Sunday, August 22, 2021

Hello Everybody!

Welcome to Knox (Westport) Presbyterian Church on this Sunday, August 22, 2021.

The guidelines for in-person gatherings are continuing to evolve as more and more people receive two shots of the Covid-19 vaccine and complete their incubation period.  We ask you to be patient and respectful with the rules that prevent us from being a more friendly people.

If you are double vaccinated, masks or face coverings are now no longer required for indoor gatherings, but you can continue to wear one if you prefer the added safety of this measure.  Please be aware that not everyone may be fully vaccinated and wearing a mask or face covering may still be advisable to protect everyone.

We will continue the practice of no greeting one another with a hug, no coffee hour, no passing of Offering plates or using hymn books or pew Bibles.  When you join us in singing hymns and praise songs, we encourage you to reduce the volume of your voices or just hum along. - no coffee hours or passing of the Offering plates or using hymn books.

Following our worship service, people can feel free to linger and visit with each other outdoors when the weather is good as long as you are careful to maintain at least six feet of separation from each other.  As more and more people get vaccinated and the cases of infections continue to decline, we will be able to resume a more friendly approach to each other.

Thank you for being here.  Let’s stay safe and stay well.

Announcements

• August 1 and 8 – Vacation Sundays / August 15 Illness Recovery

I want to thank Diana Kemp, our Clerk of Session, for conducting worship and preaching during the two weeks while I was on vacation.  In addition, I appreciate the fact that she stepped in for me last Sunday as I continued to recover from a serious ear infection which started back before I went away and continued to worsen until I was treated by an ear, nose and throat specialist in Mississauga.  I just finished my treatment regimen on Wednesday and hopefully am fully recovered now

Thank you, Diana, for your excellent leadership.

• Cemetery Memorial Service - Sunday, July 25th

I also want to thank the Rev. Bruce Kemp for officiating at the Annual Presbyterian Cemetery Memorial Service at Knox on Sunday, July 25^th.

• Any Further Announcements

Are there any further announcements that we need to make people aware of?

• 2021 Summer Preaching Series

Before we greet one another, I want to tell you about my 2021 Summer Preaching Series.

As you know, I am doing a brief study of selected Proverbs from the Book of Proverbs entitled WISDOM FOR THE AGES & TODAY.

During my vacation time, I did some more study and preparation for this series, and I want to tell you where I am going with this series.

A study of the Book of Proverbs is unique in a number of ways.  There are thirty-one chapters in the Book of Proverbs, so this is not a short or minor book in the Bible.  What makes the Book of Proverbs different from the rest of the Bible – with the exception of Ecclesiastes which is also attributed to King Solomon and included in the “Wisdom Literature” of the Old Testament – is that it is written more as an illustrative book than an instructional one.  What I mean by that is the Book of Proverbs is almost a stream of consciousness description of life with warnings and cautions designed to alert the reader to certain realities of life

In the thirty-one (31) chapters of Proverbs, the wise sayings are scattered through the eight hundred and ninety-nine verses (899) in the book.  Many of them are repeated numerous times and many different, unrelated subjects are dealt with in a single chapter.  This makes it almost impossible to work one’s way verse-by-verse through the entire book.

What I have done is to have selected a number of subjects or issues to explore that we all struggle with in our daily lives.  I also want to be careful not to deal with these issues hypothetically or theoretically.  I want us to wrestle with the practical implications of these issues and apply positive and helpful solutions for daily life.

There are 10 studies in all – although the Book of Proverbs speaks to virtually every issue and human struggle – and here is a brief outline of how I see this series of studies going forward during the time between now and Thanksgiving.

We have already done the first two studies:

1. Vertical Wisdom for Horizontal Living

In this introductory lesson, I introduced my own definition of wisdom:

Wisdom is being able to see life from God’s point of view.

Our perspective on life and the circumstances we find ourselves in is limited and often obstructed by obstacles of our own making or by the influences of others.  It is only when we clear away all that clutter and allow God’s truth to inform and guide us that we will be able to act with wisdom and insight.

It is always God’s desire to lead us into the fullness of life:

He will lead them to springs of living water.

And the source of this life-giving truth is:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

2. The Power of Words

We all want a formula: three easy steps to the good life – short, pithy how-to’s in Twitter-like blurbs.

It would be so easy if wisdom could be readily learned in a quick DIY manual guarantee to be simple and successful.  But the Book of Proverbs suggests that this process is much more extensive and involves the key element:

It is only through knowing and loving God – what Proverbs calls “the fear of the LORD” – that we will understand how to apply its practical how-tos.

“Fear of the Lord” does not mean that we will be afraid of God in the sense that the first man and first woman were afraid of God after they disobeyed his commandment.  That fear was a fear of judgement and annihilation at the hands of an angry God.

The fear of God that leads to wisdom is a sense of awe and respect that holds God in high regard; unlike much of modern culture that ignores or dismisses God and God’s truth.

God’s words are powerful and so are ours:

Our words carry tremendous power, and that is why we need to understand how we use our tongues.

We can do great harm when we speak in hurtful ways; or we can encourage and build people up with positive words.

3. The Secret of Self-Control

Today we will explore the Secret of Self-Control.

The heart of a person is the fountainhead of life, and when it is corrupted, the streams of life are polluted since all of life stems from that one source.

We all know from personal experience that self-control is difficult and includes our grip of our emotions, our speech, and all our physical appetites.

Achieving self-control involves discipline, instruction, self-restraint, and fruit of the spirit

We will learn what hinders self-control and what is needed to achieve self-control.

The balance of the series will be as follows:

4. August 29 –

On the Human Heart (Emotions)

5. September 5 – Labour Day Weekend

On Labour and Leisure

6. September 12 - Welcome Back Sunday

On Friendships

7. September 19 - On Fear and Faith

8. September 26 - On Pride and Prejudice

9. October 3 - Worldwide Communion Sunday The Lord’s Supper)

On Peace with the World, with Others, with Oneself, and with God

10. October 10 – Thanksgiving Sunday

On Gratitude and Generosity

Greeting One Another

We are delighted that you chose to join us this morning as we come together in fellowship to celebrate our shared faith in Jesus, the Messiah.  Let’s stand and greet one another by applause instead of the customary hearty handshake or caring embrace.

A Moment for Reflection

Take a moment now to prepare for worship.

Let the many things that have occupied your attention this morning, even as you were planning to come for worship with us, fade into the background to give space for thoughts about God, about life and about faith.

I’m going to ask Barb to play a brief musical selection as we come into the presence of God.

Call to Worship – Ephesians 6:10-20

The Call to Worship is from the Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus describing the armour of God that they need:

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Praise and Worship

Don and Barb Warren will lead us into the presence of God in praise and worship.  Please sing along where lyrics are provided.

#425 - We Praise You, O God

Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

In My Life Lord, Be Glorified

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

God of majesty and mystery, we come before you in humble wonder and worship.

Source of all that is, you are beyond our imagining; your creation astounds us with its beauty and power.

Word of hope and healing, you defy our explanations with your care.

Spirit of purpose and possibility, you touch us when we least expect it and show us which way to turn.

Receive our praise and prayer this day; and prepare us to receive your presence and promise in this hour of worship, Source, Word, and Spirit of Life, ever Three and ever One.

God of mercy, with the community of Christ’s church gathered here and elsewhere, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed.  We have not loved you with our whole hearts, nor have we cared for your world or respected our neighbours as we should.

Hear us as we confess our sins. . . Hold silence for 30 seconds.

Forgive us, we pray, and with your grace, remake us in the example of Christ, our Lord and friend.

God of all creation, the world is filled with your goodness and all nature sings in praise of you.  We give you thanks for the stillness of night and the rest it brings, followed by day filled with energy and creativity.  We give you thanks for summer which brings time to reflect and time to produce, periods of hard work as well as vacation days to regather our strength. Thank you for life unfolding with many blessings.

We thank you, too, O God, for new opportunities emerging, for new insights and discoveries, and for new relationships.  Help us embrace this newness after months of isolating, worrying and wondering what comes next.

You hold the future in your hands, O God, and we are grateful we can trust that you will walk with us in the days ahead. We pray for those who work on the seas and in the fields, providing for so many others.  We know their work is uncertain in these times, and ask you to give them courage and strength to meet the challenges.  We pray those who work in essential services, often at night or while others enjoy leisure.  We know that their work keeps us safe and healthy, maintaining services and resources we depend on. Encourage them, O God, and give them all perseverance to meet the different challenges they face.

We pray for those who lead and those who form policy and keep order  in this country and around the world.  Make them alert to the temptations of their offices so that power is not abused and that justice is maintained fairly, without discrimination.

Gracious God, As we have received, free us to give.  As we have been loved, open us to love others.  As we have known peace, let us serve as peacemakers.  As we have been freed, use us to work for freedom with justice for all.  These are gifts of your reign taking shape among us, and so we pray as Jesus taught us, that your kingdom may come:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive sinners.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  AMEN.

Sharing Our Thoughts on Life and Faith

We live in a society that has more opportunity to indulge personal appetites than any society throughout history.  And we do indulge!  Our grocery stores provide us with hundreds of food choices and some restaurant menus take as love to peruse as the latest issue of Bon Appetit.  The Food Network features multiple how-to programs and cooking competitions with good chefs possessing celebrity status.  To get you thinking about the subject we are going to look at this morning, let me ask this question:

What is your favourite food / meal?

1. Transition from Sharing Question

The Book of Proverbs has quite a lot to say about food

If you find honey, eat just enough — too much of it, and you will vomit. (Proverbs 25:16)

• Note the excesses of our culture and its obsession with food
• We tend to downplay the issue of overeating
• We loosen the belt a little; we get a little sleepy; we admit to overindulging
• But it was so good, wasn’t it?

Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Proverbs 23:20-21)

• No matter what we call it, the Bible calls it gluttony.
• We are gluttonous whenever we eat more than we need, whatever the underlying motivation. We are gluttonous whenever we misuse God’s good gift of food to gratify ourselves or to escape troubling emotions or to seek control over life.
• Anyone who has ever misused food as a way to cope with stress, alleviate boredom, or escape loneliness knows the truth of this Proverb:

One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. (Proverbs 27:7)

• In our modern, Western culture, eating is all about pleasure, but in many places around the globe, food is still more about basic survival. Eating disorders and other outworkings of gluttony aren’t prevalent in underdeveloped countries, but the abundance of food in the West has made it an easy avenue for indulging ourselves without guilt or shame.  We take for granted and misuse it rather than eating for the purpose of good health and with thankfulness for God’s bounty.
• Proverbs gives us a rule of thumb for eating Biblically:

It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. (Proverbs 25:27)

• In other words, eating in moderation is good. It enables us to enjoy the bounty of food as God intended.

Today’s Message

The Secret of

Self-Control

Now that I have your undivided attention generated by some uneasiness and/or guilt about overeating, today’s Proverbs are about self-control.

Two proverbs are at the core of our understanding what is involved in self-control or the lack of it.

2. What Exactly is Self- Control?

A person who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through. (Proverbs 25:28)

And

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

I really like this first Proverb because is tells us a story about the lack of self-control.  It’s an ancient, Biblical illustration that maybe needs a bit of explanation for our modern, Western ears.

1. A person who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through. (Proverbs 25:28)

Ancient cities were surrounded by impregnable walls.  These walls served as the front lines of defence against would-be attackers.  We read in the Book of Joshua that the Israelites were not able to get inside the city of Jericho until God miraculously caused the walls of the city to come tumbling down (Joshua 6:15-20).  Understanding this aspect of ancient cities enables us to grasp the metaphor in this Proverb.  Without the walls of self-control, we have little defense against our enemies which consist of anything that weakens or diminishes our ability to obey God and glorify him with our lives.

Imagine this metaphor applied to our day and to your life and mine.  If we are like a city whose wall are broken down, we are defenseless against all kinds of attacks that will ultimately end up controlling us instead of our being in control of them.  And let’s be clear, these attacks are relentless and pervasive.

Let me go back to the issue of food.  Eating food is absolutely essential for life and none of us can survive without eating.  That’s what makes dieting so difficult.  Self-control could be so much more attainable if we were simply able to NOT eat anything.  Since eating food is both good and necessary, self-control is required in order to resist the temptations of eating too much.  It is required at every meal time; with every tasty snack; every day of the week, month, and year.

Self-control is something we all NEED.

And self-control is required not only when it comes to eating food.

Paul teaches us about the need for self-control when he draws a contrast between being led by our natural desires and being led by the Holy Spirit.   The first is a list of things that control us, and the second is a list of traits that will be manifest in us as we are progressively mastered by Jesus, the Messiah:

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

As distasteful as this list of natural desires may be, it certainly is not a comprehensive list of behaviours that result from a lack of self control.  Add to the list such things as eating, money, security, education, sports, hobbies, travel, photography, gardening, video games, television, the internet . . . the list is endless.

You see, every GOOD  thing in life can become a BAD  thing when taken to extremes.  When a person lacks self-control in any area of life, they will soon find themselves BEING CONTROLLED  by the very things that will cause harm to them or to others.  The good things become gluttony, greed, anxiety, pride of achievement, consumption of hours of attention better devoted to things that are necessary and productive.

And one more thing we should all recognise and acknowledge:  everyone of us have areas where the lack of self-control has led to being controlled by something that is hurtful to us or to someone else.

One of the reasons why I chose to focus on self-control fairly early on in our study of WISDOM FOR THE AGES AND TODAY is because so many of the very issues raised by the Book of Proverbs are tied to a lack of self-control and can be overcome only by the development of character traits resulting from self-control and the sovereign intervention of our Creator God.

Paul’s second list includes character traits that will be increasingly manifest in our lives as we are mastered by Jesus, the Messiah:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

You will notice that the final character trait is SELF-CONTROL.

Let’s turn now to the positive dimension of what exactly is self-control?

1. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

The first thing we might say about self-control is that it is difficult.  We know this from personal experience.  We define self-control as getting and maintaining a grip on ourselves which includes our emotions, our speech, and our physical appetites.  It requires relentless discipline and determination.

The Book of Proverbs encourages us to exercise self-control because disciplined living develops and strengthens character unlike the spontaneous living that seems to be common in our time that is irresponsible and destructive.

When the writer of Proverbs urges his readers to “Above all else, guard your heart”  he understands that our greatest traitor is our own heart if it is ignorant of God’s will:

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.  The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. (Proverbs 14:12, 14)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. (Proverbs 16:2)

A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 21:2)

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. (Proverbs 28:26)

The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.  For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly. (Proverbs 5:22-23)

The painful but inescapable reality, according to the writer of Proverbs is that we cannot guard our hearts diligent in our own strength or by our own understanding.  Here we discover that the self-control of Proverbs 4:23 isn’t a natural trait, something that, if we just try hard enough, we can master.

Who doesn’t want to be characterized by self-control?  But how?  How can we live this way on a consistent basis?  After all, we can all related to the Apostle Paul, who said:

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  (Romans 7:15)

We would all prefer to be in control rather than be controlled by something or someone, yet each of us struggles with how to get a grip in one or more areas of our lives.

3. How can I Achieve Self-control?

It’s time to look at the practical wisdom of the Book of Proverbs and the New Testament teachings to answer this difficult question: HOW CAN I ACHIEVE SELF-CONTROL?

I want to provide four action steps for you to follow.

1. Know Yourself

Are you savvy about the things that trip you up, those particular temptation that suck you into the pit again and again.

Sometimes we don’t know because we don’t want to know.  We don’t want to know because we don’t want to give up those delights.  This refusal is the kiss of death where self-control is concerned.  Years ago, Dr. Chuck Swindol suggested that the greatest tragedy among many active church members is that they traffic in unlived truth.  They come to church; they hear the faithful proclamation of God’s truth; they may even repeatedly answer the call to repentance and faith; but they return to their everyday lives without making the changes they know need to be made.

Sometimes it is all about pride.  People who grow strong in self-control are those who humbly acknowledge their particular weaknesses.  Only the humble can recognize and admit to their weaknesses and find grace to repent of the self-sufficiency that keeps God from acting in our lives.

Sometimes, rather than acknowledging our sin and temptation, we point instead to our “addictive personality.  The fact of the matter is that we all have addictive personalities to one degree or another.  To say, “Well, that’s just the way I am” is a feeble justification.  Knowing where we are weak in the battle for righteousness is crucial in order to develop and effective strategy against it.  Self-awareness is a vital component of wisdom.

Finally, recognize the personal triggers that compel you to surrender control.  Does boredom make you hungry for food?  Does stress drive you to self-medication with alcohol or drugs?  Does loneliness suck you into hours of mindless television, video games or the internet?  Does sorrow drive you out the door to the mall or the golf course?  Whatever it is, name it for the God-substitute it is and commit to turning from it.

1. Resist and Flee temptation

Perhaps one of the most important actions to take is to resist and flee temptation.

The writer of the Proverbs has many things to say about resisting and fleeing temptation:

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.  (Proverbs 4:14-17)

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

(Proverbs 4:10, 25-27)

1. Receive Instruction and Discipline

A wise person profits from advice and discipline he or she receives. He receives both without arrogantly scorning them.  Instead, a wise person’s ability to improve depends on his or her willingness to heed advice and reproof.  A wise person accepts advice, not viewing it as unkind or an attempt to undermine him or her.

The writer of Proverbs has a great deal to say about receiving instruction and discipline:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.                (Proverbs 12:1)

My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.            (Proverbs 6:20-22)

Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.

Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.                      (Proverbs 15:10, 32)

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.

Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  (Proverbs 7:1-3)

1. Surrender control to God

The final step to increasingly achieve self-control is to surrender that control to God.  In the final analysis, self-control is a spiritual issue.  It inevitably involves a struggle for control between the Creator God who made us and the person we are in our misplaced desire to be in charge of our lives.

Once again, the writer of Proverbs has quite a bit to say about surrendering to God:

My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.    (Proverbs 23:26)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.                    (Proverbs 23:26)

I began today’s message with a metaphor about an ancient city whose walls are lying in ruin:

A person who lacks self-control is like a city whose walls are broken through. (Proverbs 25:28)

I want to now tell you another metaphor, this one from the Psalms:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.  (Psalm 32:8-103

When I was the minister of a two-point charge that included a small rural congregation, one of my members approached me to ask me to perform his father’s funeral.  The member of my congregation was very active, but his father was not, and I had never met the man.  Both he and his father were large animal vets with practices majoring on racehorses.  The father was very active in the local racecourse and well known among the racehorse crowd.

I had to think long and hard about what I might say at this man’s funeral that would have much of a meaning to the people who were attending.

I focussed on verse 9 of this Psalm, Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

I pointed out that horses are incredibly powerful and beautiful creatures.  Wild horses roamed the open country with abandon.  In order for them to be ridden of raced, these mighty creatures would need to be tamed – trained and disciplined by a bit and bridle in its mouth.  It was this bit and bridle that could ultimately harness the power of this creature of God’s design.

I suggested that this metaphor would be completely understood by the veterinarian who they were remembering on that day.  I went on to suggest that we, like the horse in this psalm, are beautiful creatures made in the image of God and we too can be controlled, not be a bit and bridle in our mouths, but by the grace and mercy of the Spirit.

We shouldn’t need a bit of steel in our mouths and reins of leather attached to the bridle in order to control us like a horse or mule.  God has given us his Spirit in order to train and discipline us.

Think about that for a moment and understand how you might achieve some measure of self-control.

4. Self-Control: A Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit, which is manifest through our union with Jesus the Messiah, includes self-control.  To achieve this self-control, we must relinquish it to Jesus who is Master and Saviour.

God in Christ wants our walls to be strong and fortified against our triad of enemies: the world, the self, and the temptations all around us.

Will you surrender to Jesus who is Master and Saviour?  Will you ask the Spirit to produce and manifest in your life the fruit of the Spirit which includes real self-control?

Prayer of Response

Let’s pray:

Closing Hymn – “The Power of Your Love”

Don and Barb are going to lead us in our closing hymn.  Please sign along.

Benediction – Ephesians 3:17-19

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.