9:30 Worship Service
10900 Huron Street
Northglenn, CO

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Sermon: Spiritual Strengthening – Tomm Tice

1. Why do we need spiritual strengthening?
2. Why is spiritual strengthening the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. What happens when the Holy Spirit strengthens us?

Catechism: Westminster Shorter Catechism Question #83

Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Ezekiel 8:6, 13, 15 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from the sanctuary? but urn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations…He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do…Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee Bethsaida for if the might works, which were done in you, had bee done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell for if the mighty works, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell for if the might works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom. It would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sidon in the day of judgement, than to these. John 19:11 Jesus answered, thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above, therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Worship

He is King
There is a Redeemer
O Great God

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

Ephesians 3:16

Spiritual strengthening comes by the Spirit of God.  For us to be ‘strengthened with might…in the inner man,’ it must be ‘through His Spirit.’  We observe this in the lives of the Apostles.  Before Christ ascended, He said to them, ‘but you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’  On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit filled them as they had never experienced Him before.  They began to boldly proclaim Christ in languages which they had not acquired by study.  They had spiritual power which they had never had before.  They proclaimed Christ boldly and refused to cease even when the enemies of Christ threatened them; ‘and daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’  It was the Holy Spirit Who strengthened them with might in the inner man.  We have that same Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  What He did for the disciples and what Paul prayed He would do for the Ephesians, He is able to do for us.  Thus, if we are going to pray for ourselves and for those most dear to us, we can do no better than to pray that we all may be ‘strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.’  This will transform us, and everyone whom the Holy Spirit strengthens.  It will be the means whereby Christ makes use of us to advance His Kingdom.

Our Heavenly Father and Our Almighty God,
we rejoice at the ministry of Your Holy Spirit.
We praise You that He strengthens us
to accomplish Your purposes in making much of Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

Ephesians 3:16

Because the circumstances of life often weigh heavily upon us, we find ourselves wearing down, and wearing out.  These things take a toll upon us in every area of life, physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially.  The most difficult to bear is the spiritual weakening.  We need spiritual strengthening and cannot achieve it of ourselves.  Paul was well aware of this in regard to his spiritual children.  Therefore, Paul prays for them, ‘to be strengthened with might.’  Because he desired the best for them, he appealed to the highest Source of strengthening in the universe.  What Paul did, we also can do.  The Holy Spirit of Christ, Who strengthened the Ephesians, is the same Spirit who can strengthen us and those for whom we intercede.  This is the strengthening of faith, which the saints of God have received throughout the ages.  By that strength of faith they have, ‘subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong, become valiant in battle, turned to flight the army of the aliens.  Women received their dead raised to life again:  and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented….’  These are but a few descriptions of what the heroes of the faith have endured for the sake of Christ.  These are the people whom the Holy Spirit has strengthened.

O, God of grace and strength,
we rejoice that by Your Holy Spirit
You are able to enable us.
We praise You that by this strength which You give us,
we shall be valiant to point others to Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

Ephesians 3:16

God is wealthy beyond all our ability to comprehend.  That wealth is not simply a matter of material possessions and property.  While we may sing that He ‘owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth in every mine,’ we understand that as Paul is praying he is not referring to the riches of God in any material sense whatsoever.  He is praying that God will grant this request for his spiritual children.  He desires that what God grants them will be ‘according to the riches of His glory.’  What will God do to us and for us ‘according to the riches of His glory?’  We can only conclude that He will, in answer to prayer, strengthen us with might through His Spirit in the inner man, cause Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith; enable us to become rooted and grounded in love; comprehend with all the saints and know the love of God, and be filled with all the fullness of God.  These are dispensations of spiritual wealth which arise out of the riches of His glory.  They come from that immeasurable store of wealth and ultimately are what will bring Him the most glory.  Therefore, as Paul prays, He is going to the Source of all that is good for the benefit of his spiritual children.  When we appeal to God for those we love, we are doing the same as Paul did.  We are asking that He will do for them what arises from the ‘riches of His glory.’

Our Glorious, Living God,
we rejoice that Your wealth is immense.
We praise You that out of Your vast spiritual storehouse,
You bestow upon us, in Christ,
an abundance of wealth.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, begin rooted and grounded in love….

Ephesians 3:17

How does Christ dwell in our hearts?  According to Paul’s prayer for his children, He does so ‘through faith.’  How do we get faith?  It is not of ourselves but rather is the gift of God.  ‘Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.’  If we take these things together, we conclude that God gives us faith to believe His word and the message of His word is Christ.  From Genesis to Revelation, ‘to Him give all the prophets witness.’  Christ Himself began at Moses and all the prophets to declare to His disciples the things concerning Himself.  Christ took ‘all the Scriptures’ to do this preaching of Himself.  If Christ is to dwell in our hearts, it will be by faith as His Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and shows them to us through the Word of God.  Therefore, when we come to the Scriptures we should anticipate that we will find Christ there.  If we are going to preach or teach we should ‘cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’  If we are going to evaluate what we are hearing from any teacher or preacher we should judge the value of it on its ‘Christ content.’  Seeing and hearing Christ will increase our faith.  The increase of our faith is integrally related to our sight of Christ in the Scripture.  ‘They are they which testify of me.’

O, God of truth and righteousness.
We rejoice that You never fail to show us Christ.
We praise You that all Your Word is there to reveal unto us
His Person and His Work.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning