PAULS PRAYER FOR THE EPHESIANS
Ephesians 3:14-21
Morning Meditation 4/14/2014
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
Paul writes, "For this cause I bow my knees . . . That He would grant you . . ." This was no formal prayer. Let's notice the content of this prayer. He makes special requests and names them.
HE PRAYS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SPIRITUAL POWER
"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"
Who Paul's request is for is found in the words, "That He would grant you . . ." The "you" here is for all the Ephesians. He does not direct his prayer to pastors or deacons. The ones who will benefit from Paul's request are all the believers there.
This means that Spiritual power is available to all of us. Not only is it available to all of us, but it comes in answer to prayer. Next--
HE PRAYS THAT THE INNER MAN MIGHT BE STRENGTHENED
We live an overcoming life by inner strength not by physical strength. We need to identify with the inner man. This is the new creation within the believer. This new creation is brought out in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
The old creation is Adam and all his descendants; the new creation is what God does for believers at salvation. We were placed "in Christ" therefore we trace our linage back to Christ. He is the "Author and Finisher of our faith." Next--
HE PRAYS FOR THE STABILITY OF CHARACTER
This is brought out in the words, "Ye being rooted and grounded in love." The roots that run deep are the ones that weather the storm.. Inconsistencies in the lives of Christians are stumbling blocks in the way of the lost. Jesus has called us from a life of sin to a life of holiness. Love is ground in which we are rooted. Love is the identifying mark of the true Christian. John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Next, we see an--
HE PRAYS FOR AN ENLARGED COMPREHENSION
This is brought out in the words, "That ye may be able to comprehend with all saints . . . and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge."
There is no way to explain the love of God. It is incomprehensible. Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" When Paul examined this truth he burst out in ecstatic praise. This is an area where the believer experiences what he cannot explain. Next--
HE PRAYS FOR THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The filling of the Holy Spirit is essential for the believer. To be "filled with all the fulness of God" means that we are vessels. "A vessel" was a common Greek metaphor for "body" since Greeks thought of souls living temporarily in bodies."
What about our relationship to the Holy Spirit:
1. First of all, the Holy Spirit regenerates us; Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
2. Second, the Holy Spirit walks beside us; John 14:16, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;" The word "Comforter" translates "parakletos" and means, "called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid." The Lord has not left us to walk alone.
3. Third, the Holy Spirit fills us; John 7:37-39, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)"
4. Fourth, the Holy Spirit seals us; 2 Corinthians 1:22, "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." This is the seal of ownership.
What Paul prayed for the Ephesians is available to us. These are things that are essential to an effective witness.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
