Lesson 7 – Another Prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:14-21)
The focus of Paul’s prayer is not that the Ephesians would be filled with information (though Paul does want them to understand the mystery of Christ and live with wisdom) but that they might be filled with the fullness of God. He prays that through the Spirit strengthening their inner persons and Christ dwelling in their hearts they might be overwhelmed with the breadth and depth of the love of Christ, and that they might experience (to know intimately) what is beyond knowing, that is, the love of Christ. In this way, believers are rooted and grounded in God’s love for us.
This is where our security lies, and it dispels anxiety and fear. We know we are loved not simply through information or cognition, but we experience the love of God deep in our hearts and inner persons. Paul wants believers to have an intimate knowledge of God whereby God’s love for us stabilizes, grounds, and roots us through God’s work in our hearts.
To God be the glory in the church and in Christ because God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Below is a chart that compares the prayers in Ephesians 1:15-23 and Ephesians 3:14-21.