How to Strengthen your Relationship with God | Ephesians 3:14-16 - a podcast by Bend Int. Church of Christ

Ephesians 3:12-19

“12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 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.”

• What are the riches of his glory? How are we “strengthened through the spirit”? How can we imitate Paul’s prayer? Those who want their actions to be effective for god’s Kingdom should redouble their efforts on prayer.


• If we’ve grasped it, how could we not go to our knees?


• Simple practical, do you pray after you read your Bible?


• Don’t be deceived. Fervent prayer produces fervent action.


• When you gather for payer, do you pray this way? So do we pray like Paul or pray like the world does?


• Do you pray for a house, marriage, income, food, forgiveness or do you pray for the riches of his glory?


• Colossians 1:27 - “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”


• Philippians 4:19 - “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”


• Ephesians 1:5-7 “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,”


• What are we strengthened by and for?


• If we aren’t praying for strengthening, if you aren’t experiencing the fullness of Christ, could you be relying on our own strength?


• You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,” - 2 Timothy 2:1


• “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,” 1 Timothy 1:12

What is the inner person?

• “16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

What is the state of your fire, your boldness and how are you feeding it?

unique seasons in your life will require unique changes, and assertiveness in your relationship with God. A unique aggressiveness, a unique boldness. How bold are you in your relationship?

How are you feeding your soul, and feeding the souls of others? When we gather are you replenished because you’ve been in the presence of God?

A vibrant, passionate, intimate relationship with God, that results in a contagious, countercultural, and commemorative life.

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