Henri Nouwen was a Dutch priest, a professor, author, and a man who knew both the agonies and the joys of living in Christ. He relays the story of attending a performance of a flying trapeze group in Germany; of being transfixed by the flying and the spinning in an exhilarating show.
He had one of those ‘aha’ moments while he was watching, a profound realization that the star of the show was not really the artist ‘up there’. Rather, the artist was able to complete such amazing manoeuvres because he fully trusted that he would be caught should he fall. That is, the catcher – the person responsible for setting and guarding the net – made it possible. He was the real ‘star of the show’.
Nouwen’s conclusion: ‘I can only fly freely when I know there is a catcher to catch me.’ This was his epiphany in relation to his life with God. In fact, he was fitted with a harness & ascended the trapeze himself – and reportedly the very serious professor flew and giggled with joyful abandon, many times.
Nouwen’s trapeze exemplifies the life Jesus promises in John 10:10 and again in 17:13 – a joy-filled life – because of faith in the catcher. This is the Christian’s foundation, the ‘reason’ which opens our Chapter 3 of Ephesians.
Don’t misunderstand me here. A joy-filled life in Christ is not the same as a life of gaiety and freedom from pain. It’s obvious in John 17 that Jesus was as much promising a life of hardship for those he called his own.
The author to the Ephesians wrote the beautiful verses in chapter 3, having experienced shipwrecks, floggings, exile and prison – AND YET, he knew what it was to be a conqueror in all this, as he wrote in Romans 8: ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (8:38-39).
Because underneath were the everlasting arms of Christ, his Saviour – our Saviour. This is the reason for our joy, our confidence – that we are rooted and established in love (3:17b) – our foundation, our safety net. Confidence in the love of God in Christ Jesus.
*****
So, would you now turn with me to Ephesians 3: 14-21, as we explore a little more of just what it means to live a fullness of life. I pray the Spirit will excite you, will enable you to aim higher, and deeper – to further know the breadth of life that is your inheritance as a child of a most magnificent God.
I’m sure most of you are familiar with what is a most beautiful prayer, full of joy & excitement, reflecting the author’s deep love for the church he’d founded in Ephesus.
But it’s also a letter intended to address issues of deep division he’d heard were happening among the church, and so the first three chapters are intended to remind them of the unifying foundations of their faith, the promises that were theirs as reconciled children of a bountiful and gracious God. How quickly we forget what God has done, what draws us together in Jesus! How often we need reminding who we are, what we stand upon, what we stand together for.
And so, it is for these reasons – all that are named in the preceding chapters – he now falls to his knees and, confident in the magnificence of God, asks again for the presence of Christ within them to be fully known and lived out.
The Message translation adds stress to verse 17, one which I’d like to emphasise myself this morning: ‘that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in …’
SLIDE: THE QUEEN & PADDINGTON
How would you have responded if you’d received an invitation to this special tea party?
- I’m busy that day
- I don’t like marmalade
- Nothing to wear
- What would I say?
- I’d need to mind my manners …
- I’m not good enough for that company
- I couldn’t afford it.
And how would you respond if the invitation came with first-class tickets & a week at The Savoy – all paid? Would that be enough to convince you that you were really wanted?
Would you accept? Would this be enough to overcome your reluctance?
Well, the King of all kings & queens has asked you to dine with him, now & eternally. How have you welcomed this amazing opportunity? How far have you opened the door?
It comes down to trust really. How much do you know the person extending the invitation? How much do they really care about you? Remember our opening analogy: that the trapeze artist can fly to the degree that he trusts the character of he who manages the safety net.
He has your best interests at heart!
SLIDE
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Ephesians 3:16-17
Verse 17 continues: ‘…that you, being rooted and established in love, …’. Paul has spent the initial part of his letter reminding the Ephesians of just how much God loves them – that Jesus died for them in order to reconcile them to God. They are – Gentile and Jew alike – included in God’s eternal plan. They’ve been equipped for new life through the presence of Christ’s Spirit – strengthened with power so that Christ himself lives with them.
What a foundation; what assurance; what glorious riches!
Those are solid roots, going down deep, enabling them to withstand the buffeting winds of life. To mix my metaphors: the deeper the roots, the higher the tree can grow; the more glorious it can become as its foundation is firm.
These roots grow deeper every time the gospel is preached – the reminder of the gracious and magnificence of God who is their father. And they have a hope which anchors them in the trials and tedium of life.
And these roots – planted firmly on love – are the power (3:18) which galvanizes the
Ephesian church to grow together, to be Christ to their community.
SLIDE
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people …
Ephesians 3:17b – 18
‘All the Lord’s holy people’ together, have that power to grasp/apprehend/understand/comprehend the ‘extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love’ (The Message 3:18). In other words, our foundations & our trust in Christ who enabled this provide the power to aim high – together with all God’s people – in living a life worthy of his name.
Just think for a moment: there are no telescopes large enough, no microscopes powerful enough, no submarines deep enough, no tape measures long enough, to reach the height, depth or breadth of the love Jesus has for us.
Some have expressed this in images of the cross – the horizontal & the vertical axis – signifying the reaching out of Jesus to embrace the universe, his creation, in sacrificial love.
NIV translates Paul’s encouragement to ‘know’ this love that surpasses knowledge; The Message calls us to ‘experience the breadth, test its length, plumb the depths, rise to the heights…’
This is an invitation to action. I believe God wants to be known by each one of us – more & more & more. He IS MORE! You can never have enough of God.
To explore God is to explore Jesus, the Jesus living within you. By the power of his Spirit who enable us to understand – beyond knowledge.
SLIDE
…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:18b-19
And this is what I believe he means when he promises fullness of life – ‘filled to the measure of all the fullness of God’ (3:19).
I’ve been mindful of Ruth & Michael, holed up in a Sydney hotel, their plans for a wonderful holiday scuppered by Covid. Is it possible for them to know fullness of life in their situation? Is it possible for you to experience the breadth, height & depth of God as you face a health crisis, or grieve the loss of someone you love? Is this the promise of fullness of life?
By faith, I believe it must be. Because of the foundations of love, of God for me, and of my brothers & sisters carrying me. Fullness of life is an expression of us together, my friends.
SLIDE
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Ephesians 3:16-17
And then we have the encouragement of 3:20. Again, The Message expresses it with such exuberance: ‘God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.’
He can bring the vilest sinner into his eternal Kingdom; he can bring comfort for the bereaved; he can bring hope to the darkest places – for this reason, that he overcame death for you & me. ‘… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen’ (3:21).
I hope the Spirit has given you a little more of a glimpse into the possibilities of fullness of life with Jesus. Paul, who may have penned these words, certainly knew and experienced what it was like to be persecuted for his faith. And yet his excitement, his certainty, his experience of a life with Christ shines in every word of this prayer. ‘For this reason, …’, that he knew his roots were held fast by faith; that Christ’s Spirit gave him power to overcome, and that his future was promised.
Will you accept the invitation to open the door of your heart just a little more, & allow Jesus to reveal to you the height, depth & breadth of the love God has for you – and to embrace this, and to live within it? Will you trust him not to let you fall?
Let’s pray.