Sermon Breakdown

1. The sermon text is Ephesians 3:14-21, one of Paul's prayers for the church in Ephesus.
2. The sermon discusses the causes of spiritual depression and unhappiness in Christians. A major cause is failing to realize what God intends for us and what is available to us.
3. Paul prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. This means Christ being permanently resident in our lives, not just an occasional visitor. Christ should be the head and we should be his slaves.
4. Paul prays that we may know the love of Christ in its full extent. We can never fully comprehend it but we can continually experience more of it.
5. Paul prays that we may be filled with all the fullness of God, meaning experiencing all that God has for us at any given moment. This is like a bottle in the ocean, filled with the ocean.
6. These petitions describe what all Christians are meant to experience, not just certain exceptional ones. We dishonor God by being content with less.
7. The first step is accepting this is meant for us and is possible for us. We must desire it and feel dissatisfied without it.
8. We must realize we need to be strengthened in our inner being by the Spirit before we can experience these things, or we will collapse under the glory. We need preparation.
9. This experience is entirely a gift of God, given in his timing and way. We pray for it, perhaps for a long time, as it is something we come to want intensely.
10. We must believe God is able to do this for us, as it is his work and manifestation. We can never ask too much of him.
11. We must persist in seeking this and not be content until we experience Christ's presence and love in this way. We will know without doubt when it happens.
12. The degree of experience may vary but we should seek the utmost fullness of God and knowledge of Christ. We should give God no rest until we know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge.