Ephesians 3:14-21 Powerful Prayer

Having said the following facts about Christians to the church in Ephesus (and to us): we have spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1), we experience a common salvation (Ephesians 2), and we have all received a shared grace (Ephesians 3).

As a result, Paul prays for the church. Pastors should pray for the church. Fathers should pray for their families. Friends should pray for their friends, for their fellow workers. You should pray for those who don’t know Jesus.

God works through prayer. He showed us in the Old Testament that when we pray, God works. Here in Ephesians, Paul describes the power that is at work.

Paul prays for power for us as believers. Look at what Paul prays for. What he prays for, we can also pray for ourselves.

PROCESS OF POWER IN PRAYER

1. THAT GOD WILL – Supply me with spiritual strength (3:16)

Holy Spirit strength

Stronger than medicine. Stronger than Superman. Stronger than any trouble you and I will encounter.

2. THAT GOD WILL – Root my heart with Christ on my faith journey. (3:16)

Christ-centered confidence

Without Christ, I can’t do anything (John 15:5). With Christ, I can do everything (Philippians 4:3).

3. THAT GOD WILL – Help me fully understand God’s responsible love. (3:17-19)

God-given grace

I am created by God out of His love (3:17).
I am accepted by Christ out of His love (3:18-19).
I am capable by the Holy Spirit to share this love with others (3:19).

4. SO THAT I can be filled with God’s power (3:19).

The power that we need that we have in prayer comes from God’s love.

5. SO THAT God can do amazing stuff in my life. (3:20)

How much stuff can God do in my life?

MORE THAN I CAN THINK OR ASK

How much more stuff can God do than I can think or ask?

ABOVE

How much stuff above the more than I can think or ask?

ABUNDANTLY

How far abundantly above the more than I can think or ask can God do in my life?

EXCEEDINGLY

What does that mean?

How much can God do?

A very, very, very, very, very large amount – an amount that is bigger than I could think. It is God-sized. It is God-sized because it is God-empowered. Look at the power that God is using to help us answer the prayer request? He is using “the power that works in us”. It is “according”, not just “out of”. (just like the according and out of argument for financial provision in Philippians.)

Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash