Recharge Series

Ephesians 3:14–21 [14] For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [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, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] 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. [20] 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. (ESV)

Psychologists have remarked of the recent trend that many have reported feeling powerless over their own lives. People over the past few months have experienced the inability to travel where they want, work as they had become accustomed to, engage socially without restriction or even go about their very lives without feeling threatened with reports on COVID-19. For many it has resulted in feelings of exhaustion and frustration which have manifested themselves in greater emotional stress, worry, anxiety and unusual outburst of public disturbances. Governments even wonder if they can control some of the effects. Many have remarked that people are demanding that government take greater and greater control over aspects of life in order to ensure safety. If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that there is indeed a power role for government, but many aspects of life are beyond human control.

Power is also central to the life of every Christian. In Ephesians 1:1—3:13 Paul gives the basic truths about the Christian life—who we are in Christ and the great, unlimited resources we have in Him. From Chapter 3:14 through the rest of the letter we are exhorted to understand and to live by those truths. In Ephesians 3:14–21 Paul gives his prayer requests on behalf of the Ephesian believers. In sharing his requests with them, he urges them to live in the full power and effectiveness of “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (1:3). This second prayer in the book of Ephesians (see also 1:15–23) is a prayer for enablement. God not only is the provider but is also the initiator and motivator. Paul calls on God to activate believer’ power so that they can become faithful children and thereby glorify their heavenly Father.

In this great prayer of request to God and exhortation to His children, Paul prays specifically for 1) Power through the Spirit (Ephesians 3:14-16) 2) Power through the Son (Ephesians 3:17a), and 3) Power through the Father’s Love (Ephesians 3:17b–21). Each element builds on the previous ones, making a grand progression of enablement.

Believers can be Recharged through:

1) Power through the Spirit (Ephesians 3:14-16)

Ephesians 3:14–16 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 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, (ESV)

For this reason, (that our new identity makes us the dwelling place of God Ephesians 3:2–13,), Paul prays for the Ephesians to use the power that their great status in Christ provides. Because God’s power is in believers, Paul prays that God would enable them to employ the fullness of that power. Because believers are the habitation of the triune, all–powerful God of the universe, Paul prays that their unlimited energy from Him would be manifested. Paul approaches the Father with boldness and confidence, knowing that He is more willing for His children to come to Him than they ever are of going to Him. He knows that God has been waiting all the while with a Father’s heart of love and anticipation. But, in saying, I bow my knees, Paul is not prescribing a required posture for prayer. He did not always pray while kneeling, and Scripture tells of God’s faithful people praying in many different positions. As he prayed for the Ephesians while writing this letter to them, the apostle felt led to bow [his] knees before the Father on their behalf, not because that position or any other is especially sacred, but because it spontaneously reflected his reverence for God’s glory in the midst of his passionate prayer (cf. Ps. 95:1–6). The mention of the posture of kneeling in the terminology for prayer is significant, since the more usual Jewish and early Christian practice was to pray standing (cf Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13). Kneeling in the ancient world could signify subordination, servility, or worship….( Lincoln, A. T. (1990). Vol. 42: Ephesians. Word Biblical Commentary (201). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.).