Praying for Power Eph 3:14-21

That God might strengthen us with power through His Spirit in our inner being - 3:16-17a

Ephesians 1:18–19 NIV

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The Christian’s ultimate hope is the resurrection of the body. But until we receive that gift, it is our inner being that is strengthened by God’s power

Purpose

Ephesians 3:16–17 NIV

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

Notice the Trinitarian character of the prayer: Father (v 14), Spirit (v 16) Christ (v 17). Paul askes the Father that we might be strengthened through the Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith!

Dwell means to take up residence. The purpose is that the Christ might truly take up residence in the heart of His people.

Picture how a place is prepared to become a residence.

Galatians 4:19 NIV

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Initially when Christ moves into our lives, he finds our messed up lives, in need of urgent and needed repair. It takes a great deal of power to change us.

Read Col 3:5-17 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, whi…”

With what measure of resources is the prayer to be answered? How is this going to be supplied?

“out of his glorious riches” (Phil 4:19). This means everything that is coming to us from God in Christ Jesus. Everything we receive we receive in union with Christ

Praying for Power to grasp the limitless dimensions of the love of Christ - 3:17b-19

Ephesians 3:17–19 NIV

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Paul says the believers are already rooted and grounded in love, Eph 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,” Eph 1:3-6

Ephesians 1:3–6 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Yet, Paul states that these Christ’s followers do not adequately appreciate the love of Christ. He wants them to have the power to grasp just how great the love of Christ is. This is not a prayer to have more of Christ, or that we might love Christ more. It is a prayer that we might better grasp his love for us. cf Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Peter 1:8–9 NIV

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

How do we appreciate love?

Not limited to privately and personally experience Christ’s love, but to experienced this love In fellowship with others.

Specially experienced in the study and application of the Word of God.

Know love in all its dimensions - weight, height, length, depth, and surpassing knowledge.

Purpose of this prayer: Eph 3:19 “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

“To be all that God wants you to be”, or to be spiritually mature (Eph 4:12-13 “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Paul assumes we can’t be spiritually mature as we ought to be unless we receive power from God to enable us to grasp the limitless dimensions of the love of Christ.

This is why Paul prays that we might have power to grasp God’s wonderful love.

Application:

Changed life

Power to stand under criticisms.

Experienced with others. “It needs the whole people of God to understand the whole love of God.” John Stott.

Two Grounds for Paul’s Petitions

Paul’s prayers are in line with God’s purposes (look for “for this reason...”

Paul’s prayers are addressed to the heavenly Father (3:14-16; Mat 6:31-33)

A Final Word of Praise - 3:20-21

The God we pray to is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

The Ultimate Purpose of Paul’s prayer is that there be glory of God, in the church and in Christ Jesus. We must keep these in mind everytime we pray.