Prayer for Spiritual Strength

July 28, 2024
Pastor Jack

folded hands with bible

Ephesians 3:14-21

On account of this, I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus!

Ephesians 3:14–15

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

  • Paul, fourteen verses later, gets back to his original thought and begins a prayer.
  • Typical middle-eatern posture for prayer would have been standing with outstretched hands, looking expectantly to heaven. Why does Paul make a point of telling the Ephesians that he is bowing his knees before the Father?
  • Why should it be significant to you/us that we can relate to God, the Creator as Father?

Ephesians 3:16

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

  • What do you think this “…strengthened with power through his Spirit…” means?
  • Holy Spirit

Ephesians 3:17

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

  • Christ
  • Describe what this passage means to you:
    • What about Christ dwelling in your heart?
    • What is faith’s part in this?
    • What’s love got to do with it? (You are very welcome for that Tina Turner earworm.)

Ephesians 3:18–19

may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

  • What do you think it means to “…be filled with all the fullness of God”?
  • What is the value of wisdom and knowledge?
  • What can move us from knowledge and wisdom into action?

Ephesians 3:20–21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

  • God can and will do far more than we can ask or imagine, preparing us to bring glory to Himself! Can you share some examples either that you have seen or experienced or just think might be ways God would do this?
  • “It” is not about us! Who is this “far more abundantly” to benefit?

Thoughts for Reflection

  • God wants to give us everything it will take to reach the world.
  • What is our capacity?
  • Are you willing?
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