Paul’s Prayers for the Ephesians (part 2)
Introduction. “In a great house” all “vessels of gold and silver” are “a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful” (2 Tim. 2:21-22). So it was from Adam to Moses as God chose Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Joseph to do great works for him. So it was also from Moses to Christ as he again lifted men and women like Joshua, Samuel, Ruth, David, and Esther from obscurity and gave them an important role in his eternal purpose.
As Paul looked at his own life he was overwhelmed. He was not simply taken from obscurity, but from infamy. One of God’s greatest enemies became one of God’s greatest vessels of honor. As he prepared to pray, not just for the Ephesians, but for all Gentile converts his mind was filled with gratitude that “he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
It was this great honor that led to his imprisonment and he wanted none to pity him. In quick succession he speaks of all he was grateful for. First by revelation, God had given him a knowledge of the gospel unknown to all previous generations. As a gift, Paul was made a minister, though less than the least of all the saints, to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Thus he had a pivotal position in making the manifold wisdom of God known through the church and be a part of God’s eternal purpose. What an incredible honor! Imprisonment and death were a small price to pay to be given such an important role. “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:1-14)!
Strengthened With Might Through His Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration...no prophecy of Scripture...came by the will of man... men of God spoke ...as moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21). The power of the Holy Spirit is stored in God’s word! His sword, living and active, effectively working in (energizing) those who believe. It is also the power (dynamite) of God unto salvation (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; 1 Th. 2:13; Rom 1:16). Do not be deceived! When the word fills our heart and directs our path it strengthens with might in the inner man. Just look at Jesus’ battle with the devil (Mt. 4:1-11). No matter what the attack, the word gave him power to overcome. His every debate with the Pharisees was won when he quoted Scripture. Abraham said it best, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Lk. 16:31). Nothing has more power to strengthen the inner man than the word inspired by the Holy Spirit; not even the power of miracles to raise from the dead!
That Christ May Dwell In Your Hearts Through Faith. When the word of Christ dwells in us richly (Col. 3:16) through the faith that comes from hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17), Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith. Jesus said “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Rev. 3:20). When we hear his voice (word of Christ) and open the door to our heart by faith Jesus can enter and dwell within us. He will never force his way in and will not remain one moment longer than we want him there. Only by faith is it “longer I that live but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). So “the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (I Jn. 5:4-5) comes by hearing the word of Christ which strengthens the inner man and allows Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith.
Being Rooted And Grounded In Love. Only after we are strengthened with might and Christ is dwelling in our hearts can we become rooted and grounded. Rooted is a reference to the stability and sustenance roots give a tree. Grounded refers to the stability and permanence a foundation on rock gives a building. This is the agape-love which “suffers long and is kind; does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails” (1 Cor 13:4-8). When all our deeds, thoughts, and words are rooted and grounded to see things in this light can we begin to see the unseen and hear the unhearable.
How could God explain the rainbow to one who was color blind? In the same way how can God explain the glorious splendor of Christ’s love if we have no reference to agape-love within our own heart. No matter how intricate or complex the subject, if we can find a point of reference we can use that to explain it. So those who know colors can envision a rainbow in their mind and know what it is when they finally see it. In the same way, only when we have enough practical knowledge of agape-love, to be rooted and grounded in it can begin to grasp what Jesus actually did for us and be fully enriched in it as we read of his life.
Width Length Depth Height– Christ’s Love Passes Knowledge. Within these four terms all things that have substance can be described. When speaking of a building it defines its scope. But when describing the universe the terms change to become incomprehensible even though they mean exactly the same thing. For small things we use them to describe limits, but for immense things they define what is limitless and endless. In speaking of our life they define a limit, but to describe God’s life they reveal infinity. In the same way these terms reveal the limits of our love, but the limitless nature of Christ’s love which passes all knowledge and all ability to comprehend. Acting out of care and concern for others instead of acting only if something is in it for me is a way of life many cannot and never will understand! When we can’t even see it in our own heart, we will never understand or see within Jesus’ life.
That You May Be Filled With All The Fullness Of God. Our quest to comprehend agape-love, first leads us to our own greater ability to love as we become rooted and grounded. This brings us to the path of comprehending the vastness of Jesus’ own love for us. Its final destination fills us with all the fullness of God! This is the greatest thing said about the comprehensive nature of love. We knew it was greater than faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:9) and that all that was in the Law and Prophets (Genesis to Malachi) fits easily within the width, length, depth, and height (Mt. 22:36-40) of agape-love. We also knew that when we put it on we were putting on the bond of perfection (Col 3:14).
What we could not know until the Spirit revealed it here is all the fulness of God also fits within the width, length, depth, and height of agape-love. Truly: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (I Jn 4:8). God’s grace, mercy, compassion, pity, and blessedness are all within this love. All that defines God will be within us for when we are filled with agape-love, we are filled with the fullness of God.
Exceedingly Abundantly Above All We Ask Or Think. This is Paul’s final example of a container of limitless width, length, depth, and height. God’s power will not fit into any limit of space we can comprehend. When we consider, think and imagine all we can of God’s power God’s rises above it! We try to glean all we can from the material creation (His eternal power and divine nature, being understood through what has been made Rom. 1:20). We try to grasp all we possibly can of the “the working of His mighty power when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand” (Eph. 1:19-20). When through meditation and prayer we have wrung all the wisdom we can about his power and reach our absolute limit of comprehension, God’s power will still rise above it. How much wider, longer, deeper and higher is this power? Paul coins a new word not found elsewhere. It is “superabundanter, superabundantly; beyond measure; exceedingly, above.” But even this is not enough! He then adds “over, beyond, away over; excess of measure, more than” to multiply it. All the fulness of God is defined by a power far above and beyond our understanding and a love that passes knowledge. So with inexhaustible power and limitless love comes unlimited compassion and forgiveness. Through the power of the gospel, what we were given in His image and likeness and lost in the selfishness of sin, will begin to bud flower and bear fruit again.
“... to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:21)
As Paul looked at his own life he was overwhelmed. He was not simply taken from obscurity, but from infamy. One of God’s greatest enemies became one of God’s greatest vessels of honor. As he prepared to pray, not just for the Ephesians, but for all Gentile converts his mind was filled with gratitude that “he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
It was this great honor that led to his imprisonment and he wanted none to pity him. In quick succession he speaks of all he was grateful for. First by revelation, God had given him a knowledge of the gospel unknown to all previous generations. As a gift, Paul was made a minister, though less than the least of all the saints, to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Thus he had a pivotal position in making the manifold wisdom of God known through the church and be a part of God’s eternal purpose. What an incredible honor! Imprisonment and death were a small price to pay to be given such an important role. “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:1-14)!
Strengthened With Might Through His Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration...no prophecy of Scripture...came by the will of man... men of God spoke ...as moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21). The power of the Holy Spirit is stored in God’s word! His sword, living and active, effectively working in (energizing) those who believe. It is also the power (dynamite) of God unto salvation (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12; 1 Th. 2:13; Rom 1:16). Do not be deceived! When the word fills our heart and directs our path it strengthens with might in the inner man. Just look at Jesus’ battle with the devil (Mt. 4:1-11). No matter what the attack, the word gave him power to overcome. His every debate with the Pharisees was won when he quoted Scripture. Abraham said it best, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Lk. 16:31). Nothing has more power to strengthen the inner man than the word inspired by the Holy Spirit; not even the power of miracles to raise from the dead!
That Christ May Dwell In Your Hearts Through Faith. When the word of Christ dwells in us richly (Col. 3:16) through the faith that comes from hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17), Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith. Jesus said “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Rev. 3:20). When we hear his voice (word of Christ) and open the door to our heart by faith Jesus can enter and dwell within us. He will never force his way in and will not remain one moment longer than we want him there. Only by faith is it “longer I that live but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). So “the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (I Jn. 5:4-5) comes by hearing the word of Christ which strengthens the inner man and allows Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith.
Being Rooted And Grounded In Love. Only after we are strengthened with might and Christ is dwelling in our hearts can we become rooted and grounded. Rooted is a reference to the stability and sustenance roots give a tree. Grounded refers to the stability and permanence a foundation on rock gives a building. This is the agape-love which “suffers long and is kind; does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails” (1 Cor 13:4-8). When all our deeds, thoughts, and words are rooted and grounded to see things in this light can we begin to see the unseen and hear the unhearable.
How could God explain the rainbow to one who was color blind? In the same way how can God explain the glorious splendor of Christ’s love if we have no reference to agape-love within our own heart. No matter how intricate or complex the subject, if we can find a point of reference we can use that to explain it. So those who know colors can envision a rainbow in their mind and know what it is when they finally see it. In the same way, only when we have enough practical knowledge of agape-love, to be rooted and grounded in it can begin to grasp what Jesus actually did for us and be fully enriched in it as we read of his life.
Width Length Depth Height– Christ’s Love Passes Knowledge. Within these four terms all things that have substance can be described. When speaking of a building it defines its scope. But when describing the universe the terms change to become incomprehensible even though they mean exactly the same thing. For small things we use them to describe limits, but for immense things they define what is limitless and endless. In speaking of our life they define a limit, but to describe God’s life they reveal infinity. In the same way these terms reveal the limits of our love, but the limitless nature of Christ’s love which passes all knowledge and all ability to comprehend. Acting out of care and concern for others instead of acting only if something is in it for me is a way of life many cannot and never will understand! When we can’t even see it in our own heart, we will never understand or see within Jesus’ life.
That You May Be Filled With All The Fullness Of God. Our quest to comprehend agape-love, first leads us to our own greater ability to love as we become rooted and grounded. This brings us to the path of comprehending the vastness of Jesus’ own love for us. Its final destination fills us with all the fullness of God! This is the greatest thing said about the comprehensive nature of love. We knew it was greater than faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:9) and that all that was in the Law and Prophets (Genesis to Malachi) fits easily within the width, length, depth, and height (Mt. 22:36-40) of agape-love. We also knew that when we put it on we were putting on the bond of perfection (Col 3:14).
What we could not know until the Spirit revealed it here is all the fulness of God also fits within the width, length, depth, and height of agape-love. Truly: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (I Jn 4:8). God’s grace, mercy, compassion, pity, and blessedness are all within this love. All that defines God will be within us for when we are filled with agape-love, we are filled with the fullness of God.
Exceedingly Abundantly Above All We Ask Or Think. This is Paul’s final example of a container of limitless width, length, depth, and height. God’s power will not fit into any limit of space we can comprehend. When we consider, think and imagine all we can of God’s power God’s rises above it! We try to glean all we can from the material creation (His eternal power and divine nature, being understood through what has been made Rom. 1:20). We try to grasp all we possibly can of the “the working of His mighty power when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand” (Eph. 1:19-20). When through meditation and prayer we have wrung all the wisdom we can about his power and reach our absolute limit of comprehension, God’s power will still rise above it. How much wider, longer, deeper and higher is this power? Paul coins a new word not found elsewhere. It is “superabundanter, superabundantly; beyond measure; exceedingly, above.” But even this is not enough! He then adds “over, beyond, away over; excess of measure, more than” to multiply it. All the fulness of God is defined by a power far above and beyond our understanding and a love that passes knowledge. So with inexhaustible power and limitless love comes unlimited compassion and forgiveness. Through the power of the gospel, what we were given in His image and likeness and lost in the selfishness of sin, will begin to bud flower and bear fruit again.
“... to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph 3:21)