Lord, Pour Out Your Spirit
Ephesians 3:12-21
*** The only way for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in these last days is through prayer…….
v12 – In who – this speaks of being In Christ
a. When we pray we must realize we have access to the Lord
access- means an open door entrance & policy
*** everyone has access to the Lord
*** Christianity is cool because believers are imperfect and righteous at the same time…….
b. When we pray we can pray in boldness – Hebrews 4:16
—boldness – means freedom of speech/ an absence of fear & extreme confidence
—boldness is needed in prayer – Psalm 55:17 & 34:15
v14 – Position In Prayer
– The position of the heart is what counts when it comes to prayer
bow – means to bend the knee/to lie prostrate before the Lord
– Speaks of humility & dependency upon the Lord
v15 – We receive a brand new family when we are born again – a spiritual family…
a. Some of the family lives on earth
b. Some of the family have died and are in heaven
INGREDIENTS IN PAUL’S PRAYER
(1) v16 – THAT OUR PRIORITY WOULD BE THE INNER MAN
– The world focuses on the outer man or the body
– Our priority should be the inner man – the spirit man – Matthew 6:33
– Put Jesus and His ways first – Haggai 1:1-15
– Let’s have high spiritual expectations for every believer in 2017…..
The inner man – the Spirit person in the believer
1. The spirit man is saved
2. The spirit man needs to be fed
3. The spirit man affects the body
*** We must have the heart of the Father – He does not look at the outward appearance of a person
*** We must be like Jesus – Matthew 17:1-8 – the transfiguration of Jesus
v2 – Transfigured – means the inside coming to the outside
(2) V19 – PAUL PRAYS THAT EVERY BELIEVER WOULD BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD
Filled – means to be crammed full/filled up to the top
Fulness – means contents
– This is the goodness, kindness, love and grace of God
– The fullness of God is the only thing that satisfies in life
– So make the right choice to be filled with the fullness of God
FIRST – when anyone gets saved, they receive all of God – Colossians 2:10
SECOND – it is every believers personal responsibility to be filled with the fullness of God
– Watch out for a spirit of entitlement
– Be relentless as a believer
*** Christianity is a faith of works – not for salvation, but to grow in the Lord
Phil 2:12-13 – work out – means to carry out to the goal/grow up in Christ
– Carry to the goal which is to het to heaven with victory…