The Fullness of God

Christmastime is marketed to us as a season of magic and wonder. It’s a time to be amazed and astonished. But if your life is like mine, you’d probably say that you don’t wonder, or marvel, as often you would like.

It’s not that our culture is against wonder and amazement, but those ideas are generally tied much more to fiction and fantasy than to real life. We’re supposed to feel amazed at what we see in movies and TV shows and professional sports, or hear about in fairy tales, or experience in a video game , but that means that then we turn around and look at our own lives, and it all seems rather boring, mundane, and monotonous.

This is not the way God wants us to live. When God made Adam and Eve, He didn’t put them in a desert so they could live in a hut eating bugs. He placed them in a lush garden filled with all kinds of fruit for them to enjoy. He wanted them to delight and to wonder in what He had made for them.

As parents or as grandparents, we love to see our kids wonder, don’t we? That’s part of what we enjoy about Christmas. When our kids are barely learning to walk and to talk, we love to see their eyes light up with a flower, or a leaf, or a butterfly or a puppy. But in our own lives as adults, we tend to lose our sense of wonder, and life gets boring. So we spend our time jumping from experience to experience looking for something to give us back a sense of wonder.

That’s not the image we get from the Apostle Paul for the Christian life. Paul’s life was marked by purpose and mission and satisfaction and joy. The wonder of the Apostle Paul came from His relationship to Christ, and it’s a wonder we get to especially see in his letter to the Ephesians. I invite you to turn there with me.

We’ve been studying Paul’s prayer in his letters, and Ephesians is the most prayerfully dense epistle we’ve seen so far. It’s the opposite of what we saw in Galatians, which only had two brief prayers. The prayers in Ephesians are filled with evidence of Paul’s wonder and amazement, and they should serve as examples to us, not just about how we can pray, but about how we should approach life.

Let’s start by looking at the first chapter Ephesians.

The letter starts with the traditional and common greeting, which is a prayer expressing a blessing on the recipients. Ephesians 1:2 simply says—Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

That brief prayer leads into a much longer prayer, which gives us our first lesson this morning. Like Paul, we need to wonder at the glory of God in Jesus Christ. We need to wonder at the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

The prayer goes from verse 3 all the way to verse 14, and it is Paul leading the church to wonder and worship along with Him as He meditates on what God has done for us in Christ. Let me read it for us. Verses 3-14.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. [11] In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, [12] so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

This is a theological goldmine as Paul jumps from one reality to the next. I cannot do it justice as one point of one sermon. The prayer could be its own sermon series. I encourage you to take time this week to read it slowly and deliberately, and do it a number of times.

Let me just point out three major aspects, or words, of this prayer. The first word is “Jesus.” Paul is focusing on all that God has done in Christ for His people. and that doesn’t start when we get saved. That goes back to eternity past and extends into eternity future.

Jesus’ name is used twice. Once, He’s referred to as “the Beloved.” His title “Christ” is used four times. But more significantly, the phrase “in Him,” speaking of Jesus, is used 6 times.

It’s in Jesus that we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing. It’s in Him that we were chosen before creation. Before Him we will be holy and blameless. It’s in Him that we were predestined for adoption and eternal blessing. It’s in Him that we have redemption and forgiveness. It’s in Him that God purposed to do this. It’s in Him that all creation will be reunited in glory. It’s in Him that we have an inheritance. It’s in Him that we have our hope. It’s in Him that we were sealed with the Holy Spirit.

A second word to point out from this prayer is abundance. Abundance. The English translation doesn’t use that word, but that’s the idea behind the word “lavish” in verse 8. This is a prayer highlighting the abundance of what God has done, and you can see it in the adjectives and verbs Paul uses.

We have received every spiritual blessing. This was done in love for us. The end of verse 7 says that this happened according to the riches of God’s grace. Again, that points to abundance. Verse 8 says we were lavished in all wisdom and insight. Verse 10 talks about the universal plan of God to unite all things in Him.

And the abundant grace of God will extend into eternity as we enjoy the inheritance that awaits us. If you’ve surrendered your life to Christ, you are part of an eternal story of God’s abundant and infinite goodness. Your sins are forgiven. Jesus died for you. And Jesus will come again one day to take us into His eternal glory.

This is part of the remind of Christmas. A little baby came into this world as an expression of God’ faithfulness. God did what He had promised, and He’s going to do it again when Jesus comes back. That’s our hope. That’s why we wonder and marvel.

The final word I want to point out in this prayer is “praise." Praise. All of what God has done is for our own good and blessing, but beyond that, it is for the glory of God. It’s so that we would praise God forever, which is what Paul is doing in this prayer.

Look with me again at verse 6. Mark this. Why was anyone predestined for adoption? It was all to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Jump down to verse 12. Again, why was anyone predestined for an eternal inheritance. It was all so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

And lastly, look at verse 14, the last phrase in the verse. Paul says that the Holy Spirit was given to us as a preview and a promise of an inheritance to come. And whatever comes to us will be to the praise of his glory.

To the praise of His glory. To the praise of His glory. To the praise of His glory.

If you’re looking for some motto to live by, that’s it. Everything is supposed to be to the praise of the glory of God.

And like Paul, we need to step back from all the distractions and dangers of this life and wonder at the glory of God in Christ. This is supposed to be our daily meditation. There is nothing bigger. There is nothing more glorious. There is nothing more impressive that the story of what God has done in Jesus Christ.

But you and I don’t live here, do we? We have sinful desires and ambitions and lusts. We want to be thrilled by things that dishonor God. We think that in them, we’ll find satisfaction, but all we find are endless pits that never really satisfy.

What is greed? What is selfish living? What is sexual sin? What is a life of dishonesty? What is a life of manipulating others? What is it to be a drunkard or a workaholic? Those are all expressions of seeking satisfaction outside of what God has established. Yes, there are legitimate desires and ambitions, but all of those are supposed to be surrendered to Christ. Our life is in Him. And everything is for His glory.

What God has done for us in Christ should thrill and excite us more than anything else. He is our treasure. He is our joy. He is our life. And apart from Him, we will never be truly satisfied. We need to wonder at the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Now, Paul’s second major prayer comes immediately after the first. It comes in verses 15-23, and it gives us our second lesson for today. Like Paul, we need to lead others to wonder at the glory of God in Jesus Christ. We need to lead others to wonder at the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Delighting and marveling at what God has done is not a one-time thing, and it’s not an automatic thing. We need to work and pray for it, for ourselves and for one another. There should be work and there should be prayer.

As I read this prayer, notice now that it’s not Paul simple praising God for what He’s done, it’s Paul asking that the members of the Ephesian church would understand. He wants them to take it in. He wants their spiritual minds and eyes to be opened and thrilled with God. Paul marvels at what God has done, but he also wants us to marvel at what God is still doing as part of His eternal plan. Let’s read the prayer—verse 15 to the end of the chapter.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, [16] I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Hopefully you saw, again, Paul’s emphasis on the abundance of God, but his hope and prayer is that Christians would see it more and more. God is an infinite being. Coming to God in Christ is just the first step of knowing Him. We will have all of eternity to discover and delight in who He is, but that starts right now in this life. Eternal life is to know God, that’s what Jesus said in John 17:3.

This is what we should be praying for one another, that we would grow in our wonder of heaven and of Christ’s victory over sin and Satan. This is the greatest story ever, and we’re a part of it, and we’re barely scratching the surface right now.

Imagine if you had a world class chef in your home, and he had access to any ingredients in the world and could make any meal imaginable. But all you ask him to make you every night is microwaved chicken nuggets. And then after a week, you said, “I don’t like that chef. All he makes is chicken nuggets.” The problem isn’t the chef, right? It’s you!

And that’s what happens with us in our own Christian life. We stop putting the work in to grow in our understanding of God. We stop giving our lives to serve and obey Him. We expect the same things over and over again. And eventually, there’s no more joy. There’s no more thrills. There’s no more growth. There’s no more richness. But the problem isn’t God, it’s us. We aren’t allowing our spiritual minds and eyes to be opened to His infinite wonder and greatness and power.

We end up like the people Paul finds in in Athens in Acts 17, wasting our time trying to hear something new in this world rather than finding new glory in the God who saved us.

Paul’s third prayer continues this desire to have others see God’s glory. It has the same heart and the same passions. Jump over to Ephesians chapter 3, verse 14. . Paul has spent almost three chapters unpacking the glory of salvation and this is his prayer. Ephesians chapter 3, verse 14. Paul does not worship a small God. He praises a God of infinite glory, and he wants us to know that as well.

Verse 14—For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

If you’re tired of God, or if you’re bored of God, that’s not God’s fault. You and I need to have our spiritual eyes opened to His glory, His power, His love, and His eternal plan, and how we take part in that.

Chapter 2 says that we were created in Christ for works which God prepared beforehand for us. And God has empowered us by His Spirit for those works.

Beginning in chapter 4 of the letter, Paul describes what it means to walk in righteousness and holiness and in obedience to God for His glory. It affects our daily life, and it affects the way we relate to one another.

By the time we come to chapter 6, Paul describes the Christian life as a war, a daily battle. But, he says, it’s not a battle against flesh and blood. It’s not a battle at the physical, earthly level. It’s a spiritual battle against the power of Satan and sin.

And Paul says what we need is to take up the armor of God. Many of you are familiar with that idea from Ephesians 6, but something that is less known is the final element of this spiritual battle.

Go with me to Ephesians 6, verse 18. After listing all the components of the armor, here’s what Paul adds. Ephesians 6:18. Paul says we fight by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that’s verse 17. But we also fight, says verse 18, by praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

What Paul is calling for is continual and comprehensive prayer. Notice how many times he uses the word “all.” Verse 18—praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Pray for all your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Pray at all times. And pray with all fervency. That’s what he’s asking for. That’s what’s required if we want to battle effectively against the powers of this world pulling us away from the wonder and glory of God.

And then, in verse 19, Paul asks the church to pray for Him as he continues preaching and evangelizing. He wants to preach clearly and boldly.

Verses 19 and 20 say—And [pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

We could ask here: Why does Paul need prayer as a preacher? Doesn’t he love God? Isn’t he God’s chosen instrument already? Isn’t he an expert in all this? Why ask for prayer?

Paul’s prayer is a reminder that all of us need to be careful. All of us are in danger of drifting away from the life God has called us to. All of us can wander away from the wonder of God. We stop wondering in our own hearts, and we stop leading others to wonder as we edify believers and evangelize the unconverted.

All of us forget and fail to appreciate all that God had done in Christ, all that God is doing in Christ, and all that God will to in Christ. It’s like receiving a gift and being happy at first, but not really understand all that it’s intended to do, so we move on to something else. Don’t do that in your Christian life.

In Christ, we were predestined before creation. In Christ, we were redeemed. In Christ, the penalty and power of sin has been broken, by His death and Resurrection. In Christ, we have that Resurrection power available at any time to walk in holiness. In Christ, we have been reconciled to an infinite and glorious God, and we will get an infinite inheritance one day. In Christ, we have defeated Satan and sin and death, and we are empowered to work for the glory of God.

Paul’s prayers in Ephesians are an unpacking of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, when he prayed that we would see the glory of God for ourselves. We will see that one day with our own physical eyes, but until then we can see His glory in this life. And we should pray for that constantly.

The wonder of God in Christ should lead us to praise, and it should lead us to want others to wonder as well. Like Paul, let’s pray that, as the people of God, we would never lose that wonder but have it grow day by day.