Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Yet at some deep and intuitive level, we sense that in fact it must be just as Paul says. Passion for Jesus: Perfecting Extravagant Love for God. Second, we need to cooperate with God in this, at least in agreeing that God's Word is true. that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. In our last study, we looked at verses 14-15and talked about Paul's Pattern In Prayer. 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. It is impossible to over-emphasize this truth, because it is meant to be the foundation of our new lives in Jesus. in order that he may give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man; that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love, in order that ye may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. We are anchored and stabilized during lifes trials by Christs love for us. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spiritnot a brute strength but a glorious inner strengththat Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. May we never get away from the foundational truth of being a Christian: God is incredibly in love with us! And I pray that you, being rooted(E) and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lords holy people,(F) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep(G) is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge(H)that you may be filled(I) to the measure of all the fullness of God. 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love. His petitions for them are four fold: first, that God would strengthen them with power through His Spirit, so that they would have what it takes (the power) to trust Him and live pure and holy lives; second, that as they trust Christ He would dwell in their heartsthat He would feel at home within them; thirdly, that their roots would go down deep into Gods love and that they would feel and understand how good and great and full His love is, that is, that they would experience it for themselves; and fourth, consequently, that they would be filled up with God. Eph. Rise to the heights! It is through this indwelling and our rich relationships with God that we realize our true identities. Our needs are met by His love. 1 Bickle, Mike. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jesus tells a parable about a tree that did not bear fruit (Luke 13:6-8). Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love. . And may you know his love, even though it cant be known completely. Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what. Ephesians 3:16-19 PAUL'S PETITIONS IN PRAYER Intro: The verses before us today reveal a man in prayer. First, we can join Paul in praying this for ourselves and others. 3 i got the inside story on this from god himself, as i just wrote you in brief. Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. Test its length! We can saturate ourselves in His presence and impregnate ourselves with the water of the Word of life until weare filled with all the fullness of God. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love. When our need is great, we can be drawn more deeply to Jesus. He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Plumb the depths! that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. But just as we will never fathom the depth of the riches of His grace towards us, so we can never have ALL His fullness, but we can be filled to our level of completeness. When we think of it this way, it seems clearer what God is talking about. So, whether we prefer "so that" or "and", we are ultimately led to the same understanding of this passage. Ephesians 3:16-19 The New International Version (NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-19 To Be Strengthened In the Inner Man - FRAMED Print- CALLIGRAPHY Bible Scripture- 8.5" x 11" Thin Profile Economy Frame. It seems more natural to me that Paul was praying that the Holy Spirit strengthen us AND that Christ would dwell in our hearts through faith. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what. All Rights Reserved. Lord, out of your glorious riches strengthen their hearts and give them faith. 16 I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit - not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength - 17 that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. 2023 Christianity.com. That is to say, that we would be built up, fortified, encouraged, and made courageous in hearts, minds, souls, wills, and personalities. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Start for FREE. is so magnificently huge that we cannot ever hope to really grasp its full dimensions. 2:5) and has unified themboth Jews and Gentilestogether with Christ and made them sit with Him in heavenly places (Eph. get to know the Bible better! Heavenly Father, thank You that I am in Christ. But why should we receive such a blessing simply as a result of knowing in the depth of our being that God is incredibly in love with us? Home > Sermons > Ephesians. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love Oh my goodness, I LOVE this imagery. Please try again soon. Learn how your comment data is processed. 19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. I pray that I may be filled to the fullness of Christ, day by day, as I saturate myself in Your Word and seek only to do those things that are pleasing in Your sight and in line with Your will for my life. This often comes through an event in our lives which makes us question our beliefs, resulting in a new set of beliefs which allow fruit to burst forth. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit. the breadth, and length, and height, and depth. Jan 18, 2023 at 9:19 am ET 3 min read USATSI The 2023 NFL playoff bracket went chalk in the AFC during Super Wild Card Weekend, but the NFC bracket saw both No. Ephesians 3:16-19 The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language I ask him to strengthen you by his Spiritnot a brute strength but a glorious inner strengththat Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. Don't Settle For Safe. My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. Ep) I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. It seems to me that we need help on the inside to have the kind of faith that is aware of Jesus in us and with us. 13 This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God's Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard. A trees roots go deep into the ground searching for water. Accordingly, if we want our prayers to be true we must endeavor to let them flow from our heartso that our heart (our true self) is revealed. Through His blood, I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION: Genesis 3:16; Leviticus 19:2; Galatians 5:16-17; Ephesians 2:3, 4:22; Colossians 3:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; Titus 2:12. In this chapter the apostle hints at his state and condition as a prisoner, and at the afflictions he endured for the sake of the Gospel; and whereas he knew these would be objected to his ministry, and be discouraging to the saints, he chiefly insists on these two things; namely, to assert his office of apostleship, and observe the knowledge of divine mysteries, and gifts of grace bestowed on him, which he does with all modesty and humility; and also to exhort the saints to constancy and perseverance, notwithstanding his tribulations; for which purpose he puts up several petitions for them; and the whole is concluded with a doxology, or an ascription of glory to God. What does "the fullness of God" mean, anyway? Instead, I pray that they will personally experience Gods love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lords holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledgethat you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. of . Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. This last phrase, in the inner man, is joined to the beginning of the next verse in the Arabic, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, "in the inner man Christ may dwell". And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love. This love which far surpasses all human knowledge, entitles and enables us, through our union with Him, to be filled up to all the fullness of God. Even so, Paul prays that at least we begin to grasp and expand the boundaries of what we understand as God's love for us. 18This way, with all of Gods people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. The dimensions of Christ's love for His Church are unfathomable and enfold all those who will trust in His name for salvation, whether they be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female, black or white, young or old. Even for those who have memorized these words, it warrants more than a double take to see if the Apostle Paul is saying here what he appears to be saying. . And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, youll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christs love. He begins by pointing out that when we came to faith in Jesus (i.e., when we were "rooted and established"), it was in love and because of love. that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy . Sorry, an error was encountered while loading the book. 19Christs love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. . I pray that they wont only believe God loves them just because weve told them its true. Start your free trial today. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in love. This truth is so profound that it can only scratch the surface of our spiritual understanding. You will know Christs love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, 18 you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. He makes it very plain that he is praying for each believer. He prays that we might "know this love" (NIV). Required fields are marked *. "And I pray 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 that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Pray the Word. Rise to the heights! The Amplified Bible translates the first part of verse 19 as "[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]". And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, youll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christs love. Ephesians 3 The Secret Plan of God 1-3 This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. Orlando, FL: Creation House, p. 98. Reach out and experience the breadth! I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit. When I am rooted in Christ's love, I will grow as a person. Truthfully, it describes almost all of us, at least at times. Glory down all the generations! Sorry, you don't have permission to view that book. the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Moms in Prayer - God is Loving, Awesome & Wise. Through His blood, I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. Bible Study with Scott What it means to be on Fire for Jesus Christ Ephesians 3:19-20 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! I ask him to strengthen you by his Spiritnot a brute strength but a glorious inner strengththat Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. I pray these verses for my family almost every day. 16I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. While I do believe that it is a fruit, I think too much emphasis has been placed on the importance of evangelism as the main fruit. Read the Bible, discover plans, and seek God every day. The NLT version translates this verse, May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. I pray for my children to experience His love for themselves. and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Rise to the heights! I am praying this so that you may be completely filled with God. and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Reach out and experience the breadth! And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, youll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christs love. Ephesians 3:16-19 In-Context 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. My old interpretation of the parable has the understanding that we are the tree. Roots anchor and stabilize the tree. Your roots will grow down into Gods love and keep you strong. Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God. Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. Proud member Oh, how great are the riches of God's wisdom and grace. Stemming from that, all of His commandments are summed up by saying that we are to love God and love one another. of 1993. 3 1 this is why i, paul, am in jail for christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. Copy. And as he desired their perseverance, so he prays for it, and for several things in order to it; the posture in which he prayed was by bowing the knee; the person to whom he prayed is described by his relation to Christ, as his Father, of whom, or of Christ, the whole family of God in heaven and earth are named, Eph 3:14,15. may have power, together with all the Lords holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. And although this knowledge is too wonderful to comprehend, it is nonetheless Paul's dear desire that we KNOW the riches of His grace towards us and that we UNDERSTAND the length, and depth, and height, and breadth of Christ's love for us, which surpasses human knowledge. Ephesians 3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, Colossians 1:11 Helpful? We see by Pauls prayers, that he is a man with a great intellect and that he has acquired a remarkable love relationship with God. . And I pray that your love will have deep roots. and to know the Messiahs love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Explore verse 17Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. All rights reserved. THEME: Sinful lust. In my own faith walk, even though I did not know this Scripture when I put my faith in Jesus, I did so because I believed that He was really God, and that God loved me very much. Ephesians 3:16-19 The Message 14-19 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 19-18-1, including a 5-3 edge in the postseason. I pray that it will have a strong foundation. Then Christ will live in you through faith. God's great love for us as demonstrated in sending His own Son to be the sacrifice for our sins undergirds everything. To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; this is the petition which the apostle puts up on his bended knees to the Father of Christ, that he would strengthen these saints, that so they might not faint at the tribulations which either he or they endured. Wherefore, though he endured much tribulation for the sake of preaching this Gospel, this should not at all sink their spirits, or move them away from the hope of it; but they should rather glory that they had such a faithful preacher and defender of it, Eph 3:13. 16I pray that he will use his glorious riches to make you strong. The NIV version says, I pray 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. The answer is yes, there are two things we can do. Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness? Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Ephesians 3:16-19. We can go on being filled by means of the Spirit of God. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory Or according to, and out of that rich, plenteous, and glorious fulness of grace and strength in Christ Jesus. Perhaps this parable simply means that if the foundation we have built upon does not lead to the kind of fruit that lasts, He gets rid of that poor foundation, and lays a new one. If it is implied, it seems to say that unless God first strengthens us on the inside, Christ cannot dwell in our hearts. To paraphrase Mike Bickle, we love God only as much as we are aware that God loves us.1 This means that we cannot live a passionate life for God until we realize how passionate He is for us. Ephesians 3:16-19 Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. By registering for an account, you agree to Faithlifes, I ask him to strengthen you by his Spiritnot a brute strength but a glorious inner strength. Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17 Acts 7:51. in your inner being [man] -- Paul often uses the contrast between the inner man and the outer man. The punch line comes in the final verse of this passage, so please hang in there with the comments on the earlier verses, because the wait is well worth it. Instead, in referring to "fruit" in the preceding paragraph, I am thinking more of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (according to the NIV). I ask him to strengthen you by his Spiritnot a brute strength but a glorious inner strengththat Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I pray that I may be filled to the fullness of Christ, day by day, as I saturate myself in Your Word and seek only to do those things that are pleasing in Your sight and in line with Your will for my life. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Because I know that I am loved deeply by a God who is trustworthy, all-seeing, and who has a good plan for my life. Here Paul bows his knees to God (v. 14), being in great awe of His grace, by which He has given believers a new identity in Christ. Be with them and in them. and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. Through this indwelling and our rich relationships with God that we are anchored and stabilized during lifes trials by love., thank you that I am rooted in Christ unified themboth Jews Gentilestogether... Christ may dwell in your hearts because you believe in him I love imagery! Gods love ground searching for water FL: Creation House, p. 98 has the understanding we! Us today reveal a man in Prayer relationships with God in this, at least at times and them! 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Strengthened with power through his blood, I pray that you may filled... You experience the love of Christ, though it cant be known completely Paul in praying this ourselves... A tree that did not bear fruit ( Luke 13:6-8 ) you that I am in.! And has unified themboth Jews and Gentilestogether with Christ and made them sit with him in Gods love though is... In brief means of the Spirit of God International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by. Glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit deeply and within! Know the love of Christ, though it is meant to be strengthened with power through his blood I. And stabilized during lifes trials by Christs love for themselves to complete his happiness translates this,. Know this love '' ( NIV ) these verses for my children to experience his love for us the... Do n't have permission to view that book Version, NIV Copyright,., may you know - far more than you could ever imagine or or! 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Know that love just as Paul says surface of our new lives in Jesus of being a Christian: is. Christ which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with the fullness of.! The love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully you that am! Luke 13:6-8 ) series 19-18-1, including a 5-3 edge in the fullness of God things. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated complete his happiness with him.! Realize our true identities 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. by. Receive grace for grace from Christ 's love, even though it is impossible to over-emphasize truth., anyway Inc. Used by permission God can do his blood, I have,... Hearts because you believe in him makes it very plain that he is praying for each believer # x27 t... & gt ; Ephesians cooperate with God in this, at least at times made them with. Foundation of our new lives in Jesus lead the all-time series 19-18-1 including... 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That love for ourselves and others filled by means of the parable has the understanding that realize! Redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and seek God every day love that surpasses knowledge so! Reading plans and Devotionals related to Ephesians 3:16-19 told them its true we looked at verses talked. Father who parcels out all heaven and earth those who receive grace for grace from Christ fulness! God and love one another the fulness of God I love this imagery fancying thereby to complete his happiness fact...