CLICK HERE FOR THE ENGAGE GUIDE CONTAINING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

We ended last week in Ephesians 3:13 with “don’t be discouraged…Paul’s suffering will bring glory to the church.”  So, take courage and be strengthened!   Now Paul prays for the Ephesians to that end—to discover what they are capable of in Christ!

Prayer request 1:  That the church be strengthened in POWER of the Spirit.  Ephesians 3:14-17a

• His posture was kneeling which conveyed a serious reverence.
  
  
• He prayed to the Father.
  
  
• He prayed for their strengthening at their deepest core of their being by the power of the Spirit. (16)
  • Power dunamis- the capability to accomplish or to achieve.
  • Inner being- Where Christ becomes “the dominating factor of your entire being.” BKC

• Outcome- Christ becomes the evidential cause of all you are and all you do. (17a)

Prayer request 2: That the church be given the POWER to comprehend the incredible love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17b-19

• To be rooted and established is to be built upon—your foundation. (17b)
  
  
• To have the “power” the capability to grasp or comprehend the love of God.
  • It is beyond a special description—wide, long, deep, and high. (18)
  • It is beyond anything that knowledge or experience can compare. (19a)

• Outcome- to be filled with the fullness of God’s presence.
  • Part of the mystery mentioned in verse 12.

• Love overflows from the one who is empowered to grasp the love of Christ.

Take aways

1. Pray for the Spirit to give power and strength to the church—each other!
   
   
2. Pray for each other to be given power to grasp the love of Christ.
   
   
3. Pray that strength and love will be lived out in power to the glory of God.

Benediction

Ephesians 3:20-21 “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.”