Eph 3:14-21

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage Read the Passage at least twice Who is in the passage? What action verbs do you see? What other words stick out in your mind

Paul sums up the first 3 chapters in these verses.

The sum is

• Recognizing Paul's place vs 14 (bow, not worthy)

• God bringing unity and peace to all mankind vs 15

• Richness of God's gift vs 16, 18, 20

• Work of God the Father through Christ and the Spirit vs 16, 17, 19, 21

• God dwells in you through love to do His work vs 16, 17, 19, 20

• Paul recognizing Who God is vs 14, 15, 21

Notice again the actions of the Trinity. Paul prays to the Father of us all, His power in his is shown through His spirit that lives in us through Christ. The spirit reveals the love of Christ

vs 14 Paul reflecting on the mystery revealed in Christ, the work of God to bring peace to all people and reflecting on his call, can do nothing but bow on his knees (Normal prayer stature was standing for Jews unless truely troubled or in awe Luke 22:41, Acts 7:60, Ezra 9:5) Paul is humble before God for his call for he is the least worthy (Vs 8) to share the message of God. Yet God has chiosen Him to do it. And that grace filled call stirs a passion in Paul for those (the Gentiles) he is called to show Christ. (vs 3:1,2)

vs 15 Paul has been talking about the unity that God brings to Jew and gentile so it makes sense to see God as the head of all people. (3:6)

vs 16 Paul can not stop talking about the riches avaialble to us.

• Rcihes to be strengthen with power

• Riches to have Christ DWELL in us through His Spirit

• Riches to see the love of God that is extrordinary

• Riches to be filled with God

• Riches that go beyond our ability to even ask for Vs 20

• Riches to see His power at work in us

vs 17 The word translated dwell does not mean for a short time. But it is the place you live a place of permanance. We get that through faith (Think of Jesus' words about faith)

vs 18 the understanding of God's love is not just for one but for all. Paul wants us to explore (since Christ dwells in us through His Spirit) the love of God. A love better than any knowledge (1 Cor 13:2) A love that will over fill us (1 John 4:7-11)

vs 20 Think how far short I fall in this area. It is easy to wonder if God will work (goes back to faith in Him Matt 8:23-27) The truth is God can do more than we ever dreamed. (Luke 11:10)

vs 21 The glory of the church just like the glory of Christ reflects back to the Father. The head and the body, the bride and the bridegroom, the Savior and the saved (2:19-22)