Ephesians 3:14-21, Part 2

Paul’s (Second) Prayer for the Church in Ephesus

In Ephesians 1:15-29, Paul gave an extended prayer for the church. Now in Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul gives another extended prayer for the church. Paul wants the Ephesian believers to have hearts strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit, so that Christ may live comfortably in them. First Paul prayed that they would be strengthened by God. Next, Paul prays that they would grow in their knowledge of God’s love.

That They Would Grow in Their Knowledge of God’s Love (Ephesians 3:17-19a)

We need to grow in our knowledge of God. It’s not an individualistic experience. In verse 18, Paul uses the word “comprehend,” which means “to grasp.” In verse 19, Paul uses the term “to know,” as in a living knowledge. He wants us to both have a head knowledge and an experiential knowledge of God’s love.

In today’s world, love has come to be understood as a feeling, while truth is understood as a fact. We Christians can be seen as (and act as) the messengers of cold, hard realism, and our doctrine and teaching emphasizes what we aren’t or what we disagree with.

We see this about the Ephesian church, according to Revelations 2:1-5. Christ says they have left their first love – love for God and love for neighbor. You cannot have Biblical truth without love, and you cannot have love without biblical truth.

That They Would Be Filled with God’s Fullness (Ephesians 3:19b)

Being filled by God means growing to be more like God. This really is the result of the earlier parts of Paul’s prayer: being empowered by God to have Christ dwell in our hearts and to fully comprehend and experience the love of Christ within us and among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This does not mean that we will be omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (present in all places simultaneously). Those are attributes of God’s greatness, His superiority as Creator over the creature. Paul is writing about is how we will be filled or controlled by God in our moral qualities.

Paul’s Praise (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Why is God praiseworthy? What is Paul pointing out? Paul is praising God because of His ability to do far beyond everything we can ask or think. Praise God that He is not bound by the finitude of our brains. This assumes His power and His goodness. God us always the same, always powerful and always good. He is worthy of endless praise!

Application Points

• Love without truth is self-centered, not being grounded in truth and the benefit of others. Truth without love is equally self-centered, with the goal of being right and without care for the one who is wrong or stays wrong. Christians don’t have the luxury of giving truth and saying “deal with it.”
• Love is the fruit of the Spirit, not a spiritual gift. That means every believer is expected to walk and grow in love. You don’t have to be a hugger, but you do need to be a lover, in truth and compassion. This doesn’t mean to be a doormat, but being willing to endure, be someone who listens, helps, and reaches out.
• Are you praying for one another’s spiritual growth that you might see your spiritual family members to be more like God?

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore:

• 1 Timothy 1:1-5
• 1 Corinthians 8:1 – Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
• Ephesian 3:18 – Growing in the knowledge of God’s love is not individualistic.
• Revelations 2:1-7
• 1 John 4:8, 19-21
• I Corinthians 13:1-3
• Ephesians 5:1-2, 25
• Ephesians 4:14-16
• Ephesians 6:4

A Hymn to Encourage: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.