Ephesians 3 Verses 14 to 21 The Prayer of Praise February 9, 2025 Lesson 6

Ephesians 3 Verses 14 to 21 The Prayer of Praise February 9, 2025 Lesson 6 The Immeasurable Love of Christ Class Presentation Notes AAAAAA

Background Scripture:

• Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• Romans 8:31–39 (NASB95)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies,

34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 Just as it is written,

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;

WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Main Idea:

• Petition enters heaven, and it is received. Praise enters Heaven and it remains.

Study Aim:

• To understand that the key to having your prayer answered is to learn how to praise God for your prayer when you pray for His will to be done.

Create Interest:

• This is the great prayer of Paul for the church and the believer. It is probably the second most important prayer in all the Bible, ranking second only to the Lord’s model prayer (Mt. 6:9–13). Certainly, this is the reason God has had it included in Holy Scripture. Note the detail as it is read and studied. Its focus is a mature believer in Christ.

o The prayer (vv. 14–15).

o Request 1: for strength, power within—by God’s Spirit (v. 16).

o Request 2: for Christ to rule and reign within, take complete control—by faith (v. 17).

o Request 3: for love (v. 17).

o Request 4: for understanding—a full understanding of spiritual things (v. 18).

o Request 5: to know the love of Christ (v. 19).

o Request 6: for the fullness of God (v. 19).

o Conclusion: the encouragement to pray and trust God for the answer (vv. 20–21).

What is your favorite posture for praying? Why?

How often do you pray for those you love?

Lesson in Historical Context:

• In Ephesians 1:1–3:13 Paul gives the basic truths about the Christian life—who we are in Christ and the great, unlimited resources we have in Him. From 3:14 through the rest of the letter we are exhorted to claim and to live by those truths.

• In 3:14–21 Paul gives his prayer requests on behalf of the Ephesian believers. In sharing his requests with them, he urges them to live in the full power and effectiveness of “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (1:3). This second prayer in the book of Ephesians (see also 1:15–23) is a prayer for enablement. The first prayer is for believers to know their power; the second is for them to use it.

Bible Study:

Ephesians 3:14 (NASB)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

• Paul was concerned about telling his people who they are in Christ and then urging them to live like it.

o In other words, pastors help members of the flock understand their spiritual power, and then he motivates them to use it. Like the apostle Paul in this letter, the faithful pastor seeks to bring his people to the place of maximum power as full-functioning Christians.

• The prayer of Ephesians 3:14–21 is a plea to God that also serves as a plea to believers. Paul pleads with believers to respond to God’s sovereign provision, and he pleads with God to motivate them to do it—because God not only is the provider but is also the initiator and motivator.

• As in his earlier appeal, Paul prays that the Ephesians will have a deeper appreciation for the character and power of God and a better understanding of God’s work of redemption in Christ and by the Spirit. The prayer in Eph 1 centered on the future inheritance of the saints, based on the current reality that Christ has been raised and has defeated all heavenly powers in this age and the next.

• The prayer before us in Eph 3 builds on the earlier picture of redemption, and now Paul focuses on the experience of Christ’s love. Paul requests that God’s power be directed to the grounding and growing of the Ephesians’ inner self, that God’s fullness would fill them to overflowing.

• The first thing to notice here is Paul’s posture. Kneeling was not common for the Jews. The typical position was one of standing, as we see today at the Wailing Wall.

o Whenever someone is kneeling in prayer in the Bible, he is indicating deep humility and deep emotion before God. I do not want to suggest that this is the only correct posture for prayer, for we have people praying in all kinds of postures in the Bible, but I do want to emphasize the heart of the idea of kneeling.

o As we consider this posture, I think we can draw application about three things: gratitude, desperation, and confidence.

• The context shows us that Paul is praying with humble gratitude to God. I draw this from “For this reason” (v. 14). What prompted this prayer? What was the “reason”? Paul began this prayer in verse 1 it seems, but he took a holy rabbit trail to talk about his calling in 3:2–13. So, what preceded 3:1?

o Two chapters of God’s amazing grace preceded chapter 3.

 Gratitude for the grace of God in chapters 1–2 prompted this prayer in chapter 3.

 Paul was stunned at God’s grace in saving sinners individually and at His grace in uniting them corporately.

• When we reflect on God’s amazing grace, it should lead us humbly (kneel if we can) pray before God, who called us, adopted us, redeemed us, and forgave us.

o Christ died on our behalf.

o The Spirit has sealed us.

o God has brought us from death to life, has raised us with Christ, and has seated us with Christ.

o God has made us part of His church.

o In light of these realities, Paul says, “For this reason I kneel before the Father.” And so should we.

Thought to Soak On:

• Prayer is not striking a piñata or asking God for goodies. It begins and ends in worship. That is what Paul is doing here. He is worshiping.

o Paul knew God had taken the initiative to call sinners to Himself to form a people, and that made him fall to his knees.

o Paul loved God because God had called sinners to Himself, dressed them in the robes of Christ, and said there are no second-class citizens in the kingdom.

o Did He do this because they were good? No. God did it because He is good.

• When was the last time we bowed in humble gratitude to God like this? The psalmist captures this spirit:

o Come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture,

the sheep under His care. (Ps 95:6–7) Click here and listen.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEK9u51ofZE

• Let us kneel before the Lord God our Maker, or as Paul says here, “Before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” (vv. 14b–15). Let us kneel before the sovereign Father overall and worship Him for His grace and glory.

When Paul prayed, what posture did he assume? (3:14)

Ephesians 3:15 (NASB)

15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

• Paul was not saying that God is the Father of all but rather that He is the Prototype of all fatherhood. “Father” is derived from God, not man. He is the first Father, the only One with “underived” fatherhood. Thus, every human family derives its name, that is, exists as a family with a father, because of Him. It is to this Father that Paul prayed.

• Paul is saying that the young Christians may discover the heart of what it means to be a Christian. It means knowing God as the all-loving, all-powerful father; it means putting down roots into that love—or, changing the picture, having that love as the rock-solid foundation for every aspect of one’s life. It means having that love turn into a well-directed and effective energy in one’s personal life. And it means the deep and powerful knowing and loving of God into which the Christian is invited to enter.

Thoughts to Soak On:

• The Greek word translated “family” here is patria, which in this case would be better translated “fatherhood.” The link to the word “Father” (pater) in the preceding verse would be clearer. The sentence in verses 14–15 can be rendered, “I bow my knees to the Father, from whom all fatherhood takes its name.”

• All fatherhood is derived from God the Father. He is the Father of fathers, the ultimate Father, the one whose fatherhood is the pattern for all fatherhood.

o All fatherhood should resemble His, for His fatherhood is perfect. The closer the resemblance, the more human fatherhood expresses fatherhood as God intended it to be.

• Some of us have had fathers who distorted or destroyed the whole concept of fatherhood. Some of us have had very good fathers. Some of us have never known our human fathers. Some of us are fathers ourselves and need to conform our fatherhood not to the writings of behavioral psychologists, but to the Father after whom all fatherhood is named.

• In any case, all of us in God’s family are eternally ennobled by the acceptance of our glorious Father on high. Whether our human fathers were good, bad, or indifferent, we can come to that perfect Father and revel in His marvelous fatherhood.

To whom is God the Father? (3:14–15)

Request #1: for strength, power from the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 3:16 (NASB)

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

• The first request is for strength and power in the inner man, for the strength and power of God’s Spirit, for His presence and power in our lives. Note several facts.

o The word strengthen (krataiothenai) means to be made strong, tough, enduring. It means to have energy or force; to act, endure, or resist.

o The word power (dunamei) means force, energy, might.

 The believer needs to be strengthened with power in the “inner man,” that is, in the deepest part of his being, in his soul, in his heart, in his spirit—in the spirit that God has renewed. It is there that he must be strengthened with power. Why?

Because it is the only way he can overcome the flesh with all its weakness. It is the only way he can conquer challenges like:

o temptation and sin

o trouble and trials

o disease and suffering

o grief and death

o selfishness and worldliness

o problems and circumstances

• This is the only way the believer can ever lay claim to all the blessings of God and fulfill God’s eternal purpose for his life (Chapter 1–3). The believer must be strengthened with power to break loose from the flesh and focus upon the eternal promises and call of God. Simply stated, his spirit must be strong and powerful and to be and do everything God desires for the person.

• Note the source of such conquering strength and power: the Holy Spirit of God.

o And note that He dwells within the inner man of the believer. There is no other source that has enough power to conquer the severe trials and corruptions of this world, all of which result in death and decay. the great prayer of the believer is that God would grant to His church—to all the believers of the world …

• Note one other thing: How do we know God will hear and answer our prayer? How do we know that God will give us this strength and power?

o Because of what this verse says: “… according to the riches of his glory.” The “riches of God’s glory” is seen in Jesus Christ. It is God’s glorious grace and salvation revealed in Christ. God loves us! That is the reason He will strengthen us with might by His Spirit. (See Ep. 2:4–10.)

 Acts 1:8 (KJV)

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

What did Paul request of the Father? (3:16)

Through whom would the Ephesians be empowered? (3:16)

Request #2: for Christ to rule and reign within, take complete control by faith

Ephesians 3:17 (NASB)

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

• The second request is for Christ to dwell, that is, rule and reign, in our hearts—by faith. The word “dwell” means a permanent not a temporary dwelling.

• In Matthew 23:21 the verb depicts God “dwelling in” the temple, though Acts 7:48 (NIV) proclaims that “the Most High does not live in houses made by men” (see also Acts 17:24). It means to take up permanent residence; to live in a home; to enter, settle down, and be at home. So………..

o When a person accepts Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, Christ enters that life and lives in a permanent sense within the believer.

o The prayer is asking that the believer would be aware and conscious of Christ within his heart—always aware and conscious that Christ has taken up residence within. And….

o that the believer would let Christ control and guide his life—permanently and constantly—because Christ is at home in his heart.

• It is the presence of Christ within that motivates the believer to follow Christ. The more the believer is aware and conscious of Christ within him, the more he will walk and live in Christ.

• Note that Christ dwells within the believer by faith. Biblical faith always means the belief and commitment of a person’s life to truth and reality; it is a belief and commitment to fact.

Request #3: for love

• We should earnestly desire that good affections may be fixed in us, that we may be rooted and grounded in love. Some understand it of their being settled and established in the sense of God’s love to them, which would inspire them with greater passions of holy love to Him, and to one another.

o And how very desirable is it to have a settled fixed sense of the love of God and Christ to our souls, to be able to say with the apostle at all times, He has loved me! Now the best way to attain this is to be careful that we maintain a constant love to God in our souls; this will be the evidence of the love of God to us. We love him, because he first loved us.

 John 14:20 (NASB)

20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

 John 17:23 (NASB)

23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Thoughts to Soak On:

• If we had the opportunity to ask Paul for what purpose he prayed that Christ would control and strengthen his readers, I think he would reply that he wanted them to be strengthened to love. For in the new and reconciled humanity which Christ is creating love is the pre-eminent virtue. The new humanity is God’s family, whose members are brothers and sisters, who love their Father and love each other. Or should…………

o They need the power of the Spirit’s might and of Christ’s indwelling to enable them to love each other, especially across the deep racial and cultural divide which previously had separated them.

• To express how fundamental Paul longs for their love to be, he joins two metaphors (one botanical, the other architectural), both of which emphasize depth as opposed to superficiality. These Christians are to be rooted and grounded, or to have ‘deep roots and firm foundations’ (NEB).

o Thus, Paul likens them first to a well-rooted tree, and then to a well-built house. In both cases the unseen cause of their stability will be the same: love.

o Love is to be the soil in which their life is to be rooted; love is to be the foundation on which their life is built. One might say that their love is to be of both a ‘radical’ and a ‘fundamental’ nature in their experience, for these English words refer to our roots and our foundations.

How would Christ dwell in the believers’ hearts? (3:17)

Request 4: for understanding—a full understanding of spiritual things

Ephesians 3:18 (NASB)

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

• Can we really comprehend the width and length and depth and height of God’s love?

• “may be able to comprehend” a full understanding of spiritual things. It is crucial that the believer grasp God’s eternal plan and glorious salvation—all that has been covered in chapters one through three:

o the great blessings of God (Ep. 1:3–14).

o the knowledge and power of God (Ep. 1:15–23).

o the mercy and grace of God (Ep. 2:1–10).

o the reconciliation and peace wrought by Christ (Ep. 2:11–18).

o the church: who and what it is (Ep. 2:19–22).

o the new body of people God is forming, that is, the great mystery of Christ (Ep. 3:1–13).

• God has done so much for the believer that it cannot be measured. Therefore, believers must pray and seek God to increase their understanding and the understanding of all saints.

o To come to any understanding of the dimensions of God’s love, we must come to the cross. The cross pointed in four ways because …

 God’s love is wide enough to include every person.

 God’s love is long enough to last through all eternity.

 God’s love is deep enough to reach the worst sinner.

 God’s love is high enough to take us to heaven Let’s elaborate….

• The breadth of God’s love is encompassing, wide enough to save any who come to Him for salvation, whether it is a Jew or a Gentile. His love is broad enough to save any sinner of any race, color, or tongue.

• The length of God’s love speaks is enduring for He never stops loving His children. Romans 8:35 states, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” His length is demonstrated by the fact that His plan of salvation was made before the foundation of the world, and it will last for all eternity. The length of His love is so great that He removes our sins as far as the East is from the West.

• The depth of God’s love is exclusive of any bottom. It cannot be reached. This is seen by the fact of the great lengths He went to save us by giving His Son Jesus to die for our sins. Because of His love for sinners, the Lord reaches down to those in the lowest levels of depravity to redeem them and raise them up.

• The height of God’s love is elevated all the way to Heaven, His home. We enjoy spiritual blessings in high places because we are in Christ. His love is so high that He can lift every believer into the presence of God.

o All believers must work toward comprehending the breadth and length and depth and height of what God has done for them and the church. The more believers comprehend, the more they will surrender their lives to Christ and serve Him.

What did Paul want the Ephesians to grasp? (3:18)

Thought to soak On:

• The more we understand what God has done for us, the more we will reach out to take the love and salvation of God to a world reeling under the plight of evil, poverty, and death.

• The strengthening of our inner man by the Spirit allows us to let Christ be at home in all the rooms of our heart. Letting Christ be at home in all the rooms of our heart enables us to know the vast dimensions of the love of Christ.

• We need foundations for our experiences and relationships. We can’t handle life unless we are assured that God loves us and has accepted us, that we are dear to him, precious to him.

o When we know this, then we know who we are. Then we have a sense of well-being. Love gives us that.

o This sense of identity and being loved gives us the ability to relate to others, so we can comprehend with all the saints the magnitude of the love of God.

o Knowing God’s love is not an individual accomplishment. It occurs only in the loving context of the church and involves the whole church, not isolated individuals.

Request 5: to know the love of Christ (v. 19).

Ephesians 3:19 (NASB)

19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

• Paul’s request then is that the church and each of its members know in a personal, emotional way, as well as an intellectual one, this “love of Christ” which surpasses knowledge.

o We measure this love only with cosmic dimensions and understand it only by seeing it expressed at its deepest, most intimate level in the cross. Praying that we can know it, we ultimately confess that it is beyond our full comprehension.

 John 10:17-18 (NASB)

17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.

18 “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

 John 15:13 (NASB)

13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

 Romans 5:8-10 (NASB)

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Request 6: for the fullness of God (v. 19).

• The final request is a prayer for “that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God”.

• The inner strength of the Holy Spirit, which is a gift which God gives to those who pray for it, leads to the indwelling of Christ, which leads to abundant love, which leads to God’s fullness in us.

o That is to be satisfied with God. We all want to be filled up to the fullness of God. The only way it will happen is if we pursue him.

 If we pray for him to strengthen us with power by His spirit by the inner man, Christ will be at home in each room of our heart.

If Christ occupies our heart, we will have a confidence and security in His love for us.

 If we have such confidence and security, we are able to love others.

This ability to know God’s love and thus love others, leads to the fullness of God in us.

His presence, His power, His love, His life inhabits us.

We participate fully in his kingdom on earth.

o John 14:16,23 (NASB)

16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

• That is Paul’s prayer for you.

Why did Paul want the Ephesians to be rooted and established in love? (3:17–19)

What does the love of Christ surpass? (3:19)

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion: the encouragement to pray and trust God for the answer (vv. 20–21).

• After contemplating such a marvelous spiritual experience, it is no wonder Paul bursts forth in a doxology, a fitting benediction to such a prayer. Note again the trinitarian emphasis in this benediction: Paul prays to God the Father, concerning the indwelling power of God the Spirit, made available through God the Son.

• Perhaps the best way for us to grasp some of the greatness of this doxology is to look at it in outlined form:

• In verse 3:20: Paul ends his discussion of the mystery of the church and his prayer for power with a spontaneous burst of praise to God. His prayer forms a great doxology to the Lord for his power and glory.

• We see three things emerging from this doxology.

o First, we see the sovereignty of God. God in his sovereignty may choose to do whatever he wills. What he can do far exceeds anything we can dream or imagine, must less ask for. God’s sovereignty means our prayers can be answered far beyond even what we ask assuming they are in His will.

o Second, we see the omnipotence of God. God manifests his great power in many ways. Most obviously, he manifested it when he created the world. He used that kind of power to bring Jews and Gentiles together and form them into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. The power we see in creation and in the church is the power of God that works in us in the love relationship of prayer.

o Third we see His glory (Verse 3:21). The power God has manifested and continues to display has a purpose—bringing glory to him.

 All that God has done is to resound to His glory forever. God has done things in the church among His people and in Christ Jesus where His people now abide and where God completed His plan of salvation.

 As we see and recognize God’s work in the church and in Christ, we respond in praise and worship, giving God glory.

Thoughts to Soak on as we go our way:

• Many Christians have been cut off from their source of power. Unbelief, unconfessed sin, careless living, worldliness in action or attitude—all of these can rob us of power.

o A Christian robbed of power cannot be used effectively by God. “Without Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

• Why does God share His power with us? So that we can build great churches for our own glory? So that we can boast of our own achievements? No!

o “To Him be glory in the church!” The Spirit of God was given to glorify the Son of God (John 16:14). The church on earth is here to glorify the Son of God. If our motive is to glorify God by building His church, then God will share His power with us.

 The power of the Spirit is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

• But the amazing thing is that what we do in His power today will glorify Christ “throughout all ages, world without end” (Eph. 3:21). The church’s greatest ministry is yet to come. What we do here and now is preparing us for the eternal ages, when we shall glorify Christ forever.

• He is able to do all—above all—abundantly above all—exceedingly abundantly above all!

• Get your hands on your spiritual wealth by opening your heart to the Holy Spirit and praying with Paul for strength for the inner man … for a new depth of love … for spiritual apprehension … and for spiritual fullness.

o “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2).

How did Paul’s doxology serve as a fitting conclusion to the doctrine he had presented in the first three chapters of this letter? (3:20–21)

What is your understanding of Christ’s love for you?