Note: This is a study through the book of Ephesians as done in 1995. One of the main sources I used at the time was Beacon Bible Commentary vol. 9.
Title: Strengthened by the Spirit
Theme: To show the purpose of being strengthened by the Spirit
Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 3:14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 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. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
A symbol of humility before God. Paul is about to pray and because of this he is humbled. He realizes who he is in the light of Jesus Christ. He realizes where he stands in the light of humanity and God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Here is the request of Paul. This is he prayer request to the Father. This is what he feels is important. It is that the Spirit may strengthen us in the inner most being.
Notice he sees the most important of all. The outward appearance is not near as important as the inward. Man looks on the outward appearances but God knows the inward. He knows the heart. It is important that the Spirit works inward because what is inward will be reflected outward.
Paul understood this. He knew that if there was a strong internal Spirit it would make for a strong outward appearance.
I. Christ may establish His presence in our hearts
17a "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; "
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.
So the most important thing we can do in this life is have Christ dwell in our hearts. I thing one of the main words in this verse is the word dwell. The word dwell is the Greek word katoikeo {kat-oy-keh'-o}which means to "live in as home". It gives the idea of settling down and being at home. We could expand this verse to say,"that Christ might finally settle down and feel completely at home in your hearts."
This is first and foremost important in our lives. It is also the main priority of the Spirit. To change in any other way without having Christ in our hearts is truly a waste.
II. That we may be grounded in a sincere love for God, Christ and others
17b "that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,"
As a result of Christ dwelling in our heats then we in turn will have a heart that is "rooted and grounded in love". It has a foundation that is in love. It is stable. I am reminded of the fruit of the Spirit found in
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
All the rest of the fruit of the spirit is surrounded in the one area of love. When we have love in our hearts. When we have love that is "rooted and grounded" in our hearts then we see the fruit that is produced.
III. That we may comprehend with our minds and experience in our lives the love of Christ for us
18 "May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and
depth, and height;"
19a "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,"
A. Comprehend - to understand
The next progression in the stage of being Strengthened by the spirit. First we saw a commit of indwelling of Christ which led to a life being rooted and grounded in love which as we see will help us to "comprehend" Christ.
Notice it is not limited to just a few saints but it is open to all. As I said a few weeks ago Christianity is not a religion that is full of secrets that have only be revealed to a select few. But the mysteries of God are open to all who are willing.
1Corinthians 2: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
breadth-extends to all people
length extends to all time
depth extends to lowest condition of human need
height-extends to the hightest heavens
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
B. Know-experience
More than just to comprehend or understand there is an experience. Oh the experiences that we have with the Lord. They are worth it all. Sadly some people seem to comprehend but are not willing to experience and never know what they are missing.
IV. That we may be filled with the fulness of God
That God's presence may so fill us that we reflect and manifest from our innermost being the character and stature which belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.
19b "that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."
When we comprehend Christ then we may be filled with the fullness of God. God has so much to offer us and so much for us to do. There is no reason for us not to be living to our full potential in Christ.
Conclusion
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
There is no doubt about the infinite power of what God can do. He can do well above what we ask. The only limitation for God is us. We can only do and handle so much. I believe that God could reveal to us more but maybe we are not prepared to receive from him.
21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Where is the glory of the Father shown. In the church and in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus working in the churches. And it will be shown forever and ever and ever.
