For this reason I bow my knees before the
Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 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—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to
comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and
depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be
filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14–21).
He asks
that they be strengthened with power (v. 16). He asks that the target
of that strength be their “inner man.” That is the seat of intellectual and
spiritual life. It is the point of influence in our lives. Unfortunately, it is
often just the opposite. It is there we are most vulnerable. It has become a
point of feebleness rather than power in so many Christian’s lives. Paul asks
that their power be increased in those areas of faith, trust, humility, love,
patience, joy, and perseverance, all those things that come through our
intimate walk with the Holy Spirit.
He asks
that they know the indwelling of Christ. This is far different
than an occasional visit or influence of Jesus in our lives. Paul wants them to
know the constant power of Christ within them. It is the same power he knew
when he faced so many trials and difficulties in his life. It gave him his
unwavering knowledge of pardon and acceptance; it molded his will, emotions,
enlightening and confirming his conscience that he had been truly forgiven! No
wonder he could face death itself and laugh at its consequence. For Paul it was
just another doorway to another part of life! That’s a treasure!
He asks
that they be rooted and established in love. The picture is one of
both a tree and a building. The growth of a living tree and the stability of a
firmly founded skyscraper are the pictures! He wants god’s love to be so
apparent that they are like a tree stretching to the sky and standing against
the storms of life like a skyscraper on an indestructible foundation!
He asks
that they really understand the love of Christ. Isn’t
this the great mystery? How and why god would send His only begotten Son to die
for us is incomprehensible. Yet, he prays they may both comprehend (a mental
grasp) and “know” (an experiential knowledge) that love. It is like placing a
teacup on the shore of the ocean as the tide comes in. The teacup cannot hold the
entire ocean, yet it holds the ocean’s full character as it is filled with the
tide rolling in over it.
It
staggers the imagination. However, we must not, we dare not, make the mistake
of thinking that it is impossible. Paul says we have found the code that
releases the treasure into our keeping! He breaks out into this doxology
because of his absolute confidence that whatever we ask of God He is able to
do:
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, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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