2014.9.28 礼拝

Ephesians 3:14-21 “Paul’s Prayer” – For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory of the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Kids – Today’s verses from the letter to the Ephesians is Paul’s prayer for the Christians in Ephesus. Can you feel that your parents love you? There is no doubt that they do. But as you reach middle school age, you realize your parents are not perfect. This is natural, because they are not and at the same time it shows your growth. Whatever the case, parents love their children. Likewise, we may sometimes lose track of Jesus’ love. Jesus still loves us knowing all about us with his unchangeable love.
Ephesians 3:17 – so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
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Paul’s prayer is a prayer of intercession for the Christians in Ephesus as much as for us and all Christians. Last week’s “Lord’s Prayer” taught us that we could approach God – “Our Father” – personally and casually, to be under God’s love and seek to do God’s will rather than for our own benefit. When we pray for someone, we should pray that God’s will be done for that person and that the person can do God’s will instead of just asking for what he/she wishes.
How Jesus prayed: Matthew 26:39 – Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed. This attitude is the same as that of Paul, who prayed with all sincerity and humility.
1. When we pray for other person, we should pray that God’s will be done in his/her life and that the person be able to act according to God’s will.
2. Pray that the person will be strengthened inwardly by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 3:16 – that he would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Are you looking forward to going to church on Sundays or do you feel like sleeping in or doing something else? There could have been a time when going to church was an obligation. Even when you were unwilling at first, you may feel joy and satisfaction after singing praises and giving prayers and eventually makes you feel somehow purified. We often pray that a person’s difficulties, hardship, sorrow or illness be removed, but we should pray that our inner selves be strengthened. When Jesus lives within us, our immunity to difficulties/hardship is strengthened.
Changes are brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
3. Pray that the person gets to know the love of Christ, to accept his love and be able to entrust in his love. Something may be lacking in human parents’ love, however, love of Christ is almighty, perfect and falls short of nothing.