Immeasurably More than All We Ask or Imagine
Ephesians 1:15-19 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 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. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Paul deviates from his customary introductory formula in this letter by inserting the eulogia (we spoke of this last week) before his thanksgiving and prayer for the recipients of the letter. Ephesians 1:15-19 begins the thanksgiving and prayer and Paul concludes it in Ephesians 3:14-21.
The emphasis of the prayer is that God would fill them with the Holy Spirit so that they may know experientially (not just intellectually) Jesus, his love, their inheritance, and the power of God at work in them. As with the eulogia, these intercessory requests are of particular import for new Christians. In discussions with our newer Christians, I have found they are particularly interested in this experiential knowledge and are somewhat disappointed that we older Christians, do not seem to be.
I’ll say more in the lesson, Joey
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