Paul's Second Prayer For Believer's

We come this morning again to the church member and or the member of God's family. You remember that a church member? They find it. If Asian as one who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior not merely a member of a local church. And so we want to talk about that. Today, there are three problems that we all face. Then we all encounter, let me see if I can see it on this television, little better. If I stand over here, maybe I can, maybe I can, we'll see.

Let me get my eyes focused in here. Ya are Christian lies and

let me go back to the assist better.

We face that's in our Christian lies and we often use as excuses which one called upon to witness for the Lord to serve the Lord. So, let's look at those excuses. First of all, I want is, I'm just not a good enough Christian. Did you ever say that? Did you ever think while somebody else is better? I'm just not a good enough. Christian to Be an Effective witness for the Lord. I'm not strong enough in Christ or There is, I don't know enough about the Bible or you just don't understand. All I should have about the Bible or I'm just not smart enough.

Did you ever say that? Did you ever think that that's another statement that we often make? And then we also have the statement I don't have. The Talon. To do that. Or I'm not as good at that as and you name somebody else. Would be or I am not skilled enough. Did you ever think that when the Lord calls upon you to say something? Did you ever use these excuses? Well, if you did Paul and Ephesians chapter 3, praise for you and me, he prays for all of us. Eddie addresses himself to three specific needs. These excuses that we use. You see, apparently had met other people like us. Even though he lived a number of years ago, you probably knew some people like us, they use the same kind of excuses and Paul prayed for them less. Look at that prayer for a few moments today. Foremost, who are not strong enough Christians fall. Pray that they would be strengthened.

That he would Grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might through his spirit. In the inner man, that Christ May dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love. Okay, that Christ May dwell in your hearts by faith and that as a result of that we're going to be strengthened because Christ the Holy Spirit, the minister of Christ is within us. We'll talk about that more as we go along. But it's important to know that we're to be strengthened as a result of the rich or plenty for everyone that is, there's plenty for everyone. The Riches of his grace that was part of that verse that was read The Riches of his grace. And has strengthened with power. The word, there is a Greek word dunamis from which we get our word Dynamite. That was for years. The strongest thing known to man as far as an explosive and that's what used to describe the strength that God gives us the dynamite of the scripture that is what God has given to us. It's not something that, you know, somebody May ignore, it's dynamite

And it comes by his Spirit, the verse says, by his Spirit God himself, the holy spirit imparts this strength to us. So, if you're worried about the fact that you're not a strong enough Christian, what do you do? You ask God to impart extra strength to you and he will do it through his spirit. He will do it. Now, if you try and do it on your own, you're probably not going to be at all successful. Maybe some of your experience that you try and win an argument with somebody and you get a boyfriend thinking, well, that wasn't a good deal. Why? Because you depended on what you knew. And depending upon your own strength, God says, we need to depend on his strength and he will strengthen us through his spirit. It's important that we know that so that Christ may be dwelling in Your Heart by faith, the scripture says, so that Christ may be dwelling in Your Heart by faith. He's the one that imparts that strength through his holy spirit, he dwells within us. The Holy Spirit does any of them parts that strength to us? That's how we're effectively as Witnesses for God and Paul praise. Not just for the Ephesians, he prays for every one of us because God has left us here and the place is where we are to witness for him. You may think God has left us here to work everyday and put up with it until we go to heaven, know, he's left us here to reach those people there next to us. That's why we're here. Otherwise they're going to take it to heaven. Otherwise we wouldn't even be here. Tomorrow? What we accepted Christ as Savior and say, okay you're done here but he has work for us to do. He has chosen not to reveal his Truth by writing it in the sky. Buddy, Angels by having the Angels coming in part. That truth to those around us. He's caused you to live next door to this band or this woman. He's caused you to work with him. He's caused you to be his Witnesses and he gives you the strength that is needed to do that. That's what's important to remember. God hasn't left us here to work on our own. He comes to impart strength to us. That's what he does. And so when he calls upon you to witness for him, he's there, but if you depend upon him, he will give you the right words to say and that's all you need to say. It's like the blind man that talk about Anna prayer. Whereas, I was blind. Now, I see that's only needed to say, He didn't have to talk about why the Lord healed on the Sabbath. He didn't have to go in all the paraphernalia or about the questions of heresies. We're asking. He said, I know two things. I was blind. That was one and now I see that's too. Those two things were what was important in his testimony and that's true for everyone of us. We were without Christ without ho without strength. And now Christ strengthens us. We have hope for the future, everything is taken care of. And if something happens here, we're with the Lord, that's what we know. We may not know all the other ramifications. God doesn't hold us accountable for that. He just says tell what you know, two were strengthened in order to do that. Now, for those who do not know enough for prayed that they would be comprehending. Babe. May be able to comprehend with all the saints. What is the width? And the length and the depth and height?

Okay, it's important to know that God gives us the knowledge we need. We talked about not knowing enough. it's the fact is that God gives us what knowledge we need and he enforce that do it as a result of What is it? Say your routing and grounding. Most of you have plants in your yard. What keeps them alive The Roots? The water that goes to the roots and is taking the plant, that's the point of our Christian Life that we are rooted in the word of God. We are comprehending the word of God because the holy spirit gives us that knowledge. It's interesting that sometimes people come to church and say while I want to learn something from you today, Pastor. However, that's not the only place you're going to lose learn. I got the hiccups. All of a sudden that happens that's not the only place you're going to learn is through what I am parked because when you leave the word of God to yourself, and you ask the holy spirit to guide and direct your thoughts and give you comprehension, he imparts the truth that you need to know for that day and for that hour

What is it? That's how as a result of rooting and grounding, what is it? We know to know the mysteries of the Gospel, the mysteries of the Gospel, that's what we learn. Did you ever consider yourself to know? All the mysteries of the Gospel? Well, probably not, you think I don't understand that. Well, you know what? If you continue to read the Holy Spirit Will impart that truth to you. It's interesting to me that the third verse of what we generally considered to be the most difficult book in the Bible. The Book of Revelation says this blessed, is he that readeth? And they, that hear the words of this prophecy, you know, it doesn't say blessed. Is he that understands? It has blessed this Heathen rage. Why do you need to read it? So the Holy Spirit can teach you from what you read. That's what God's purpose is to teach us the truth when we have to expose ourselves to it, we have to read it. And so the way to learn the Book of Revelation is to read it over and over and over, that's why I'm from a very young age. I began to read the word of God. One time through the scripture in each year. And you know, I like I told you I tried all of these methods in this book and chapter today. And this book and chapter and I could never remember what I was supposed to read and couldn't find the schedule until 1 and I finally gave up and took my Bible and looked at the number pages in The Bible. He's Barbara is a little bit different. Each bread is a little different size and so I divided that by 350 cuz I figured that you know, this is going to be at least 15 days that I miss and I found out later on if they were little more than that. So I divided by 300 divided, the total number of pages in The Bible by 301, on that particular Bible that I had, at that time, it was four pages. Both sides at 2 leaves. That was what I needed to read each day. And you know, what I can do that especially because a fairly large number of them, have a list of names on the on the second or third, or fourth phase. And I think I would think well those are not really important for me to know, right? This minute and so I can get caught up. But that's the easy way to do it. That's the way my mind works. Now, if you want to read like the bulletin has that's great. If you can do that, but if you can't do it, just take the number of pages in the volume by 300, or 350, or whatever you want to. And we had that many pages a day because you'll get through the Bible and you'll learn things from that Barbra like to Hosea was and you might not know that now and you might not be able to identify what he did and what his prophecy was and how the Lord use. Those are the things you learned by reading. That's what's important to read the word of God. Now, we've talked about how as a result of the Gospel, who is to do that. who is to do that with all blessing enough for every one of the Body of Christ. All them know there's enough in the scripture for all of us to learn something. We may have different levels of knowledge. You may start out not know anything about the bar, but you don't know what. You'll still learn what you need to know. When the next time you read it, you'll learn a little bit more and the next time a little bit more each time, the Holy Spirit imparts what you need to know to you. That's who you When God addressed himself to those who read, he expects it to be you. He wants you to read the word of God because the most effective way of learning the word of God history. Guided reading. Ben and nowadays, Bruce and I were talking about this earlier that you know you've got the word of God be with you in a number of ways and it may not be the way that was used in the past. You may not have a Bible that has 300 pages, but you've got a phone and you can get the Bible on it and you take it with you all day everyday. And so, you can sit down and read for 5 or 10 minutes. Even if you got a few minutes while you're waiting, for somebody, read the word of God and whatever form you use it. That's what counts. That's what's important. It's important to read the word because that's the only way the Holy Spirit can speak to your heart's. So as a result of this, that's how what? And who? Now, the third thing is for those who are not skilled.

Four braids that they would be. I don't know why I'm missing the word Paul here. But anyway, that's just me. Not you.

Glad I was able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that works in US. Okay, God is able to do exceeding. Abundantly above all that we ask or think he can ableist Beyond, which we even think of God is willing to do this. And you say, well, yeah, but he doesn't know who he's working with. Yes he does. He knows exactly what your needs are. You knows exactly what your skills are and he can enable you to be effective at witnessing for him. That's what you have to have confidence in. That's why the verse says, God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think now, you can't get many more superlatives in that exceeding abundantly above. Guys, that do you get the point here? I can do this. I can do this. Did you ever hear anybody say that those of you that have children might have heard them say this? Once in a while, I can do it. And maybe they can, maybe they can, but God knows that you can do it and he is able to unable you exceeding. Abundantly above all that we ask or think. Did you hear that? It's not only what we can ask for but even though we don't think we can do it. God is able to do it with us. That's false prayer because Paul knows the people he's paying for it and he's praying for those throughout history who have read this book. He's praying even for us at this point in time because God is able to do it and he's able to do it as a result of the

that's one thing. The verse is mentioned below as a result of Christ love because God died for you on the cross. And you have accepted him as personal savior. God is able to do this that love as it is shed abroad in your hearts, enables him to accomplish his purpose with you. That's what he does. That's what he does. That's his purpose and then. Just Muirhead knowledge.

It's not just while I know this but know, you've taken it to heart, you applied it in your life. God wants us to do that. Then we can be examples to those around us by applying it to our heart. That's what we need to do and that if we're going to be an effective testimony, we have to not just go through the motions and being a Christian, but we have to apply it to her heart and ask God to enable us to live like Christians. That's a daily Moment by moment thing. It's called Progressive sanctification, which means it become more and more like Christ as we live for him. God can enable us to be effective Witnesses in the community around us in the neighborhood around us with their friends around as he can enable us to do that. We need to be heating of his word, listening to his word and we need to be not just need to have not just hadn't all these, but we have to be have heart knowledge. We have to really make an application in your life. And then it says we should be filled with the fullness of God. Did you notice that filled with the fullness of God?

I can't imagine this myself and I'm sure you can't either. If you think about it I don't picture myself as being one who is filled with the fullness of God, but yeah, that's Falls prayer that we may failed. Be filled with the fullness of God.

I don't imagine myself as being, like God, I don't imagine myself as being all that effective a witness for God. And yet, God can fill me and use me. That's what this prayer fault tells me. God can feel me and use me. God can fill you and use you if you yield to him, that's what's important. And that's the reason he's left you here he wants to use you to reach those around you and you say well maybe you can use somebody that's better. No. That's why he's left you here. That's why you have contact with your neighbor. That's why you have contact with the people you work with. That's why you have contact with your family because you're the most effective person. They didn't reach that person for the Lord.

I'll give you an example of that. As, you know, I have a background in law enforcement.

What are friends that this happened more than once? But one of the friends that I went through Police Academy with, what I joined, the Fullerton, Police Department, his name was Glenn. And he spent a career in law enforcement. And I left the course to teach Bible school and be involved in other things and then came back to law enforcement and then God called me to the pastor. But Glenn spent 35 years as a police officer and then 10 years at least as a city councilman, he had a great deal of influence in the city because he is a native of that City. But he was known as, as motormouth. Even people in this part of the state recognize it. We're going to have a guy who worked for them, who was the sergeant who was called motormouth. And I met someone not long ago, he said you had somebody at Fullerton that we should call motormouth. I said, yeah, his name was Glenn.

He would Grandma talk about anything with anybody. But he was not a Christian. Glenn was dying. One day at cancer. And they were going to have a a coffee get together as they do every month and Glenn was going to come to that. Until I went down from from where I live to the time in Alderwood and went to Fullerton and add coffee and breakfast with all the police officers that were, they are the former police officers. But I said they glad. Are you going to be free later on today? And he said, yeah, I got to go home and take a nap, but I want to talk to you. So I went by his house. I said, when I want to talk to you about the Lord, we haven't spent a lot of time lately, talking to each other, but I want to talk to you about that. That's how I presented to him. The Plan of Salvation and told him that it was a free gift. And would he accept the gift? You know what? He said, a person to be crazy, not to accept a free gift. That's right. That's right. God. Enable me to presented in such a way that it made sense to Glenn and they accept the Lord as Savior that day. And he asked me why I doubt the prayer that I instructed him to pray to accept Christ as his Savior and that was by his bed, two days later when he died. The Lord took him home. Almost immediately, he died of cancer. But you know what happened? There was over 350 and law enforcement officers at his funeral on the chaplain read that prayer. He said, this is been my plan bad for years. Hadn't, it only been there two days but he didn't know where it came from. And I didn't tell him but he said this is what gland pray.

That witness was made known to 350 people. At least. God, use the testimony and strengthen me to give that in such a way that it was used by God in ways that I didn't even imagine. That's what counts for him. God could enable us to witness for him. Now, the final thing is that we testify by power, Buy Power. You know, it's interesting when you see that and where is 20 of chapter 3 power. If you go back to the start of this message, the second point was by God's power. He repeats It Again by God's power. Did you hear that? By God's power, not your own strength, not your own Effectiveness. In other words, it makes no difference as we talked about it first. What do you consider yourself good or not? You're not doing it in your own strength. You doing it like God's power. That's what counts. And so it's important to understand that when you witness for God, when you do things for him let it go by God's power and you need to buy one for air. At some point when you have opportunity, you may not have a great deal of time. It may be that you don't even close your eyes. You just say, Lord help me. I'm God will be there to give you the power that you need to witness effectively. He will bring the fruit to that which takes care of you and enables you to Be an Effective witness for him. That's what we need to depend upon. That's what Paul prayed for, then we would witness with power. This morning, if you have unbelieving friends, you know, I'm sure you've talked to them and probably without a whole lot of success.

Because you did it in your own strength in your own knowledge. Pray about it and say Lord help me to say what you want me to say and no more. Then helped me to realize that I don't have to preach. This person helped me to realize that I don't have to have a Sherman in my mind. I just need to tell him what I know. But I don't know very much but you can enable me to impart the truth that you have. That's what we need to do day by day by day. As we come in, contact with people, talk to them. Briefly don't try and persuade them. Just tell them what you know, I'm God will bless that in their hearts and they will do one or two things. They will accept Christ as Savior or rejecting. God is responsible for the results. Not you. God doesn't allow you to carve a notch on a stick. Every Soul. You went to the Lord because that's up to him. That's what's important. That you have been a witness for him because that's what he'll ask you about when you get to heaven. Did you ever witness to your next-door neighbor? He'll say, did you ever witness to the guy that work with the band, down the street, the lady down, the street, whatever it is, he all ask that and you'll be able to say, well I asked you for guidance and you didn't give it I know God will always give you guidance, if you ask for it, he'll give you the words to say at that time, and it will be effective because God gave it to you. Let's burn prayer. Our Father. We thank you for this prayer of Paul in the book of Ephesians. We thank you for the fact that he encourages us to be Witnesses for him. Redgard can strengthen us that God can enable us that God could give us the power to be effective for him. Through his holy spirit. We thank you for this part of the day, we're not witnessing Our Own Strength, we're not doing this for ourselves where we were doing it for you. And with you, we pray that you will enable us to be effective day-by-day. And as this church, celebrates this anniversary of 160 years and a few months, we pray that you will enable us to witness to those around us. Invite them to come to the Celebration but give us opportunity also to say something about what you have done for us. What our testimony is we pray that you'll enables from day-to-day to be effective in this community for. We ask it in Jesus name, amen.