ to us? What is the importance of approaching the Bible with expectation? [10:57]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between obedience to Christ's commandments and experiencing His love? [24:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 challenge the idea that knowing Christ's love is only for a select few? What does this imply about the accessibility of Christ's love to all believers? [01:44]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of prayer and thanksgiving. How might self-examination and gratitude transform one's prayer life and relationship with God? [22:28]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that obedience to Christ's commandments is a demonstration of our love for Him? How does this relate to the promise of Christ manifesting Himself to us? [24:31]
4. The sermon speaks about being responsive to Christ's subtle approaches. How can believers cultivate a sensitivity to recognize and respond to these moments? [36:09]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current approach to reading the Bible. How can you incorporate a sense of expectation and anticipation in your daily Scripture reading? What practical steps can you take to seek Christ in the Scriptures? [10:57]
2. Consider your prayer life. How often do you include thanksgiving in your prayers? What are some specific things you can thank God for this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [22:28]
3. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with obedience to Christ's commandments. What steps can you take to align your actions with His teachings and demonstrate your love for Him? [24:31]
4. Think about a time when you felt a subtle nudge or call from God. How did you respond? How can you be more attentive and responsive to His approaches in the future? [36:09]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of wholehearted pursuit of Christ. What distractions or divided interests might be hindering your pursuit? How can you focus more single-mindedly on seeking Christ this week? [32:18]
6. Reflect on a recent experience where you felt distant from God's love. What might have been some contributing factors, and how can you address them to open yourself more to His love? [04:58]
7. How can you create a habit of self-examination before prayer to ensure you approach God with the right heart and mindset? What might this look like in your daily routine? [19:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing Christ's Love Beyond Knowledge
The love of Christ is not merely a concept to be understood intellectually; it is a profound reality to be experienced personally. This experiential knowledge is available to all believers, not just a select few. It requires a personal relationship with Christ, characterized by a deep, intimate connection rather than a mechanical approach. Engaging with Christ's love involves seeking Him wholeheartedly, desiring to know Him more deeply, and being open to the transformative power of His love in our lives. This journey is deeply personal and relational, inviting us to move beyond mere understanding to a lived experience of His love. [01:44]
Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV): "May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Think of a moment when you felt deeply loved by Christ. How can you intentionally seek to experience His love more fully in your daily life today?
Day 2: Scripture as a Living Encounter
The Bible is not just a book to be read; it is a living word through which God reveals Himself. Approaching Scripture with expectation and readiness to encounter Christ is essential for spiritual growth. This involves using all our faculties and seeking the Holy Spirit's illumination as we read. The Scriptures are a means of grace, a channel through which God communicates His love and truth to us. By engaging with the Bible in this way, we open ourselves to a transformative encounter with Christ, allowing His word to shape and guide our lives. [10:57]
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Reflection: As you read the Bible today, ask yourself, "What is God revealing to me about Himself through this passage?" How can you apply this revelation to your life?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Prayer and Thanksgiving
Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God, and it should be approached with a heart prepared to meet Him. It is not enough to simply pray; we must examine ourselves, meditate on His grace, and express gratitude. Thanksgiving is crucial, as it reflects our faith and opens us to God's love. By expressing gratitude for what Christ has done, we deepen our relationship with Him and become more receptive to His presence in our lives. This intentional approach to prayer transforms our hearts and aligns us more closely with God's will. [22:28]
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Reflection: Before you pray today, take a moment to reflect on God's blessings in your life. How can you express your gratitude to Him in a specific and meaningful way?
Day 4: Obedience as an Expression of Love
Our love for Christ is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. As we strive to please Him, He reveals more of His love to us. Obedience is not about following rules for the sake of it; it is about aligning our lives with God's will and reflecting His character in our actions. By avoiding actions that displease Him and seeking to live in a way that honors Him, we open ourselves to a deeper experience of His love. This obedience is a response to His love, a way of expressing our devotion and commitment to Him. [24:31]
1 John 5:3 (ESV): "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle with obedience. What steps can you take today to align this area with God's will?
Day 5: Wholehearted Pursuit and Responsiveness to Christ
The pursuit of Christ's love requires wholeheartedness and persistence. We must seek Him with all our hearts, being single-minded in our pursuit and determined to hold on to Him. Additionally, we must be responsive to His subtle approaches, ready to act when He reveals His love. Christ often reveals His love in subtle ways, and we must be attentive and ready to respond. When He knocks, we must open the door immediately, lest we miss the opportunity to experience His love. This responsiveness is a crucial aspect of our relationship with Him, allowing us to experience His presence more fully. [36:09]
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: Consider how you can be more attentive to Christ's subtle approaches in your life. What practical steps can you take today to ensure you are responsive to His presence?
Quotes
The Apostle says you were Christians but you at the moment seem to know very little about what is possible for you in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and of his love in a direct immediate and personal sense now then we are therefore considering it from the very practical standpoint. [00:03:23]
We must never conceive of this in a mechanical manner it's not something that happens automatically if we do something then we have it no it isn't that we must always remember that we are dealing with a very personal matter here it is to know the love of Christ not love as a vague General sentiment. [00:03:47]
The word of God this uh word is a word which is given in order to reveal him to us that really is the purpose of the word it is to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ now this is true of the Old Testament as well as the new you recall how after his own Resurrection he took his incredulous disciples. [00:08:55]
You know it's possible even to read the scriptures in a thoroughly profitless manner if you simply read the scriptures mechanically because you believe it's right and good to read the scriptures you'll probably derive very little benefit from so doing you may get an immediate sense of self-satisfaction and self-righteousness. [00:10:21]
Every bit of intelligence we possess is needed as we read the scriptures all our faculties and propensities and even that's not enough we must pray for the illumination and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit now I mean something like this that whenever we go to the scriptures we must talk to ourselves before we start reading. [00:10:48]
Thanksgiving is a very vital part of this matter Thanksgiving the danger is when you read a great passage like this and when you read the experiences of others you tend to say well now that's what I want I give the whole world for that and so you go and you begin to pray for this and plead for it. [00:21:28]
Do you know God Delights to hear our Thanksgiving and our prayers that's why the Apostle you see in writing to the Philippians puts it like this in nothing be anxious but in all things with prayer and supplication and Thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God oh if we believe that he's there. [00:22:06]
He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest myself to him now nothing could be clearer and plainer than that and yet how often do we forget it we tend to Divine our lives up into compartments. [00:24:11]
If we really do want to know him and his love well then I say do everything that he's ever told you to do it's all here for us there's no excuse It's in The Sermon on the Mount it's in these Epistles it's everywhere in his own teaching let us therefore I say give ourselves to the keeping of his Commandments. [00:25:48]
We must go on and on and on seeking him and as we do so he will do various things to us leave it to him as regards the time but just go on and tell him or may I borrow that word again of Thomas Goodwin sue him for it and keep on doing so like the importunate Widow and the unjust judge. [00:35:42]
There is nothing more important in this matter than being being responsive to his approaches what do I mean by that well I mean that you look for them I mean that you wait for them you see it's possible for you to be so busy reading your scriptures and praying and doing all I've been saying and you say nothing happens. [00:36:32]
Our Lord deals with us like that he is our Heavenly lover and he manifests his love sometimes very faintly just a slight indication of it and you and I should be looking for these things don't say it must always come in one stereotype manner not at all he has his ways of manifesting his love be always on the lookout. [00:38:15]
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