See What Jesus Can Do Through You |08.25.24| Dream BIGGER pt2
Ephesians 3:14-4:16
Pastor Drew Williams
When I was growing up, my family was not really big sports fans. My grandparents were from the Chicago area, so I was born into some Chicago fandom, with the Bulls, and the Bears, and the Sox. But I didn’t grow up watching every game or following stats from players.
[SLIDE 2] lower third blank
So I was never at the level of “fanatic” that some fans can be. But there was always one thing that would absolutely excite my passions and get my whole family yelling at the TV: and that was when we were rooting for an underdog.
I have this core memory of the 2000 Superbowl, between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants. The Giants were set to go for their third superbowl win against the unsuspecting Ravens, who were a wildcard that season.
Now, I need to admit to you that I had to look up all this, because all I can remember from that game is that we were hosting the superbowl party at our house with our neighbors, and my mom decided that we were going to root for the underdogs, the Ravens.
I was in middle school, and I was just there for the pizza rolls and maybe a funny commercial or two. But pretty soon, we were all going wild.
The Ravens were doing well, and we also discovered that a friend from church was hosting a separate superbowl party at their house because they were Giants fans. So every time the Ravens would catch an interception, or sack a quarterback, or score a touchdown, we could call the other house and scream “Caw, caw” like we were a room full of the most diehard Ravens fans in the world, and then hang up.
After a few times, the other house stopped answering the phone. And I remember how much we cheered and danced and whooped and hollered when the Ravens won that game 34-7.
David had defeated the Giants. The underdogs had won. And victory was as sweet as the extra soda I got to drink that day.
What is it about underdog stories that get us so excited? We love them!
We love watching the working class factory worker transformation to boxing hero in Rocky. We get pumped up to see the runt that wasn’t allowed to play with Notre Dame overcome his setbacks to achieve football glory in Rudy.
We love to see how a bunch of misfit ladies overcome prejudice and win the hearts of a country in A League of Their Own.
What is it about underdog stories that make us love them so much? Maybe because we love to root for transformation. Maybe because when we see how others are able to overcome adversity, it makes us feel like it’s possible for us, too.
We love underdog stories, and I think that God loves underdog stories, too. I mean, just look throughout the whole of Scripture, and you see example after example of God using someone that is the most unlikely lost cause, and God works through them to accomplish incredible things!
You’ve got the young David defeating the giant Goliath. You’ve got Moses, who ran away from his problems, get used by God to rescue his whole people out of slavery.
You’ve got a young, unmarried girl become the mother of Jesus. You’ve got Paul, who worked so hard AGAINST the early church, that they didn’t trust him when he was transformed. But God was still able to use him to reach whole cities of people who hadn’t been reached yet.
God loves an underdog story, because it proves that God can use anyone for his work. And no matter what has happened in your life to make you think like that doesn’t include you, God gives example after example of how he’s able to accomplish his mission through even the most broken, messed up, clueless, doubting, stumbling, frightened people.
[SLIDE 3]
And as we’ll see in our Scripture today, the fact that God CAN work through anyone means that God HAS a plan for YOU. So let’s open our Bibles to Ephesians chapter 3, which can be found on p149 of the NT in the black, seat-back Bibles.
And as you’re finding that, this section is in the middle of a letter that Paul wrote to the churches around the town of Ephesus. We looked at an earlier section of this letter last week, showing how God has actually CHOSEN us to accomplish his mission. So we’re called to Dream Bigger about what God is calling us to.
And we’re going to continue that theme today, because Paul is writing to us, to people who follow Jesus, and encouraging us with reminders about what the good news of the gospel is, and then showing us what that means for our lives now. So let’s read together…
[EPHESIANS 3:14-21]
[SLIDE 4] vv16-17
Keep those Bibles open, because we’re going to look at this passage and continue into chapter 4, but in the previous section, Paul is saying that it’s all because of God’s grace that he gives to us through the work of Jesus on the cross, THAT’S what makes Paul respond with gratitude and trust to God. And so for that reason, Paul prays to God for us, his readers.
He prays that we would be strengthened by the power of the Spirit. And everyone who feels a little tired today, or a little worn down by life just say, “Amen, yes Lord, I’d like some of that strength today.”
And he prays that Christ may dwell in our hearts. That he may SETTLE there, get established there. Move into the neighborhood and create a home in our hearts, AS WE are being ROOTED and ESTABLISHED in love. As we are being allowed to take root in his love. As we are getting a foundation laid for our lives in his love, so that every part of our life is built on that firm foundation.
It’s like Paul is saying, “I’m praying that Christ gets settled down deep in your hearts as you are getting settled down deep into his love.”
[SLIDE 5] vv18-19
And then he keeps going, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend…” That you may have the ability to grasp, that you may be in the position to fully UNDERSTAND – the breadth and length and height and depth…
And to KNOW the love of Christ that SURPASSES knowledge. Paul’s praying for a miracle, right?! Last week, we talked about the IMMEASURABLE riches of God’s grace, and now Paul is praying that we would be able to comprehend the MEASUREMENTS of what is immeasurable.
I know it’s wider than you can get your arms around, I know it’s longer than you can see, but I’m praying that you understand even more of it today than yesterday.
I know it’s higher than you can reach, even if you flew in a plane, and it’s deeper than you could ever get to with a submarine, but I’m praying that the more you spend time in the love of God the more he expands your capacity to experience it!
And I know that the love of Christ SURPASSES knowledge. It’s too big to fully know. It’s too incredible to understand, much less believe. But I’m praying that God would miraculously allow you to KNOW the love that can’t be known. That he would INCREASE your ability to KNOW.
I’m praying that you would be FILLED to the fullness of God! How much is the fullness of God? I have no idea, but let’s just say that it’s so full it overflows.
Paul is saying, “Receiving God’s love for you in Jesus isn’t a one time decision. It’s not a switch that flips. Its the journey that will take the rest of eternity, continuing to get to know God, experience his love, operate in his grace, and become more and more filled and overflow and pour out on others around us and get filled again and overflow and pour out on whatever he puts in our path and get filled again.
[SLIDE 6] vv20-21
And if that didn’t expand your thinking enough, this is only possible because of the power of the Spirit of God at work within us. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead. THAT power is able to do abundantly far more than anything we could ask or imagine, even though Paul is praying that our imaginations would be expanded. He’s praying that God would help us Dream Bigger, even while realizing that we can never out-dream God. We can never exhaust God. We can never deplete God. He just keeps going and going beyond what we could expect.
[SLIDE 7] v1-3
So he continues in chapter 4 saying that, because of all of THAT, “I therefore BEG you to lead a life worthy of your calling: with humility, gentleness, patience, love, and making every effort to stay UNIFIED as God is unified Father Son and Spirit.
[SLIDE 8] vv4-6
Then he teaches a bit about the nature of God and faith, saying there is one body, meaning the whole family of God spread across time and the globe is actually ONE, unified by the unifying Spirit who brings wholeness to fractures. One hope that we have.
One Lord over everything, one faith that puts us in a trusting relationship, one baptism that adopts us into the family, One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
We have been brought TOGETHER. We aren’t called to be like the world, who is all looking out for #1, dividing against each other in smaller and smaller groups. We ARE one, unified in the Spirit, under Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
[SLIDE 9] v7
But each of us aren’t the SAME as the rest. We are unique. We’ve each been given a gift from God.
[SLIDE 10] vv11-12
These gifts are the different roles that we each serve in the church family. This little verse could be a whole message series looking at each one of these roles, but we’re not going to go that deep right now. But looking quickly, Paul lists 5 different gifts that are given to followers of Jesus.
Some people might think of these as natural personality strengths, or character traits. They are ways that God has made you that fit who you are but are meant to be used to build up the church.
You’ve got apostles, or the pioneers. The ones who are willing to try new things or take new ground. The entrepreneurs and first-in type of people.
You’ve got prophets, or truth tellers. The ones who are looking to make sure what we’re doing points back to the truth of who God is. The ones who are willing to call out if something is unjust and is taking away from human dignity or the glory of God.
You’ve got Evangelists, or good-sharers. The ones who find a good thing and want to tell everyone about it. The ones who want to help others find something good, whether it’s a movie, a new restaurant, or a transformative experience with Jesus.
You’ve got Pastors, or shepherds. The ones who are always looking around at the people around them with a heart of care. The ones who make sure others aren’t left behind and who care for the hurting and broken.
And finally, you’ve got teachers. The ones who find a nugget of truth and want to help others understand it. The ones who like to explain difficult concepts so that others can get in and experience it for themselves.
And these aren’t gifts that are for YOU. These are gifts that God has given to you to use for OTHERS. To build them up. God wants to use you!
And this isn’t just for pastors who went to seminary or for elders or church staff. These gifts are given to “equip the saints,” all of us to do ministry together.
[SLIDE 11] v13
And we do this together until all of us continue to grow and mature, not just mature in the world’s standards, where they say as soon as you’re 18 you’re an adult. Or, as soon as you’re married and moved out of your parents’ house, NOW you’re an adult. Or, as soon as you’ve raised kids, NOW you’ve got some life and wisdom built. All of those are good milestones, but our passage says that God wants to work in us until we reach the measure of the full stature of Christ. Until we are transformed to become more and more like Jesus in how we think, feel, and act.
[SLIDE 12] v14
We’re not supposed to stay where we are. We’re not supposed to stay AS we are. We’re not supposed to stay like children in our faith, where we don’t have that rooted experience, we don’t have the establishment of our faith. We’re just tossed around by every new idea or scared by everything that sounds KIND OF spiritual and just let the pastor do the thinking for us, or let “more mature Christians” tell us what to think, or let some TV preacher tell us what to believe.
[SLIDE 13] vv15-16
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we’re called to grow up to become more and more like Christ, since we are connected to him like a body. And the body works together to continue to grow and move and do what the head directs us to do.
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Last week, our passage was telling us that even when we were already DEAD in the going-nowhere type of life the world gives us, God made us ALIVE in Christ and prepared work for us to join him in.
And today, we see that part of our process of joining Jesus in his work is by continuing to grow in his love. Continuing to learn about his grace. Continuing to Dream Bigger about what God is able to do through people, even people like us.
Because you and me? We’re not special, elite, top 0.01% type of humans. We’re not Superman. We’re pretty run of the mill, salt of the earth, people.
But remember when I said that God loves an underdog story?
God wants to work through YOU to accomplish his mission in the earth. He WANTS to use everyday, average people because it proves that HIS power can work through anyone.
No one is outside of his grace. No one is outside of the reach of his love. No one is too far gone.
So Dream Bigger! Because this journey of following Jesus isn’t over! And our church has not “arrived” yet. We’re still right in the middle of our mission to help more and more people in the Sauk Valley and beyond know and follow Jesus. And that involves all of us going all-in.
New Life isn’t a church where you can just come and sit and enjoy the parts you like and then go back to your life. If you’re doing that, if you often show up right at the beginning of service and then make a beeline for the car after we finish, you’re missing out on what God is inviting you to be a part of!
New Life isn’t a church where we just sit in our favorite seat, sing our favorite songs, enjoy a good potluck from time to time, and really only think about Jesus on Sundays. We can’t go back to that way of life. God is calling us to Dream Bigger!
We aren’t a church where everyone is encouraged to merely SAY nice things while secretly judging others. We can’t just APPEAR good while we’re really hiding the deep sin in our life. God is calling us to Dream Bigger!
God is calling us to become apprentices of Jesus, the type of people who regularly spend time with Jesus, become more and more like him, and then join him in the work he is doing around us.
ACTIVE apprentices. Ones who hear Jesus’ call that says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Don’t waste your time and energy carrying around the heavy burdens of a dual life. Come to me.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Taking on the yoke of Jesus doesn’t mean there’s no work. It means we let go of the way of the world that ISN’T ours to carry, and we take on the way of Jesus, and that is light and easy in comparison, because it connects us with the boundless, immeasurable love of the Creator of the universe.
And this isn’t just good news for US. This is good news for EVERYONE. So church isn’t supposed to be a place where WE escape from the world. It’s a place where we get filled up with Jesus, so that we can overflow it out into our community.
…What if we realized that God has given us the power to KNOW his love, that he’s given us a gift as an apostle or evangelist or prophet or shepherd or teacher, so that we can spread the good news to others!
What if God has actually decided to give us the Sauk Valley as our mission field? He’s given it to us. He’s laid the path and is actually at work ahead of us and calling us to Dream Bigger and join him in strengthening families so that the kingdom of God can be felt in our whole community.
I think even though that might be an exciting idea, too many of us hold ourselves back from thinking that WE could be a part of that. No, not me. Maybe someone else. Maybe someone younger. Maybe someone more experienced. Maybe someone better at talking.
But I’m telling you, God loves underdog stories, because it shows HIS glory when he’s able to work through anyone. And he’s calling us to Dream Bigger. He’s asking us to see what Jesus can do through You!
So the next time you think God can’t use you, remember:
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Jacob was a liar
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering issue
Gideon was afraid
Samson was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah was too young
David had panic attacks
Elijah was suicidal
Jonah ran from God
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Jesus
The Samaritan was divorced
Zacchaeus was too short
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer
Thomas doubted Jesus
Lazarus was DEAD
No more excuses.
If God can work through them he can work through you. See what Jesus Can do Through You when you just trust him and obey what he’s calling you to do!
What would it look like for each of us to take a small step of obedience this week in following where Jesus is calling us?
Maybe you pray for God to tell you which neighbor to invite to Harvest Fest next month so they can hear a really clear gospel message and have a great lunch.
Maybe you pray for God to give you boldness to pray for a friend or a stranger, just blessing them with the love of God.
Maybe you step up to join a Life Group or start a new one, because you feel God calling you to engage in some deeper relationships instead of only zooming in and out on Sundays.
Maybe he’s calling you to step forward to join a Serve team so that you can begin to use your gifts to join Jesus in his work.
I don’t know what it is for you, but I know that Jesus is calling you to Dream Bigger, and when we trust him and obey what he’s put in front of us each day, you won’t believe what Jesus can do through you!
So as we close out this time, let’s ask God to show us what he’s trying to tell us today. And let’s ask God to make clear what he’s inviting us to do…