Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21
In this study we consider the Spirit-anointed prayers of the Apostle Paul.
These prayers were given of the Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray for ourselves and others.
The prayer we are focusing on today is in Ephesians 3:14-21.
The prayers of Paul listed below are not in the word of God by chance but are there that Holy Spirit can use them to lead us into how we might to pray. They are found in
Ephesians 1:17-19,
Ephesians 3:14-21,
Philippians 1:9-11.
In Ephesians 3:14-21 we see a stepwise progressive revelation of the God’s Word.
Step 1. Being strengthened with might in our inner man by Holy Spirit
Step 2. That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, that we be rooted and grounded in love
Step 3. That we might comprehend the dimensions of God’s love, practically experiencing it for ourselves
Step 4. That we might be filled with all the fullness of God
Comments
Verse 16; It is the dunamis or dynamite power of the Holy Spirit that will strengthen us spiritually. It is part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to build us up that we might be ready for the next step of this progression. It is that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that dwells in us so we can ask Him to strengthen us.
Verse 17; As Christ dwells (is at home) in our heart by faith we become rooted like a tall tree.
A tree planted by running water yielding its fruit in season, prospering in every way. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches, our roots are in Him grounded like a building on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ the Solid Rock. Jesus is building the stones in his body into a perfect temple for the Father (1 John 4:19). The Christian walk of obedience is in response to his love which was given first to us. As we are strengthened with might in the inner man by Holy Spirit, Christ begins to live in our hearts by faith and we become rooted and grounded on his divine love.
Verse 18; Then we are in the position to begin to discern the dimensions of God’s love. We can only hope to have any possibility of achieving this through the Lord’s grace i.e. through the Holy Spirit revelations to our hearts.
Verse 19; To know the love of Christ that surpasses and bypasses mere head knowledge.
Amen
Personal Prayer
In part 2 we consider the individual dimensions of width, length, depth, and height
in Verse 18.