1 00:00:01,008 --> 00:00:06,556 Ephesians 3 will be the portion of Scripture 2 00:00:06,556 --> 00:00:15,688 we'll be looking at this morning. 3 00:00:15,688 --> 00:00:29,878 You can look with me at chapter 3:14. 4 00:00:29,878 --> 00:00:33,880 I might entitle this sermon, 5 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:41,350 "Expectation." 6 00:00:41,350 --> 00:00:48,361 To those of you that are weary, 7 00:00:48,361 --> 00:00:50,867 maybe heavy-laden, 8 00:00:50,867 --> 00:00:57,142 to borrow a couple Scriptural terms; 9 00:00:57,142 --> 00:01:00,963 Hebrews - you've got the imagery 10 00:01:00,963 --> 00:01:03,684 of somebody's whose arms 11 00:01:03,684 --> 00:01:08,490 are hanging down. 12 00:01:08,490 --> 00:01:10,401 We ought to pray and not faint. 13 00:01:10,401 --> 00:01:18,443 Maybe some feel faint. 14 00:01:18,443 --> 00:01:25,093 Anyway, this message is to the weary, 15 00:01:25,093 --> 00:01:29,370 the distracted. 16 00:01:29,370 --> 00:01:31,306 I'm calling it "Expectation." 17 00:01:31,306 --> 00:01:34,205 Let's look at the verses, 18 00:01:34,205 --> 00:01:36,383 3:14, "For this reason 19 00:01:36,383 --> 00:01:39,053 I bow my knees before the Father..." 20 00:01:39,053 --> 00:01:41,656 Just a reminder, 21 00:01:41,656 --> 00:01:44,653 Paul is telling the Ephesians 22 00:01:44,653 --> 00:01:47,924 about how he prays for them. 23 00:01:47,924 --> 00:01:50,546 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father." 24 00:01:50,546 --> 00:01:52,601 That's prayer. 25 00:01:52,601 --> 00:01:54,548 "...From whom every family in heaven 26 00:01:54,548 --> 00:01:57,920 and on earth is named, 27 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,455 that according to the riches of His glory 28 00:02:02,455 --> 00:02:04,151 He may grant you to be strengthened 29 00:02:04,151 --> 00:02:05,982 with power through His Spirit 30 00:02:05,982 --> 00:02:09,560 in your inner being, 31 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:15,490 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." 32 00:02:15,490 --> 00:02:18,440 Literally, "so that Christ may dwell 33 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,001 in your hearts through faith 34 00:02:21,001 --> 00:02:26,398 in love being rooted and grounded, 35 00:02:26,398 --> 00:02:28,927 that you may have strength 36 00:02:28,927 --> 00:02:31,424 to comprehend with all the saints 37 00:02:31,424 --> 00:02:34,852 what is the breadth and length 38 00:02:34,852 --> 00:02:38,398 and height and depth 39 00:02:38,398 --> 00:02:40,392 and to know the love of Christ 40 00:02:40,392 --> 00:02:43,301 that surpasses knowledge 41 00:02:43,301 --> 00:02:45,678 that you may be filled 42 00:02:45,678 --> 00:02:50,177 with all the fullness of God." 43 00:02:50,177 --> 00:02:53,133 So let's just think about this a second. 44 00:02:53,133 --> 00:02:59,317 Notice, I want to primarily dive into v. 18. 45 00:02:59,317 --> 00:03:01,510 That's the primary text I want us 46 00:03:01,510 --> 00:03:04,640 to be absorbed with. 47 00:03:04,640 --> 00:03:06,691 I'll pull in the surrounding verses 48 00:03:06,691 --> 00:03:09,621 as may be necessary. 49 00:03:09,621 --> 00:03:11,246 But you notice, 50 00:03:11,246 --> 00:03:15,178 breadth - that's got to do with the width. 51 00:03:15,178 --> 00:03:21,316 Length, height, depth. 52 00:03:21,316 --> 00:03:24,589 We've got dimensions that are called out here. 53 00:03:24,589 --> 00:03:26,575 Some would argue 54 00:03:26,575 --> 00:03:28,653 about what breadth and length 55 00:03:28,653 --> 00:03:33,398 and height and depth refers to. 56 00:03:33,398 --> 00:03:38,196 And even before preparing to preach on this, 57 00:03:38,196 --> 00:03:42,795 I've come across that in the past. 58 00:03:42,795 --> 00:03:44,951 Some suggest these words 59 00:03:44,951 --> 00:03:47,403 do not refer to the love of Christ, 60 00:03:47,403 --> 00:03:49,218 but to something else. 61 00:03:49,218 --> 00:03:51,285 Because in their estimation, Paul doesn't 62 00:03:51,285 --> 00:03:53,001 directly say that these words apply 63 00:03:53,001 --> 00:03:54,673 to the love of Christ. 64 00:03:54,673 --> 00:03:57,114 But my question would be, 65 00:03:57,114 --> 00:04:00,619 well, what then do they refer to? 66 00:04:00,619 --> 00:04:02,913 I mean, if you just look at the context, 67 00:04:02,913 --> 00:04:04,841 what are the other options? 68 00:04:04,841 --> 00:04:06,806 What's right before it? 69 00:04:06,806 --> 00:04:09,386 "Being rooted and grounded in love." 70 00:04:09,386 --> 00:04:11,578 And as I sought to make the case last time, 71 00:04:11,578 --> 00:04:13,670 certainly, our own love 72 00:04:13,670 --> 00:04:15,844 doesn't make a good foundation. 73 00:04:15,844 --> 00:04:17,741 The foundation we want to be planted on 74 00:04:17,741 --> 00:04:19,076 is the love of Christ. 75 00:04:19,076 --> 00:04:20,631 And then if you go after, 76 00:04:20,631 --> 00:04:26,962 you go into the following verse 19, 77 00:04:26,962 --> 00:04:31,750 "...and to know the love of Christ." 78 00:04:31,750 --> 00:04:34,155 Now, I recognize that the way Paul says this 79 00:04:34,155 --> 00:04:36,786 is a little odd. 80 00:04:36,786 --> 00:04:40,016 But, think about it, what's he praying for? 81 00:04:40,016 --> 00:04:44,042 He's praying that we would have strength 82 00:04:44,042 --> 00:04:46,108 to comprehend something. 83 00:04:46,108 --> 00:04:47,522 Well, just in the context, 84 00:04:47,522 --> 00:04:50,690 what would we need strength to comprehend? 85 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:54,072 The love of Christ surpasses knowledge. 86 00:04:54,072 --> 00:04:55,976 That's the thing being put on the table 87 00:04:55,976 --> 00:04:58,541 that is so difficult 88 00:04:58,541 --> 00:05:03,303 and takes a supernatural strengthening 89 00:05:03,303 --> 00:05:04,777 to comprehend. 90 00:05:04,777 --> 00:05:08,134 So, I think you're just left with no other options 91 00:05:08,134 --> 00:05:09,928 and I don't really know why anybody 92 00:05:09,928 --> 00:05:11,940 would want to waste their time 93 00:05:11,940 --> 00:05:15,074 arguing about that. 94 00:05:15,074 --> 00:05:19,978 But now, you notice, 95 00:05:19,978 --> 00:05:25,005 he wants us to comprehend and to know. 96 00:05:25,005 --> 00:05:26,926 You can basically take that "and" 97 00:05:26,926 --> 00:05:28,820 at the beginning of v. 19 - 98 00:05:28,820 --> 00:05:33,037 you know, the height, the length, 99 00:05:33,037 --> 00:05:35,068 or the breadth, the length, 100 00:05:35,068 --> 00:05:36,688 the height, the depth - 101 00:05:36,688 --> 00:05:38,928 that's kind of additional information. 102 00:05:38,928 --> 00:05:40,882 Those are modifiers in there. 103 00:05:40,882 --> 00:05:43,656 Basically what he's saying is this: 104 00:05:43,656 --> 00:05:47,674 he's praying that we with all the saints 105 00:05:47,674 --> 00:05:50,564 would have the strength to comprehend, 106 00:05:50,564 --> 00:05:52,715 and then after that, just take that out. 107 00:05:52,715 --> 00:05:54,622 Everything else in there is a modifier. 108 00:05:54,622 --> 00:05:56,733 But it's to comprehend, 109 00:05:56,733 --> 00:05:59,723 and - you have that "and" right there, 110 00:05:59,723 --> 00:06:02,048 that conjuntion at the beginning of v. 19, 111 00:06:02,048 --> 00:06:03,463 "and to know..." 112 00:06:03,463 --> 00:06:06,455 It's to be strengthened to comprehend 113 00:06:06,455 --> 00:06:09,897 and to know something 114 00:06:09,897 --> 00:06:12,217 that he then immediately turns around 115 00:06:12,217 --> 00:06:14,179 and says is incomprehensible 116 00:06:14,179 --> 00:06:16,057 and unknowable. 117 00:06:16,057 --> 00:06:17,464 Almost contractory. 118 00:06:17,464 --> 00:06:20,198 What sort of talk is that? 119 00:06:20,198 --> 00:06:22,128 I'll tell you this, 120 00:06:22,128 --> 00:06:24,738 it's the sort of talk 121 00:06:24,738 --> 00:06:27,582 that people who are going to live forever 122 00:06:27,582 --> 00:06:29,678 want to hear. 123 00:06:29,678 --> 00:06:31,217 You say, what do you mean? 124 00:06:31,217 --> 00:06:34,073 Well, it means that our Christian life 125 00:06:34,073 --> 00:06:38,040 all through eternity is never going to reach stagnation. 126 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,326 That's a good thing! 127 00:06:39,326 --> 00:06:41,212 That's a good thing for you to know. 128 00:06:41,212 --> 00:06:42,907 If the love of Christ was something 129 00:06:42,907 --> 00:06:44,333 that we might easily measure 130 00:06:44,333 --> 00:06:45,577 and get our hands around 131 00:06:45,577 --> 00:06:47,303 and get an adequate estimation of, 132 00:06:47,303 --> 00:06:48,411 what? 133 00:06:48,411 --> 00:06:49,585 Then we'd be done. 134 00:06:49,585 --> 00:06:51,582 I mean, if I brought out my tape measure 135 00:06:51,582 --> 00:06:53,041 and I measured it, 136 00:06:53,041 --> 00:06:56,801 and it's 24 inches long, 137 00:06:56,801 --> 00:06:58,764 well, that's it. 138 00:06:58,764 --> 00:07:00,505 I mean, that's it. We sized it up. 139 00:07:00,505 --> 00:07:02,742 There it is. There's no more. Now what? 140 00:07:02,742 --> 00:07:06,092 I mean, you know, as I was thinking about this, 141 00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:10,738 just the ideas that are put in the mind. 142 00:07:10,738 --> 00:07:13,315 This comes from the theology 143 00:07:13,315 --> 00:07:17,266 taught by Bugs Bunny. 144 00:07:17,266 --> 00:07:18,864 You know, as a kid, 145 00:07:18,864 --> 00:07:20,939 you watch people die and they float up 146 00:07:20,939 --> 00:07:23,595 and they sit on a cloud. 147 00:07:23,595 --> 00:07:25,846 Yosemite Sam - he's still angry, 148 00:07:25,846 --> 00:07:28,036 and he's up there and he's got the harp. 149 00:07:28,036 --> 00:07:30,746 And you know, you get that kind of imagery. 150 00:07:30,746 --> 00:07:33,502 Well, that idea of heaven is like: 151 00:07:33,502 --> 00:07:35,361 I don't want to go there! 152 00:07:35,361 --> 00:07:37,352 That's like miserable. 153 00:07:37,352 --> 00:07:39,671 This idea of just sitting on a cloud 154 00:07:39,671 --> 00:07:42,957 and that's it. Is that heavenly? 155 00:07:42,957 --> 00:07:44,708 In some people's minds I suppose. 156 00:07:44,708 --> 00:07:49,898 But listen, we are people - 157 00:07:49,898 --> 00:07:50,943 you know it - 158 00:07:50,943 --> 00:07:53,390 we are born to worship. 159 00:07:53,390 --> 00:07:55,306 We are born to admire. 160 00:07:55,306 --> 00:07:56,504 We love that. 161 00:07:56,504 --> 00:07:58,129 We love being impressed. 162 00:07:58,129 --> 00:08:00,273 I was just talking to a brother yesterday, 163 00:08:00,273 --> 00:08:02,133 and he was telling me in his lost days 164 00:08:02,133 --> 00:08:05,402 how he was really absorbed with horror movies. 165 00:08:05,402 --> 00:08:07,531 Well, you know, that ought not to shock us. 166 00:08:07,531 --> 00:08:08,961 Many of us, when we were lost, 167 00:08:08,961 --> 00:08:11,272 we were absorbed with that kind of thing. 168 00:08:11,272 --> 00:08:13,157 And even though it's the kind of thing 169 00:08:13,157 --> 00:08:15,908 where you didn't really want to sometimes 170 00:08:15,908 --> 00:08:18,477 because it left horrible nightmares 171 00:08:18,477 --> 00:08:19,741 and thoughts in your mind, 172 00:08:19,741 --> 00:08:21,473 but there was something attractive. 173 00:08:21,473 --> 00:08:25,210 Why? Because we like to feel emotions. 174 00:08:25,210 --> 00:08:28,136 We like to feel. 175 00:08:28,136 --> 00:08:29,601 We're created that way. 176 00:08:29,601 --> 00:08:31,038 God created us to worship 177 00:08:31,038 --> 00:08:32,424 and you know this very well. 178 00:08:32,424 --> 00:08:33,837 If we're not worshiping God, 179 00:08:33,837 --> 00:08:35,820 we are master idolaters 180 00:08:35,820 --> 00:08:38,087 and we're going to find all manner of things. 181 00:08:38,087 --> 00:08:39,737 We love to be wowed. 182 00:08:39,737 --> 00:08:41,254 We love that! 183 00:08:41,254 --> 00:08:43,758 And listen, if you could bring out the tape measure 184 00:08:43,758 --> 00:08:45,239 and it's like: there it is! 185 00:08:45,239 --> 00:08:46,828 That's it. That's done. 186 00:08:46,828 --> 00:08:48,036 Can you imagine? 187 00:08:48,036 --> 00:08:49,565 You size it up in this life. 188 00:08:49,565 --> 00:08:50,774 That's all there is. 189 00:08:50,774 --> 00:08:53,104 We've basically experienced the fullness of it, 190 00:08:53,104 --> 00:08:54,560 now we got to glory and what? 191 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:56,428 Same old thing? 192 00:08:56,428 --> 00:08:57,887 No, that's not the way it is. 193 00:08:57,887 --> 00:08:59,835 See, this thing can never be reached. 194 00:08:59,835 --> 00:09:01,568 This thing has no limits to it. 195 00:09:01,568 --> 00:09:04,890 It's way beyond our comprehension 196 00:09:04,890 --> 00:09:07,497 every time - both now 197 00:09:07,497 --> 00:09:09,067 and far out into eternity. 198 00:09:09,067 --> 00:09:10,191 You think about that. 199 00:09:10,191 --> 00:09:12,922 When you've been in glory 200 00:09:12,922 --> 00:09:15,738 for 10 billion - not years - 201 00:09:15,738 --> 00:09:17,634 10 billions ages, 202 00:09:17,634 --> 00:09:21,165 the beauty is it's still beyond knowledge. 203 00:09:21,165 --> 00:09:22,616 All knowledge! 204 00:09:22,616 --> 00:09:24,872 Not God's knowledge, but all of our knowledge. 205 00:09:24,872 --> 00:09:26,217 All the knowledge of angels, 206 00:09:26,217 --> 00:09:28,278 all the knowledge of men. 207 00:09:28,278 --> 00:09:29,964 Even eternal knowledge. 208 00:09:29,964 --> 00:09:31,652 There's always more to explore. 209 00:09:31,652 --> 00:09:34,942 I mean, the very mountain peak of this love - 210 00:09:34,942 --> 00:09:37,114 who's tread there? Who lives there? 211 00:09:37,114 --> 00:09:40,090 Not you. Not me. Not the angels. 212 00:09:40,090 --> 00:09:41,760 We'll never get there. 213 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:42,685 That's the beauty! 214 00:09:42,685 --> 00:09:44,741 It's like we're climbing this mountain 215 00:09:44,741 --> 00:09:47,273 and Paul's praying: 216 00:09:47,273 --> 00:09:50,116 Go up! Climb higher! Climb higher! 217 00:09:50,116 --> 00:09:52,625 Even though he knows we can never reach the top. 218 00:09:52,625 --> 00:09:57,399 Why? Because going up it is glorious! 219 00:09:57,399 --> 00:09:59,995 And you don't want it to have an end. 220 00:09:59,995 --> 00:10:01,555 Because even if we said, 221 00:10:01,555 --> 00:10:03,548 well, 10 billion ages out, 222 00:10:03,548 --> 00:10:05,546 we're going to get there. 223 00:10:05,546 --> 00:10:07,455 You plant the flag on top. 224 00:10:07,455 --> 00:10:08,627 And here we are. 225 00:10:08,627 --> 00:10:09,761 We made it to the moon 226 00:10:09,761 --> 00:10:11,479 or we made it to the top of Everest. 227 00:10:11,479 --> 00:10:12,948 And now what? You look around. 228 00:10:12,948 --> 00:10:16,981 Man always wants to go higher. 229 00:10:16,981 --> 00:10:18,647 And you know that. 230 00:10:18,647 --> 00:10:20,769 Why? Because it's like the horror movies. 231 00:10:20,769 --> 00:10:22,475 You know, you watch a certain one 232 00:10:22,475 --> 00:10:24,608 and it's like terrifying, but the next time, 233 00:10:24,608 --> 00:10:26,406 you need it scarier. 234 00:10:26,406 --> 00:10:29,293 We always are looking for something bigger, 235 00:10:29,293 --> 00:10:32,971 something beyond, something more impressive. 236 00:10:32,971 --> 00:10:35,671 The picture I had in my mind, 237 00:10:35,671 --> 00:10:37,706 you know those little plastic rulers. 238 00:10:37,706 --> 00:10:39,717 Home schoolers - yes, of course you do. 239 00:10:39,717 --> 00:10:41,440 You know the little plastic rulers 240 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,407 that little kids have. 241 00:10:44,407 --> 00:10:46,285 And the thing is, 242 00:10:46,285 --> 00:10:47,793 we're like little children 243 00:10:47,793 --> 00:10:49,920 with this little plastic ruler. 244 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,589 And we're trying to measure this thing. 245 00:10:52,589 --> 00:10:56,722 And Paul's saying - he's praying 246 00:10:56,722 --> 00:10:59,787 that we'd pull out the Hubble telescope. 247 00:10:59,787 --> 00:11:02,904 But you know how it is with the telescopes. 248 00:11:02,904 --> 00:11:05,664 Every time the new and latest version comes out 249 00:11:05,664 --> 00:11:10,160 and man peers out into the universe, 250 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,075 he thinks, this is it. 251 00:11:13,075 --> 00:11:14,114 Isn't it amazing? 252 00:11:14,114 --> 00:11:16,708 Man always thinks whatever measuring device he has, 253 00:11:16,708 --> 00:11:18,024 that's the limit. 254 00:11:18,024 --> 00:11:19,790 And now we see it. 255 00:11:19,790 --> 00:11:21,107 The universe is this big. 256 00:11:21,107 --> 00:11:23,130 But then they get the bigger telescope 257 00:11:23,130 --> 00:11:25,332 and they look out there and they say, okay, we were wrong. 258 00:11:25,332 --> 00:11:26,556 Now it's this big. 259 00:11:26,556 --> 00:11:28,301 Well, see, that's the thing. 260 00:11:28,301 --> 00:11:30,597 The limit is with us. 261 00:11:30,597 --> 00:11:32,266 And it's like Paul wants us 262 00:11:32,266 --> 00:11:34,658 to put away our little ruler, 263 00:11:34,658 --> 00:11:36,722 and he wants us to take out the Hubble telescope 264 00:11:36,722 --> 00:11:38,237 and start measuring this thing. 265 00:11:38,237 --> 00:11:41,232 But even then, how far have we gone? 266 00:11:41,232 --> 00:11:42,561 With the Hubble telescope, 267 00:11:42,561 --> 00:11:45,606 how far do you think we've really seen? 268 00:11:45,606 --> 00:11:46,654 Because you know this, 269 00:11:46,654 --> 00:11:48,359 they're going to put up another one 270 00:11:48,359 --> 00:11:50,701 this year or next year. 271 00:11:50,701 --> 00:11:52,735 And then what we're going to see 272 00:11:52,735 --> 00:11:55,627 is going to blow our minds all the more. 273 00:11:55,627 --> 00:12:00,006 This is how this is. 274 00:12:00,006 --> 00:12:05,178 Now, I really want to stop at this point. 275 00:12:05,178 --> 00:12:08,827 And I want to press home a reality here. 276 00:12:08,827 --> 00:12:12,509 Because I called this message "Expectation." 277 00:12:12,509 --> 00:12:16,948 We're talking about the love of Christ. 278 00:12:16,948 --> 00:12:20,006 I'm talking about the heart of Christianity. 279 00:12:20,006 --> 00:12:22,527 I'm talking about the thing that makes it worthwhile 280 00:12:22,527 --> 00:12:26,556 to be a Christian. 281 00:12:26,556 --> 00:12:29,099 You say, I thought the thing that made it worthwhile 282 00:12:29,099 --> 00:12:31,866 was the fact that we got to escape hell. 283 00:12:31,866 --> 00:12:35,670 That's just the negative. 284 00:12:35,670 --> 00:12:40,427 That's not the primary glory. 285 00:12:40,427 --> 00:12:42,447 When Jesus summed up eternal life, 286 00:12:42,447 --> 00:12:43,728 what did He say? 287 00:12:43,728 --> 00:12:47,325 He didn't say it's to miss hell. 288 00:12:47,325 --> 00:12:49,717 It's to know. And that's what we have here. 289 00:12:49,717 --> 00:12:53,534 To know the love of Christ 290 00:12:53,534 --> 00:12:58,236 which surpasses knowledge. 291 00:12:58,236 --> 00:13:02,050 It's to know the true and the living God 292 00:13:02,050 --> 00:13:06,058 and the Christ Whom He has sent. 293 00:13:06,058 --> 00:13:09,180 But I want to stop here 294 00:13:09,180 --> 00:13:11,438 and just point something out. 295 00:13:11,438 --> 00:13:17,302 Paul is not telling us to do anything here. 296 00:13:17,302 --> 00:13:19,185 Yes, I recognize 297 00:13:19,185 --> 00:13:23,960 that when it comes to the word "comprehend," 298 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,642 "know," - we can deduce things 299 00:13:26,642 --> 00:13:28,502 that we can be about 300 00:13:28,502 --> 00:13:30,501 to increase our comprehension 301 00:13:30,501 --> 00:13:31,931 and to increase our knowledge. 302 00:13:31,931 --> 00:13:32,932 I recognize that. 303 00:13:32,932 --> 00:13:35,658 I recognize that you can deduce 304 00:13:35,658 --> 00:13:37,048 something we should do, 305 00:13:37,048 --> 00:13:39,158 but you need to recognize 306 00:13:39,158 --> 00:13:42,830 that Paul isn't telling us to do anything. 307 00:13:42,830 --> 00:13:48,665 Paul is praying for us. 308 00:13:48,665 --> 00:13:50,954 He's asking God the Father 309 00:13:50,954 --> 00:13:57,585 to make something happen. 310 00:13:57,585 --> 00:13:59,233 He's not just praying; 311 00:13:59,233 --> 00:14:02,220 this is an inspired prayer. 312 00:14:02,220 --> 00:14:05,280 God is being prayed to, 313 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,326 but it's God Himself Who is moving upon Paul 314 00:14:08,326 --> 00:14:10,085 to pray this way. 315 00:14:10,085 --> 00:14:16,481 And I want you to feel this. 316 00:14:16,481 --> 00:14:21,141 Now look, Friday, 317 00:14:21,141 --> 00:14:24,327 my air conditioner was making 318 00:14:24,327 --> 00:14:26,290 this horrendous noise. 319 00:14:26,290 --> 00:14:28,438 All through the week, 320 00:14:28,438 --> 00:14:29,798 the pounding in the attic 321 00:14:29,798 --> 00:14:32,904 became more and more violent. 322 00:14:32,904 --> 00:14:38,375 And walking by the air return, 323 00:14:38,375 --> 00:14:41,179 such noises were coming through there 324 00:14:41,179 --> 00:14:43,259 that I recognized, okay, 325 00:14:43,259 --> 00:14:45,271 I better go deal with this. 326 00:14:45,271 --> 00:14:46,417 And when I opened it up, 327 00:14:46,417 --> 00:14:50,399 I found the blower motor was busted. 328 00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:55,007 The squirrel cage fan was busted. 329 00:14:55,007 --> 00:14:57,466 So I took them out and we haven't had 330 00:14:57,466 --> 00:14:59,263 air conditioning since then. 331 00:14:59,263 --> 00:15:04,252 I know this is a lowly illustration, 332 00:15:04,252 --> 00:15:07,212 but I want to try to bring something out here. 333 00:15:07,212 --> 00:15:12,236 My air conditioner - it's broken. 334 00:15:12,236 --> 00:15:15,222 I ran over to Grainger, OEM Motors, 335 00:15:15,222 --> 00:15:17,305 I couldn't get it there. 336 00:15:17,305 --> 00:15:22,117 So, David Luciano works for 337 00:15:22,117 --> 00:15:26,220 John Wayne Air Conditioning. 338 00:15:26,220 --> 00:15:30,970 And so, I looked into them. 339 00:15:30,970 --> 00:15:33,106 I had them come out and give me a quote. 340 00:15:33,106 --> 00:15:35,550 The main reason I had them come 341 00:15:35,550 --> 00:15:36,617 give me a quote 342 00:15:36,617 --> 00:15:38,185 is because David works there. 343 00:15:38,185 --> 00:15:41,668 And he thought that perhaps 344 00:15:41,668 --> 00:15:44,758 he could get a discount for me 345 00:15:44,758 --> 00:15:47,838 because I'm his pastor. 346 00:15:47,838 --> 00:15:49,688 Now, I want to use this example 347 00:15:49,688 --> 00:15:53,478 and I want to focus in on level of expectation. 348 00:15:53,478 --> 00:15:55,536 Just think with me here 349 00:15:55,536 --> 00:15:58,722 because I'm going somewhere with this. 350 00:15:58,722 --> 00:16:00,690 If David didn't work there 351 00:16:00,690 --> 00:16:02,429 and I still thought, okay, 352 00:16:02,429 --> 00:16:03,832 I'm going to call John Wayne. 353 00:16:03,832 --> 00:16:07,372 I'm going to get a quote from them. 354 00:16:07,372 --> 00:16:10,699 What would my expectation level be 355 00:16:10,699 --> 00:16:14,135 of getting a good deal? 356 00:16:14,135 --> 00:16:18,053 Getting a discount? 357 00:16:18,053 --> 00:16:21,726 Low. Very low. 358 00:16:21,726 --> 00:16:23,717 But the thing is, to have somebody 359 00:16:23,717 --> 00:16:25,678 that I know has an "in" 360 00:16:25,678 --> 00:16:28,179 and is going to plead my case? 361 00:16:28,179 --> 00:16:31,274 What happens to your expectation? 362 00:16:31,274 --> 00:16:34,142 It goes up. And it is. 363 00:16:34,142 --> 00:16:37,641 I'm like what can David do for me? 364 00:16:37,641 --> 00:16:43,004 So, yes, it goes up. 365 00:16:43,004 --> 00:16:47,813 But, if I heard that the owner of the company 366 00:16:47,813 --> 00:16:53,030 personally came to David 367 00:16:53,030 --> 00:16:55,362 and he told David, 368 00:16:55,362 --> 00:17:01,505 "David..." David communicated this to me 369 00:17:01,505 --> 00:17:03,190 when I was asking about this. 370 00:17:03,190 --> 00:17:04,419 If he would have said, 371 00:17:04,419 --> 00:17:05,367 hey, you know what? 372 00:17:05,367 --> 00:17:07,914 My boss - the guy that owns the company - 373 00:17:07,914 --> 00:17:09,860 actually came to me six months ago 374 00:17:09,860 --> 00:17:11,689 and he told me 375 00:17:11,689 --> 00:17:14,311 that he has a real burden for pastors, 376 00:17:14,311 --> 00:17:20,791 and he especially wants to try to help pastors. 377 00:17:20,791 --> 00:17:22,550 And he instructed David, 378 00:17:22,550 --> 00:17:26,591 "Make sure if your pastor ever has a need, 379 00:17:26,591 --> 00:17:29,301 I'm determined to help him." 380 00:17:29,301 --> 00:17:31,265 Now, if I heard that, 381 00:17:31,265 --> 00:17:34,706 what do you think would happen to my expectation? 382 00:17:34,706 --> 00:17:36,089 It'd go up. 383 00:17:36,089 --> 00:17:37,834 But if even more than that, 384 00:17:37,834 --> 00:17:40,212 the owner of John Wayne said, 385 00:17:40,212 --> 00:17:44,585 "David, I want you to know this, 386 00:17:44,585 --> 00:17:47,698 that if your pastor ever needs help, 387 00:17:47,698 --> 00:17:51,829 I'm going to help him according 388 00:17:51,829 --> 00:17:55,068 to the riches of the glory of my company 389 00:17:55,068 --> 00:17:56,799 and my wealth. 390 00:17:56,799 --> 00:18:00,191 And David, if you ever have to come to me 391 00:18:00,191 --> 00:18:02,060 and ask me for help for your pastor, 392 00:18:02,060 --> 00:18:04,175 I want you to ask me 393 00:18:04,175 --> 00:18:06,737 and remind me of that very reality 394 00:18:06,737 --> 00:18:08,491 that I told you, 395 00:18:08,491 --> 00:18:10,849 I encouraged you to come ask me 396 00:18:10,849 --> 00:18:13,562 that way - according to these riches." 397 00:18:13,562 --> 00:18:15,250 And then, my expectation 398 00:18:15,250 --> 00:18:16,657 is going to go even higher. 399 00:18:16,657 --> 00:18:18,597 But if on top of all that, I found out 400 00:18:18,597 --> 00:18:20,433 the guy that owns this thing 401 00:18:20,433 --> 00:18:21,389 is a billionaire, 402 00:18:21,389 --> 00:18:23,268 and the riches of his glory are untold, 403 00:18:23,268 --> 00:18:26,189 unfathomable - what then? 404 00:18:26,189 --> 00:18:28,794 See, you have to recognize this. 405 00:18:28,794 --> 00:18:31,443 Paul isn't just praying this. 406 00:18:31,443 --> 00:18:33,088 Paul's under inspiration. 407 00:18:33,088 --> 00:18:34,500 God told him, 408 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:36,533 "Paul, pray this way, 409 00:18:36,533 --> 00:18:38,371 and I want you to plead 410 00:18:38,371 --> 00:18:40,663 the riches of My glory. 411 00:18:40,663 --> 00:18:44,162 I want you to do that. 412 00:18:44,162 --> 00:18:47,076 Paul, when you see that God's people 413 00:18:47,076 --> 00:18:50,474 need to have their perception 414 00:18:50,474 --> 00:18:52,969 and comprehension 415 00:18:52,969 --> 00:18:57,992 of the love of My Son to them increased, 416 00:18:57,992 --> 00:19:00,896 I want you to ask Me on their behalf. 417 00:19:00,896 --> 00:19:03,908 Paul, I'm inspiring you 418 00:19:03,908 --> 00:19:06,055 to come and plead based on 419 00:19:06,055 --> 00:19:07,836 the riches of My glory. 420 00:19:07,836 --> 00:19:15,935 Do not come and ask less than that." 421 00:19:15,935 --> 00:19:20,740 You see what I'm driving at here? 422 00:19:20,740 --> 00:19:23,796 Brethren, in the weeks ahead, 423 00:19:23,796 --> 00:19:26,481 I want to explore the love of Christ. 424 00:19:26,481 --> 00:19:29,880 But I know this, if we attempt to look 425 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,455 in these coming weeks - 426 00:19:31,455 --> 00:19:37,230 we look and admire - we attempt to - 427 00:19:37,230 --> 00:19:40,116 and delve into the love of Christ, 428 00:19:40,116 --> 00:19:41,458 and you know what? 429 00:19:41,458 --> 00:19:43,228 If six months from now it's like 430 00:19:43,228 --> 00:19:45,511 you don't even remember what I was preaching on 431 00:19:45,511 --> 00:19:48,099 back in June, 432 00:19:48,099 --> 00:19:50,175 you're left unaffected, 433 00:19:50,175 --> 00:19:52,356 you're left dry, 434 00:19:52,356 --> 00:19:55,148 you're left still feeling like "I need revival," 435 00:19:55,148 --> 00:19:57,573 you're left distant, you're left cold, 436 00:19:57,573 --> 00:19:59,021 you're left calloused, 437 00:19:59,021 --> 00:20:03,373 you're left unmoved - 438 00:20:03,373 --> 00:20:04,303 you know what? 439 00:20:04,303 --> 00:20:05,869 That would be like a billionaire 440 00:20:05,869 --> 00:20:08,481 promising the most astounding air conditioning system 441 00:20:08,481 --> 00:20:09,771 that money could buy - 442 00:20:09,771 --> 00:20:11,912 something so magnificent 443 00:20:11,912 --> 00:20:14,327 as to give expression to the glory 444 00:20:14,327 --> 00:20:17,329 of his riches and the glory of his kindness, 445 00:20:17,329 --> 00:20:22,802 but in the end I'm left feeling unimpressed. 446 00:20:22,802 --> 00:20:25,191 I'm left with a unit out there 447 00:20:25,191 --> 00:20:30,059 that's unimpressive and average. 448 00:20:30,059 --> 00:20:32,019 You know what? 449 00:20:32,019 --> 00:20:36,700 It's unimpressive and average 450 00:20:36,700 --> 00:20:38,463 when we talk about the love of Christ 451 00:20:38,463 --> 00:20:39,962 for people to yawn; 452 00:20:39,962 --> 00:20:41,184 for people to think about 453 00:20:41,184 --> 00:20:43,060 what they're doing in the afternoon. 454 00:20:43,060 --> 00:20:46,184 It's unimpressive and average 455 00:20:46,184 --> 00:20:48,171 for our church to look 456 00:20:48,171 --> 00:20:52,244 at the love of Christ over a number of weeks 457 00:20:52,244 --> 00:20:55,814 and then determine that movies are better. 458 00:20:55,814 --> 00:20:59,073 That's unimpressive. 459 00:20:59,073 --> 00:21:00,450 What I'm saying here is, 460 00:21:00,450 --> 00:21:02,291 look, if God Himself said, 461 00:21:02,291 --> 00:21:03,807 "Paul, I want you to pray 462 00:21:03,807 --> 00:21:06,537 according to the riches of My glory 463 00:21:06,537 --> 00:21:09,408 for them to be strengthened to comprehend 464 00:21:09,408 --> 00:21:12,665 the love of Christ," 465 00:21:12,665 --> 00:21:18,805 does that sound unimpressive and average? 466 00:21:18,805 --> 00:21:22,677 And see, this is an appeal to God. 467 00:21:22,677 --> 00:21:25,149 If I said, well, you know what this is really about; 468 00:21:25,149 --> 00:21:26,888 you know what Paul's teaching here. 469 00:21:26,888 --> 00:21:29,030 Paul's teaching that we really have to strive. 470 00:21:29,030 --> 00:21:31,189 Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't really strive. 471 00:21:31,189 --> 00:21:32,792 We do need to really strive, 472 00:21:32,792 --> 00:21:34,597 but that's not the point of the text. 473 00:21:34,597 --> 00:21:35,704 The point of the text 474 00:21:35,704 --> 00:21:37,561 is that God is being appealed to 475 00:21:37,561 --> 00:21:41,986 to give us according to the riches of His glory. 476 00:21:41,986 --> 00:21:43,582 And you know what? 477 00:21:43,582 --> 00:21:45,877 If people are going to prefer sports, 478 00:21:45,877 --> 00:21:47,694 or they're going to prefer the movie, 479 00:21:47,694 --> 00:21:49,583 or they're going to prefer their hobby, 480 00:21:49,583 --> 00:21:54,001 or they're going to prefer some other thing, 481 00:21:54,001 --> 00:21:58,173 the truth is that's normal. 482 00:21:58,173 --> 00:22:01,286 That's man left to his own strength. 483 00:22:01,286 --> 00:22:04,817 Is that an indication of the riches 484 00:22:04,817 --> 00:22:07,018 of the glory of God to comprehend 485 00:22:07,018 --> 00:22:09,848 much more the dimensions of the love of Christ? 486 00:22:09,848 --> 00:22:11,806 I mean, certainly, we would expect 487 00:22:11,806 --> 00:22:15,660 something impressive and life-changing. 488 00:22:15,660 --> 00:22:16,567 Listen! 489 00:22:16,567 --> 00:22:19,909 If God answers this prayer, 490 00:22:19,909 --> 00:22:21,664 what would you expect? 491 00:22:21,664 --> 00:22:24,101 What are your expectations? 492 00:22:24,101 --> 00:22:26,664 You say, "I don't really have any." 493 00:22:26,664 --> 00:22:28,504 I'm saying look at this prayer 494 00:22:28,504 --> 00:22:30,420 and have an expectation! 495 00:22:30,420 --> 00:22:33,105 Listen! If God is telling Paul 496 00:22:33,105 --> 00:22:34,325 to pray for you 497 00:22:34,325 --> 00:22:36,900 and to pray not some meager little thing, 498 00:22:36,900 --> 00:22:39,066 but to ask God and beseech Him, 499 00:22:39,066 --> 00:22:42,576 "Father, according to the riches of Your glory, 500 00:22:42,576 --> 00:22:45,046 make this happen." 501 00:22:45,046 --> 00:22:46,880 I would expect more 502 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,772 than four weeks down the road here, 503 00:22:49,772 --> 00:22:52,674 we're all basically unaffected. 504 00:22:52,674 --> 00:22:54,445 Well, we're just the same as we were 505 00:22:54,445 --> 00:22:56,245 four weeks ago or six weeks ago. 506 00:22:56,245 --> 00:22:57,615 Because then that's like, 507 00:22:57,615 --> 00:23:02,173 "Father, why? Why did You put this here?" 508 00:23:02,173 --> 00:23:03,985 We may say, well, we didn't pray it. 509 00:23:03,985 --> 00:23:05,528 Well, I've been praying it. 510 00:23:05,528 --> 00:23:06,909 And I'll continue to pray it. 511 00:23:06,909 --> 00:23:10,637 And Paul prayed it. 512 00:23:10,637 --> 00:23:13,997 I mean if we get down the road and that happens, 513 00:23:13,997 --> 00:23:17,397 Lord, why would You stir Paul to pray 514 00:23:17,397 --> 00:23:20,925 this way and in inspired fashion, 515 00:23:20,925 --> 00:23:23,363 unless You truly mean to give us 516 00:23:23,363 --> 00:23:25,993 what's being talked about here? 517 00:23:25,993 --> 00:23:29,710 This is a prayer for God to do something. 518 00:23:29,710 --> 00:23:30,936 It's in the song. 519 00:23:30,936 --> 00:23:34,333 We're praying, "God, revive us again." 520 00:23:34,333 --> 00:23:36,393 This is the heart of revival. 521 00:23:36,393 --> 00:23:37,752 This is where it is. 522 00:23:37,752 --> 00:23:39,121 It always has been. 523 00:23:39,121 --> 00:23:40,609 When revival comes, what is it 524 00:23:40,609 --> 00:23:42,070 that happens to God's people? 525 00:23:42,070 --> 00:23:45,368 There's an awareness of God. 526 00:23:45,368 --> 00:23:47,062 There is an awareness 527 00:23:47,062 --> 00:23:49,488 of His love for His people. 528 00:23:49,488 --> 00:23:52,493 Will you be content, brethren, 529 00:23:52,493 --> 00:23:54,006 to be unmoved? 530 00:23:54,006 --> 00:23:55,653 To be untouched? 531 00:23:55,653 --> 00:23:57,473 To not be strengthened? 532 00:23:57,473 --> 00:23:59,802 I would say God forbid 533 00:23:59,802 --> 00:24:02,170 that that should happen. 534 00:24:02,170 --> 00:24:05,472 You know what? You know what came to my mind? 535 00:24:05,472 --> 00:24:07,370 I read in Scripture 536 00:24:07,370 --> 00:24:12,709 that the heavens - the heavens - 537 00:24:12,709 --> 00:24:16,188 we are told in Psalm 8, 538 00:24:16,188 --> 00:24:22,772 it is the work of God's finger. 539 00:24:22,772 --> 00:24:26,200 I asked myself this question: 540 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,467 Does that sound like it exhausted 541 00:24:28,467 --> 00:24:33,663 the riches of God's glory 542 00:24:33,663 --> 00:24:38,574 when it's the work of His finger? 543 00:24:38,574 --> 00:24:41,858 Oh, it declares His handiwork. 544 00:24:41,858 --> 00:24:43,774 It declares something of His glory. 545 00:24:43,774 --> 00:24:47,947 But it's the work of His finger. 546 00:24:47,947 --> 00:24:50,871 When I hear "according to the riches of His glory," 547 00:24:50,871 --> 00:24:54,291 to me, that sounds bigger. 548 00:24:54,291 --> 00:24:56,033 If I went in my backyard 549 00:24:56,033 --> 00:24:58,500 and I did some work with my fingers, 550 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:00,387 does that reflect the riches 551 00:25:00,387 --> 00:25:01,767 of the glory of who I am? 552 00:25:01,767 --> 00:25:03,843 Paul wasn't asking that we be strengthened 553 00:25:03,843 --> 00:25:05,710 according to the work of God's finger, 554 00:25:05,710 --> 00:25:07,217 but asking to be strengthened 555 00:25:07,217 --> 00:25:10,494 according to the entire riches of God's glory. 556 00:25:10,494 --> 00:25:12,324 That makes me think something greater 557 00:25:12,324 --> 00:25:19,350 than the universe. 558 00:25:19,350 --> 00:25:21,707 This really ought to give us an expectation 559 00:25:21,707 --> 00:25:25,422 that God will do something. 560 00:25:25,422 --> 00:25:28,095 I have it. 561 00:25:28,095 --> 00:25:31,116 Shall we be content to be confronted 562 00:25:31,116 --> 00:25:32,719 with all of this? 563 00:25:32,719 --> 00:25:37,409 Are you content to just remain unchanged? 564 00:25:37,409 --> 00:25:39,899 Listen, you may be weary 565 00:25:39,899 --> 00:25:42,065 and you may be heavy-laden, 566 00:25:42,065 --> 00:25:45,517 you may be tired, exhausted, 567 00:25:45,517 --> 00:25:47,787 your arms may be hanging down, 568 00:25:47,787 --> 00:25:50,101 you may be discouraged, 569 00:25:50,101 --> 00:25:51,823 depressed, 570 00:25:51,823 --> 00:25:53,795 but is there an ache? 571 00:25:53,795 --> 00:25:56,056 Are you just willing to be content with that? 572 00:25:56,056 --> 00:25:57,892 Or can you look at a promise 573 00:25:57,892 --> 00:26:01,430 and does the Spirit of God give you some hope? 574 00:26:01,430 --> 00:26:05,806 Yes. Yes, there is a promise here. 575 00:26:05,806 --> 00:26:07,203 What I want you to do 576 00:26:07,203 --> 00:26:11,117 is I want you to have your expectations raised. 577 00:26:11,117 --> 00:26:17,033 Like, Lord, if You said this, You mean it. 578 00:26:17,033 --> 00:26:19,044 And I'm going to hold You to it. 579 00:26:19,044 --> 00:26:21,099 And I'm going to keep reminding You of this 580 00:26:21,099 --> 00:26:25,460 until I get this. 581 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:28,476 I mean, what do you think God wants us to think 582 00:26:28,476 --> 00:26:29,955 when the riches of His glory 583 00:26:29,955 --> 00:26:31,443 are put on the table 584 00:26:31,443 --> 00:26:34,572 as the ground of all this? 585 00:26:34,572 --> 00:26:38,290 You think He wants you to be content? 586 00:26:38,290 --> 00:26:40,241 You should ask yourself that question. 587 00:26:40,241 --> 00:26:42,210 I would say no. 588 00:26:42,210 --> 00:26:43,814 If we get a month down the road 589 00:26:43,814 --> 00:26:45,408 and basically nothing happens - 590 00:26:45,408 --> 00:26:47,429 we can't even remember what was preached, 591 00:26:47,429 --> 00:26:48,623 what shall we say? 592 00:26:48,623 --> 00:26:50,821 I mean, yes, we can say 593 00:26:50,821 --> 00:26:52,486 the problem is with us. 594 00:26:52,486 --> 00:26:53,904 Yes, we can say that. 595 00:26:53,904 --> 00:26:57,134 I mean, brethren, that is exactly 596 00:26:57,134 --> 00:27:02,438 what Paul is praying about here. 597 00:27:02,438 --> 00:27:03,984 We're weak. 598 00:27:03,984 --> 00:27:05,763 And we need to be stregthened. 599 00:27:05,763 --> 00:27:07,851 I recognize the probelm's with us. 600 00:27:07,851 --> 00:27:10,551 I recognize the problem lies in our weakness. 601 00:27:10,551 --> 00:27:12,201 But you see, that's the very thing 602 00:27:12,201 --> 00:27:13,566 Paul is praying 603 00:27:13,566 --> 00:27:15,960 is that our weakness would be strengthened. 604 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:17,680 Yes, our weakness is the issue. 605 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:19,399 But the expectation is that God 606 00:27:19,399 --> 00:27:23,216 will do something to overcome our weakness. 607 00:27:23,216 --> 00:27:24,777 Are you feeling lethargic? 608 00:27:24,777 --> 00:27:28,080 Yes, but that's why you need strength. 609 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,118 Or do you feel like you need revival? Yes. 610 00:27:30,118 --> 00:27:32,099 Do you feel cold? 611 00:27:32,099 --> 00:27:34,041 Listen, maybe some of you are 612 00:27:34,041 --> 00:27:37,495 kind of riding a high spot in your Christian life, 613 00:27:37,495 --> 00:27:40,273 but listen, wherever you're at, 614 00:27:40,273 --> 00:27:44,058 there's infinite depths to explore 615 00:27:44,058 --> 00:27:46,672 beyond where you are. 616 00:27:46,672 --> 00:27:49,173 You don't want to be content. 617 00:27:49,173 --> 00:27:51,286 Not at all. 618 00:27:51,286 --> 00:27:52,795 This is the prayer. 619 00:27:52,795 --> 00:27:55,050 He will intervene and come 620 00:27:55,050 --> 00:27:58,165 and strike power into our weakness 621 00:27:58,165 --> 00:28:00,377 and give us comprehension at a level 622 00:28:00,377 --> 00:28:02,015 that we would otherwise never have 623 00:28:02,015 --> 00:28:03,395 if He doesn't come and deal with us 624 00:28:03,395 --> 00:28:05,145 according to the riches of His glory. 625 00:28:05,145 --> 00:28:06,158 That's the issue. 626 00:28:06,158 --> 00:28:07,112 Yes, we're weak. 627 00:28:07,112 --> 00:28:08,869 Yes, we're perhaps dull. 628 00:28:08,869 --> 00:28:11,133 We're forgetful. 629 00:28:11,133 --> 00:28:13,239 Oh, we are forgetful. 630 00:28:13,239 --> 00:28:14,592 Because you know what? 631 00:28:14,592 --> 00:28:16,725 I've had past seasons in my Christian life 632 00:28:16,725 --> 00:28:18,924 that were wonderful, that were glorious, 633 00:28:18,924 --> 00:28:20,807 and that were up there on the plateau. 634 00:28:20,807 --> 00:28:22,544 But I know two things, 635 00:28:22,544 --> 00:28:24,768 one, we're very forgetful - 636 00:28:24,768 --> 00:28:27,263 we forget about how glorious it was - 637 00:28:27,263 --> 00:28:30,785 but two, we don't live too well 638 00:28:30,785 --> 00:28:32,763 on yesterday's manna. 639 00:28:32,763 --> 00:28:36,011 We don't live well on yesterday's revival. 640 00:28:36,011 --> 00:28:38,981 We need it today. We need fresh things today. 641 00:28:38,981 --> 00:28:40,138 Yes, we're slow. 642 00:28:40,138 --> 00:28:43,104 Yes, we're far too content to spend our time 643 00:28:43,104 --> 00:28:46,051 in the lowlands 644 00:28:46,051 --> 00:28:48,191 paddling around the edges of the ocean 645 00:28:48,191 --> 00:28:50,197 when there's such things to be discovered 646 00:28:50,197 --> 00:28:51,694 that we've never imagined. 647 00:28:51,694 --> 00:28:53,624 The question is this: 648 00:28:53,624 --> 00:28:58,490 I ask you, do you expect God 649 00:28:58,490 --> 00:29:00,047 to help us? 650 00:29:00,047 --> 00:29:02,193 To come and empower? 651 00:29:02,193 --> 00:29:04,296 Do you embrace this with a determination 652 00:29:04,296 --> 00:29:06,053 to have God do what He undoubtedly 653 00:29:06,053 --> 00:29:07,551 is promising to do? 654 00:29:07,551 --> 00:29:10,310 He wouldn't have put this prayer 655 00:29:10,310 --> 00:29:13,469 in His Word if it wasn't His desire 656 00:29:13,469 --> 00:29:15,950 to give us a hope that He intends to do 657 00:29:15,950 --> 00:29:17,470 something with regards to it. 658 00:29:17,470 --> 00:29:19,321 Now, look at verse 18. 659 00:29:19,321 --> 00:29:21,380 Do you see the word "comprehend?" 660 00:29:21,380 --> 00:29:22,913 "That you may have strength 661 00:29:22,913 --> 00:29:26,167 to comprehend with all the saints 662 00:29:26,167 --> 00:29:27,754 what is the breadth and length 663 00:29:27,754 --> 00:29:29,620 and height and depth..." 664 00:29:29,620 --> 00:29:31,413 The word "comprehend," 665 00:29:31,413 --> 00:29:33,571 like I said before, 666 00:29:33,571 --> 00:29:36,213 in an off-handed way, he's praying 667 00:29:36,213 --> 00:29:39,185 that the Spirit would strengthen us 668 00:29:39,185 --> 00:29:43,034 so that we might comprehend. 669 00:29:43,034 --> 00:29:47,898 Obviously, we are not left in a place 670 00:29:47,898 --> 00:29:50,757 where we're just passive. 671 00:29:50,757 --> 00:29:53,658 This implies something. 672 00:29:53,658 --> 00:29:58,864 But he's praying that the Spirit of God 673 00:29:58,864 --> 00:30:02,775 would so blow upon the people of God 674 00:30:02,775 --> 00:30:05,202 that we would be strengthened for this to happen. 675 00:30:05,202 --> 00:30:08,216 Comprehend. What's the word? 676 00:30:08,216 --> 00:30:11,986 It has a prefix: kata, 677 00:30:11,986 --> 00:30:14,855 which brings intensity to it. 678 00:30:14,855 --> 00:30:19,163 It's to grasp with force. 679 00:30:19,163 --> 00:30:20,518 To comprehend. 680 00:30:20,518 --> 00:30:22,735 To lay hold of. 681 00:30:22,735 --> 00:30:28,923 The idea here is to seize, 682 00:30:28,923 --> 00:30:32,743 to acquire with significant effort. 683 00:30:32,743 --> 00:30:34,670 So let's try to grasp Christ's love 684 00:30:34,670 --> 00:30:36,228 with an effort that at least 685 00:30:36,228 --> 00:30:40,166 looks somewhat significant. 686 00:30:40,166 --> 00:30:41,033 We know. 687 00:30:41,033 --> 00:30:43,864 "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 688 00:30:43,864 --> 00:30:45,669 And on the other side of the coin, 689 00:30:45,669 --> 00:30:46,941 "it's God Who works in us 690 00:30:46,941 --> 00:30:50,275 both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 691 00:30:50,275 --> 00:30:53,145 We can trust God to do this, 692 00:30:53,145 --> 00:30:54,924 but we need to be putting ourselves 693 00:30:54,924 --> 00:31:00,531 in the place for this to happen. 694 00:31:00,531 --> 00:31:08,747 (Iincomplete thought) 695 00:31:08,747 --> 00:31:10,486 Charles Leiter - 696 00:31:10,486 --> 00:31:12,751 this undoubtedly is in one of his books, 697 00:31:12,751 --> 00:31:14,663 but I just remember him telling me 698 00:31:14,663 --> 00:31:18,200 about how Mona visited 699 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:22,124 some of these Welsh folks 700 00:31:22,124 --> 00:31:26,478 where Martyn Lloyd-Jones used to vacation. 701 00:31:26,478 --> 00:31:30,762 And they lived in this farm. 702 00:31:30,762 --> 00:31:35,842 They got their power from water 703 00:31:35,842 --> 00:31:39,244 that flowed off the mountain 704 00:31:39,244 --> 00:31:41,376 and turned a generator. 705 00:31:41,376 --> 00:31:42,687 They got their power, 706 00:31:42,687 --> 00:31:44,809 but sometimes their power would go out. 707 00:31:44,809 --> 00:31:47,230 What would happen? 708 00:31:47,230 --> 00:31:52,016 Well, limbs and garbage 709 00:31:52,016 --> 00:31:53,872 would collect in there. 710 00:31:53,872 --> 00:31:55,370 And right before the generator 711 00:31:55,370 --> 00:31:56,635 was a screen, 712 00:31:56,635 --> 00:31:58,663 and so this stuff would come down 713 00:31:58,663 --> 00:32:00,935 pushed by the torrent of water 714 00:32:00,935 --> 00:32:05,705 and it would collect there on this grating. 715 00:32:05,705 --> 00:32:09,305 And if it impeded the flow? 716 00:32:09,305 --> 00:32:11,466 No power. No electricity. 717 00:32:11,466 --> 00:32:15,476 No flow beyond that point. 718 00:32:15,476 --> 00:32:18,828 And so they'd have to go out and pull the stuff off. 719 00:32:18,828 --> 00:32:20,441 Charles talks about that 720 00:32:20,441 --> 00:32:22,688 as being a good illustration 721 00:32:22,688 --> 00:32:24,260 of the Christian life - 722 00:32:24,260 --> 00:32:29,063 keeping those channels open. 723 00:32:29,063 --> 00:32:32,536 There's things that clog the screen. 724 00:32:32,536 --> 00:32:35,012 Putting ourselves in an optimal position 725 00:32:35,012 --> 00:32:38,683 to be visited by the Lord. 726 00:32:38,683 --> 00:32:41,112 Perhaps there's things in your life 727 00:32:41,112 --> 00:32:43,523 that you know they're impeding the flow; 728 00:32:43,523 --> 00:32:44,879 they're grieving the Spirit; 729 00:32:44,879 --> 00:32:49,428 they're quenching the Spirit. 730 00:32:49,428 --> 00:32:50,853 James just this morning 731 00:32:50,853 --> 00:32:53,386 was telling me about a covenant - 732 00:32:53,386 --> 00:32:55,486 reminding me - he'd told me before, 733 00:32:55,486 --> 00:32:58,509 that he made concerning 734 00:32:58,509 --> 00:33:01,023 a certain thing in his life. 735 00:33:01,023 --> 00:33:02,581 Brother Craig just the other day 736 00:33:02,581 --> 00:33:04,669 was talking about earlier back in January 737 00:33:04,669 --> 00:33:07,198 just making a determination about something. 738 00:33:07,198 --> 00:33:08,795 You know, some of us - 739 00:33:08,795 --> 00:33:10,468 and I've been at those points - 740 00:33:10,468 --> 00:33:13,095 where it's just like you get aggravated with something 741 00:33:13,095 --> 00:33:14,551 and you recognize it's impeded 742 00:33:14,551 --> 00:33:17,257 your Christian life long enough. 743 00:33:17,257 --> 00:33:18,733 And you say no more! 744 00:33:18,733 --> 00:33:20,300 I don't want that anymore! 745 00:33:20,300 --> 00:33:21,782 Lord, I'm done with it. 746 00:33:21,782 --> 00:33:24,178 For good. 747 00:33:24,178 --> 00:33:26,035 You want to be careful 748 00:33:26,035 --> 00:33:29,083 when you begin to make vows before the Lord. 749 00:33:29,083 --> 00:33:31,205 Be careful. 750 00:33:31,205 --> 00:33:33,897 But I know that. 751 00:33:33,897 --> 00:33:38,916 I know that inner feeling 752 00:33:38,916 --> 00:33:41,669 when you've had it with something 753 00:33:41,669 --> 00:33:46,284 that has been a distraction to you for too long. 754 00:33:46,284 --> 00:33:48,841 What is it? What's impeding? 755 00:33:48,841 --> 00:33:50,778 See, we want to put ourselves 756 00:33:50,778 --> 00:33:56,294 in the place where God is 757 00:33:56,294 --> 00:33:58,486 most likely to break through. 758 00:33:58,486 --> 00:34:01,542 We don't want to be grieving Him. 759 00:34:01,542 --> 00:34:05,501 We want to try to comprehend the love of Christ. 760 00:34:05,501 --> 00:34:09,635 Get the distractions out. 761 00:34:09,635 --> 00:34:12,145 If you really want to climb this mountain, 762 00:34:12,145 --> 00:34:15,906 because this is what will fuel everything - 763 00:34:15,906 --> 00:34:18,972 you're rooted and grounded in this love. 764 00:34:18,972 --> 00:34:21,410 You're overcome by this. 765 00:34:21,410 --> 00:34:23,586 I remember years ago when I preached on this, 766 00:34:23,586 --> 00:34:25,846 and I think I got this actually from something 767 00:34:25,846 --> 00:34:27,206 John Piper said. 768 00:34:27,206 --> 00:34:28,772 But you know, when you're filled 769 00:34:28,772 --> 00:34:30,259 with the fullness of God 770 00:34:30,259 --> 00:34:32,829 and you're overwhelmed by the love of Christ for you, 771 00:34:32,829 --> 00:34:35,986 you don't easily go out 772 00:34:35,986 --> 00:34:39,078 and have sex with your neighbor's wife. 773 00:34:39,078 --> 00:34:41,522 That might be an exaggerated way to put it, 774 00:34:41,522 --> 00:34:43,584 but you get the reality. 775 00:34:43,584 --> 00:34:45,758 You don't easily go have an argument 776 00:34:45,758 --> 00:34:46,891 with your own wife. 777 00:34:46,891 --> 00:34:51,210 You don't easily just go off into sin. 778 00:34:51,210 --> 00:34:53,715 Because there is something about the love of Christ 779 00:34:53,715 --> 00:34:56,757 that is compelling and constraining. 780 00:34:56,757 --> 00:34:59,074 It constrains us. 781 00:34:59,074 --> 00:35:02,525 It's hard to be melted by the kind of love 782 00:35:02,525 --> 00:35:05,206 we're going to look at in the weeks ahead 783 00:35:05,206 --> 00:35:06,670 and then just to say, 784 00:35:06,670 --> 00:35:09,476 you know, I think I'm going to go get drunk. 785 00:35:09,476 --> 00:35:12,300 Or, well, that's nice, but after all, 786 00:35:12,300 --> 00:35:15,922 "Lord of the Rings" is better than that. 787 00:35:15,922 --> 00:35:19,276 You don't do that. 788 00:35:19,276 --> 00:35:27,267 This love of Christ has an influence. 789 00:35:27,267 --> 00:35:30,786 Well, I'm going to give you some examples here 790 00:35:30,786 --> 00:35:33,197 just to kind of prime the pump. 791 00:35:33,197 --> 00:35:35,407 But before I give you some of those, 792 00:35:35,407 --> 00:35:37,964 the Song of Solomon - 793 00:35:37,964 --> 00:35:39,464 this came up Friday night. 794 00:35:39,464 --> 00:35:42,715 Somebody said - Zach said, 795 00:35:42,715 --> 00:35:45,779 Song of Solomon - allegory? 796 00:35:45,779 --> 00:35:49,871 Oh, I think so. 797 00:35:49,871 --> 00:35:53,931 Listen to the Song. 798 00:35:53,931 --> 00:35:56,438 "Let Him kiss me 799 00:35:56,438 --> 00:36:00,062 with the kisses of His mouth, 800 00:36:00,062 --> 00:36:04,214 for Your love is better than wine." 801 00:36:04,214 --> 00:36:05,798 See, that's the thing. 802 00:36:05,798 --> 00:36:08,380 His love is better. 803 00:36:08,380 --> 00:36:11,544 Better than... you can fill in the blank. 804 00:36:11,544 --> 00:36:13,023 But it's better. 805 00:36:13,023 --> 00:36:17,162 It's not better if you don't experience it. 806 00:36:17,162 --> 00:36:18,651 If it's just theory, 807 00:36:18,651 --> 00:36:20,562 if it's just dry doctrine, 808 00:36:20,562 --> 00:36:23,653 there's a lot of things better than that. 809 00:36:23,653 --> 00:36:28,094 If all we do is get into dictionary definitions 810 00:36:28,094 --> 00:36:29,889 of agape and phileo 811 00:36:29,889 --> 00:36:32,791 and we start sorting through all that, 812 00:36:32,791 --> 00:36:34,578 well, yeah, there's a lot of things 813 00:36:34,578 --> 00:36:37,463 better than that study if all it is 814 00:36:37,463 --> 00:36:43,113 is dry academics. 815 00:36:43,113 --> 00:36:45,591 "Your love is better than wine." 816 00:36:45,591 --> 00:36:47,865 People talk that way 817 00:36:47,865 --> 00:36:52,552 when they're being overwhelmed by that love. 818 00:36:52,552 --> 00:36:53,996 Not just when it's a theory. 819 00:36:53,996 --> 00:36:55,446 Not when you open the textbook 820 00:36:55,446 --> 00:36:57,433 and it's like, okay, today we're going to 821 00:36:57,433 --> 00:37:01,842 study agape love. 822 00:37:01,842 --> 00:37:04,611 That's not what people mean 823 00:37:04,611 --> 00:37:06,903 when they say, 824 00:37:06,903 --> 00:37:12,462 oh, their love is better than wine. 825 00:37:12,462 --> 00:37:14,857 And you just think about Jesus coming 826 00:37:14,857 --> 00:37:17,352 and what in the world was He trying to say 827 00:37:17,352 --> 00:37:19,399 to the world 828 00:37:19,399 --> 00:37:22,751 when His first miracle 829 00:37:22,751 --> 00:37:27,050 was actually to turn water into wine? 830 00:37:27,050 --> 00:37:31,853 It speaks something of this Christ. 831 00:37:31,853 --> 00:37:35,620 The question is this: 832 00:37:35,620 --> 00:37:39,185 Can you say that to the Lord? 833 00:37:39,185 --> 00:37:42,353 Your love is better than wine, 834 00:37:42,353 --> 00:37:45,022 or whatever else you want to fill in to the blank. 835 00:37:45,022 --> 00:37:47,566 I mean the real question is 836 00:37:47,566 --> 00:37:49,709 how much do we know of this? 837 00:37:49,709 --> 00:37:51,753 Is this real to you? 838 00:37:51,753 --> 00:37:54,827 Has it ever been real to you? 839 00:37:54,827 --> 00:38:01,859 When's the last time you felt your heart quickened? 840 00:38:01,859 --> 00:38:04,343 Oh, I know, there's been seasons 841 00:38:04,343 --> 00:38:06,974 longer and shorter. 842 00:38:06,974 --> 00:38:11,228 I know what it is to be studying the Word of God, 843 00:38:11,228 --> 00:38:12,487 and I'll tell you this, 844 00:38:12,487 --> 00:38:14,706 you want to put yourself in the right position 845 00:38:14,706 --> 00:38:15,808 to be overwhelmed? 846 00:38:15,808 --> 00:38:20,748 You want to get the garbage off the grating? 847 00:38:20,748 --> 00:38:23,871 Then exchange a lot of things that you do in your life 848 00:38:23,871 --> 00:38:26,150 for getting into the Scriptures 849 00:38:26,150 --> 00:38:29,265 more often and more deeply. 850 00:38:29,265 --> 00:38:32,521 One of the things that we all need to recognize is this: 851 00:38:32,521 --> 00:38:36,805 Paul does not offer this prayer in a vacuum. 852 00:38:36,805 --> 00:38:39,286 Do you recognize that the people 853 00:38:39,286 --> 00:38:40,693 that were listening to this 854 00:38:40,693 --> 00:38:42,990 heard chapter 1 and chapter 2 855 00:38:42,990 --> 00:38:46,454 just moments before this? 856 00:38:46,454 --> 00:38:50,217 God's people typically 857 00:38:50,217 --> 00:38:52,543 almost always, 858 00:38:52,543 --> 00:38:55,694 they're overwhelmed by expressions 859 00:38:55,694 --> 00:38:58,822 of the love of God 860 00:38:58,822 --> 00:39:04,928 while meditating deeply in the Word. 861 00:39:04,928 --> 00:39:07,853 And if you think about this, 862 00:39:07,853 --> 00:39:12,088 chapter 1 and the beginning of chapter 2 863 00:39:12,088 --> 00:39:15,613 is largely about the love of the Father. 864 00:39:15,613 --> 00:39:19,539 It's really going through chapter 2 - 865 00:39:19,539 --> 00:39:24,177 Ephesians 2, as you move 866 00:39:24,177 --> 00:39:26,291 through this chapter, 867 00:39:26,291 --> 00:39:31,875 it's really about verse 13 868 00:39:31,875 --> 00:39:34,337 where the love of Christ comes in. 869 00:39:34,337 --> 00:39:36,100 That doesn't mean that nothing's said 870 00:39:36,100 --> 00:39:37,342 about Christ before this. 871 00:39:37,342 --> 00:39:39,387 There's lots of references to Christ, 872 00:39:39,387 --> 00:39:41,746 but it's mainly what the Father is doing. 873 00:39:41,746 --> 00:39:45,727 It's here where we're brought near 874 00:39:45,727 --> 00:39:47,667 by the blood of Christ. 875 00:39:47,667 --> 00:39:49,730 He shed His blood. 876 00:39:49,730 --> 00:39:52,982 He Himself - that's Christ - is our peace. 877 00:39:52,982 --> 00:39:57,630 Christ has made us - Jew and Gentiles - both one. 878 00:39:57,630 --> 00:40:00,707 Christ has broken down in His flesh 879 00:40:00,707 --> 00:40:03,243 the dividing wall of hostility. 880 00:40:03,243 --> 00:40:06,744 Christ has abolished the law of commandments 881 00:40:06,744 --> 00:40:08,352 expressed in ordinances. 882 00:40:08,352 --> 00:40:10,531 Christ creates in Himself 883 00:40:10,531 --> 00:40:12,338 one new man in place of the two. 884 00:40:12,338 --> 00:40:13,753 Christ makes peace. 885 00:40:13,753 --> 00:40:16,766 Christ reconciles us both to God 886 00:40:16,766 --> 00:40:18,553 in one body through the cross. 887 00:40:18,553 --> 00:40:20,424 Christ kills the hostility. 888 00:40:20,424 --> 00:40:25,265 Christ came and preached peace. 889 00:40:25,265 --> 00:40:27,067 V. 18, through Christ 890 00:40:27,067 --> 00:40:29,708 we have access in one Spirit 891 00:40:29,708 --> 00:40:31,690 to the Father. 892 00:40:31,690 --> 00:40:36,644 You see, this is what's been talked about. 893 00:40:36,644 --> 00:40:38,270 What I find is this, 894 00:40:38,270 --> 00:40:41,221 historically, when I find men and women 895 00:40:41,221 --> 00:40:45,139 who have really, they're living 896 00:40:45,139 --> 00:40:51,332 in a sense of the riches, 897 00:40:51,332 --> 00:40:54,621 their minds are being strengthened. 898 00:40:54,621 --> 00:40:56,781 These little rulers? 899 00:40:56,781 --> 00:40:59,636 They're our brains. 900 00:40:59,636 --> 00:41:02,147 If you're going to exchange that little ruler 901 00:41:02,147 --> 00:41:03,743 for the Hubble telescope, 902 00:41:03,743 --> 00:41:04,954 that's your brain. 903 00:41:04,954 --> 00:41:06,518 That's comprehension. 904 00:41:06,518 --> 00:41:09,589 That's what's being talked about here. 905 00:41:09,589 --> 00:41:13,097 Comprehension. 906 00:41:13,097 --> 00:41:15,929 Paul prays this prayer 907 00:41:15,929 --> 00:41:17,682 after he's been telling us 908 00:41:17,682 --> 00:41:21,103 these expressions of the love of Christ. 909 00:41:21,103 --> 00:41:22,848 It doesn't come in a vacuum. 910 00:41:22,848 --> 00:41:26,234 It comes in Scripture. 911 00:41:26,234 --> 00:41:29,088 If you are neglecting Scripture 912 00:41:29,088 --> 00:41:31,406 and continue neglecting Scripture, 913 00:41:31,406 --> 00:41:33,767 you're giving a great indication 914 00:41:33,767 --> 00:41:37,374 that you really have no desire for this. 915 00:41:37,374 --> 00:41:39,532 You can't say, 916 00:41:39,532 --> 00:41:44,352 God, please, I bend my knee before the Father 917 00:41:44,352 --> 00:41:48,057 to ask You, please Father, 918 00:41:48,057 --> 00:41:50,847 according to the riches of Your glory, 919 00:41:50,847 --> 00:41:56,142 please strengthen this church. 920 00:41:56,142 --> 00:41:58,426 And then if the church goes on 921 00:41:58,426 --> 00:42:02,689 no more committed to Scripture, 922 00:42:02,689 --> 00:42:06,211 then we're not really taking this serious. 923 00:42:06,211 --> 00:42:09,327 Look, I'm not talking about in theory 924 00:42:09,327 --> 00:42:12,927 knowing that Christ loves His people. 925 00:42:12,927 --> 00:42:15,708 Or even in theory, trying to convince yourself 926 00:42:15,708 --> 00:42:18,682 Christ loves you. 927 00:42:18,682 --> 00:42:23,756 That's not it. 928 00:42:23,756 --> 00:42:25,764 I know this. 929 00:42:25,764 --> 00:42:30,062 I know that some of the greatest 930 00:42:30,062 --> 00:42:32,204 expressions of God 931 00:42:32,204 --> 00:42:36,283 speaking to my own soul - 932 00:42:36,283 --> 00:42:40,712 I'm pondering Scripture; medidating on it, 933 00:42:40,712 --> 00:42:42,627 and I recognize, when you're preaching 934 00:42:42,627 --> 00:42:45,215 week in and week out, 935 00:42:45,215 --> 00:42:49,144 speaking Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, 936 00:42:49,144 --> 00:42:53,505 and in the Word all the time - 937 00:42:53,505 --> 00:42:58,672 I recognize that if you're preaching, 938 00:42:58,672 --> 00:43:02,193 you have an advantage for being in the Word. 939 00:43:02,193 --> 00:43:06,083 There was a time when I wasn't a preacher. 940 00:43:06,083 --> 00:43:08,582 And I know that you can stay in the Word regularly. 941 00:43:08,582 --> 00:43:09,971 You can be in it a half hour, 942 00:43:09,971 --> 00:43:12,989 45 minutes, or an hour every single day. 943 00:43:12,989 --> 00:43:14,425 And you should be. 944 00:43:14,425 --> 00:43:16,810 There's been times when I've been sitting 945 00:43:16,810 --> 00:43:19,820 in my office and I'm looking, 946 00:43:19,820 --> 00:43:22,801 and suddenly, 947 00:43:22,801 --> 00:43:24,531 something happens. 948 00:43:24,531 --> 00:43:26,398 I mean, I am overcome 949 00:43:26,398 --> 00:43:29,966 by suddenly as the truth of something, 950 00:43:29,966 --> 00:43:31,736 I'm beginning to realize it, 951 00:43:31,736 --> 00:43:33,901 it's as though the Spirit of God 952 00:43:33,901 --> 00:43:40,676 just pours the reality, the riches, 953 00:43:40,676 --> 00:43:43,502 the joy, the love of it 954 00:43:43,502 --> 00:43:45,194 to where I can hardly contain it, 955 00:43:45,194 --> 00:43:46,866 I have to fall out of my chair. 956 00:43:46,866 --> 00:43:49,352 But see, the point is, 957 00:43:49,352 --> 00:43:51,858 it's in connection with the Word. 958 00:43:51,858 --> 00:43:54,006 It's in connection with the truth. 959 00:43:54,006 --> 00:43:55,832 It's in connection with studying 960 00:43:55,832 --> 00:43:57,913 the expressions of love. 961 00:43:57,913 --> 00:44:00,207 See, this is the thing: love. 962 00:44:00,207 --> 00:44:02,176 Love. 963 00:44:02,176 --> 00:44:04,786 It was Peter Marshall - 964 00:44:04,786 --> 00:44:06,221 you guys know who that was? 965 00:44:06,221 --> 00:44:07,443 Scottish preacher. 966 00:44:07,443 --> 00:44:10,841 He was actually in the Congress 967 00:44:10,841 --> 00:44:13,023 as a chaplain. 968 00:44:13,023 --> 00:44:15,005 But I think it was Peter Marshall 969 00:44:15,005 --> 00:44:19,570 who said this, that love is like 970 00:44:19,570 --> 00:44:24,742 the fragrance from a flower. 971 00:44:24,742 --> 00:44:28,494 Who can dissect that? 972 00:44:28,494 --> 00:44:30,468 Lloyd-Jones said all you can do 973 00:44:30,468 --> 00:44:33,100 is say certain things about it. 974 00:44:33,100 --> 00:44:34,843 That's just as far as you can go. 975 00:44:34,843 --> 00:44:39,707 And typically when we talk about love, 976 00:44:39,707 --> 00:44:43,003 we look at what it does. 977 00:44:43,003 --> 00:44:45,993 I mean, we can try to talk about agape, 978 00:44:45,993 --> 00:44:47,899 and we can try to define love, 979 00:44:47,899 --> 00:44:51,088 but typically what you're left with 980 00:44:51,088 --> 00:44:52,959 is what it does. 981 00:44:52,959 --> 00:44:55,111 That's what impresses us about love. 982 00:44:55,111 --> 00:44:59,439 What bowls me over and causes me to fall out of my seat 983 00:44:59,439 --> 00:45:01,299 is not some dry theory 984 00:45:01,299 --> 00:45:03,838 about the different nuances 985 00:45:03,838 --> 00:45:05,351 of the four Greek words 986 00:45:05,351 --> 00:45:06,859 that could be interpreted love. 987 00:45:06,859 --> 00:45:09,092 That's not it. 988 00:45:09,092 --> 00:45:11,149 It's what He's done for me 989 00:45:11,149 --> 00:45:14,188 who does not deserve any of it. 990 00:45:14,188 --> 00:45:16,789 It's that personal - 991 00:45:16,789 --> 00:45:19,295 we're not just talking about 992 00:45:19,295 --> 00:45:26,410 comprehending that Christ is loving. 993 00:45:26,410 --> 00:45:30,439 We're talking about comprehending His love for you. 994 00:45:30,439 --> 00:45:34,229 That's the issue. 995 00:45:34,229 --> 00:45:38,618 Listen to this. 996 00:45:38,618 --> 00:45:41,240 Thomas Charles. 997 00:45:41,240 --> 00:45:44,829 This guy - a Welsh non-conformist. 998 00:45:44,829 --> 00:45:48,269 He studied under John Newton. 999 00:45:48,269 --> 00:45:52,909 He says, "I had such a view of Christ 1000 00:45:52,909 --> 00:45:55,097 as our High Priest..." 1001 00:45:55,097 --> 00:45:57,871 Now, you probably need to stop right there. 1002 00:45:57,871 --> 00:45:59,760 That ought to tell you something. 1003 00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:02,973 He was meditating on Christ 1004 00:46:02,973 --> 00:46:04,692 as a High Priest. 1005 00:46:04,692 --> 00:46:06,826 He said, "I had such a view of Christ 1006 00:46:06,826 --> 00:46:11,363 as our High Priest, of His love, 1007 00:46:11,363 --> 00:46:14,760 compassion, power, all-sufficiency, 1008 00:46:14,760 --> 00:46:20,884 as filled my soul with astonishment, 1009 00:46:20,884 --> 00:46:23,445 with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1010 00:46:23,445 --> 00:46:25,222 My mind was overwhelmed 1011 00:46:25,222 --> 00:46:28,320 and overpowered with amazement. 1012 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:31,004 The truths exhibited..." See, that's the thing. 1013 00:46:31,004 --> 00:46:32,051 Truth. 1014 00:46:32,051 --> 00:46:33,974 We're talking about experiences 1015 00:46:33,974 --> 00:46:39,729 buried in the truth of Scripture. 1016 00:46:39,729 --> 00:46:41,953 "The truths exhibited to my view appeared 1017 00:46:41,953 --> 00:46:46,877 too wonderfully gracious to be believed." 1018 00:46:46,877 --> 00:46:50,502 Howell Harris. 1019 00:46:50,502 --> 00:46:52,188 Another famous Welsh preacher 1020 00:46:52,188 --> 00:46:53,814 of the First Great Awakening. 1021 00:46:53,814 --> 00:46:56,566 Contemporary with Whitefield. 1022 00:46:56,566 --> 00:46:59,417 Daniel Rowland. 1023 00:46:59,417 --> 00:47:00,879 William Williams. 1024 00:47:00,879 --> 00:47:02,993 He says this, 1025 00:47:02,993 --> 00:47:08,392 "Love fell in showers on my soul 1026 00:47:08,392 --> 00:47:11,407 so that I could scarcely contain myself. 1027 00:47:11,407 --> 00:47:15,021 I had no fear or any doubt of my salvation. 1028 00:47:15,021 --> 00:47:17,983 I felt I was all love. 1029 00:47:17,983 --> 00:47:22,576 So full of it that I could not ask for more." 1030 00:47:22,576 --> 00:47:23,805 William Grimshaw. 1031 00:47:23,805 --> 00:47:25,696 Seems like James spoke to us - 1032 00:47:25,696 --> 00:47:29,541 gave us a biographical sketch on Grimshaw. 1033 00:47:29,541 --> 00:47:32,294 He was another Methodist contemporary 1034 00:47:32,294 --> 00:47:34,592 of John Wesley. 1035 00:47:34,592 --> 00:47:37,482 He says, "I expect my stay on earth 1036 00:47:37,482 --> 00:47:39,442 will be but short." 1037 00:47:39,442 --> 00:47:41,794 I think there was a typhus epidemic. 1038 00:47:41,794 --> 00:47:43,951 And he died one year older 1039 00:47:43,951 --> 00:47:46,064 than I am right now. 1040 00:47:46,064 --> 00:47:48,581 "I expect my stay on earth will be but short, 1041 00:47:48,581 --> 00:47:50,642 and I will endeavor to make the best 1042 00:47:50,642 --> 00:47:51,997 of a short life 1043 00:47:51,997 --> 00:47:54,765 and so devote my soul to God 1044 00:47:54,765 --> 00:47:57,459 as not to go creeping to heaven 1045 00:47:57,459 --> 00:47:59,653 at the last." 1046 00:47:59,653 --> 00:48:01,548 Don't you like that? 1047 00:48:01,548 --> 00:48:04,593 May God help none of us to creep into heaven. 1048 00:48:04,593 --> 00:48:11,679 Kevin, don't creep into heaven. 1049 00:48:11,679 --> 00:48:13,647 And even if your life is cut short, 1050 00:48:13,647 --> 00:48:16,418 live while you have life. 1051 00:48:16,418 --> 00:48:17,903 No creeping. 1052 00:48:17,903 --> 00:48:20,236 Church, don't creep! 1053 00:48:20,236 --> 00:48:22,444 "His soul at various times 1054 00:48:22,444 --> 00:48:25,753 enjoyed very large manifestations 1055 00:48:25,753 --> 00:48:27,980 of God's love. 1056 00:48:27,980 --> 00:48:29,320 His cup ran over. 1057 00:48:29,320 --> 00:48:31,520 Higher degrees of spiritual delight 1058 00:48:31,520 --> 00:48:35,161 would have overpowered his mortal frame." 1059 00:48:35,161 --> 00:48:37,090 George Whitefield. 1060 00:48:37,090 --> 00:48:38,787 "I myself was so overpowered 1061 00:48:38,787 --> 00:48:40,155 with a sense of God's love 1062 00:48:40,155 --> 00:48:43,045 that it almost took away my life." 1063 00:48:43,045 --> 00:48:45,500 Sarah Edwards. 1064 00:48:45,500 --> 00:48:49,271 "It seemed to be all that my feeble soul could sustain. 1065 00:48:49,271 --> 00:48:51,265 All that fullness of joy 1066 00:48:51,265 --> 00:48:53,006 which is felt by those who behold 1067 00:48:53,006 --> 00:48:56,861 the face of Christ and share His love 1068 00:48:56,861 --> 00:48:59,285 in the heavenly world." 1069 00:48:59,285 --> 00:49:02,366 Moody Stewart. 1070 00:49:02,366 --> 00:49:04,172 Christian from the 1800's. 1071 00:49:04,172 --> 00:49:07,663 I couldn't find out much on him. 1072 00:49:07,663 --> 00:49:09,139 "When we were on our knees, 1073 00:49:09,139 --> 00:49:11,735 I was so filled with a sense of the love of God 1074 00:49:11,735 --> 00:49:13,875 that the joy was too much for me. 1075 00:49:13,875 --> 00:49:16,069 It was all that I was able to bear, 1076 00:49:16,069 --> 00:49:17,464 and it was with a struggle 1077 00:49:17,464 --> 00:49:20,548 that I did not sink under it. 1078 00:49:20,548 --> 00:49:22,612 It was a gracious outflowing 1079 00:49:22,612 --> 00:49:25,123 of the love of the Lord Jesus 1080 00:49:25,123 --> 00:49:30,247 making His servant sick of love." 1081 00:49:30,247 --> 00:49:32,021 You say, "sick of love?" 1082 00:49:32,021 --> 00:49:34,699 That's an expression from the Song of Solomon. 1083 00:49:34,699 --> 00:49:36,732 Sick of love. 1084 00:49:36,732 --> 00:49:40,897 May God according to the riches of His glory 1085 00:49:40,897 --> 00:49:48,483 teach you what that expression means. 1086 00:49:48,483 --> 00:49:50,506 John Owen. 1087 00:49:50,506 --> 00:49:52,764 "To give a poor, sinful soul 1088 00:49:52,764 --> 00:49:55,628 a comfortable persuasion 1089 00:49:55,628 --> 00:49:56,968 affecting it throughout 1090 00:49:56,968 --> 00:49:58,779 in all its faculties and affections 1091 00:49:58,779 --> 00:50:01,155 that God in Jesus Christ loves him, 1092 00:50:01,155 --> 00:50:02,774 delights in him, 1093 00:50:02,774 --> 00:50:04,615 is well pleased with him, 1094 00:50:04,615 --> 00:50:07,593 have thoughts of tenderness and kindness towards him, 1095 00:50:07,593 --> 00:50:11,083 to give a soul an overflowing sense hereof 1096 00:50:11,083 --> 00:50:14,634 is an inexpressible mercy." 1097 00:50:14,634 --> 00:50:17,028 And it may be. 1098 00:50:17,028 --> 00:50:19,849 But inexpressible mercies in my estimation 1099 00:50:19,849 --> 00:50:24,853 are right in league with: 1100 00:50:24,853 --> 00:50:28,809 according to the riches of His glory. 1101 00:50:28,809 --> 00:50:34,359 D.L. Moody. Chicago. 1102 00:50:34,359 --> 00:50:36,681 Actually, on this day, he was in New York City. 1103 00:50:36,681 --> 00:50:38,791 "Day and night he would walk the streets 1104 00:50:38,791 --> 00:50:41,372 desperate for the touch of God's power in his life, 1105 00:50:41,372 --> 00:50:44,995 then suddenly, one day in the city of New York, 1106 00:50:44,995 --> 00:50:46,789 oh, what a day! 1107 00:50:46,789 --> 00:50:48,468 I cannot describe it. 1108 00:50:48,468 --> 00:50:50,029 I seldom refer to it. 1109 00:50:50,029 --> 00:50:54,058 It's almost too sacred an experience to name. 1110 00:50:54,058 --> 00:50:57,772 I can only say that God revealed Himself to me 1111 00:50:57,772 --> 00:51:01,117 and I had such an experience of His love 1112 00:51:01,117 --> 00:51:07,044 that I had to ask Him to stay His hand." 1113 00:51:07,044 --> 00:51:09,668 You know what Lloyd-Jones said about all this? 1114 00:51:09,668 --> 00:51:12,330 He said above all, 1115 00:51:12,330 --> 00:51:15,832 you have to experience it. 1116 00:51:15,832 --> 00:51:23,320 Because hearing these, 1117 00:51:23,320 --> 00:51:27,062 I don't know about you, 1118 00:51:27,062 --> 00:51:32,976 but if you all came in and said, 1119 00:51:32,976 --> 00:51:34,428 "God has taught us, brother. 1120 00:51:34,428 --> 00:51:36,365 God has taught us. God came. 1121 00:51:36,365 --> 00:51:39,564 There's a revival in the church. 1122 00:51:39,564 --> 00:51:42,639 What you asked for that Sunday there in June, 1123 00:51:42,639 --> 00:51:45,105 that God would teach us what it means 1124 00:51:45,105 --> 00:51:47,067 to be sick of love, 1125 00:51:47,067 --> 00:51:48,576 He's taught me." 1126 00:51:48,576 --> 00:51:51,505 And if all of you said it, 1127 00:51:51,505 --> 00:51:58,425 and God passed me by... 1128 00:51:58,425 --> 00:52:01,002 I know Scripture says rejoice with those who rejoice, 1129 00:52:01,002 --> 00:52:03,836 but I can tell you, I would weep. 1130 00:52:03,836 --> 00:52:08,323 And I would go out of here weeping. 1131 00:52:08,323 --> 00:52:09,685 Because the truth is 1132 00:52:09,685 --> 00:52:12,906 that love experienced by others 1133 00:52:12,906 --> 00:52:17,673 does not satisfy your soul. 1134 00:52:17,673 --> 00:52:21,044 And God doesn't intend it to. 1135 00:52:21,044 --> 00:52:25,325 What does it say in Jude about the love of God? 1136 00:52:25,325 --> 00:52:30,058 "Keep yourself in the love of God." 1137 00:52:30,058 --> 00:52:32,498 That doesn't mean keep yourself saved. 1138 00:52:32,498 --> 00:52:34,717 Like Andy Hamilton says, 1139 00:52:34,717 --> 00:52:38,633 keeping yourself in a sensible sense 1140 00:52:38,633 --> 00:52:44,779 of God's love for you. 1141 00:52:44,779 --> 00:52:47,343 What foolish people we are 1142 00:52:47,343 --> 00:52:49,377 in light of these kinds of realities 1143 00:52:49,377 --> 00:52:51,158 to be content. 1144 00:52:51,158 --> 00:52:53,434 Our foolishness is found in our contentment 1145 00:52:53,434 --> 00:52:56,296 with the things of this world. 1146 00:52:56,296 --> 00:52:58,401 You know what? It is really foolish 1147 00:52:58,401 --> 00:53:01,793 to be content to be an average Christian 1148 00:53:01,793 --> 00:53:07,916 when there's promises like this. 1149 00:53:07,916 --> 00:53:11,374 Now, I'll say this, 1150 00:53:11,374 --> 00:53:14,529 experiencing deeper and deeper 1151 00:53:14,529 --> 00:53:17,226 and deeper revelations of the love of Christ 1152 00:53:17,226 --> 00:53:18,688 is being prayed for. 1153 00:53:18,688 --> 00:53:22,693 It ought to raise your expectation. 1154 00:53:22,693 --> 00:53:26,863 And listen, it's for all Christians. 1155 00:53:26,863 --> 00:53:30,640 Not all people - don't get me wrong there. 1156 00:53:30,640 --> 00:53:32,491 It's for all Christians. 1157 00:53:32,491 --> 00:53:35,313 Look at verse 18. It couldn't be more clear. 1158 00:53:35,313 --> 00:53:37,914 "That you may have strength to comprehend," 1159 00:53:37,914 --> 00:53:39,737 with who? 1160 00:53:39,737 --> 00:53:42,582 "All the saints." 1161 00:53:42,582 --> 00:53:44,902 Not the particularly godly ones. 1162 00:53:44,902 --> 00:53:49,028 Not the early first century Christians. 1163 00:53:49,028 --> 00:53:50,427 Not the apostles. 1164 00:53:50,427 --> 00:53:52,552 That's not what it says. 1165 00:53:52,552 --> 00:53:56,067 It's all saints. 1166 00:53:56,067 --> 00:53:58,088 Look, of course, the man 1167 00:53:58,088 --> 00:53:59,887 who is not a Christian 1168 00:53:59,887 --> 00:54:01,584 can't experience these things. 1169 00:54:01,584 --> 00:54:02,821 Why? 1170 00:54:02,821 --> 00:54:04,946 Jesus Himself said His Father 1171 00:54:04,946 --> 00:54:07,663 was going to send another Comforter - 1172 00:54:07,663 --> 00:54:09,190 the Spirit of Truth - 1173 00:54:09,190 --> 00:54:11,459 Whom the world cannot receive. 1174 00:54:11,459 --> 00:54:13,719 You see, the world can't receive the Spirit. 1175 00:54:13,719 --> 00:54:17,034 The Spirit is the One that Paul is praying 1176 00:54:17,034 --> 00:54:18,970 would strengthen us 1177 00:54:18,970 --> 00:54:21,440 that Christ may dwell in our hearts 1178 00:54:21,440 --> 00:54:23,841 by faith. 1179 00:54:23,841 --> 00:54:26,513 Strenthen us to comprehend. 1180 00:54:26,513 --> 00:54:29,323 They don't have that. 1181 00:54:29,323 --> 00:54:30,585 But if you're a saint, 1182 00:54:30,585 --> 00:54:31,947 you could be the least - 1183 00:54:31,947 --> 00:54:33,874 Jesus talked about those people, right? 1184 00:54:33,874 --> 00:54:35,632 The least of My brothers. 1185 00:54:35,632 --> 00:54:37,098 You can be the least, 1186 00:54:37,098 --> 00:54:39,296 but this is for you. 1187 00:54:39,296 --> 00:54:42,942 The least Christian can be brought in 1188 00:54:42,942 --> 00:54:49,792 and overwhelmed by a comprehension 1189 00:54:49,792 --> 00:54:55,713 of this love of Christ. 1190 00:54:55,713 --> 00:54:58,597 Brethren, is there an ache? 1191 00:54:58,597 --> 00:55:00,408 Is there a desire? 1192 00:55:00,408 --> 00:55:06,658 Is there anything in you that wants this? 1193 00:55:06,658 --> 00:55:09,149 Or are you just going to be content? 1194 00:55:09,149 --> 00:55:14,880 I'm praying, Lord, sick of love. 1195 00:55:14,880 --> 00:55:17,173 Teach us. 1196 00:55:17,173 --> 00:55:19,964 Men and women have walked before us. 1197 00:55:19,964 --> 00:55:30,236 They almost couldn't handle it. 1198 00:55:30,236 --> 00:55:34,704 Lord willing, in the weeks ahead, 1199 00:55:34,704 --> 00:55:38,890 I want to begin to look into the depths of this 1200 00:55:38,890 --> 00:55:43,525 with whatever ability God gives to me. 1201 00:55:43,525 --> 00:55:48,123 We want to really start thinking about His love. 1202 00:55:48,123 --> 00:55:49,832 Trying to grasp, 1203 00:55:49,832 --> 00:55:53,166 trying to get a feel, 1204 00:55:53,166 --> 00:55:55,256 trying to absorb the doctrine 1205 00:55:55,256 --> 00:55:56,986 and hopefully in the midst of that, 1206 00:55:56,986 --> 00:56:01,352 God is going to cause some expansion 1207 00:56:01,352 --> 00:56:03,225 in our comprehension 1208 00:56:03,225 --> 00:56:04,506 and in our knowledge 1209 00:56:04,506 --> 00:56:07,950 and in our experience. 1210 00:56:07,950 --> 00:56:12,519 I'm hoping for glory. 1211 00:56:12,519 --> 00:56:15,848 Father, please, 1212 00:56:15,848 --> 00:56:17,971 You've promised. 1213 00:56:17,971 --> 00:56:20,295 You've promised, Father, 1214 00:56:20,295 --> 00:56:22,851 and if we are six weeks, eight weeks 1215 00:56:22,851 --> 00:56:24,980 down the road and nothing happens 1216 00:56:24,980 --> 00:56:26,348 and it's just average 1217 00:56:26,348 --> 00:56:29,003 and it's unimpressive, 1218 00:56:29,003 --> 00:56:31,326 Father, You stirred Paul to pray 1219 00:56:31,326 --> 00:56:38,749 according to the riches of Your glory. 1220 00:56:38,749 --> 00:56:40,876 Father, will it not be a testimony 1221 00:56:40,876 --> 00:56:43,783 to the riches of Your glory 1222 00:56:43,783 --> 00:56:48,563 if nothing happens? 1223 00:56:48,563 --> 00:56:52,049 Father, by inspiring Paul to pray this way 1224 00:56:52,049 --> 00:56:56,235 have You not put Your own name at stake here? 1225 00:56:56,235 --> 00:56:59,793 Are You going to leave us the same? 1226 00:56:59,793 --> 00:57:01,567 Lord, we recognize in this prayer 1227 00:57:01,567 --> 00:57:03,751 there's an acknowledgement of our weakness. 1228 00:57:03,751 --> 00:57:06,282 Otherwise, we wouldn't have to be strengthened. 1229 00:57:06,282 --> 00:57:08,016 It doesn't say we're already strong. 1230 00:57:08,016 --> 00:57:09,829 It said therefore we should comprehend this 1231 00:57:09,829 --> 00:57:11,504 according to the strength that we have. 1232 00:57:11,504 --> 00:57:13,279 Paul's praying that we would be strengthened 1233 00:57:13,279 --> 00:57:16,792 obviously because we don't possess right now 1234 00:57:16,792 --> 00:57:19,432 what we should possess or need to possess, 1235 00:57:19,432 --> 00:57:22,992 must possess to be able to grasp these things. 1236 00:57:22,992 --> 00:57:25,153 That means You have to give us something. 1237 00:57:25,153 --> 00:57:28,144 Lord, we know this, that even if we tried 1238 00:57:28,144 --> 00:57:29,874 and put forth our best effort 1239 00:57:29,874 --> 00:57:31,164 to not grieve the Spirit 1240 00:57:31,164 --> 00:57:33,269 and remove all the stuff on the grating, 1241 00:57:33,269 --> 00:57:38,955 to allow this power to flow, 1242 00:57:38,955 --> 00:57:41,459 Lord, if You don't come; if You don't help; 1243 00:57:41,459 --> 00:57:43,685 if You don't enlarge; if You don't speak; 1244 00:57:43,685 --> 00:57:47,987 if You don't give us comprehension; 1245 00:57:47,987 --> 00:57:49,800 if You don't stretch us, 1246 00:57:49,800 --> 00:57:51,428 then nothing will happen. 1247 00:57:51,428 --> 00:57:56,126 Lord, we need You. We need You to help. 1248 00:57:56,126 --> 00:58:00,548 And we ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1249 00:58:00,548 --> 00:58:04,837 Whose love it is that we're taken up with. 1250 00:58:04,837 --> 00:58:05,801 Amen.