Read Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Before we dig into this passage, we need to take a look at verse 13. “Why?” you ask. Because the first phrase of verse 14 begins, “For this reason”, and to understand this passage in context, we need to know for what reason.
“Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations
on your behalf, for they are your glory”, Ephesians 3:13.
The reason behind Paul’s prayer for the believers in Ephesus was so that they wouldn’t become discouraged when they heard about his circumstances. Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, while he was being held in a prison in Rome for preaching the Gospel. Paul had spent time preaching in Ephesus, and I’m sure the believers there were feeling somewhat responsible for Paul getting into trouble, not to mention you get concerned for people you love.
This really impacted my heart. How often do I pray for the physical need of someone, all the while neglecting praying for their spirit. Just wow…and ouch.
We need to pray for one another to have strength in the inner man.
Paul was very specific in what he prayed for these people – “to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man”. The word “through” (diá) is key here. (Diá) is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act. Any strength we may have has come from God through the channel of His Spirit inside us.
The Holy Spirit is the channel through which the power of God flows into our lives.
I don’t know about you, but so many times I try to handle the thoughts and feelings about circumstances in my own strength. But Paul is indicating here that strength only comes as God grants it – “He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man”. God has an immeasurable, unending supply of strength stored up in heaven for us, and we gain access to that only “through His Spirit in the inner man”.
Paul also mentions “being rooted and grounded in love“. What does that have to do with strength in my inner man? Well, check this out. Both verbs are (perfect–it’s a done deal; passive–God did it, not me; participle–“-ing” word, ongoing). “Being rooted” (rhizoo) means to root and become stable; rendered firm and thoroughly fixed. This makes me think of a tree with its root system growing deep into the soil. If the root system is deep, though storms may come and winds may blow, the tree stands firmly fixed in the soil. It is GOD, and God alone, that makes a tree’s roots grow deeply enough that they stand strong regardless of the storms. So, if I am consistently allowing God to work in my life so that my root system (my faith) grows down deep, then nothing should be able to shake me. “Being grounded” (themelioo) means to lay a basis for; literally, to erect; figuratively, to consolidate; lay a firm foundation thus making something established.
The by-product of being rooted and grounded in God’s love is being able to better comprehend (katalambanō – to lay hold of with the mind) “what is the breadth and length and height and depth” of His love for us. But having information in my mind isn’t enough. How do we know that? Paul doesn’t stop there.
The next phrase of Paul’s prayer is “and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge”. When Paul speaks of “know”, that is the Greek word (ginōskō) which has a broad scope of meaning in that language. It can mean “to become acquainted with”, but it is also used in other passages to describe sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. Think of it this way. I can lay hold of with my mind (katalambanō) that I am married when the officiant says “I now pronounce you husband and wife”, but there’s a different level of knowing that comes to play when the marriage is consummated and I begin living each day married (ginōskō).
The next phrase in Paul’s prayer is “that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God”. One Greek word (plēroō) is used for the phrase “you may be filled up”. (Plēroō) means the equivalent of to fill or to diffuse throughout one’s soul; to satisfy. Sit in that for a minute. Think of a diffuser. If I put oil in my diffuser, the scent of that oil will permeate every nook and cranny of that room. The oil, in contact with the diffuser, causes the aroma of the oil to spread freely.
Ok, now let’s apply that spiritually. Paul is praying that these Ephesian believers would move beyond laying hold of God’s love with their minds (katalambanō) to knowing by experience (ginōskō) the love of God, which can spread through every nook and cranny of their lives and satisfy their soul (plēroō). And don’t get me started with how “oil” is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. How cool is that?!! Especially considering that we have now come full circle, having begun with being strengthened “through His Spirit in the inner man”. Oh how I love studying God’s word!!!
Let’s finish this blog with Paul’s statement describing the limitless ability of the power of our God!
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly
Beyond all that we ask or think,
According to the power that works with us,
To Him be the glory in the church and
In Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”