Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Filled by God - Ephesians
Introduction
When our lives are filled with the Lord’s unlimited resources then we have an inner strength to face all that life can throw at us. This strength comes through the experience of seeing God work out His love and through the inner resources of being empowered by His Spirit. No longer do we need to justify failure through an appeal to circumstances beyond our control since our Lord is sufficient for all of these by His power at work in us.
Bible Zone
- Filled by God - God works in our lives to help us welcome Him into our lives..
- Inner Strength - Filled by God’s strength through experienced weakness.
- Roots into God - We sink roots into God as we meet with Him in Word and prayer.
- Experience God’s love - As life hits us, we realise how much God loves us.
- Christ at home - As we live God’s way, with Him, He makes His home with us.
God is constantly at work in each one of us to help us come to a place where we can welcome Him into our lives as His home. When He lives with us, our lives are transformed by His power.
- What contributes to inner strength?
- With what resources can God strengthen?
- What is the difference between inner and outer strength?
- What is the fruit of a life with inner strength?
Ephesians 3:16-19 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Inner strength is developed as God works His power through us. This is developed when we are experiencing weakness. When we feel strong we depend on our own strength. God values very different things from us. We tend to want an easy life. God wants one that is lived out in partnership with Him. He develops this through our weaknesses.
- What danger was the writer (Paul) in?
- How did God work to help Paul to overcome the danger?
- What does it mean that God’s grace is all we need?
- How is God’s grace experienced?
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.9 Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.10 That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Explore Inner Strength (God gives grace - opens in separate tab)
As we experience God’s power in weakness, so we sink roots into God our strength. These roots are founded on a spiritual life that experiences God through His Word and prayer.
- What contributes to a fruitful life?
- What does it mean to remain (some translate this ‘abide’) in Christ?
- How could Jesus’ Word remain in you?
- Why is prayer answered for those who remain in Jesus and His Word?
John 15:5-8 5 "Yes, I (Jesus) am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Explore Roots into God (Meet God - Quiet time - opens in separate tab)
Those who experience God’s power in weakness also experience His love. The way he intervenes to rescue us, or to strengthen us in trial shows how much He cares for us.
- What had Paul (the writer of Romans) experienced of Christ’s love?
- What had he had to go through in order to experience this love?
- Christ holding to us like glue shows His faithful love. For us to be in the place of receiving such love, we need to remain in Him. What does this involve?
Romans 8: 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?36 (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.")37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Explore Experience God’s love (God is approachable - opens in separate tab)
As we learn to trust God enough to remain with Him, no matter what happens, then Jesus makes a home in our hearts; a home of mutual trust and respect.
- How does Jesus describe His relationship with His Father?
- How do we show that we are responding to Jesus’ love, by loving Him?
- What is the fruit of such a relationship?
- What does it mean that God makes His home in us?
John 14:20-23 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. … All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
Explore Christ at home with us (Who is Spirit - opens in separate tab)