First Preached on: 27th July 2003 Trinity 6
Ephesians 3.14-21 : John 6.1-21 : Proper 12 (B)
| 14 For this reason | For what reason? Paul had started this prayer at the beginning of the chapter, with this phrase, and the view then was the majestic scope of God’s plan of salvation. But he is then led into a digression about his imprisonment -which on the surface looks far from majestic. This prayer then is that they be not discouraged by concentrating on the present problems, but may concentrate instead on the real -reality, the abundance of God’s goodness. That is a message for all times and all places. As the Chorus has it, “Fix your eyes upon Jesus…” |
| I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. | Paul kneels (Like a good Anglican). Jews normally stand. It is a mark of wonder and humility. It is also the attitude in which to be blessed. We kneel before our Father. We are his people the recipients of his blessings in Christ Jesus. Paul is going to pray for more of that blessing. |
| 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, | The riches of His glory – The heavenly cupboard full of blessings.Paul prays for more of the Holy Spirit to empower them. Christians are not supposed to work in their own strength but by the Holy Spirit. God has promised us all the gifts and graces of that Spirit.It is power for sanctification. It is power for witness, it is power for service.It is the power that animated Christ and in which he worked |
| 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. | To have the Spirit is to have Christ and vice versa.The method of entry is faith. You will not get from God what you do not believe he can give you. To have faith is to trust him. First of all for your salvation, but then for more and more, blessing, and a greater intimacy with God in Christ. |
| And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, | Talk of spiritual power can sound like a form of magic. This is the touchstone which prevents it being that, or a ‘Me religion’ It is given so that we may display the chief fruit of the Spirit, which is love. We are rooted in it, because it is the love of God which saved us. But it is the foundation of our Christian Walk. We are to make our faith firm by displaying this same love |
| 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, | This is the common inheritance of all God’s people (You are all saints)Paul wants you to know that Jesus loves you. He is so carried away with this thought that he over-stretches himself and gives four dimensions. This is not advanced physics, it is enthusiasm: So wide it encompasses the globe; so long it stretches through life into eternity; so high it lifts you to heaven,;so deep it can reach down into the darkest recesses of your soul |
| 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— | Truly it is indescribable. Words fail. But just begin to grasp it and you begin to understand its wonder. And you will know that its realty is greater than any theories we can spin about it. To make progresses in religion is more about being illuminated by this love than doing theology. |
| that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. | We think of salvation as simply having sins forgiven. The Orthodox Church I think has a more positive view. Being saved is being transformed into Godliness. Does that seem to much. Say “Christ-likeness”. That is easier. Still a lot to hope for, but heaven is supposed to be glorious. Say, “Filled with the Spirit.” (In Acts Christians are often described in this way.) These things for which mystics and ascetics strive are ours for the asking by faith in Christ. Moments of illumination in prayer; flashes of exultation in worship, these are but glimpses of what is there for us to receive from God:- Here and now! |
| 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 | Paul has done with asking. True prayer has to pass beyond pestering God. If God is prepared to do this for us then the realisation should drive us to praise.Can He do it. The true wonder is Yes and more than this. More than we have the faith to ask for. Or than we can imagine.- “Do you want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans for next week.” Woody AllenBut Paul believes this is not simply for heaven. God is at work in us here and now. Working he says at one point (1.19-20) like the power God displayed when he raised Jesus Christ from the dead. |
| to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! | This power is at work in each Christian. But it is also at work collectively. In the Church. God’s Glory is to be displayed in this world through the Church. We are not doing very well. But we are supposed to give God glory. We are pretty poor at that. Which is why we are pretty poor at praise. We may sing lustily in Church but can we cary the song out into the world. The Psalmist speaks of God being enthroned on the praises of His people. (Psalm 22.3) There is power in praise. It is not only a thing in itself, it is a theme song for all our work as the people of God. – You work better if you sing while you do it. (Unless you are a librarian!) We are God’s people ‘In Christ’ This happens only through and because of the redeeming work of Christ, crucified and risen. |
| Amen. | That is Paul’s Prayer for the church. That it (we) praise and glorify God in this world. What it wants is a resounding Amen. An affirmation. It is for us to make it our prayer. It is for us to live out its fulfillment. Do I hear an Amen? |
Notes
The Greek Text is laid out and colour coded in a way that it is hoped clarifies the logic of the argument
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι
14Touvtou carinkamptw ta; gonata mou pro” ton patera, 15ex ou| pasa patria; en ouranoi” kai; epi; gh” onomazetai, 16 ina dw`/ dunamei uJmi`n kata; to; plouto” th” doxh” autou` krataiwqhnai dia; tou` pneumato” autou`ei” ton esw anqrwpon, 17katoikhsai ton Criston dia; th” pistew” en tai” kadiai” umwn, errizwmenoi kai teqemeliwmenoi, en agaph/ 8ina exiscushte katalabesqai tiv to; plato” kai; mhko” sun pasin toi” agioi” kai; uyo” kai; baqo”, 19gnwnai te thn uperballousan th” gnwsew” agaphn tou` Cristou`, ina plhrwqh`te ei” pan to; plhrwma tou` qeou`. 20Tw`/ de; dunamenw/ uper panta poihsai uJperekperissou` w|n aijtouvmeqa h] noou`men kata; th;n dunamin thn energoumenhn en hmin, 21autw`/ hJ doxa ejn th`/ ekklhsia/ kai; en Cristw`/ jIhsou` ei” pasa” ta” genea” tou` aw`no” twn aiwnwn, amhn.
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