Living in the Fullness of God’s Love

 

Summary

In this message, we explore the profound implications of being filled with the fullness of God, as articulated in the Apostle Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. This fullness is not a mere reserve for emergencies or a background comfort; it is meant to be the central, vital force in our lives. The essence of Christianity is not something to be remembered only on Sundays but should be the core of our existence, influencing every aspect of our lives.

To be filled with the fullness of God means that God dwells in us in such a way that He controls our entire being—our mind, heart, and will. This divine control transforms our thinking, enabling us to think spiritually rather than naturally. The renewed mind, as Paul describes, is not conformed to this world but is transformed by the Spirit, allowing us to discern the will of God.

Moreover, this fullness affects our emotions. When God controls our hearts, the love of self diminishes, and the love of God takes precedence. This transformation is evident in the lives of biblical figures like Stephen and Paul, who, filled with God's love, could forgive and love their enemies. The love of God replaces self-centeredness, leading to a life of service and compassion for others.

The will, too, is surrendered to God. Just as Jesus came to do the Father's will, a person filled with God's fullness seeks to align their will with God's purposes. This surrender is not a loss but a fulfillment, as it leads to a life of joy and purpose, exemplified by Paul's dedication to his mission despite the hardships he faced.

Finally, being filled with the fullness of God satisfies our deepest spiritual desires. The regenerated soul longs to know God intimately, not just intellectually. This knowledge is a personal, experiential understanding of God, fulfilling the heart's deepest thirst. Additionally, there is a yearning to be filled with love, to embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, and to live a life that reflects God's love to the world.

Key Takeaways:

- The fullness of God is not a backup plan but the central force in our lives, meant to transform our entire being—mind, heart, and will—into alignment with God's purposes. [12:20]

- A renewed mind, transformed by the Spirit, allows us to think spiritually, discerning God's will and living in a way that reflects His wisdom and understanding. [16:31]

- When God controls our hearts, the love of self diminishes, and the love of God takes precedence, leading to a life of forgiveness, compassion, and service to others. [22:37]

- Surrendering our will to God is not a loss but a fulfillment, as it aligns us with His purposes and leads to a life of joy and purpose, as exemplified by Jesus and Paul. [25:12]

- Being filled with the fullness of God satisfies our deepest spiritual desires, leading to an intimate knowledge of God and a life characterized by love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13. [31:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [12:05] - Examining Our Faith
- [12:48] - The Centrality of Christianity
- [13:50] - Practical Implications of Fullness
- [15:21] - God-Controlled Thinking
- [17:40] - Spiritual vs. Natural Mind
- [19:25] - Spiritual Thinking Explained
- [21:30] - Emotional Transformation
- [23:14] - Love of God vs. Love of Self
- [24:53] - Surrendering Our Will
- [26:52] - Paul's Example of Surrender
- [29:23] - Spiritual Satisfaction
- [30:28] - Knowing God Intimately
- [32:05] - Longing for Love
- [32:33] - Embodying God's Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 3:14-19
2. Romans 12:1-2
3. 1 Corinthians 13

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be filled with the fullness of God, and how does this affect our mind, heart, and will? [14:28]

2. How does the sermon describe the transformation of our thinking when we are filled with the fullness of God? [16:31]

3. What examples from the Bible were given in the sermon to illustrate a life controlled by the love of God rather than self-love? [23:14]

4. How does the sermon explain the concept of surrendering our will to God, and what biblical figures exemplify this surrender? [25:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a renewed mind, as described in Romans 12:2, allows believers to discern God's will? How might this look in everyday life? [16:31]

2. The sermon mentions that when God controls our hearts, the love of self diminishes. How does this transformation manifest in relationships with others, according to the sermon? [22:37]

3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of being filled with the fullness of God as satisfying our deepest spiritual desires? What does this mean for a believer's relationship with God? [30:28]

4. The sermon uses the example of Paul to illustrate a life surrendered to God's will. How does this example challenge or inspire believers today? [26:52]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Is the fullness of God a central force, or is it more of a backup plan for emergencies? How can you make it more central? [12:20]

2. Consider your thought patterns: Are they more aligned with natural thinking or spiritual thinking? What steps can you take to renew your mind according to Romans 12:2? [16:31]

3. Think about a recent situation where you prioritized self-love over God's love. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [22:37]

4. Identify an area of your life where you struggle to surrender your will to God. What practical steps can you take to align your will with God's purposes? [25:12]

5. Reflect on your spiritual desires: Do you feel a deep longing to know God intimately? What practices can you incorporate into your life to deepen this relationship? [30:28]

6. How can you embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13 in your daily interactions? Choose one aspect of this love to focus on this week.

7. Consider a person in your life who challenges your ability to love selflessly. What is one specific action you can take to show them God's love this week? [23:14]

Devotional

Day 1: The Fullness of God as Our Central Force
To be filled with the fullness of God is to allow His presence to be the central, vital force in our lives, not just a reserve for emergencies. This fullness is meant to transform our entire being—mind, heart, and will—into alignment with God's purposes. It is not something to be remembered only on Sundays but should be the core of our existence, influencing every aspect of our lives. When God dwells in us, He controls our entire being, enabling us to think spiritually, love selflessly, and act according to His will. This divine control leads to a life of joy and purpose, as we align ourselves with God's mission and desires. [12:20]

Ephesians 3:19 (ESV): "and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been relying on your own strength instead of allowing God's fullness to be the central force? How can you invite Him to take control today?


Day 2: Renewed Mind, Transformed by the Spirit
A renewed mind, transformed by the Spirit, allows us to think spiritually, discerning God's will and living in a way that reflects His wisdom and understanding. This transformation is not about conforming to the patterns of this world but about being transformed by the renewal of our minds. When our thinking is aligned with God's, we can better understand His purposes and make decisions that honor Him. This spiritual mindset enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God, as we seek to reflect His character in all that we do. [16:31]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: In what ways can you allow the Holy Spirit to transform your thinking today? How can you practice discerning God's will in your daily decisions?


Day 3: Love of God Overcoming Love of Self
When God controls our hearts, the love of self diminishes, and the love of God takes precedence, leading to a life of forgiveness, compassion, and service to others. This transformation is evident in the lives of biblical figures like Stephen and Paul, who, filled with God's love, could forgive and love their enemies. The love of God replaces self-centeredness, leading to a life of service and compassion for others. As we allow God's love to fill our hearts, we become more like Christ, embodying the love described in 1 Corinthians 13. [22:37]

1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?


Day 4: Surrendering Our Will to God's Purposes
Surrendering our will to God is not a loss but a fulfillment, as it aligns us with His purposes and leads to a life of joy and purpose, as exemplified by Jesus and Paul. Just as Jesus came to do the Father's will, a person filled with God's fullness seeks to align their will with God's purposes. This surrender is a daily choice, requiring us to trust in God's plan and relinquish control over our own desires. As we surrender our will to God, we find true fulfillment and joy in living according to His purposes. [25:12]

Luke 22:42 (ESV): "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 5: Satisfying Our Deepest Spiritual Desires
Being filled with the fullness of God satisfies our deepest spiritual desires, leading to an intimate knowledge of God and a life characterized by love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13. The regenerated soul longs to know God intimately, not just intellectually. This knowledge is a personal, experiential understanding of God, fulfilling the heart's deepest thirst. Additionally, there is a yearning to be filled with love, to embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, and to live a life that reflects God's love to the world. [31:08]

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV): "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God today? What steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects His love to those around you?

Quotes


is it something that you like to have you know it's there if if you're taken desperately ill or a loved one is or if you're suddenly confronted by a loss of your income or if some disaster happens or if you're on your desk but then you can turn to it ah it's nice to have it in the background but that isn't where it's meant to be that isn't the kind of thing the Apostle is praying for for these Ephesians in his prayer it isn't some Reserve you can fall back on it isn't some emergency station you can ring up and be assured of help when you do so it's unexamined and it's largely unused [00:12:05]

do we know what it is to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner men is Christ Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith do we know with All Saints the depth the breadth and the length and the depth and the height and to know this Love Of Christ which passees knowledge that we might be filled with all the fullness of God are we are we concerned is this Central to us is this vital where does Christianity come in our lives yes those of us who are Christian is it something that we are only remember on Sunday morning I wonder and forget even the rest of Sunday leave alone weekdays [00:12:48]

well first of all it must mean this that God dwells in Us in such a way as absolutely to control us and all our faculties if we are filled with all the fullness of God will it follows I think of necessity by a logical inevitability that God controls the whole of our life he controls if you like our cognitions our feelings and our outward actions men must be thought of ever in terms of his mind and his heart and his will and if we are filled with all the fullness of God it means that God is controlling us in the mind the realm of cognition in the heart the feelings the sensibilities and in the realm of the will the outward actions and all our activities [00:14:50]

the difference between a man who's not a Christian and a Christian is that whereas the non-Christian mind is controlled by the world this man's mind has been transformed and has been renewed by the Holy Spirit and the result is that this man is now able to think in a spiritual manner whereas formerly he couldn't now there's a great exposition of this as you recall in the second chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians where he says that the natural mind the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God he says that the are foolishness unto him [00:17:40]

if we are filled with all the fullness of God if Christ dwells in our hearts by faith we have the mind of Christ it's inevitable and the Apostle claims it in other words he says that the man who is filled with all the fullness of God is a man who can think spiritually and this is a very wonderful thing there is to me nothing more glorious nothing in a sense more romantic about the Christian life than the way it entirely changes a man's type of thinking his whole mode and method of thinking [00:18:56]

when God controls our hearts self has gone out and that is really all that need be said when the love of God comes in the love of self goes out and of course when the love of self goes out and the love of God comes in we begin to love others it was all there in the 12th chapter of Romans but look at this great example of it that notable example in the case of Steven the Martyr Steven there he is condemned unjustly being Stone to death but what he said was this Lord lay not this sin to their charge [00:23:14]

do you remember that great statement of his in writing to the Corinthians first epistle fourth chapter he says with me it is a very small thing that I be judged of you or of any men's judgment yay I judge not my own self what a transformation there was a time when this man was very sensitive to judgment he judged others and he hated being judged himself being criticized but he says don't worry it's gone it's a very small thing with me that i' be judged of you or of any man's judgment I judge not my know self that means that this man was filled with the love of God and the love of self and concern about self had gone out [00:24:53]

I came not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me that's it even the son of God didn't hold on to his prerogatives he humbled himself he became a servant and he set aside his own will and all he said and all he did was the will of the father I came not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me H but it wasn't only true of of the Lord himself you know this is equally true of the Apostle Paul [00:25:12]

a man who is filled with all the fullness of God is a man whose every SP spiritual aim and Instinct are satisfied all his spiritual aims and instincts are satisfied why well he is filled with all the fullness of God you see the moment we are born again the moment we are regenerated the moment this new principle of life is put into us the moment we become partakers of the divine nature there are new instincts new desires new names new objectives and these begin to stir and we are anxious to have their fulfillment and when we are filled with all the fullness of God they are fulfilled and they are satisfied [00:29:23]

the moment you have this life within you you begin to have a desire that You've never known before to know God I didn't say to know about God I said to know him to know God you see the psalmist KN it as the heart tth after the water Brook so panteth my heart after thee Oh God my soul thirsteth for God for the Living God When shall I come and appear before God do you know that desire has that Desire been satisf that I might know him this is life eternal that they might know the the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent [00:30:28]

a child of God longs to be filled with love himself he's unhappy because of an absence of Love Lord it is my chief complaint that my love is weak and faint he's unhappy about that he wants to love God more he wants to love Christ more he wants to be filled with love to his fellow men and women and he reads 1 Corinthians 13 and he says that's how I should be I want to be like that I want to be filled with this love I want to be an exemplify of it and you see when a man is filled with all the fullness of God he becomes like that because the fruit of the spirit is first and foremost love [00:32:33]

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Transcript
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