Study of Ephesians

Week 10

Ephesians 3:14-21

 

There is probably not a mother reading this study today that has not at one time, or another found herself kneeling before our Heavenly Father interceding for her children.

 

This, my friends, is where we find Paul in our focus passage.

Paul memorializes one of the most powerful prayers ever recorded in the New Testament and believe it or not, he was praying for you.

 

Yes, he initially directed his prayer for the gentiles in Ephesus. However, we know from our study, that we too, are gentiles.

 

Let’s look at some powerful components of the passage, of this prayer.

 

“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name..”  Ephesians 3:14-15

 

Nowhere in scripture does it say that we have to kneel before our prayer is heard, however, kneeling signifies a position of reverence. We find Daniel on his knees praying in Daniel 6:10, Peter in Acts 9:40 and Jesus Himself praying in Luke 22:41-42.  Yes, Paul, in an act of respect, honor and submission, knelt to intercede for the Ephesians, and for us. (Ephesians 3:21)

 

Paul prayerfully makes a series of requests.

 

First, that the Father “would grant you(them), according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”  Ephesians 3:16

What, however, are the “riches of His glory” that he is referring to?

 

This is obviously not physical wealth, but spiritual wealth as referenced throughout his letter beginning with this. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”  Ephesians 1:3

 

Our greatest spiritual blessing is a life with Christ not only in this world but for all eternity.

 

Second, Paul requests that “Christ would dwell in your hearts through faith; and… would be rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17 

I find it interesting that as he prays for these new believers, he isn’t asking for them to understand the Old Testament laws or become more like a Jew. He isn’t praying that they cross every “t” and dot every “i”. No, he is interceding for them to be both rooted and grounded in love. 

 

“Love”, Paul wrote earlier to the people of Corinth, the “greatest of these is love.”1Corinthians 13:13

 

Next, it is his prayer that they would “be able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth” of God’s love.

 

Expounding even more, Paul asks that they “know (through personal experience) the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:18-19

 

That’s a big ask, isn’t it? To comprehend the magnitude of God and then “to be filled up to all the fullness of God…”

 

Here it is in the Amplified Bible:

“And (that you may come) to know (practically through personal experience) the love of Christ which far surpasses (mere) knowledge (without experience), that you may be filled up (throughout your being) to all the fullness of God (so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself.)” Ephesians 3:19 (1)

 

Paul pours out his heart to the Father earnestly wanting all of God’s fullness in their lives.

But he doesn’t stop there. He completes his prayer with these two very familiar verses.

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

“Exceedingly above and beyond all that we ask or think…”

“To Him be the glory…”

 “To all generations…”, that’s us.

Paul’s prayer laced once again with exalting the triune God: the Father, the Son and the Spirit, each in their individual roles but acknowledging our absolute dependance on Him.

 

As we take this fresh look at Ephesians 3:14-21, it becomes even more powerful when we personalize it.

May I make a suggestion? Everywhere the word “you” or “your” is used, replace it with your name.

“Father, for this reason I bow my knee before You, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that You would grant (NAME) according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through your Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in (NAME’S) heart through faith, and that (NAME) being being rooted and grounded in love, …would be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and that (NAME) would know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge and that (NAME) may filled up to all the fullness of God, Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that I ask or thing or think according to the power that works within me, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Personalized for prayer)

Compelling, isn’t it? There is so much life in these verses.

What greater expression of love is there than to lift others and ourselves before the throne of a loving Father.

 

Paul has used the first three chapters of Ephesians to teach and firmly root the gentiles in their new position in Christ.

 

This prayer, this powerful prayer, however, becomes the purposeful transition for the rest of Paul’s letter.  Can’t wait to dig into what’s next!

 Footnote: Ephesians 3:14-21 Amplified Bible; Bible Hub. Accessed March 2022, https://biblehub.com/amp/ephesians/3.htm