Prayer for Clarity

With JD Greer whatever pain you're in, you have the assurance of God's love and you know that he's given and accepted, you, you have the knowledge that he is present in all things working for your good is determined that you will know them and see if you like you, which will back to another day of solid saturated Bible teaching here on Summit life pastor JD Greer. I'm your host Molly said you believe that prayer is a personal and intimate privilege in the life of every believer or is it just something that we do because were supposed to is a conversation or just one-sided asking and maybe most importantly, is there a way that we can add power to our prayers today on Summit life pastor JD Greer answers that question as he continues the teaching series called mystery and clarity. We are learning how to obtain a sense of clarity and power as we pray now who doesn't want that right. If you missed any part of this new teaching theory, you can always listen again free of charge@jdgreer.com now here's pastor JD message.

He titled preparing shop one is where we are going to be the second half of the first chapter. The second thing that Paul does the book of Ephesians is, he prays for the believers in Ephesus and I am so grateful for this prayer that it is recorded here because it shows us how to pray. It shows us what God most wants for us right here in verse 15 because I have heard of your faith. You knew it Ephesian believers I've heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, so I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and a spirit of revelation in the knowledge of him having the eyes of your hearts enlightens to focus on those words will stop there for a minute okay and I want to focus on those words, the spirit of wisdom that God would give us a spirit of revelation that we would have the eyes of our hearts enlightened. This is a prayer you see for spiritual site.

Paul has just taught them. If you recall the first part of this chapter is just taught them this incredible truth about how much God loves them. It is a love that is deep and wide and complex and in many ways it is a mystery to us. So after Paul tells them these deep, mysterious, awesome things about God's love about like how you chose us from the foundation of the world. There's never been a time when he did love us and how even in the payment. We go through it a minute God and love us about his work at all for our good. After he tells us those mysterious things he prays for them to be able to see it to see it with their heart or to feel it. She site is one of the most valuable things we possess physical site you don't want to lose it because your life would be drastically different without physical site spiritual site is something that you don't want to miss out on either. Paul says I don't want you to just consent to the fact that God loves you.

I don't you just consent to the fact that God is is working all things for your good. I don't want you to embrace that cognitively and tell me that you believe I want you to feel what you feel it down in your soul and the Psalms. David said it this way. He said I want to I want to taste and see that the Lord is good is one thing to know with your mind that honey is sweet or even understand why sweet to know that some rich chocolate dessert is sweet, it's quite another thing to have that sweetness burst alive in your mouth.

And Paul is praying that you would taste and see experientially how God cherishes you but you would sense his closeness to you because you see that's what really changes your life seem God's majesty with the eyes of your heart and feeling his love for you changes your heart that creates in you a love and a craving for him a love that drives out the cravings for sin, a love that overcomes addictions and I love it overcome selfishness. It's a love that overflows into a love for others. I got for you guys is a lot, but God doesn't want religious rule followers. That's not the point. He is calling out of people to love him and worship him me to say again for many of us in this church.

This is the one element were missing. That's what makes this prayer so relevant to us see our problem is not that we don't understand cognitively the truth about God's love. A promise that we don't feel we don't taste them with burst alive in our hearts. The sense of God's love for us individually never causes us to weep worship. Many of you guys are good at memorizing the know and stuff, you know what Christians believe in what they should do. But you don't flow with passion for God – you incessantly like this. How often do you feel dry spiritually. Your theology is fine. It's not like there's some great heresy in what you believe you're not involved in some big embarrassing sin just don't feel love for God because the point is not what you believe were not just what you believe what you do.

Point is a loving God.

Jesus at all.

We believe in all we do hands on that loving God because that's how God feels about you. For Paul, he can't even start talking about the love of God about bursting into worship and praise several times in Paul's letters like statement like this that you realize how big it out huge, not deep in our glorious this God's plan, but he has precedents in one place of Ephesians, Paul makes an incredible contrast with most Baptist people never put together. He says this is Ephesians 518 he writer the book of Ephesians be drunk on wine which leads to debauchery and abuse and broken relationships. Instead it's outward instead instead of being drunk with wine be filled with the spirit. In other words, in contrast to bejewel with wine you show it in a way be high on the spirit. The difference of course is that behind the spirit is only the debauchery and broken relationships, beliefs, appeaser leads to righteousness and holiness. But usually there is supposed to be some similarities and being drunk and being in love with God we have a moment of honesty together. Is this in any way true about you. Is there any way that you could say that your emotions for God are similar to what drunk man feels when he is inebriated. We Baptist know you should get drunk with wine, but how many of us are so filled with the spirit that it's like were rock with passion for him. The point of it all is to know God and love them not just to avoid sin believe right things passion for God.

You see, begins site begins with C who God is and how much God loves us so this is what Paul prayed that we would see God with the eyes of our heart overcome with a sense of all worship so you need to see with the eyes of your heart. You need to see Jesus it's only a greater love for Jesus that can keep you from giving yourself to sin. The selfishness I think a lot of times about your college suicide out the other watching TV as best we can as qualities. All things come out about what goes on spring break to remember thinking how they ever going to say no to those things, especially with everybody around them is doing… Look what's except a how are you to break the powers of those attractions for spring break all the dangers of sexual transmitted diseases.

As I know now it's when you develop a more intense love for Jesus. I want you to learn to love him and be so passionately devoted to his glory that you would not want to dishonor him. That would give you the ability to say no to please pray for.

See C, feel and taste not know but knowing her heart. What exactly does that look like what specifically that he wanted to say because your four phrases in the next few verses are four things he wants you to see clearly there is clarity number one to see the hope to which God has called them she had ever safety them to see the hope to which they have been called out. First, let's talk about the word hope because a lot of times in English hope means a desire that you want to come to pass, but you're not quite sure will come to pass. For example, is Carolina going to make it to the NCAA tournament this year. I hope so.

Okay right now is not really sure about that and I did not see maybe a better bet. Biblical hope is difference. Biblical hope is certain that your definition Biblical hope is a life shaping certainty that has not happened yet, but that you are sure is going to happen what God has determined to give us and what he's making us into Paul says is settled forever.

God set his love on you from all eternity is never turning back, you're going to know him.

You're going to be filled with him and like him, Paul says, I pray that you might know the certainty of that and you might know the value of it in your soul. From this is asked why would that be important.

Why is it important for us to see what your couple reasons. Knowing the hope to which we are called will allow us to overcome sin and temptation to give you an analogy I've often heard that people who overeat consistently do so because their border stress and eating is like a way of coping with their boredom or their stress and adds a little adventure to their life for a way to escape pressure course at the problem and it leads to leads to poor health, because eating is supposed to be enjoyable. Yes, but if you are eating food to feed your soul and overeat on the same way when your soul is hungry you turn to silly pursuits to feed your soul but having your heart fixed on what God is doing in you and what God is going to give you. Will keep you from that CS Lewis is a great analogy as some of you probably heard it. He said like a kid who is a four-year-old who is playing in a mud puddle in his backyard and keeps on his parents you want to go with them when they're offering to take him to the beach so you know enamel what is not part of this is not that deep. Is that why I'm offering you the page is the biggest mud puddle in the world who said no because were so fixated on this that we don't realize how much more is offered to us. I want you to see how much more God has you see that you won't be trapped little distractions of these things that just consume you. The only way you will avoid the trappings of materialism. For example, the race to get ahead, which is the mantra in our colleges going ovoid. That is, by a greater and more certain hope. If I see the value of God and his kingdom. What I really feel like I need to have so much nice stuff in my life. No, I and cherished by the God of the universe, and I know that will I be driven by the need to have everybody else's approval. No, you show me somebody who is obsessed with making money is obsessed with have a nice stuff and I will show you somebody who is not aware at all of the hope which have been called everything know the hope to which you are called not only helps you overcome seventh – it will help you endure pain in your life was taken this week about the worst college jobs always love hearing the stories I'd like ahead of you baptisms reputed to have time for you don't know yours is going, obviously, but my gut like mine will be at least in the top five in the real work in college. One summer I worked in a food line distribution center freezer okay.

It was three football fields long.

It was -7° in this freezer was such a drudgery. This job I will change the scenario little bit. What's what. I have some rich uncle who said to me son I want you to learn character so if you take the job of the summer. I will pay you $10,000 in our if you'll do it well.

So now the end of the shift on May $22.

I paid $40,000 every week.

I ported 200 grand for like a drag off some because I know the hope that God is called me to. If you know what God is doing in you giving to you. It changes your perspective on pain and present Paul says if you could just grasp it sure is a beautiful God is doing.

Even your pain outside goes away.

But you suddenly your perspective changes a couple weeks ago I referred to. My friend got some of you know of effort of getting Matt Chandler, pastor of the church very similar to ours out in Texas is my 35 years old when you're younger than me. He has three kids, which are the ages of three of my kids on Thanksgiving of last year suddenly drops of a seizure. But taking men discover a mass on his frontal lobe in his brain immediately cut it out the biopsy on the test comebacks and that shows that is malignant now is undergoing chemotherapy and and here we got a guy whose life looks so promising and may still be but everything is ahead of him. Suddenly now is look at the prospect of not living for more than six months. He said something the other day that just totally just captivated my heart and said that I'm remembering the words now CS Lewis of a book I read a while ago. CS Lewis was quoting Paul said when we get to heaven.

It's not like we get to have it and all the sudden we just understand why everything happen. Oh I see that's what all the securities it is not. It CS Lewis paraphrasing Paul said we get to heaven we look back on the pain in our life. We said what day mate. I can remember it because of what I see that God produced in its Paul the book of Romans, Paul, a man who was very accustomed to pain and heartache said these light and momentary afflictions are not even worthy to be compared to the glory that is going to be revealed in us to what pain are you enduring right now there is somebody you love suffering.

Maybe it's your own physical pain is bad relationships when it's a bad marriage is frustrating to work sexually frustrated in your marriage. Whatever pain you're in, you have the assurance of God's love and you know that is fully forgiven and accepted, you, you have the knowledge that he is present in all things working for your good. But he is determined that you will know them at CMU we like him, which were called what's happening whether people are mistreating your life is blown up on you people knowing you, you can always respond in every situation. What God is doing what few mothers reflected when your kids are annoying you that God in that moment had a plan for you using that to make you what you wanted you to be. That's the hope to which are called to what you see that what you feel it is a second phrase I want to know what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints verse 18, the first thing I do is write a one word description.

The first thing he or she sees he or she hope so you may want to see what is a safe document with backup stop loving my three ferment developed phrase become a sound like religious mumbo-jumbo, but you might know what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the sink so let's break that apart. He's talking about an inheritance.

So what is an inheritance or inheritance or something of great value that you get when a rich relative dies. I saw the question whose inheritance is he talking about this part by Mrs. ready to talk about our inheritance.

No is not on our inheritance whose narrative literature by God's inheritance. God has an inheritance. Yes, what is it the saints who were the saints. The saints are all those that God's chosen you, you are God's inheritance. Paul says I am praying that you might know that you are God's greatest treasure. Would you stop and think about how staggering that is for just a minute, what is God excited about getting as an inheritance. I think about what you get. God as a gift that he didn't already have a thing about like Bill Gates. If you are related to Bill Gates what you get.

Bill Gates is a gifted Christmas.

Could you imagine getting Bill Gates up and him got while I've always won one of those flatscreen TV look at that you even more so when you get got hot. I got inheritance. God considered me so precious to him that Jesus gave up the universe suffered and died to save Paula say I'm praying that you would see that you would feel it.

You be overwhelmed by your value to God by his commitment to take notes right after the second one right under worth policy to see your hopes I see your worth.

Later in Ephesians 3 Paul reappraise this prayer with different words bosses listen to.

This is why my favorite passes and I Ephesians I think opening I pray that you may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge that you ready field with all the fullness of God, which is about the apostle Paul, in case you got a new study in the New Testament. The apostle Paul is not one prone to exaggeration would be totally British if he were alive today usually speak a lot of flowing poetic, flowery language usually likes what God is like an apostle. Please shut up okay this is what it is. Here Paul do something to talk to pretty unusual for him. He loses his words to the love of Christ. It it it it it's just passes all not surpass my ability to describe it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I still can't describe many points out, these light searches of his poetic terminology, the breath of the link in the height that you don't actually say what he means by breadwinning. I've been down, but I think when you understand especially Ephesians 1. I really think is obvious what words refer to give us my interpretation. You can challenge it with belief. The link of God's love for all eternity. And for all eternity. God shows us from before the foundation of the world, which means there is never been a time when God has not known me and love me and there will never be a time in the future where you will quit loving additional there is nothing we can do to make an I/there's nothing we can do to make him love us more. That sounds so freeing definite you're listening to Senate life and encouraging message from Pastor Jeannie Greer. As always, you can find more biblical teaching, and other free resources at our website. Jeannie Greer.com Jeannie were not quite there yet. In our study through the book of Ephesians chapter 591 of the most cherished part about relationships right every time a priest of Ephesians. Specifically, chapter 5. What I realize it's that our vertical relationship with God when that is an order of horizontal relationships with each other.

We can make a lot more sense when we seek from relationships one can only find God, you end up disappointed unfulfilled longing. Still thirsty. God what Ephesians shows God is that is the missing piece.

He's the one who never fail you. This is just one of the topics that you can dive deeper into Bible study that will help you slow down and work to the booking Ephesians and let its true saturate your soul. This is a nine part studied is now available to anybody who makes a donation of $25 or more. Jeannie Greer.com is easy going there. Jeannie Greer.com and that we would love to commit with you love to be able to put this study titled mystery and clearly the book of Ephesians we understand you are already done for you. The nine part Bible study is yours with our thanks when you donate today at the suggested level of $25 or more. Your gift helps us expand even more people gospel centered, Bible teaching, just like today's program and were so grateful and when you can't remember mystery, 335-6520 working online.com Molly for inviting you to join us tomorrow.

Ephesians participate Friday night by Jeannie Greer ministry