More: A Call for MORE Spiritual Power

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

14 For this reason I kneelak before the FatherD 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the richesal of his glory,am to be strengthened with poweran in your inner beingao through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,ap 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is ableaq to do above and beyond all that we ask or thinkar according to the poweras that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.at

Session Three

“A Prayer for MORE Spiritual Power”

Ephesians 3:14-21

>The prayer actually began in 3:1, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-”

>He picks up the prayer and resumes it here, praying for MORE spiritual power in the Ephesian believers.

>Pattern Observation: Paul prays, teaches/writes about spiritual truths, then prays again. This is a pattern throughout the early part of this letter. Chapters 1-3 lay the foundation for the practical truth and teaching in 4-6: {1-3: Spiritual foundation, identity; 4-6: Practical application, active living}

Paul begins praying, “For this reason...”

>For what reason? Look back at ch. 2: Christ came for all people and to unite all people. Look forward to ch. 3:1-13: Paul was given revelation that not all people had at the present time, and he was called and entrusted to share it with the Gentiles. Revelation: GOSPEL.

Why does Paul pray? Let’s examine together a few purposes for Paul’s prayer:

**Notice: Paul prays purposefully, intently, expectantly. He prays towards results.

Paul prayed for God to grant the Ephesian believers a few things:

a. To be strengthened [according to God’s riches of glory, not their own]

b. To be indwelt with Christ’s presence [in their hearts through faith]

Paul Prayed for the Ephesian believers to be enabled:

a. To comprehend (grasp) God’s love that is of great depth

b. To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge [for the purpose that they may be filled with the fullness of God]

<vv. 20-21> Parenthetically, Paul concludes this section giving glory to God, “who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think “ (exceedingly, abundantly more [NKJV, ASV])

>Notice, then, the book end (inclusio): Paul begins in 1:17 with his first prayer, praying to “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father” and he concludes this first section of the letter with a praise to “Him [God] who is able to do above and beyond...”

CONCLUSION: We serve the God is all about MORE. He is bigger than we can fathom, and He is able to do more than we can fathom. I titled this message, “A Prayer for MORE spiritual Power” because it is when this prayer of Paul is fulfilled in both the lives of the Ephesian believers and our own lives that we will truly have more spiritual power. Breakdown:

When God grants us His strength and the indwelling of Christ, then we will have MORE spiritual power

When God enables us to grasp His love and Christ’s love, we will then be filled with the fullness of God, possessing not only MORE spiritual power, but ALL spiritual power.

Now, to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us- to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN.