Ephesians 3 -- Prayer For 4 Things For Us

“I, Paul, am a prisoner … God gave me this work through His GRACE to help you.”  Paul was able to see that his present circumstances had been managed by God for the purpose of helping others to know Him more.  It had been given to Paul, not imposed upon him.

 

“God gave me this gift …”  Paul doesn’t see his circumstances as punishment from God, but as an amazing gift.  Incredibly, one of the purposes Paul has discovered for his gift was “that through the church all the rulers and powers in the heavenly world will know God’s wisdom.”

 

My commentary said that angels, as created beings, are not omniscient.  They are learning more about God through us.  And on the other side, the demons are learning more about God, and about how ignorant Satan is of His ways, through what the church does as well!

 

Paul prays for enablement for us to tap into God’s divine power.  But first we have to be at ease in front of God – “In Christ we can come before God with freedom AND without fear.”  Then Paul prays for four things for us, each building upon the previous one:

 

                Strength – “Jesus performed His ministry on earth in the power of the Spirit, and this is the only resource we have for Christian living.”

 

                Depth – “Paul yearned for Christ to settle down and feel at home in our hearts – not a surface relationship, but an ever-deepening fellowship.”

 

                Apprehension – “Paul’s concern was that we lay hold of the vast expanses of the love of God.”

 

                Fullness – “The divine nature abhors a vacuum.  God wants us to experience His fullness.”

 

Father, please continue to help me grasp the extent of Your love for me.  Please help me to be fully comfortable with Christ settled down and feeling at home in my heart.  Fill the vacuum where it exists spiritually within me.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

 

 

Gary Ford