As we read and meditate on these well known verses from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians, may the Holy Spirit give us fresh revelation in this prayer of progression.
Ephesians 3: 14-21
“14 For this cause I bow my knee 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.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
When adversity arrives on our doorstep in any degree, shape or form, this is the time when we have opportunity to bow the knee to our Heavenly Father (v.14) who has permitted, in His wisdom, that which He could have prevented, by His power. This is not a trivial, pat saying, but a profound truth. I am fully protected by the grid of God.
Proverbs 3: 25-26 “Do not be afraid of sudden fear…….For the Lord shall be your confidence”. When trouble arrives, the Lord has made available to us the safety of His pavilion. As I turn to Him, He opens the door of His sanctuary where I can abide safely with Him throughout any circumstance. Here is where I can own and prove Ephesians 3:16 “to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man”. Here our roots go down firmly into the strength of the love of Christ, and we become rooted and grounded in Him. Adversity is the opportunity for growth and maturity in Christ, not something to resist and complain about.
Ephesians 3: 20 continues to enlighten us: “Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US.” According to the power that works in us…… This power is made available to me as part of my birthright in Christ, and yet, I can limit the Unlimited One by my believing and choices! How much of God’s power is working in me? God is able to do exceeding abundantly, but I limit Him according to the power that is working in me.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus ended with the words: “For Thine is the kingdom, and the POWER and the glory, forever. Amen,” Matthew 6:13. See how the Lord safely placed His power for the extension of His kingdom, for His glory. Many a man has tried to wrestle that power from it’s divine place for his own glory, only to discover that God will not give His glory to another.
Sometimes in life we meet a person who lives, and demonstrates, a rare depth in Christ. They have experienced deep tragedy and yet have been strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. Their lives give testimony to Christ’s resurrection life flowing in and through them. This same strength is available to us for each day. We do not have to have deep trouble to experience it. We can access it in all of life’s trials, from small irritations to bigger challenges too. We can invite God into every experience and discover the fullness of our birthright in Jesus. Here I can choose not to limit God working in me, for His glory. Exceeding abundantly…….according to the power that works in us!
God grants every Believer a measure of faith. As we exercise it, our roots go down into Christ who strengthens us. Here we begin to cry out to do His will and He gives us His desires for Himself increasingly. On our journey we discover some of the unsearchable riches of Christ and experience the treasures in His unfathomable depths.
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. This scripture, and the ones previously quoted in Ephesians, are our birthright. It is not something offered to a select few. He is not a respecter of persons in His unconditional love. Only as we give God the credit, can we access this inner strength in Christ Jesus. He is our Source of everything. We may not have understanding of every situation in life, but we do have the ability to bow and declare, “True and righteous are all Your ways, O Lord”. Here we learn to trust Him with our lives and enter into “His rest”, keeping a thankful heart. Our lives emit the aroma of Christ as we become those living epistles, read of all men, bringing glory to the Father. Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man……..experiencing God’s exceeding abundance……..according to the power that works in us.