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Elements City Church

Ephesians series - wk3 (3:14-21)

Ephesians series - wk3 (3:14-21)

The Apostle Paul wrote Ephesians not to counter any heresy or issues in the church, but to encourage and STRENGTHEN the followers of Jesus. He spent years investing in these people and sending others to do the same. He loves them. He's writing this letter to STRENGTHEN them deeper into their new identity in Christ and living out the calling of the Church in their day. It's still true today for us.

Locations & Times

Elements City Church

1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA

Sunday 5:00 PM

Thanks for joining us tonight...

Whether you're in the house or joining us online from your house - we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to your soul and that you know you're loved. May God whisper to you and help you in taking your next step with Him.
http://elem.cc
Today we come to one of the prayers Paul prays for the early church

Paul has some of the most beautiful prayers in the New Testament that he prays on behalf of the churches he established; and in reality over all believers everywhere. You’d do well to use these prayers for yourself, your family and your church today.



DWELL:

The Greek word translated dwell conveys the idea of settling down, taking up permanent residence. Christ finds his home in believers’ hearts. His will, His ways begin to take more and more sway and become more and more the way we live…
ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED
Christ’s indwelling presence and the Spirit’s strengthening power also help believers to be rooted and established in love (literally “having been rooted and having been founded,” emphasizing the present result of a past action).

In Greek, this clause connects with 3:18, suggesting that by being “rooted” we will then be able to understand the magnitude of God’s love.


Paul says: "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love …"
= I pray that your life will have solid foundations. I want you to know that the greatest foundation for life is the love of God.

HIGH, WIDE, LONG, DEEP is the love of Christ…
Christ’s love is total, complete, eternal, and all-encompassing. It reaches every corner of our experience.

We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19), and as we understand increasingly that love, we are able to love more completely.
"We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at his unspeakable love."

-John Owen
Paul saw the Cross of Christ, as the supreme revelation of God’s love and the personal expression of God’s love —this boundless love of God found in Christ!

The marvel of it is overwhelming—that the sinless One would gladly endure the shame and agony of the Cross for miserable sinners like us.

The outstretched arms of Christ on the Cross embrace all humankind, to the ends of the earth and to the ends of time.

How big is God’s love?
As big as the cross.
At the Cross - God’s love is on crystal clear HD display.
An un-earnable love that's now unmistakably available.

Ephesians 3:17-18
…I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.


Paul’s praying that we be:
Strengthened in faith.
Secure in Christ’s love for ourselves.
Steadfastly filled with this love to now share with others.


Your invited to take a few moments this week to lean into this prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19 -- and pray for 1 person that you want to know Jesus loves them OR pray for God to help you have a fresh experience with His love for you.



Thanks for being with us and partnering with us...

Elements family: thank you for being a part of enabling us to BE the Church in our city especially in this moment. Your gifts help fuel the mission and our capacity to share His love with as many as we can. You help us bring the HOPE and LIGHT of Jesus to our city! You can give here, online or via our app.
http://elem.cc/give
Have a blessed week everyone. We're right back here next Sunday at 5pm. on-site or online. We love you friends.

Connection Card

If you're NEW, you can fill out a connection card and we'll connect with you to answer any questions and help you feel welcome in our Elements family.
http://elementscitychurch.org/connectioncard