AM Sermon 11/11/12: At Home in Our Hearts
AM Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3.14-19
This Morning’s Sermon:
Brent T. Willey
AT HOME IN OUR HEARTS
Ephesians 3.17
Introduction:
- Paul’s earnest prayer for the Ephesian brethren was “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Read Eph. 3.14-19).
- “Dwell” is from the oikeō [oi)ke/w] family; literally, “to occupy a house, i.e., reside; by implication to cohabit” (Strong). Katoikeō [katoike/w] is the most frequent verb and properly means “to settle down in a dwelling” (Vine), or as Strong notes: “to house permanently, i.e., reside.”
- Kenneth Wuest’s translation: “That Christ may finally settle down and feel completely at home in your hearts.”
- Does Christ feel at home in our hearts?
I. LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY
- There are places where Christ will not reside. (1 John 1.5-7)
- Our Lord desires to live in the heart of a penitent sinner saved by His loving grace.
- “Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . .” (Rev. 3.20).
- Is the “Spirit of Christ” in you? (Rom. 8.9)
- Is Christ living in you? (Gal. 2.20)
- Does Christ feel at home in your heart?
II. THE ISSUES OF THE HEART
- Love or Hate (Eph. 3.17; 1 John 2.9-11; 3.15)
- Kindness or Bitterness (Col. 3.12-14; Eph. 4.31-32)
- Patience or Anger (Eph. 4.1-3, 26-27; Rom. 12.19-21)
- Purity or Corruption (Matt. 5.8; 2 Tim. 2.22; Titus 1.15)
- Humility or Arrogance (Prov. 8.13; Phil. 2.3-4)
- Forgiveness or Unmerciful (Matt. 6.14-15; Luke 17.3-5)
Conclusion: Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14.23).
No Response to “AM Sermon 11/11/12: At Home in Our Hearts”