“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.“
Ephesians 3:14–21

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OCTOBER 23, 2024

The power that the church needs is not self-generated. Like everything else, this is a gift from God. We need the Spirit’s power to proclaim the mystery of the gospel to all! The idea that a loving God invites all people to Himself is still an unpopular and dangerous message.

Thankfully, our Father—now the head of our united family—delights in providing power for His children out of the abundance of His “glorious riches.” In fact, Paul wrote that in and through faith in Jesus, “we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (3:12).

With that invitation in mind, Paul prays a bold prayer.

First, Paul requests power for the church at Ephesus, so that Christ himself would “dwell”—or as the NLT puts it, “make his home” in their hearts. Second, Paul prays that the church at Ephesus, together with the universal church, would have the power to “grasp” and to “know” the love of Jesus. Lastly, Paul prays that they “may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”(4:13).

Wheaton Bible Church, we need this prayer. We need the glorious riches of Christ to live in us, the power to know His immeasurable greatness and love, and the power to be filled—as a local church body—with all His fullness.

And what are we to do with this gift of love, spiritual riches, and power? We are to spread the mystery of the gospel to our local communities so that others would know they and glorify Christ as Savior and Lord.

Do you think Paul asks for too much or is being unreasonably bold? Read verse 20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.

God is able to do even more than Paul prayed for! The result? …to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! (3:21)

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Do you pray boldly? Why or why not?
  • What does Paul pray for? How are your own prayers similar or different than his?
  • Take a moment to pray for Wheaton Bible Church as Paul prayed for the Ephesians: that we may be empowered by the Holy Spirit to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge and that we would be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. And, that we would spread this love to our local communities.

 

Church Reading Plan: Daniel 8; Psalm 116