Paul’s Six Fold Prayer Request (Eph 3:14-21)

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by

Robert Piña
in

Introduction: Ephesians 3:14-21. Vs 14 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. In this passage of scripture, Paul has a six fold prayer request made to God for the Ephesians. This is a good prayer request we too can pray unto our heavenly Father. 

  1. Strength– vs 16 “to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man”. The inner man here is our new nature called the “new man” in Ephesians 4:22-24, the “new creature” in II Corinthians 5:17, and the “inner man” in Ephesians 3:16. It is the Spirit of God that needs to strengthen our inner man so that we can be and do what God desires for us. (Black and White Dog). The only way to overcome the flesh and its weakness; temptation and sins, troubles, trials and problems, disease and suffering, grief and death, selfishness and worldliness.
  1. Faithfulness– vs 17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith”. Positionally– When a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ dwells in the believer, He makes his abode or takes residence in there. Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”. Practically– the presence and power of Jesus Christ in our life fluctuates according to our daily walk with Him. Galatians 2:20. The more Christ dwells in our heart, the more we look and conform to Him, this is about a daily walk. Paul is asking for Christ to dwell in these believers to that the power of Christ can be manifest in their lives. II Corinthians 12:9-10 “that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. 
  1. Stability– vs 17 “being rooted and grounded in love”. Ephesians 2:4-5; Galatians 5:13-15; 5:24; 5:22-23. 
  1. Comprehension– vs 18 “May be able to comprehend”. Paul wants these believers to comprehend in vs 19 “all the fullness of God”. Paul had the experience of seeing this very thing in II Corinthians 12:1-4. By being in Jesus Christ, we fill the breath, length, depth, and height- Job 11:7-9. Ephesians 1:17-23. 
  1. Knowledge– vs 19 “And to know the love of Christ”. The love of Christ “passeth knowledge”. How can a perfect sinless and amazing God love a wretched, sinful, non good sinner? That’s beyond me. John 3:16 the pain and suffering that Christ endured while walking on this earth and on the cross, all because he loved me. Galatians 1:4-5; 3:13-14. John 15:13 “Greater love hath not man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”. Romans 8:35-39  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
  1. Blessing– vs 20 “that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God”. Colossians 2:9-10 the fullness of God dwells in us, when Jesus Christ dwells in us. John 14:16, 23- the Holy Spirit, Father and Jesus Christ “we will come unto him, and make our abode with him”.