Interceding Like Paul, Pt. 3
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:14-21)
Paul intercedes, but does so with a pastoral heart. He prays that the Ephesians church be filled love, power, and all the fullness of God. I appreciate Bryan Chapell's comment on this. He says:
"When we grasp the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, we are filled up with the power that transforms our world for his sake…when we grasp the love of Christ, we are filled with the power of God…We do not acquire God’s love through our present power or future achievements. Rather, we are standing on this love, rooted and established in it…the love that motivates us is actually the power that drives us…if why I serve God is also how I serve God, then greater love always precedes greater power. And, in fact, since we will only and always do what we love the most, then greater love is the means to greater power…Love is power...Without love there will be no power to do what God requires."
My former professor's words are weighty, especially when we consider their implications for sin. If we do what we love most, as Chapell contends, then when we sin we are proving at that moment that we love something more than God. This is precisely why we need strengthening in our inner being and why we must be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. “Those who are strengthened by the Spirit and in whom Christ dwells will have their lives rooted and grounded in love.”
Love and power permeate Paul’s prayer because he is aware that we need both. In fact, love and power are two things people lack and crave at the same time. A rooted and grounded love in Christ and strengthening by God’s Spirit is the remedy for an unloving and weak people. Paul brings the two themes of love and power to a climax in the fullness of God. “Paul sums up the ultimate goal of his prayer for his readers…He desires that they be filled to all the fullness of God.” There is not a consensus on the exact meaning of Paul’s words and his desire that his audience be filled with the fullness of God.
I would contend that Christ is the fullness of God and Paul desires that Christ would dwell in his reader’s hearts all the more. Here's why. The Ephesians were already Christians–Christ dwelled within them–but Paul was praying for a deeper experience of this indwelling. Calvin offers the most satisfactory comment on the issue. He believes that, “He who has Christ has everything necessary for being made perfect in God; for this is the meaning of the phrase, the fullness of God.”
Paul’s prayer is nothing short of amazing. W must consider that he is asking us to comprehend something we truly cannot—the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of God in Christ. But this does not stop Paul from asking this of God, for he believes God can answer the most extreme prayers. In fact, for Paul, God can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
Paul intercedes, but does so with a pastoral heart. He prays that the Ephesians church be filled love, power, and all the fullness of God. I appreciate Bryan Chapell's comment on this. He says:
"When we grasp the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, we are filled up with the power that transforms our world for his sake…when we grasp the love of Christ, we are filled with the power of God…We do not acquire God’s love through our present power or future achievements. Rather, we are standing on this love, rooted and established in it…the love that motivates us is actually the power that drives us…if why I serve God is also how I serve God, then greater love always precedes greater power. And, in fact, since we will only and always do what we love the most, then greater love is the means to greater power…Love is power...Without love there will be no power to do what God requires."
My former professor's words are weighty, especially when we consider their implications for sin. If we do what we love most, as Chapell contends, then when we sin we are proving at that moment that we love something more than God. This is precisely why we need strengthening in our inner being and why we must be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. “Those who are strengthened by the Spirit and in whom Christ dwells will have their lives rooted and grounded in love.”
Love and power permeate Paul’s prayer because he is aware that we need both. In fact, love and power are two things people lack and crave at the same time. A rooted and grounded love in Christ and strengthening by God’s Spirit is the remedy for an unloving and weak people. Paul brings the two themes of love and power to a climax in the fullness of God. “Paul sums up the ultimate goal of his prayer for his readers…He desires that they be filled to all the fullness of God.” There is not a consensus on the exact meaning of Paul’s words and his desire that his audience be filled with the fullness of God.
I would contend that Christ is the fullness of God and Paul desires that Christ would dwell in his reader’s hearts all the more. Here's why. The Ephesians were already Christians–Christ dwelled within them–but Paul was praying for a deeper experience of this indwelling. Calvin offers the most satisfactory comment on the issue. He believes that, “He who has Christ has everything necessary for being made perfect in God; for this is the meaning of the phrase, the fullness of God.”
Paul’s prayer is nothing short of amazing. W must consider that he is asking us to comprehend something we truly cannot—the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of God in Christ. But this does not stop Paul from asking this of God, for he believes God can answer the most extreme prayers. In fact, for Paul, God can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.
Rev. Mike Hernandez serves as the senior pastor of Crossroads Presbyterian Church. He is a graduate of Trinity International University (B.A.), Knox Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando.
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