Ephesians 3:14-21
• This prayer is a beautiful expression of the outworking of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our lives.
• This prayer is a deep longing for God’s family poured out to a gracious and extremely generous Father.
The outline of the prayer…ADDRESS, the prayer requests and the spiritual breakthrough
The Address v14,15
Ok, let’s look first at how he is praying.
· A prayer of intensity for every member of the family of God
Yes, I realize that prayer can take the form of any posture, but my question is this…
When have you been driven to your knees in prayer?
Getting down on the knees is a sign of intensity, incredible desire and emotion. We see Solomon who knelt at the dedication of the temple in 1 Kings 8; we see Stephen on his knees at the time of his martyrdom, Peter at the death-bed of Dorcas and it was Jesus, who on his knees prayed in the garden of Gethsemane after praying that we would be one as the Father and He were one, after praying and sweating great drops of blood His high priestly prayer that we would be in the world, but not of the world.
In my life, I was always moved, seeing my Father by his bedside, down on his knees and face planted in his hands praying for us, his family.
Now, let’s look at who he is praying for.
Who is he addressing?
He is praying for every member of God’s family.
I don’t know about you but when someone tells me that they are praying for me, it is so encouraging and then when the Holy Spirit lays something very specific on their heart to pray for you, it is even more powerful.
Now we are moving to the specific prayer request -
The Request v16-19
1. Discovering Strength and Power through the Holy Spirit in your inner being v16
This is not a ‘try harder’ type of strength. There is a very real exchange of strength going on here much like the type of strength Isaiah spoke of when he said they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Its not about building it up in yourself
For Paul the 'power of the Spirit' is not only for more visible and extraordinary manifestations of God's presence, but also (especially) for the empowering necessary to be his people in the world, so as to be true reflections of his own glory" Gordon Fee
in the inner man v16 see Rom. 7:22; 2 Cor. 4:16; it is "the interior of our being . . . the seat of personal consciousness of our moral being" Gordon Fee heart. I.e., "that part of them which is not accessible to sight but which is open to his energizing influence"
I spent time at the beginning of this month at Singing Waters for three days, a place where you can go for personal spiritual retreats. I also had the opportunity to sit in on the “Isaiah 61’ school of ministry that was just in session. It was here that I met students from China, Taiwan, Holland, Australia, the States and from here in Canada who were taking the next few months to focus on their relationship with the Lord.
So, my first night there they tell us it is going to be a Holy Spirit workshop and after the teaching they paired us up and had us pray for each other, but there was a catch. We were asked not to pray unless God gives us a word for the other person. At first there was silence, but as we sat in silence, verses and words of encouragement flowed for others, there were pictures that came as well. The incredible thing was that we didn’t know each other and yet there was confirmation of what God was putting on our hearts.
Luke 6:36 Be merciful even as your Father is merciful
2. Soaking In The Presence and Love of the Indwelling Christ v17,18
It is the Holy Spirit that ushers in the presence of Jesus Christ. He paves the way to magnify the person and work of Jesus Christ.
One very interesting observation: although the concept of Jesus being 'in our hearts is a popular way of expressing what it is to be a Christian, this is the only place in the NT where that precise terminology is found!
To dwell means to be at home and that is His desire. Yes He has taken up permanent residence, but He wants full possession of every area. He isn’t just coming over for a nice Sunday afternoon visit. He want to open up the closet where there still maybe bitterness and resentment that need to be dealt with. He also wants to gain entrance to the basement and deal with the stuff that has been hidden in the boxes from the past.
To dwell –like Martha sitting at the feet of Jesus, she had chosen the one thing that was better.
Being rooted and established in love….
how wide… covers the breadth of our experience
For God so loved the world
how long… covers all of our lives
that He gave His one and only Son
how deep… covers the depth of our discouragement, depression and despair.
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
how high…to the heights of celebration
but have eternal life
There is more going on here than just human will power and fervent passion.
And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! The Message
While I was still at Singing Waters I had the opportunity to go on a prayer walk and I hit the trails. They had a number of markers on the trails that spread out like branches from the main retreat center along the Nottawasaga River. So I began by heading down into the valley and across a narrow bridge. It was there that I found the humility trail which was all enclosed in by trees and quite dark but it led to a beautiful opening where I was back in the light. I followed along till I reached the boundary trail and there I was impressed by the realization that His love knows no bounds. From there I crossed another bridge over the river to where I found the Lookout Point and took in a vast, beautiful view. I then followed the River Trail East and I turned as the sun broke through the clouds and shone brightly on me. It was there that I said God, I want your radiance to shine on me. From there I found the faith trail that led me to another bridge except it was completely covered in snow with a rope to guide you across the river. I just knew I had to walk over it as part of my faith journey not really knowing the condition of the bridge below the snow. From here I found the Father heart trail which led me to the hope and peace trails and I was back on my way to the main building. However, that was not before I heard a powerful wind that blew through the trees and reminded me that the Spirit of God was blowing in this place!
So, why do I take the time to tell you about my walk with the Lord? I believe more than ever God wants to meet with all of us in the way that He has created and designed us. We all have different spiritual instincts that led us to a full expression of the depths of His love. Think about the times and places where you have experienced the depths and riches of His love. (pause)
If we are going to know the power of God in this church and our ministry here at Grace, we must each pursue and plumb the depths of His love in our lives first. Our ministry must flow out of our relationship with the Lord because it is here that we receive the vision, gain the strength and the power to serve.
3. Experiencing the Fullness of God v19
In his letter to the Colossian believers, Paul speaks of Jesus Christ and says, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell” (Colossians 1:19). Later, he writes, “For in Him [that is, in Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9-10). To the degree that Jesus occupies every portion of your and my life is to that degree we are filled with all the fullness of God.
God wants to be perfect in you. He wants to meet every need in your life and simply wants to be the one thing that we seek for.
I had the opportunity to teach the grade 4/5 class in the second service…clay – fingerprints.
A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance wrote this hymn which I believe speaks so beautifully to the understanding of this fullness.
Salvation is so much more than just than just the remission of your sins, it is all of His provision
The Breakthrough v20,21
What is the power of the Church?
What is the glory of the Church?
She radiates with the beauty that comes from being in the presence of the Lord and then she goes out and becomes the life giving abundance that Christ created her to be!
There is nothing like the local church when it’s working right. Its beauty is undescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness.
Still to this day, the potential of the local church is almost more than I can grasp. No other organization on earth is like the church. Nothing even comes close.
Bill Hybels in Courageous Leadership
What would happen if we really believed that we have the hope this world is searching for?
What would happen if we really believed in the most excellent love of Christ?
What would happen if we really believed in the power, the Holy Spirit, that is at work within us?
What is my prayer for Grace, more importantly what is it Lord that you want me to know for Grace? That was the question that I asked God and waited on Him for while I was away on the prayer retreat and this is the impression that I received.
Grace will give birth to something new. She will be a place for inner healing and enabling strength and my Spirit will wash over her.
Fix your eyes on me and You will see the unseen. I will give crystal clear focus as you lay out your life before me. I AM the rushing wind. I will blow My presence on you. Keep your gaze steadfast. Do not look to the right or to the left. See the beauty and the fullness of my face. Glow with the radiance that comes from being with Me.
And a verse came to mind -
So, let you light shine that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
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