Relishing the Assurance Session 6

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole [spiritual] family in heaven and earth is named,

Ephesians 3:14-21 (cont.) 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 he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Ephesians 3:14-21 (cont.) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; [and] that ye, [having been] rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

Ephesians 3:14-21 (cont.) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (cont.) 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, 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,

Ephesians 3:14-21 (cont.) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

First Things First   “Dwell” means literally to “house-down.”   We must trust Him if He is to be given the reign of Master instead of treated like a Guest.

First Things First   We need the aid of the Holy Spirit to expose the selfish protectiveness that so naturally rules in us.   We need a Spirit-taught glad surrender to Jesus Christ as the Master of the house.

Romans 5:5 “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”   “Shed abroad” means to “pour out”

Cleaning the Carpet   Christ rips up the old worn area rugs of self-interest, self- indulgence, self-protection, and self-preoccupation and cleans the underlying floor covering of Christian love.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Cleaning the Carpet   The sad state of many Christian marriages reveals that the carpet [of love] has not been cleaned.

Cleaning the Carpet   The carpet-cleaning job isn’t optional in the Christian life.   Same as “rooted and grounded in love” (Eph. 3:17)

Blessed Assurance   The next inevitable result is a Spirit-taught sense of Christ’s own love for us as His dear children.   Most Christians need to know that God loves them!

Romans 8:15-16 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit [Himself] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Two Witnesses   The first witness is our own spirit.   There is a second witness, a second kind of assurance, that is Spirit taught.

Caution: Holy Spirit at Work!   The Holy Spirit’s mission is to show us Jesus Christ.   We certainly must not make an emotional experience the test of spirituality.

Caution: Holy Spirit at Work!   There is no higher experience this side of heaven than having a Spirit-taught knowledge of God’s love for you. It truly is a “foretaste of glory divine.”

The Fulness of God   Let God dwell in your heart as the resident Master.   Let Him rip up your old, worn rugs of selfishness.   Let Him refurbish the underlying carpet of love.

The Fulness of God   Let Him totally refurnish and redecorate your heart with the hangings and furniture that speak of His own dear love for you, His dwelling place.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think [in this re- carpeting, refurnishing task of the new Master], according to the power [of His Spirit] that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20-21 (cont.) [Why is God doing all this? So that...] Unto [Himself might] be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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