Ephesians 3:14-20

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may 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.  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Understanding of biblical doctrines require careful reflection, profound study, and super-natural illumination from the Spirit of God.  This why Bible study and prayer must go hand-in-hand.  Spiritual truths and transformation require our dedication and discipline and divine dependence.  None of us are intelligent or determined enough to think or work our way into Christ likeness.  As the same time none of us will attain spiritual maturity through deep meditation, experiences, or simply listening to the voice of God’s Spirit apart from the study of the Word He inspired.  It is a both/and proposition.  That is why Paul follows his profound doctrinal teachings with prayers for his readers.

 

PRAY FOR INNER STRENGTH THROUGH FAITH: Paul does not want his suffering and imprisonment to cause the Ephesian believers to lose heart.  This motivates him to pray for them that the Lord would work in their hearts and lives to help them take full advantage of all the riches they have in Christ Jesus.  The ability to stand firm in the face of hardship and discouragement comes from the Spirit of God granting power to our inner being.  It is the work of the Spirit that allows the living Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith.  Natural man will interpret his circumstances and make life decisions based on what he sees and experiences in the physical realm.  Paul’s prayer is that we would not be like natural men but like spiritual men who are strong in faith.  We can be confident that God is in control of all the circumstances of life we might face.  The Spirit of God is working in and through us so we can have an abiding trust in the Lord even when we undergo hardship.      

 

PRAY FOR FULL COMPREHENSION OF LOVE: As we consider ourselves in light of God, it is almost impossible for us to understand how He could possibly love us.  Satan is constantly striving to cause us to doubt God’s love.  Paul’s second prayer request is that we be rooted and grounded in God’s love by having a full comprehension of God’s love.  The love of God for us is so great that Paul readily admits that it is indescribable, unfathomable, and incomprehensible.  We will simply never be able to fully grasp the extent of God’s love for us.  However, the Spirit of God is at work in us to give us the strength to grow in our understanding of His love.  God’s love is not like our love that can be so fickle, conditional, and shallow.  God wants us to grow in our understanding of His love because that is what will fill our lives with love for Him as well as for others.  There is nothing like being loved to motivate us in life.  Paul knows that if we had a true picture of God’s love; it would radically change the way we think and live.      

 

PRAY FOR GOD’S POWER FOR ETERNAL GLORY: Faith and love can only reach their full potential in our lives through the supernatural power of God at work in our lives.  He is able to do more in us than we could ever ask or would even dare to think.  The power of God’s Spirit is producing in our lives an ability to live for God’s glory instead of living the self-centered, shallow lives that naturally mark the human condition.  We were created for something far greater than ourselves.  Only as we realize that living for God’s glory is the only way to experience true joy and fulfillment in life, will we find satisfaction.  Only the power of God’s Spirit can transform us from being self-focused to being motivated by God’s eternal glory.  Our ultimate aim is that the glory of God would be evidenced through the Church for eternity.  This is not just an individual purpose or a short-term goal.  This is a corporate and eternal proposition.  We may have personal and temporary struggles, but the Spirit of God is at work and His power will allow us as a Church to bring glory to the Trinity for eternity.  

 

APPLICATION: Pray for faith, love, and power to be evident in our lives and the lives of all believers everywhere.  Don’t allow the doubt of unpleasant circumstances or failures in our lives to distract us from the work that God is doing in our inner being.  Never doubt the love of God for us and use that as a catalyst for loving Him and others.  Trust and depend upon His power to allow us to live for God’s glory instead of our own.

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