Ephesians 3:14-21

What is Your prayer for the New Year?

• Health

• Wealth

• Success

• Friends

• Talent

• Travel

• Love

Do Your Prayers include strength in

the Inner Man?

What should we ask for?

Paul’s prayer for the believers of Laodicea, and my prayer for all of us:

That God will empower us through his Spirit to comprehend His love so that we may be filled

with His fullness.

Not that we love God more, but that we comprehend just how much God loves us.

God Has Blessed Us because he loves us

• Blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

• He chose us In Christ before the foundation of the world.

• He predestined us for adoption as sons.

• He redeemed us and forgave us of our sins.

• He has made know to us the mystery of his will.

• He sealed us with the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance.

• He delivered us from the prince of the power of the air and the lust of our flesh.

• We were dead. He made us alive together with Christ.

• He has seated us with Christ in heavenly places.

• He saved us by His grace, it is a gift.

• As Gentiles we were far off, but God brought us near through Christ.

• He has made us partners with the Jews in the promises yet to come.

• Christ has been made our peace.

• He has made Jew and Gentile one man in Christ.

• He is building us into a temple.

In the first three chapters of Ephesians it is about what God, through his love toward us, has done for us through Christ. It’s not about what

we do, but about what He has done.

Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV)

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and

on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be

strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in

your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that

surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we

ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever

and ever. Amen.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

Reverence: Who He is, what he’s done

• Bowing the Knees -homage, acknowledging sovereignty.

• Father πατέρα, family πατριὰ

• Naming implies that God has an interest in and has authority over.

Power in the Inner Man

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

• Resource of power-“riches of his glory” unlimited radiance , splendor, perfection of his character, attributes and ability.

• Empower us through his Spirit in our inner man.

Rooted in God’s Love

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

• “that Christ may dwell in your hearts” not a purpose clause, but runs parallel to the works of the Spirit’s empowerment.

• As faith increases Christ becomes more central to ones personality, thoughts, will, emotions,

• Rooted (botanical), grounded (architectural).

• God’s love is the soil.

Comprehend the magnitude of the love of God and Christ

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

• “Strength” – divine enablement.

• Comprehended only by divine enablement through the Spirit.

– Its expanse is greater than the senses can take us.

– This Love surpasses knowledge.

Paul is not asking us to love Christ more.

He’s praying that God will strengthen our inward being to enable us to comprehend

the immensity of God’s love for us in Christ.

Result:

Filled with God’s fullness

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

When we comprehend His Love we will be

“filled with all the fullness of God”.

God in all his perfection, including his presence, life,

and power.

Resource: “riches of his glory” - radiance , splendor, perfection of his character,

attributes, power

This Power is already at work

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

• God can do far more in us than we can imagine, think or ask.

• His power is already at work in us.

Starts with His glory, Ends with His glory

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

His glory (radiance , splendor, perfection of his

character, attributes, power) is on display in us

(church - community of believers) and in Christ in every generation, forever.