The Nineteenth Sermon, the Fourth on the Third Chapter - Ephesians 3:14-16

"Wherefore I beseech ye faint not for my troubles which I endure for your sake, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." - Ephesians 3:14-16

It is a remarkable thing that despite having so many means to draw closer to God, people often labour to move away from Him as much as possible. Even the slightest pretext is enough to make them turn away, and yet they believe they have a reasonable excuse. They say, "I was hindered by this or that," which is nothing more than the flimsiest of reasons. Their true desire is to distance themselves from God. This is all too common in our times. Those who seek to justify themselves for rejecting the doctrine of the gospel always find fault with trivial causes of offence. They say, "Oh, this troubles me, this might cause me to dislike the gospel, this might make me abandon it completely." Everything they allege is about trifles. Nevertheless, we must strive even harder to overcome all obstacles and impediments that the devil tries to place in our path. We should persevere in our faith and hold firmly to our course. This is what Paul is exhorting the Ephesians to do—continue in the faith of the gospel without being discouraged, even though they might be troubled to see him as a prisoner, seemingly already condemned.

Certainly, Paul's suffering in defence of the gospel was not meant to make the Ephesians turn away from the pure truth of God. On the contrary, it was a source of glory for them. They could triumph in advance, considering Paul's unwavering constancy. As I mentioned before, apart from what I've already touched upon, there is a deep-seated wickedness in our nature. We are content if we find any outward pretext to distance ourselves from God. We eagerly seize on any excuse that allows us to escape from God's presence. This inclination should be utterly rejected, but Paul is not speaking of just one people here. He gives us an instruction that should serve us even today.

The instruction is this: Although the majority of the world opposes the gospel and does everything in its power to erase the memory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and even though the faithful are persecuted, defamed, and tormented, we must not be discouraged. Instead, we should let these trials strengthen our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We should remember that we are destined for glory. The fact that God upholds His Church by His mighty hand, preventing it from being completely oppressed and overwhelmed, even in the face of widespread rejection of the Gospel, is evidence of His authorship of it.

If the Gospel were universally accepted without any resistance, there would be great cause for celebration, and heaven and earth would resound with praise for God's abundant goodness, shining upon all people. However, the opposition and hostility of people towards the Gospel serve as a sure sign to us that God is its author. Those who are imprisoned and even face death for it do not waver but remain steadfast. This demonstrates the extraordinary power of God. Despite all that Satan may do, we have the proof that God is on our side, fighting with us and upholding us by His power. This does not exempt us from affliction, but it assures us of victory and justifies us.

In conclusion, the message we should take from this text of St. Paul is that we must be prepared to endure all the attacks that Satan may launch against us. Even when we see the pure doctrine of the Gospel poorly received in the world, despised, disdained, and even hated, with unbelievers filled with rage to destroy it, we must not hold it in any less reverence. We should not gauge God's majesty by the opinions of men. Even if God were despised everywhere, as most people are, indeed, so ungrateful and monstrous in their rebellion, we should not diminish the honour we owe Him. Similarly, with the pure doctrine of the Gospel, despite the world's opposition and the many who mock it, revile it, and even persecute it, let us receive it with obedience and humility. Our faith should remain unwavering, even when faced with numerous threats, violence, and conspiracies.

Now, regarding St. Paul's saying that it is our glory, what does it serve for? Our faith would be as good as dead if God did not test it. Nevertheless, when we see the faithful being tested, we have even stronger confirmation of the doctrine that God has given us. It is true that our faith should be grounded in heaven, meaning it should rely solely on God's authority, without regard for any creature. Even the angels of heaven cannot validate the gospel; God's majesty alone must be sufficient for us to lean on, and then we shall never be shaken.

However, when martyrs do not hesitate to give their lives as a witness to God's truth, then, as I mentioned earlier, we should be even more encouraged to receive and treasure the doctrine. Persecutions serve to confirm the doctrine, and thus, it is our glory, and we ought to triumph in it. God also supports and strengthens those whom He sends into this battle. It is certain that, due to the weakness of the flesh, they may falter at times, but when they ultimately prevail, it is the work of God, and we should glorify Him for it.

Now, if we are troubled and tempted to give up at every attack, it is a sign that we do not know how to benefit from the means God has given us to draw closer to Him and remain steadfast. Therefore, we must combat our own weakness and the inherent wickedness of our nature. When we see how the devil seeks to undermine the gospel almost everywhere, we should consider that God does not forget His own but strengthens them with His power so that they ultimately prevail. This should give us hope and encourage us to prepare ourselves as well. When we are at ease and in times of rest, we should not cease to follow their example and be ready to fight.

Simple emphasizes that it is not enough for us to merely receive instruction; we should not stop at being taught. We should be constantly stirred and remain vigilant until God's doctrine takes root in us, touching us to our very core. Therefore, after exhorting the Ephesians, he goes on to say, "I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." He does this to show them, by his own example, what they should do. Even when we have been instructed and motivated by God's Word to understand our duty, there will always be some sloth, coldness, and negligence in us.

The doctrine avails us little until God touches us with His Holy Spirit, and this humbles our pride. Many who think highly of themselves can work wonders but find themselves deceived when put to the test. Consider Peter's example; he genuinely promised not to deny his master, even if it meant dying for him. His words were zealous and well-intentioned, but a mere servant girl made him deny Christ. He was ready to deny Him repeatedly, even with curses and oaths. Seeing this, we should acknowledge our own weakness through Peter's experience. Simple emphasizes that we should turn to the one who has all power in Him. It's not enough to know our ailment; we must seek the remedy.

First, rid ourselves of foolish notions that a person can overcome all temptations through their own free will. Instead, acknowledge our weakness and that God teaches us through His Word not to make us capable but to make us more aware of our guilt. Do not use ignorance as a shield.

Instead, recognize our weakness and turn to God, for He calls and draws us to Him. Do not doubt that He will not disappoint when we humble ourselves at His feet, knowing that He will lift us up. Simple's mention of his prayer is not just to claim fulfilling his duty but to set an example for all the faithful. They should turn to God upon recognizing their needs, knowing that He continually upholds them with His strong hand, giving them invincible constancy to endure.

In essence, we should not rely on our own wisdom or presume upon our strength when hearing God's word. Instead, we should desire that God speaks to us inwardly through His Holy Ghost, allowing the preached doctrine to take root and bear fruit. Since God expects more from us than our own abilities can provide, we should seek His help. It may seem contrary to our human reasoning that we may need to endure death and forsake the world and our own lives, but God can work in us to overcome our weaknesses. While suffering for the gospel and facing death may be difficult beyond human capacity, God's grace will empower us to overcome all difficulties if we arm ourselves with the weapons He provides. This doctrine is, therefore, not unprofitable.

Our Lord gives us things through His Holy Spirit that we don't possess by nature, in order to make the doctrine effective so it doesn't disappoint us. Those who slanderously claim that if we cannot follow God of our own free will, it's better to stop preaching, are mistaken. They imply that God's order does not assure us to Himself. However, experience shows us that the preaching of the Word is an instrument through which God secretly works. When we understand this, we see that God aligns perfectly with Himself in requiring the gospel to be preached to us while emphasizing that it won't benefit us unless His Holy Spirit works in our hearts. Comparing the gospel to an instrument is like saying a plough and other tools are instruments for farming, but they do not cause the earth to bear fruits – God does. In that sense, we pray to Him for our daily bread, understanding that He cares for us as a father does for his children.

So, we should not merely attend a sermon or read God's word individually; we must also turn to God for spiritual nourishment. Do not assume that it's enough to receive the preached word without seeking God's increase. In this regard, Paul uses the analogy that the one who plants or waters is nothing; only God gives the increase from above. He's not referring to physical labour but to those who sow God's word and nurture His church through exhortations. Our labour is in vain unless God's Holy Spirit works with it, making it effective. This shows the close connection between the preaching of the gospel and the secret inner work of the Holy Ghost. They are inseparable, and the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of believers.

Now, after speaking of prayer, Paul asks to be strengthened in the inward man by the power of the Holy Spirit. He highlights our weakness because if we don't recognise our need, we won't turn to God like humble beggars. People, in general, may seek God's help, but genuine humility is rare. Many are prideful and presume excessively upon themselves, even while seeking God's assistance. This excessive arrogance is a grave fault. To approach God sincerely and humbly, we must first acknowledge our own inadequacy. We must understand that our strength comes from above and from the Holy Spirit. Paul's words emphasise this point: "that he may be strengthened by the power of His Holy Spirit." He contrasts what we can do by ourselves with what God's Spirit provides. As long as a person can do everything on their own, they don't need God's Spirit. But since all power originates from God's goodness, we realise that we can do nothing on our own. Any strength we think we have is a fleeting illusion, a deception by Satan, who tries to trap us in self-reliance to keep us from turning to God and being utterly destitute.

In addition, I would like to further clarify that this is a freely bestowed benefit, meaning it comes solely from God's gracious gift. We should not entertain the notion that God's sacrifice is contingent on anything other than our wretchedness. He doesn't offer it because of any perceived goodness or disposition in us. This is precisely why He fulfils all our needs. Therefore, it is essential, as Paul states, for us to be strengthened by the power of His Holy Spirit, and this is bestowed as a free gift.

Now, when Paul mentions "according to the richness of His glory," he does so to emphasise the abundant goodness of God. This serves to counteract the erroneous beliefs of those who think they can earn their salvation or somehow share in God's glory. It is crucial for us to bear this in mind. Even though the Ephesians had already displayed great strength and unwavering commitment to the gospel, Paul wishes for them to be further strengthened. This highlights the fact that we are inherently weak. Despite God leading us onto the right path, extending His hand to us, and continuously bestowing His grace, even the briefest withdrawal of His hand would leave us utterly quailed. This serves as a warning, as we have seen before, that just as God initiates our salvation, He is also the one who continues the work. There is no steadfastness in us without His upholding hand, especially when it comes to our spiritual life. Therefore, we ought to be motivated to pray daily throughout our lives. Those who forget themselves and become complacent will quickly find themselves deprived of God's grace. This is because they do not seek it with continual care. So, to rouse us from our laziness and recklessness, we must remember that God has called us into His Church and deeply touched our hearts to receive His gospel with true obedience. This should strengthen us all the more.

Furthermore, it is essential to recognise that as God increases His Holy Spirit within us, He displays the boundless richness of His goodness. This gradual increase in grace reveals God's infinite treasure of goodness, as He draws us to Himself. Initially, we were mired not just in a muddy puddle but in the depths of sin and rebellion. We brought with us an inheritance from our mother's womb—corruption, enmity towards God, malice, rebellion, and blindness. These qualities left us susceptible to all forms of evil, making us Satan's bond slaves under the tyranny of sin. Considering our miserable state, God's act of pitying us demonstrates His vast riches of goodness in our behalf. It is only right that He should be glorified for this.

As I've mentioned before, we should understand this better – just as God has adopted us as His children, we should willingly accept Him as our Father. But how can we do this? Even though He has transformed His image within us, He must continue to display the riches of His goodness, increase His gifts in us, and guide us along our journey. It is crucial for us to remember this doctrine, especially when we observe how the world has been deceived by the idea that every person can exert themselves through their own free will or, at the very least, prepare themselves to approach God. Additionally, some believe that God adds grace upon grace to those who have made good use of the grace He has previously bestowed upon them.

Regarding the first point, how can we possibly earn God's favour when we are like spiritually dead individuals, resembling rotting carcasses? What preparations can we make to obtain His favour? Those who entertain such notions are more misguided than bewitched. Therefore, we must learn to rely on God for the entirety of our salvation, from beginning to end, and reject these devilish illusions that suggest we can accumulate grace through our efforts. We must consider how each of us deserves nothing. As Paul instructs, we must fix our eyes solely on God's goodness, acknowledging His boundless generosity towards us, as He never ceases to bestow goodness upon us. He is not like mortal men who might say, "I've done enough good; I'm content." Instead, God not only pours out the gifts of His Holy Spirit upon us but also seeks to increase their measure until we reach the full stature of perfection.

Now, let's focus on Paul's specific reference to the inward man. We must recognise that God should continually strengthen and elevate us in this world. However, many are preoccupied with earthly desires. Some desire to display their valour, believing themselves to be as noble as angels, seeking recognition and reputation. This desire for recognition is one form of the worldly strength that people seek. Others aspire to increase their wealth through trade or acquire possessions through various means. Yet others covet social standing and authority. In essence, the means by which we often want God to display His generosity towards us involve indulging our sensuality and earthly desires. However, Paul redirects our attention to the inward man – the realm of spiritual life, which remains hidden from our physical senses but is known to us through our awareness. Similar to this, Paul also speaks of the inward man to the Corinthians, stating that while the outer man perishes, the inner man is renewed. So, what Simple means by the outer man encompasses riches, physical health, honour, esteem, and authority – all of which we naturally desire. These are the elements represented by the outer man.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, we should strive to be strengthened in these matters. However, in the meantime, we tend to disregard the inward man, which pertains to heavenly life. This happens because these aspects are invisible to us, and we are often preoccupied and ensnared by the concerns of this world. Therefore, Simple teaches us that if God allows us to be diminished in worldly matters, we must accept it with patience. He illustrates this point with the following text: When faithless and worldly individuals, whose treasure lies in this world, experience a decline in their worldly prosperity, they lament and ask, "Where are the riches I once had?

Where are the comforts?" Then they begin to complain against God. Similarly, when a wealthy person faces a decrease in possessions, and God takes away what they once possessed, they react with great displeasure, feeling as though they are already buried and now must watch their wealth gradually dwindle away. Likewise, those driven by ambition and seeking only honour and reputation in the world, when they lose their accustomed prestige, believe that all is lost.

Conversely, God's children, who willingly close their eyes to the worldly allurements below and fix their gaze on the heavenly inheritance through faith, are not greatly troubled when they see themselves declining, even in worldly status. They accept it willingly because they understand the underlying change: God is renewing them, drawing them closer to the unseen, and infusing them with renewed vigour, as if the kingdom of heaven were imminent. Thus, what Simple is teaching us here is that just as each of us is ensnared by our foolish desires, we must, through prayer to God for strength, learn not to be distressed if we decline in worldly matters, for this decline can lead to spiritual growth, bringing us closer to God's kingdom. We should remain confident that our earthly decline will ultimately result in our exaltation. Though we may descend into the grave, it is not to perish completely, but to be renewed. Therefore, let us accept abasement, knowing that we will be raised up by the power of our God. Although we may be humble creatures in this world, if we patiently endure, we should not doubt that God will work in us as He promises.

Furthermore, let us pay close attention to what Simple states here. He doesn't just use the name of God but says, "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." By this, he shows us first how familiarly we can approach God, as discussed previously. In the past Sunday's sermon, this text was already explained adequately, where we learned how we can approach God. There, faith was emphasised first and foremost. Knowing, then, that the gate is open for us, we can confidently enter into God's presence. Faith fosters trust in our hearts, and trust grants us confidence. These are the three stages that St. Paul outlines here. He also teaches us how we obtain this privilege – because God is not only to be worshipped for His heavenly majesty, which, though we ought to honour, could be so awe-inspiring that we might shy away from His presence as much as possible. Instead, He invites us to address Him as Father and Saviour, titles He bestows upon us as His children.

By means of this, we are no longer afraid of Him but can approach Him familiarly when occasion requires. This is a significant point to bear in mind, for if we cannot call upon God, what will become of us? In what state shall we find ourselves? It is said that all our well-being and life depend on seeking refuge in God. Now, if we think that God will hear us when we pray with doubt and hesitation, we deceive ourselves. As St. James says, "For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Therefore, we must not be like reeds shaken by every wind or waves of the sea. We must be thoroughly assured that God, who calls us to Him, will not disappoint us when we pray.

But how can we have such assurance? Consider that God possesses an incomprehensible majesty, and there is an immense distance between Him and us. Even if we could fly above the clouds, we could not approach God due to His infinite greatness. If not for Jesus Christ, who serves as the means to bridge the gap, we would be like lost and vanished beings. St. Paul alludes to this when he mentions that he prays to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is so that we understand that God is not distant from us if we follow the path He has shown us. That path involves making Jesus Christ our advocate, speaking on our behalf. He has entered the heavenly sanctuary to represent us, so it's as if He carries us on His shoulders, ensuring that both we and our prayers are accepted and approved by God. We can be certain that our prayers do not disappear into thin air but are received by God, as promised in the Scriptures, that He is near to all who call upon Him in truth.

Considering this, the world has gone astray by seeking saints to be their patrons and advocates. For example, when people claim that they need the Virgin Mary and Saint Michael as intercessors, as well as other saints they have invented, they believe they are unworthy to approach God's presence directly. While there is truth in this unworthiness, it should also compel us to seek the remedy God has provided. We should turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the way to lead us to His Father, as He declared, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and whatsoever you ask of God, my Father, in my name, shall be granted you." Here, our Lord Jesus promises that whatever we ask of God His Father in His name will be granted to us, affirming this doctrine. Therefore, let us understand that as our Lord Jesus offers Himself as the way to lead us to God the Father, we should not wander aimlessly.

If we seek any other way, we shall only go astray and never be certain of reaching God. Furthermore, to be content with Jesus Christ alone, let us remember how He said that all our requests shall be heard if they are based on His name. So, when we pray to God, we must assure ourselves that even though we are unworthy to approach Him, He still accepts us, and our prayers are like a good and acceptable sacrifice offered to Him when we acknowledge Him as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Additionally, we must recognize that we are members of His only Son's body. This is essential because if we had no alliance with Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as the Son of God would be of no benefit. However, because we are united with Him, and He graciously shares all His blessings with us, we can rightfully call God our Father. This is why Jesus said to His disciples, "I go to my God and your God, to my Father and your Father."

Moving on to the larger point, we must note how Paul addresses a broader concept: that all kindreds, both in heaven and on earth, are named after Him. In this context, Paul emphasizes the unity of Jews and Gentiles. The Gospel is to be preached widely, and God's grace is extended to people of all nations and backgrounds. This means that even those who were once considered outsiders, like the Gentiles, are now part of God's household and citizens of heaven. By referring to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ as our head and body, Paul is illustrating that all kindreds are named after Christ because He has welcomed us into His company, despite our unworthiness.

Paul goes beyond establishing a connection among people and shows that we are even matched with the angels in heaven. He does not merely suggest that the lowest of the faithful is on par with biblical figures like Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul. Instead, he demonstrates that we are also matched with the angels in heaven because Jesus Christ has condescended to be our brother and has united Himself with us in brotherhood. Therefore, when we pray to God, we should approach Him with both reverence for His infinite majesty and trust in His acceptance. We can boldly call God our Father because He has adopted us as His children, and we have Jesus Christ as our brother through adoption. We need not doubt that all the angels in heaven acknowledge and accept us as their brethren when we come to God united with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conversely, if we deviate from this path, we risk being rejected, and even the angels may become our adversaries, opposing our prayers. So, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and praying that He reforms our lives so that our actions reflect that we have not wasted our time in His school. Let us strive to please Him in all things, knowing that we cannot serve Him in perfection and that He will bear with our weaknesses as long as we continue to seek Him in times of need. Finally, let us join together in saying, "Almighty God, Heavenly Father, etc."