In the book of Ephesians Paul has two remarkable prayers. He is demonstrating his need for the power of the Holy Spirit in both of these prayers as he writes his letter not only to the church in Ephesus but to us in our day. This book is considered a "circular letter" that was to be passed on to the other churches near Ephesus. The Holy Spirit has shared it with every generation since then as well.
In chapter one Paul prays for the faith of the Ephesians. In v.15-23, he describes many areas in which we can grow in Spiritual strength. In v.17 we read, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him." This is profound because Paul is praying for something very practical and valuable from something that is often abstract. He prays for the wisdom of God from the knowledge of God, which is sometimes considered very intangible. Yet he connects the two by showing we need to have "the eyes of your hearts enlightened." Paul is praying that God would open their minds to the knowledge of God by opening the "eyes of their hearts" first.
The benefits of this wisdom are that it helps us know, 1) the hope to which He calls us, 2) the riches of his glorious inheritance, and 3) the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. This is all according to the working of "his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." The power of the Holy Spirit is not only able to raise us to eternal life when we die, but He is also able to give us wisdom in this life to know the hope, the inheritance, and the power of God in the here and now. This is totally awesome to put it in contemporary jargon.
Also in chapter three Paul prays a very similar prayer for Spiritual strengthening. Beginning in v.14 he bows before the Father and prays that "according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." This is also amazing because Paul acknowledges "the riches of glory" in Christ. God is overwhelmingly rich in his glory, and according to God's glory, Paul prays that we may be strengthened in our inner being. It's from God's glory that he prays and it is to God's glory he prays for us that we may be strengthened for we cannot do anything on our own. Also, Paul prays that God would grant it to happen. Only God can strengthen us Spiritually and it's not a given, we must pray for it. It must be granted by God's decree.
Paul continues to ask God in v.18 that we would have the strength to comprehend "the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." This is big, it is past our natural abilities to know. We can only comprehend the magnitude of who God is and what he has done through the revelation of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. And, this in turn will yield a great result, for Paul describes, "that you may be filled with the fullness of God." What could be better than to have the strength of the Holy Spirit and then to be filled with the "fullness of God." When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are filled with God. And this happens through being filled with the Word of God. And, blessedly, we then cannot be filled with ourselves.
The strength of God comes through the Spirit of God and from the Word of God and prayer. These are two remarkable prayers that have empowered the saints to understand the love of Christ, which we know as the gospel. Such Christians have supernatural power and they care not for themselves directly but for the glory of the God who has redeemed them. They are filled with the Spirit of Christ as they encounter the love of God "that surpasses knowledge." This is another awesome prayer, and I have only encountered this type of Spiritual fulfillment on a few occasions in my life. Yet this is what I seek to live in faith every day. My faith is empowered by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
FAITH TODAY: Ephesians 3:16-17, "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."
In chapter one Paul prays for the faith of the Ephesians. In v.15-23, he describes many areas in which we can grow in Spiritual strength. In v.17 we read, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him." This is profound because Paul is praying for something very practical and valuable from something that is often abstract. He prays for the wisdom of God from the knowledge of God, which is sometimes considered very intangible. Yet he connects the two by showing we need to have "the eyes of your hearts enlightened." Paul is praying that God would open their minds to the knowledge of God by opening the "eyes of their hearts" first.
The benefits of this wisdom are that it helps us know, 1) the hope to which He calls us, 2) the riches of his glorious inheritance, and 3) the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. This is all according to the working of "his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." The power of the Holy Spirit is not only able to raise us to eternal life when we die, but He is also able to give us wisdom in this life to know the hope, the inheritance, and the power of God in the here and now. This is totally awesome to put it in contemporary jargon.
Also in chapter three Paul prays a very similar prayer for Spiritual strengthening. Beginning in v.14 he bows before the Father and prays that "according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." This is also amazing because Paul acknowledges "the riches of glory" in Christ. God is overwhelmingly rich in his glory, and according to God's glory, Paul prays that we may be strengthened in our inner being. It's from God's glory that he prays and it is to God's glory he prays for us that we may be strengthened for we cannot do anything on our own. Also, Paul prays that God would grant it to happen. Only God can strengthen us Spiritually and it's not a given, we must pray for it. It must be granted by God's decree.
Paul continues to ask God in v.18 that we would have the strength to comprehend "the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." This is big, it is past our natural abilities to know. We can only comprehend the magnitude of who God is and what he has done through the revelation of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. And, this in turn will yield a great result, for Paul describes, "that you may be filled with the fullness of God." What could be better than to have the strength of the Holy Spirit and then to be filled with the "fullness of God." When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are filled with God. And this happens through being filled with the Word of God. And, blessedly, we then cannot be filled with ourselves.
The strength of God comes through the Spirit of God and from the Word of God and prayer. These are two remarkable prayers that have empowered the saints to understand the love of Christ, which we know as the gospel. Such Christians have supernatural power and they care not for themselves directly but for the glory of the God who has redeemed them. They are filled with the Spirit of Christ as they encounter the love of God "that surpasses knowledge." This is another awesome prayer, and I have only encountered this type of Spiritual fulfillment on a few occasions in my life. Yet this is what I seek to live in faith every day. My faith is empowered by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
FAITH TODAY: Ephesians 3:16-17, "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."
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