Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-19

Filled with all the Fullness of God

Intro.

1. Eph 3:19 - “...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

2. Filled, full (pleroo):

a. “to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full...to render full, i.e. to complete.”

b. “to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim.”

c. From pleres:

1) full, i.e. filled up (as opposed to empty)

1a) of hollow vessels

1b) of a surface, covered in every part

1c) of the soul, thoroughly permeated with

2) full, i.e. complete; lacking nothing, perfect

3. In Christ we are complete (full), Col 2:10.

4. Christ expects to find our works full (complete), Rev 3:2; Phil 2:12.

5. We ought to be both “full” and “empty” of certain things.

FULL EMPTY

1. Knowledge of God’s will 1. Doctrines and will of man

(Col 1:9; 4:12) (Matt 15:7-9; Prov 3:5)

· 1 Tim 2:3-4: Cannot be saved without knowing truth.

· Jno 8:31-32: Know truth -- Set free from sin.

· Rom 15:14: Filled with knowledge; able to admonish one another.

· Col 3:17: Cannot act in the name of Christ without knowledge.

2. Wisdom and grace, Lk 2:40. 2. Earthly wisdom, Jas 3:13-16.

· Col 1:9: Spiritual understanding.

· Jas 3:13, 17: Conduct which conforms to knowledge -- Wisdom.

· 2 Pet 3:18: Grow in grace and knowledge (avoid falling, v. 17).

3. Obedience, 2 Cor 10:6; 7:4 3. Disobedience, Eph 5:6

· 2 Cor 7:4: We fill others with comfort and joy when we obey.

· Heb 5:9: Those who obey are saved.

· Eph 5:6: Do not be deceived:

--Men of repute can and do disobey, Gal 2:11-14.

--“Grace-unity”: ‘Nobody is perfect!’ (No, but Rom 6:1-2, ff)

--“Works-oriented” religion (Jas 2:21-24, 26; Lk 17:10).

4. Holy Spirit, Eph 5:18 4. Satan, Jno 13:2, 27 (Jas 4:7)

· Acts 13:52: Filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

· Eph 5:18: Not intoxicants…Riot (1 Pet 4:1-4; Prov 23:31-32).

· Gal 5:16, 22-25: Live under the Spirit’s direction of truth.

· 1 Pet 5:8: Requires soberness, not senses dulled by strong drink.

5. Righteousness 5. Unrighteousness

(Phil 1:11; Matt 3:15) (Rom 1:29; Matt 23:32)

· Phil 1:11: “integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting”.

· Tit 2:11-12: Comply with all of God’s precepts.

· Rom 1:28-29: Moral collapse of those who refuse God.

6. Joy, peace, hope, Rom 15:13 6. Sorrow, conflict, doubt, Jno 14:1

· Rom 15:13: In believing these blessings are found and made full.

--Believe in God’s Son, Jno 3:29.

--Believe in and obey Christ’s words, Jno 15:9-11; 17:13.

--Believe in the power of prayer, Jno 16:24.

--Fellowship with God and His people, 1 Jno 1:3-4.

7. Ministry, 2 Tim 4:5; Col 4:17 7. Selfishness, Gal 2:20; Lk 12:21

· Matt 20:28: Serve as He has served us!

· Gal 2:20: This is the life of faith.

8. This region with the gospel 8. Darkness of sin and error

(Acts 5:28; Rom 15:19) (2 Cor 4:3-4)

· Col 1:23: Preach it to “every creature” we can.

· Acts 17:6: Turn this place upside down with the truth of the gospel.

9. God’s law: Love others 9. World’s law: Love yourself

(Rom 13:8; Gal 5:14) (Matt 5:43)

· 1 Cor 13:1-3: Without love we are nothing.

· Matt 5:46: Even love those who do not love us.

Conclusion

God will supply all we need in order to be full in Him, Phil 4:19.