Chapters 1-3:13 of the book of Ephesians are filled with doctrine and truth regarding the Christian life. The rest of the book is about living them. Sadly, these knowing the truth and living it can be mutually exclusive. For the next couple of studies we will be looking at Chapter 3:14-21 which contains the 2nd prayer found in the book of Ephesians...it is a beautiful prayer.
Paul's desire here is for the spiritual well being of others and therein lies the application. Paul, like Jesus, did not pray much for himself as for those God had placed in his life. Paul is writing this letter while he is in prison and instead of spending the majority of his time beseeching God for himself, he spends his time interceding for others. Specifically here, that the spiritual blessings in Christ that they have received would strengthen them with power...that the word of God would so penetrate their hearts that they would understand the depths of of His love and in understanding this they would be enabled by His power to live more and more for Him and less for themselves. Beloved, make this your prayer not only for yourself but for those He has placed in your life. Our outward man is perishing...that is its destiny. Our inward man, however, can be renewed daily and strengthened with might as we surrender to the word of God and allow it to penetrate and permeate our hearts. The nearer we draw to God, the further we go from sin.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;--Ephesians 3:14-16
Father,
For this reason: Because I have been given all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. Because I was chosen in You before the foundation of the world and predestined for adoption by Jesus Christ. Because I have been brought nigh unto You by the sacrificial death of my Jesus. Because through belief in Your Son I am accepted in the Beloved. I belong to You! I bear Your name...I amYour child! You, the infinite, all knowing, all powerful and everywhere present God dwells in me...a finite fallen human being. You have made Your abode with me and are building in me a holy habitation.
Because of all this and more...I BOW MY KNEE...I BOW MY HEART in GRATEFUL surrender to You, my God. I pray, Father, that I would feel and know the fullness of Your power in my life. That I would be strengthen with might in my inner man and be enabled to live through You and for You. My outer man is perishing...but Father nourish me and strengthen me according to Your word! Help me to receive it with meekness and submit to it by Your Spirit. I want my life to be spirit controlled not "jean" controlled. I want my spirit strengthened not my flesh. I approach You with boldness and confidence, knowing that you desire me to come to You...knowing that You are tender and compassionate....knowing that You will not turn away from me, but will instead open Your arms of love and envelop me. I am accepted in You. I want to walk in complete awareness that it is You who dwell in me...You are my source of power and strength. Through my obedience and submission, You strengthen, perfect, establish and settle me. Without You I can do nothing. Strengthen me according to the riches You, Father, have blessed me with. I want my manner of life to honor and glorify You and reflect all Your blessings.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.--2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 16-18
