Craig Smith • 3:14-21 • February 5, 2023
In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Eph. 3:12)
The
of prayer: humble
– “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” (Eph. 3:14-15)
The content of prayer…
• Inner
and
– “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Eph. 3:16-17a)
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)
God’s power and strength come not from our
but our
– “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal. 3:3; 5:25)
• Deeper
and
– “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17b-19)
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 5:1-2)
• The
of prayer: God is
– “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, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)
