Does Christ Feel at Home in Your Heart?
The sermon emphasizes the necessity of allowing Christ to be Lord in our lives for Him to feel truly at home in our hearts.
Theodore Epp emphasizes the importance of allowing Christ to dwell in our hearts as more than just a guest, but as the Lord who is fully at home in our lives. He explains that for Christ to be at home, we must prioritize Him above all else, surrendering our self-life and desires to His will. Epp highlights that true victory comes from submitting to Christ and living in dependence on Him, echoing Paul's desire to know Christ deeply. He reminds us that while Christ indwells every believer, His control over our lives requires our active choice to deny ourselves and follow Him. Ultimately, Epp encourages believers to open their hearts to Christ, inviting Him to take full control.
Text
Ephesians 3:14-17
Paul referred to his relationship to the indwelling Christ when he wrote: "I am [have been] crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20).
Thus, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he prayed that Christ might dwell in their hearts in the sense of being enthroned in their lives--that He might be truly at home, not just a guest.
He will be completely at home in our lives to the extent that He is truly Lord of our lives. When we received Him as Saviour, He came to permanently indwell us, but our need now is to put Him first in everything so that He will be at home in us.
When we come to this point, our desire will be the same as Paul's when he said, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Phil. 3:10).
Notice that the place of Christ's dwelling is "in your hearts" (Eph. 3:17). Christ dwells in the inner man and desires to control the person He indwells.
Of course, Christ indwells every person who receives Him as Saviour, but this does not necessarily mean He is in control of the person's life.
In order for Christ to control our lives, we must give up the self-life--we must desire to please Him rather than ourselves. This means we will have to say no to our own desires when they conflict with His.
We will have victory in our lives only as we submit ourselves to the Lord and by faith live in dependence on Him. We must not underestimate the importance of denying ourselves when our desires conflict with His.
Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:23,24).
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding Christ's Indwelling
- The Importance of Christ Being at Home
- The Role of the Inner Man
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II
- Christ as Lord of Our Lives
- The Need for Prioritization
- The Power of Submission
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III
- The Call to Deny Self
- Living in Dependence on Christ
- The Promise of Fellowship
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IV
- The Invitation to Open the Door
- The Impact of Christ's Presence
- The Assurance of His Supper
Key Quotes
“I am [have been] crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” — Theodore Epp
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” — Theodore Epp
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to prioritize Christ in all aspects of your life.
- Practice self-denial by choosing to follow Christ's desires over your own.
- Open the door of your heart daily to invite Christ's presence and guidance.