Ephesians 3:14–21 . . .

“Apostle Paul Prays for the Ephesians”

There are two great prayers in this Epistle. The first is in chapter 1 when it seemed to Paul that the gospel of Jesus was so wonderful that it was impossible for man to see the glory of it until God was better understood; he tells the Christians at Ephesus that he was continually praying that God would give them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” and that they might be enlightened and receive “his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (I’ve highlighted Paul’s first prayer in my commentary of chapter 1 titled “Thanksgiving and Prayer.”)

Paul’s second prayer to the Ephesian church body takes a different form; this prayer has strength and light as its central idea. We can’t understand and respond to the gospel account unless its magnificence is divinely revealed to us. The spiritual energy necessary to receive it and hold fast to it must come from God. This second prayer is less about external circumstances — that the Christians in Ephesus were being beaten up and persecuted for their faith — than about what was going on inside, in each person’s inner being.

Paul Kneels Before Father God (3:14–15)

This passage is directly related to the previous one and starts with the identical phrase: “For this reason…” The permanent unified “dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (2:22) is still in the apostle’s mind, but in a different aspect. The prayer he offers here is no less remarkable and unique in his several other epistles than his act of praise in 1:3–14.

The word “kneel” is the Greek word kampto, which means to bow low. Here, the apostle uses it to picture a person who bends the knees to acknowledge God’s authority. It’s an action that expresses honor, respect, humiliation, and worship.

Because of God’s plan for a unified church, Paul got down on his knees — a position of utmost humility — before the magnificent Father who parcels out heaven and earth. The words “I kneel” certainly don’t impose a necessary bodily posture for spiritual worship, since physical conditions may make kneeling impossible or undesirable. Nevertheless, they do impose a spiritual attitude to be undertaken; profound and submissive reverence, perfectly harmonious with “freedom and confidence” (3:12). Assuredly, believers have access to the Father through the Spirit of Christ (2:18).

The motivation and trust of Paul’s prayer is revealed in these words, “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” He doesn’t concentrate on the “familyhood” of earthly creatures but on the supreme “fatherhood” of God. The world knows of natural fathers and the families they produce. But above and beyond those “fathers” is the ultimate, supreme Father God. It is to this “Father” that Paul prays.

There’s an immediate and pressing necessity for this prayer that’s implied, not expressed. When Paul wrote this letter and prayed his prayer, he was a prisoner in Rome, a circumstance that appears to have had a very depressing effect on the newly converted brethren at Ephesus. They likely looked upon his calamity as an evil omen with strange inferences: A prisoner in Rome acts as an ambassador of the King of kings! These novices in the Christian faith wondered and so reasoned. So, to save them from becoming discouraged by his prisoner status, and to keep them steadfast in the faith, he prayed for them.

“I Pray that You. . .” (3:16–19)

Apostle Paul includes five petitions as he kneeled in prayer before Father God:

• that his readers might receive inner strength and power through the Holy Spirit (v. 16)
• that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, and that they might be rooted and grounded in love (v. 17)
• that the Ephesian church body would appreciate the totality of Christ’s authority in his salvation work (v. 18)
• that they might know the unquantifiable extent and value of their love of Christ (v. 19a)
• that the fullness of God will indwell and fill them immeasurably (v. 19b)

He prayed that the Ephesians would grasp the depth of Christ’s love. Though divine care is beyond human comprehension, Paul says that God will give spiritual understanding so he can experienced more fully. Recognizing God’s love will bring peace and joy to our lives. However, like any caring father, the Lord will use discipline to bring us back to him. So, let’s permit Father God’s love to motivate us to walk in a holy and obedient manner with him.

Paul finds assurance and confidence in praying to the “Father” in heaven because we’ve all been instructed to address our prayers directly to him, as Apostle Matthew relates in his gospel (6:9a): “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven…’” And it’s no wonder that Paul reminds us of the Fatherhood of God; he’s not just the “Father” of the Jews, but the “Father” of all who call upon him faithfully, in the person and work of his Son.

In v. 16, Paul’s prayer gets specific. He asks for the Ephesian brethren to become strengthened powerfully, according to the Lord’s glorious riches. He asked too that the Holy Spirit would put such strength into their “inner being.” But what is one’s “inner being”? Many assume it’s the soul, with its faculties of reason, emotion, and will. But Paul probably means something different, since, in 2 Corinthians 4, he suggests his meaning of “inner being” wherein he writes, “Our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16 NKJV). That said, for us Christians, there’s something about us that’s getting old, decaying, and deteriorating; but there’s also something about us that’s increasing and getting more vital, while becoming richer, deeper, and stronger every day. That’s what he calls the “inner being.”

This inner being is the human spirit in which God begins the work of recovery. It’s as real as our outer physical body. However, while we believers in Jesus understand the importance of strength in our physical body, some of us are exceedingly weak in our inner being. This is where the recovery must begin. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have this inner being granted to them. Thankfully, when we pray on that same level, God promises to provide.

Paul prays also that, as a result of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, Christ will dwell in the hearts of his readers, by faith (v. 17a). Every Christian has been united with Christ, by faith. Although Christ is truly inside every devoted believer, Paul prays that the Father’s dwelling in us might be enhanced. The glory of the indwelling Jesus is something for us to know and feel, but we must take hold of his inner presence, through faith. That’s why Paul prays for spiritual growth that enables believers each day to see and feel God more evidently and continue to remain more devoted to him.

The agricultural reference Paul makes in v. 17b — “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love” — adds another dimension to his prayer request: that the risen Savior dwells within our hearts so that we succeed at cultivating effective roots in the way we love others. After all, the Lord is the definition of love (1 John 4:7–8).

Our God Is Most Able! (3:20–21)

Believers in Jesus are called to follow his example and believe that Father God is able to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (v. 20). For example, God promises eternal salvation for everyone who requests forgiveness in Jesus’ name (Hebrews 7:25). The Son satisfied his Father’s justice by dying on the cross for all of mankind’s sins. God will pardon everyone who has a genuine faith in Jesus our Savior.

By believing that God keeps his promises, we’ll become stronger in our faith. Hardships that once would have thrown us off course will lose their ability to shake us. Hope will displace discouragement, and trust will overcome doubt. When troubles come, prayerfully focus your inner being on your loving, heavenly Father and his ability to care for you.

Let’s look closely at both closing verses. Verse 20 begins with “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Paul’s “to him” addresses praise to Father God, to whom his prayer was initially addressed (v. 14). His “able” is in the present tense, emphasizing that God is continually able! He’s no part-time God but an ever-ready God, always able to come to our aid and answer our prayers. And, Paul’s “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” speaks emphatically to the God’s unlimited potential for every believer’s life!

John MacArthur writes convincingly of v. 20a: “When the Holy Spirit has empowered us, Christ has indwelt us, love has mastered us, and God has filled us with His fullness. He is then able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we ask or think. Until those conditions are met, God’s work in us is limited. But when they are met, His work in us is unlimited.”

Keep in mind that in its context, Paul’s prayer asks God to do an awful lot. However, it’s not a prayer for physical miracles. It’s a prayer, instead, that personally asks Christ to dwell in believers’ hearts so they’ll comprehend the great extent of his love for us, thereby enabling us to grow and reach complete spiritual maturity.

As we read v. 20b — “according to his power that is at work within us,” we should first realize that “according to” (Greek katá) means in proportion to God’s infinite riches. God is not stingy. This isn’t merely a portion of power but a proportion of power! And, what is “the power that is at work within us”? It’s a supernatural dynamic power. The Spirit of Jesus is in us. He’s the One who gives us his supernatural power.

In v. 21a, “to him be glory” obviously refers again to Father God whom we praise and glorify. I’m reminded of Lou Fellingham’s great hymn “To God Be the Glory,” vocally and instrumentally presented here. To that Paul adds two individual clauses: “in the church and in Christ Jesus.” For Paul, body and members form a single church entity created by the Lord. The honor of Jesus is in the hands of his church.… The “throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” clause implies that “generations” suggests today’s times of human history on earth; they are yet to come; that earthly drama will be played out at the end of the Millennium. It will be then that this praise anthem to our Father will continue into eternity, time without end, amen! Finally, Paul’s “Amen” acknowledges that which is valid and binding. The word “Amen” serves as an affirmation.

As we appreciate Apostle Paul’s powerful prayer of strength and encouragement through the Spirit of Jesus, it’s important to remember Paul's jail time. To help him withstand the rigors of imprisonment, the Holy Spirit provided him with physical and mental stamina. At the same time, the Spirit burdened the hearts of other believers to provide for Paul’s material needs (Philippians 4:18). Most importantly God’s Spirit expanded the apostle’s ministry by giving him the courage to speak about Jesus Christ with his Romans guards (Phil. 1:13).

Paul relied upon the Lord to provide his inner being with strength; consequently he never gave up on his faith. Today, we faithful believers serve the same all-powerful, all-capable God. That means we have no excuse for avoiding his plans for us. His Spirit dwells within us and is always ready to release his power to us when we obey Father God’s call.

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