Paul prays for power

We've written before about the two prayers Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians. Today I want you to look closely at the second of those prayers, recorded in Ephesians 3:14-21.

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Notice in the prayer, there are several specific things Paul prays for these people.  1. We can be strengthened with power on the inside.  2. That we can know the indwelling of Christ.  3. That we can be rooted and established in love.  4. That we may be filled with God's fullness. 

The strengthening Paul is praying for will not be accomplished by lifting weights or running sprints. It's a power which is IN us and which has its origin in the glorious riches of God.  If there were ever a verse that shows the success of Christian living is not by our own ability or intellect, but rather from God's own riches given to us, this is it. And Paul also lets us know the key to having this inner power is prayer.  If you haven't asked God to strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, it's time. 

God wants to be real to you. That's why Paul continued to pray that we may know the indwelling of Christ, by faith. Further, God wants to dispel any and all doubts that detour our faith and the Bible is telling us here, he does that by residing inside us.  Not only that, his presence in us is the basis for us being "rooted and established in love. "

In the final segment of Paul's prayer, he prays that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. When we are that "filled with God," there is no room for anything more. Not our self-righteousness, not our pride, not even our elevated position or popularity. It calls for total and complete dependence and trust in God for us to be filled with his fullness. 

Paul closes by saying that God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or even imagine, through his power working in us.  It's no wonder that Paul final statement in this prayer is a statement that gives God the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. I pray that Paul's prayer will be answered in you and in me. 

<ronbwriting@yahoo.com>