Tune and Prepare!

A Sermon on Ephesians 3:17 How can one have an abundant life in Christ? What is the secret to living life to its fullest? In this sermon from Ephesians 3:17 titled “Rooted in Love,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones takes the listener through a section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians to answer these questions. In this section, Paul is praying that Christians will know and seek Christ Himself, not solely the blessings that He offers. The Christian’s primary ambition in life, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, should not be to aim merely at a good life since all religions have a version of this. Rather, the Christian should have a holiness that flows out of their relationship with Him, and this happens when He dwells in the heart. As Paul prayed for his readers, they become rooted and grounded in love. The language he uses reminds the readers of a tree and just like the roots of a tree, their love is to grow deeper and stronger every day. “Knowledge,” Paul says, “puffs up, but...

meditation For since the Law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. .. in these there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,* but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God , as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” Heb 10:1-2.3-5;(Ps 40:6-8) According to the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, it is no coincidence that Jesus Christ displayed the character of God and presented the knowledge of God. {And we must remember what "knowledge" means } He is the message that came in the flesh and he pl...

The period of European history known as the Dark Ages were just that—dark. Mortality rates were exceptionally high. Medical advances could not keep up with the spread of disease. Poverty and illiteracy were pervasive. And on top of all that, the light of God’s Word was monopolized and distorted by the Roman Catholic Church. Only the religious elite had access to Scripture, and most of them manipulated and perverted its message beyond recognition. That darkness gave way to the Reformation. The Protestant Reformers recovered the gospel and made Scripture accessible to the common man. They rejected the idea of a pope who presumed to speak for God on earth. God spoke through Scripture and the Reformers devoted themselves tirelessly to the labor of making it readily available in the language of the people. Today, people all over the world can own and study the Bible in their own languages. That great blessing for Christians brings the responsibility to study God’s Word. And from tha...

Many churches use a specific Bible verse as a Trinitarian benediction because it mentions Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit together in a single blessing. However we have a great encouragement through this passage which strengthen our faith in the living God and specially the relationship with His sent, mighty holy spirit. 2 Corinthians 13:14, the final blessing in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians says: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" 2Cor 13:14 Our key phrase here is "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit". The Greek word behind "fellowship" is κοινωνία (koinōnia), which can mean: • fellowship • communion • participation • sharing • partnership So the idea is richer than merely having the Holy Spirit present. Paul is praying that believers experience communion, partnership, and close participation with the Holy Sp...