Healing Rays of Righteousness

Read Ephesians 3:14-21

Even though Paul was sitting in a prison, he is filled with deep concern for the spiritual welfare of “God’s holy people in Ephesus” and prays for them.

In the first 14 verses of chapter 1, Paul reminds the Ephesians believers that God had blessed them “with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Then in verses 15-23, he prays that they might experience spiritual enlightenment and wisdom.  In chapter 2 and continuing through to 3:13, he says that all of God’s resources are available because Jesus Christ died to make God’s blessings accessible to all, both Jew and Gentile.

It is one thing to know that God made his resources available through Jesus, but it is quite another thing to act upon that knowledge – to tap into those resources – to be filled with the fullness of God.  It was Paul’s earnest desire that his Christian friends fully enjoy the life-shaping experience that was available in their relationship with God, and that is why he prays this prayer beginning in verse 14 of chapter 3.

Paul’s prayer consists of three related requests, each introduced by the word “that” as it appears in the NIV translation.  And so he prays:                                                                                 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, (praying)”                                                                          1)  “That out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (16-17a).

God has given us, his children, the Holy Spirit as an inner resource.  I believe that to live in this world as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ it is imperative for us to have our inner being continually renewed and strengthened by Christ’s indwelling Spirit.

Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples and us, saying,    “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (Jn. 17:26).

Jesus’ one and foremost desire is to lead us into an ever-deepening knowledge and experience of God’s love.  His concern is not merely that we know more about God, but that we know more and more experientially about how deeply we are cherished and loved by God.

To be all that God desires us to be and to accomplish all that He desires us to accomplish, Jesus Christ must be eagerly welcomed into our love and life.  He will not come uninvited.  And his enabling strength does not come to those who resist his presence.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, (praying)”                                                                           2)  “That you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”  (17b-19a).

Paul saw the cross as the supreme revelation of love, and this is the love he wanted his readers to experience – amazing, boundless love.  The outstretched arms of Christ on the cross embracing all humankind with forgiving love.  The marvel of it is overwhelming – that the sinless Son of God would willingly endure the shame and agony of crucifixion for us sinners.

This love of God is so amazing, so glorious that it defies description, for it goes beyond our ability to fully comprehend.  In fact, Paul says, it takes the combined experiences of “all the saints” to even begin to grasp its amazing greatness.  He is saying that this love of Christ is far beyond the rational limits of intellect or theory.  It is experiential knowing – the knowing that comes from experiencing Christ’s amazing love in our everyday living.

I once read of a farmer who had a weather vane on his barn, on which was written GOD IS LOVE.   When friends asked why, the farmer said, “This is to remind me that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love.”

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, (praying)”                                                                           3)  “That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (v.9b)

Although we cannot contain God’s fullness, we can receive it to the full measure of our capacity and to the degree of our being yielded.  The truth is that whatever fills you controls you.

That’s why it is so important to be Spirit-filled – to have a relationship with God that is so yielded to him that his Spirit fills us and dwells with us in intimacy and power, so that we can experience the abundant life that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would do for believers.

Imagine the possibilities that are yours with Christ dwelling in your heart.  Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Imagine your life being abundant and overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  (Gal. 5:22-23).

This, my friend, is my sincere prayer for you and me.