PENTECOST 9 – July 25, 2021 – Eph. 3:14-21
“A BLESSED PRIVILEGE TO PRAY”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Ephesians 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- What goals or aims do you in terms of gaining power, privilege, prerogative, and perhaps even prestige? I realize that these are more questions that young people wrestle with, and perhaps even more so middle age people.
- It may also be a matter of considering what you want to accomplish during your remaining productive years, or what you might reasonably be able to accomplish during that time.
- A more important question is what kind of power, strength, grounding, and accomplishment you would like to have in your “spiritual” life. I’m talking about your inner life of faith, your relationship with God. And I’m talking about your spiritual accomplishments, your good works, your life within the church, and God’s work through you in the various facets of your life.
- Of the two, the Scripture assures us that the second consideration, the “spiritual” one, is far more important. It is as Jesus stated: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul?” [Mark 8:36] So, the priority certainly should be placed upon the spiritual.
- And in terms of balancing the two, Jesus also added: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be added to you.” [Matt. 6:33]
- And in terms of the symbiotic relationship between earthly success and spiritual success, the Bible assures us that spiritual success leads to earthly success, but that earthly success almost always destroys spiritual success. So strength in the spiritual moves toward strength in earthly success, but earthly success threatens spiritual strength and health. Paul wrote: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” [1 Tim. 6:9,10]
- And while we may have difficulties and struggles, and even roadblocks when it comes to earthly success, our text teaches us that God wills and desires that each of us have great spiritual strength! These blessings come to us through God’s Word and Sacraments. It also comes to us through this remarkable apostolic prayer, a prayer which we may also pray for ourselves! First, we remember that:
I. We Pray To The Glorious Father Of All People
Text: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory . . . [these things may be granted to us.]”
A. The Prayer Is That We Be Strengthened With Power Through The Holy Spirit, In Our Inner Being
Text: “That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”
B. This Brings The Presence Of Christ Dwelling In Our Hearts By Faith
Text: “So that Christ my dwell in your hearts through faith.”
C. We Then Become Rooted And Grounded In Love
Text: “that you, being rooted and grounded in love.”
1. This comes as a result of knowing the dimensions of the love of Christ
Text: “That you 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.”
2. And this actually fills us with the fullness of God
Text: “That you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Statement: Now, if there were a seminar that promised to provide you with all of these blessings, how much would the sponsor of that seminar be able to charge people? The riches of God’s glory, God’s strength and power, His Holy Spirit, Christ dwelling in you through faith, a transformation of your love, your knowledge of God’s love, and the fullness of God filling you! All of this is worth a fortune, worth far more than any earthly wealth accumulated by any human being, including the richest billionaires!
Application: And it is available to you. It is offered to you by God Himself! He wants to give it to us! And it comes to us by means of God’s Word and Sacraments, and it is sure and certain, as this this simple but remarkable prayer reveals.
Alas, all too often we go through life with our eyes focused on other things, and fail to even notice the treasure that we repeatedly walk by! Yes, we are concerned about earthly success, and blow right past the real riches and spiritual success that God wills to grant to us! We do not think highly enough about the church, about our congregation, within which God distributes these treasures! So let us take cognizance, and still our hearts and minds, and focus on these things promised to us! Yes, let us embrace them, and prepare to receive them from God, and make this spiritual strength and power our chief ambition in life!
Transition: And it sure and certain that we will receive these things from God, for:
II. God Is Able To Do Far More Than We Ask Or Think
Text: “Now to Him Who is able to far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.”
A. His Power Is At Work Within Us
Text: “According to the power at work within us.”
B. So He Is Worthy Of All Glory, Especially Within The Church
Text: “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Statement: Paul bows his knees before the Father, for all of this. And why not? And of course we should also bow our knees before God. It is amazing to know and contemplate that God gives us more than we ask or think! It is amazing that He gives us great inner power and strength, through His love for us in Christ Jesus, His salvation. And so of course He deserves all glory forever.
Application: But we do not honor Him when we seek other things ahead of His kingdom and His redemption. We do not honor Him when we do not care that His Name is blasphemed among people of the world, and even by some who have infiltrated into the church and call themselves Christians. We do not glorify Him when earthly things are more important to us than His church, than His little flock of our congregation! We do not honor Him when we do not wholeheartedly seek and receive His spiritual success, His power and strength!
Conclusion: So we have this invitation before us, and opportunity to take it seriously.
And whether we are young or old, wisdom dictates that we seek first the kingdom of God, His salvation, and the spiritual riches He wants to give to us! For this success will bode well for us forever. The other wealth is temporal, and even spiritually dangerous. It is as the apostle Paul observed: “We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” [1 Tim. 6:7]
But as we receive the richness of God’s spiritual strength and power, He also promises to “add” all these other things to us, everything that we truly need!
So it really should be a “no-brainer” as to where our priorities should lie. May God grant each of this wisdom and discernment, and may He grant each of us a willingness to allow Him to fill us with all of His fullness. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.