Paul concludes the first half of the book of Ephesians with a powerful prayer. It is a prayer we should pray for ourselves and others often. Join us as we meditate on the 4 principal parts of this prayer: the power of the Spirit, the love of Christ, the fulness of God, and the glory of God.
Teaching Notes:
Paul’s Prayer For The Power Of The Spirit
Ephesians 3:14-21
Intro: In 1540 Martin Luther’s friend and assistant, Friedrich Myconius, became sick and was expected to die within a short time. From his bed he wrote a tender farewell letter to Luther. When Luther received the message, he immediately sent back a reply: “I command thee in the name of God to live because I still have need of thee in the work of reforming the church… The Lord will never let me hear that thou art dead, but will permit thee to survive me. For this I am praying, this is my will, and my will be done, because I seek only to glorify the name of God.” What a bold prayer! It seems even a bit arrogant to our modern ears. Was it presumptuous? Evidently, God honored this prayer, because although Myconius had already lost the ability to speak, he soon recovered, and lived 6 more years, outliving Luther by 2 months!
In one of his hymns, John Newton wrote, “Thou art coming to a king – Large petitions with thee bring – For His grace and power are such – None can ever ask too much.”
Paul was a great man of faith and prayer. In this section, he is asking for things so big and vast, that it seems presumptuous to ask for them. This is Paul’s 2nd prayer in Ephesians. His first prayer is in Eph. 1:15-23. There Paul prays for their Enlightenment. Here he prays for their enablement. First Paul describes their spiritual possessions in Christ (1:4-14) then prays that they would comprehend them. Now he describes their spiritual position in Christ (2:1-22), then prays for them. Paul is coming to the end of the 1st Great Section in Ephesians. Ephesians is divided into 2 parts: Doctrinal and Practical (chapters 1-3, and 4-6). As Paul winds down the doctrinal section of his letter, he prays that the Ephesians would appropriate the incredible riches he has just described.
Now, before we dig into the meat of this prayer, we need to see a couple of things. First, the posture Paul assumed in prayer. For this reason I bow my knees: for what reason? Remember that 3:1-13 are a parenthesis or bunny trail in Paul’s flow of thought. Paul is thinking of what he had explained to them in 2:11-22 – the great spiritual riches that now flow to believing Gentiles. They have been brought into God’s covenant family, with all the rights and privileges of any believing Jew. Now Paul is going to pray that they not only know these great privileges, but also live in the enjoyment of them. Notice that Paul has bowed his knees. Often in Scripture, we see people standing (Mk.11:25, Luke 18:11,13). But here Paul is bowing. I like that! There is something about bowing on our knees that puts us in a humble, reverent, submissive frame of heart and mind. In my own prayer life, I like to kneel. Jesus knelt in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41). Stephen knelt in prayer before he was stoned to death (Acts 7:60). Peter knelt in prayer before raising Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:40). Paul knelt in prayer with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:36).
2nd, let’s look at the Person Paul addresses in prayer. The Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. There are 2 possible translations of this phrase – either “every family” or “the whole family.” “From whom the whole family derives its name” is a much better translation, when you consider the context. In 3:18 Paul prays that they may be able to comprehend with all the saints… In other words Paul is praying to God who is the Father of all believers, Jew or Gentile, whether they are on earth, or have died and are now in heaven. Paul’s emphasis in 2:11-3:13 has been on the unity of the body, and the sameness or privileges to both believing Jews and Gentiles. It is from God that we derive our name. In other words, we derive our identity from our relationship to God as our Father. The idea is that because God has made us all equal sons and brothers with awesome spiritual privileges, Paul prays that we might know and live in the enjoyment of them.
Now, let’s take some time meditating on the 3 Petitions found in this prayer.
1. The Power of the Spirit:
- Notice first the Agent of This Power: the Holy Spirit. There is a clear biblical connection between “The Spirit” and “power.”
Acts 1:8, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
Luke 1:35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.
Acts 10:38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
1 Corinthians 2:4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
The Holy Spirit indwells us at regeneration, but continually strengthens us with power as we pray for it.
- Notice the Measure of This Power: “according to the riches of His glory.” Paul doesn’t pray that God would do these things out of the riches of His glory, but according to the riches of His glory. When a billionaire gives $100 to charity, he is giving out of his riches. When he gives a million dollars, he is giving according to His riches.
- Notice the Location of This Power: “in the inner man.” Paul uses this expression in 2 Cor.4:16 “though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” The outer man is the body; the inner man is the soul. Though our bodies are growing old, our hair is balding and turning gray, and wrinkles are appearing on our faces, yet our souls are growing stronger and more vibrant every day that we walk with Jesus. These fresh supplies of power are communicated to our souls.
- Notice the Result of This Power: “that Christ would dwell in your hearts through faith.” The truth is, that every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In fact, if the Holy Spirit does not dwell in a person, that person is not saved (Rom.8:9; 2Cor.13:5). The word “dwell” means “dwell down”, or “settle down and be completely at home in your hearts.” It’s the difference between the way you feel in your own home and somebody else’s home. Since you don’t know what is expected of you, you don’t feel completely comfortable. This is not a question of Christ being in a believer, but Him being at home there. It is not a question of Christ indwelling in salvation, but in sanctification. Until the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will not be comfortable dwelling there. Have you given the Holy Spirit access to every room of your life, to clean out the garbage? Notice the power Paul is praying for is not for healing or miracles. It is for deeper fellowship and personal holiness. So, what about the books and magazines you read, the TV, movies, and internet you view? What about the close friends you pursue? What about the hobbies and interests you enjoy? Is Christ comfortable and at home in all of them?
2. The Love Of Christ:
- Notice first the Preparation for Comprehending Christ’s Love: “being rooted and grounded in love.” Paul uses both an agricultural and an architectural metaphor here. Like trees, our lives send down roots deep into the soil of Christ’s love. Like a building, our lives have been solidly grounded in the cement of God’s love. Christ’s love provides the basis and the stability for our Christian lives. At our conversion we were rooted and grounded in love. We realize that because of His great love with which He loved us He made us alive together with Christ. We realize that “in love He predestined us to adoption as sons.” One of the first things we learn as a believer, is that it was God’s great love that moved Him to save us. This simple truth acts as roots and a foundation to stabilize us in our relationship to God.
- Notice the Process of Comprehending Christ’s Love: believers have already been rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, but Paul prays that they may be able to comprehend it. The problem is that the love of Christ surpasses knowledge (3:19)! Isn’t this contradictory? No! Paul realizes that his readers must know something of this love, or they wouldn’t be Christians at all. But they must go on to grasp it more and more fully. Christian maturity is not learning something that is brand new, but going deeper with what he already knows. Some believers are always wanting to hear something new. The truth is that what we really need is to meditate more deeply on the truths we already know.
- Notice the Persons We Are To Comprehend Christ’s Love With: “all the saints.” What Paul is praying for can only be done in community. We need one another to grasp Christ’s love. That’s the beauty of studying God’s Word together as a community, a church family. We learn with and from one another, as God gives insights to each one. We will not be able to comprehend Christ’s love if we live as solitary saints.
- Notice the Dimensions of Christ’s Love: “breadth and length and height and depth.” These dimensions show the vastness of Christ’s love. Breadth: Jew and Gentile, all tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations of the world. All the elect of all the ages in all places. Length: this stretches from eternity past to eternity future. Christ has loved His elect from before the foundation of the world (1:4-5). His love for them will endure throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. If you are a Christian, there has never been a time Christ did not love you and think of you! We are not worthy of a moment’s love and thought from Christ. Height: He raised us from the dunghill to sit with princes. He raised us from the pit of hell to sit on thrones in glory! Depth: Christ descended from the highest place to the lowest place. He lowered Himself to come into this world of sin, wickedness and misery. He lowered Himself still to the death of the cross. How deep did He go!
3. The Fulness Of God: this request for the Ephesians is absolutely incredible. How do you even explain it? Where do you begin? Paul isn’t praying that we become God. He prays that we be filled with God. This is like going down to the beach and filling a bottle with the ocean. Paul is praying that they be filled with as much of God as their nature will allow. First he prays that their capacity for God would expand by being strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inner man, and then that they would comprehend the limitless love of Christ. Then Paul prays that God would fill up every part of their soul until it overflows. In John 1:16 we read, “For of His [Christ’s] fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” The fullness of God dwells in Jesus (Col.2:9). The more He dwells in our hearts by faith, the more we are filled with the fullness of God. To be filled with something is to be dominated by that thing. When a person is filled with rage, he is dominated by rage. Are you dominated by God? This is real living – abundant living! Make this your prayer: “Lord, make the fullness of Christ fill me until I am like Him! Fill me with His love, power, mercy and holiness!”
4. The Glory Of God: Eph.3:20-21 are what we call a doxology. They are an ascription of glory to God. So, after Paul prays for the Ephesians, he praises God
- First, notice the Theme of Our Praise: “Him who is able; according to the power.” Paul has been asking for great things, unbelievable requests. Is he shooting too high? No! God is able to do them! Paul doesn’t just declare that God is able. He says God is able to do. Not only that, God is able to do what we ask or think. Moreover, God is able to do all that we ask or think. Further, God is able to do beyond all that we ask or think. More than that, God is able to do abundantly beyond all that all that we ask or think! But, how can we know He’s able? “According to the power that works within us.” Just look at what God has done in you and others (Eph.2:1-5). You were once dead in your sins, enslaved and dominated by the world, the flesh and the devil, and were by nature children of wrath. He resurrected your souls, and made you alive together with Christ. This is the greatest miracle in the universe! Of course, He can do anything else we ever ask or think!
- Notice the Persons Who Praise: “in the church.” The world won’t give Him any willing praise. But even they will be forced one day to confess that Christ is Lord. But the church is to be the place where God is glorified lovingly, willingly, voluntarily and joyfully. When the Church praises God it is like the football team carrying their coach off the field on their shoulders, or like a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall. In heaven, the beauty of God’s infinite perfections (His glory) will be our eternal theme.
- Notice the Matter of Praise: “in Christ Jesus.” The glory of God is connected with Jesus Christ and His work. All that God has done for us has been done “in Christ Jesus.” All the glory we give to God is for all that He has done “in Christ Jesus.” We can never rightly glorify God unless we exalt the person of Jesus Christ. Those that think they are glorifying God but neglect Jesus Christ are deceived. It is impossible! He is the glory of God!
- Notice the Duration of Praise: “to all generations forever and ever.” Each succeeding generation of the church on earth will glorify God for what He has done in Christ Jesus. As the church passes out of time and into eternity, they will continue glorifying God forever. God is that great! He is that magnificent! Let’s make sure we don’t lose out on praising Him now.
Questions For Personal Application:
1. Do You Pray Like Paul? Do your prayers have the same boldness and fervency? Do you pray about things like God’s power, His love, His fullness, or are you preoccupied with health and physical protection? Let’s learn from Paul as we gather to pray as a Church.
2. Can You Honestly Pray This Prayer For Yourself? If you do, you will have to pursue holiness. You’ll have to turn from all sin, because you can’t pray that Christ will be at home in your heart otherwise.
3. Do You Make The Thrust of Your Prayers the Glory of God? That’s the reason for our existence for all eternity. It’s the only real reason to be alive!
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