Title: The Power of the Spirit

Proposition: The Spirit Gives us Power

Text: Eph 3:14-21


Intro:
SERMON:  The Power of the Spirit
		1.  What does power make you think of?
		2.  Walking down the flightline, 100 feet away from F16, nice wind
		3.  Would you like to know about power that can make you soar
		4.  Text:  Eph 3:14-21
		5.  The Spirit of God gives us Power
			-Misunderstandings about the Spirits power today (miracles)

I.  THE POWER TO LOVE
	A.  Paul wanted a strong united loving church, it would take God’s power
	B.  What is the Greatest Need in the church?
		1.  Parking Lot, Money, Building, etc.
		2.  We need God’s power 
		3.  Prayerless is Powerless
	C.  ILL:  Our Old Car, not a lot of maintenence, need a mechanic, overhaul
		1.  Need God to overhaul us
		2.  May just need new fuel
	D.  WHY God’s power for us ....
		1.  So that Christ may dwell in our hearts through Faith
			-Dwell is a permanent dwelling unlike John 1:14
		2.  What is the sign of Christ dwelling in us?
		3.  Being “rooted and grounded in love
			- ILL:  Mike pushing trees over with his bull dozer
			- Nearly tipped, good roots
			- A Solid church is a loving church, can’t soon be pushed
			  over

II.  THE POWER TO COMPREHEND
	A.  Greatness of Love
	B.  ILL:  In High School said “can’t comprehend a million dollars
	C.  We can’t comprehend Love of Christ without the Spirit
	D.  ILL:  Mammoth Spring = Spring River
		1.  Jesus said at Feast of Booths Rivers of water (Jn 7:37-38)
		2.  Can know the greatness of his love
		3.  Breadth - ALL MEN, including child molesters, murderers, ...
		4.  Length - Eternity (before we were born)
		5.  Height - Advocate with the Father
		6.  Depth - Deep love unmatched, born in a barn
	E.  Once comprehend it, we change
		1.  Can’t go on mistreating, being unkind,
		2.  We know how Jesus loved other people
		3.  We can’t keep from worshipping and loving him
		4.  Can’t keep it bottled up (full of it)
			“ah you’re full of it.  That’s right!  Full of his love ....”

III.  THE POWER TO BE FULL
	A.  Reason for church to have power and love and comprehension
		-To be filled up to all the fullness of God
	B.  ILL:  Kay Williams - Simple, kind, loving, (walked with her one day)
		Robert ?  - Had Knowledge, Quote, etc.
		WHO KNEW GOD BETTER?
	C.  A mature Christian is one that is full of Jesus
		1.  ILL:  Jars of Honey that leaked in my suitcase - They wer full
		2.  We need to be so full of Jesus that he oozes out of us
		3.  Leave some of his sweetness on everyone we touch
	D.  A Christian full of Christ, is full of love



Conclusion
	Spirit gives us power through prayer

	Power to love others to comprehend the love of Christ, and to be full of
		His love, loving others
	Only when we are solid, rooted an grounded in this love can we weather
		storms, or bulldozers


	ILL:  Got lost, couldn’t find a church, asked directions, yeah, they’re over
	 there, know nothing about them but know that they are the most loving bunch
	 I’ve ever seen?  That is a church that is full of it?\\

	Do we reflect his fullness as a church?

	How are we known as a church? 
	Three great things, faith - hope - love,  greatest is love

	Will show by our love that we are Christs

	If need to renewal, come forward.