Inner Strength (Ephesians 3:14-19)
Paul's Prayer
Ephesians 3:14 (ESV) — 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
As we open up Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we must notice that we are coming to the halfway point. So far in this letter, Paul has told the Ephesians that they are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. There is not one thing that God has held back from them. They have full assurance from God that Jesus has reconciled their relationship and brought them into his spiritual family as adopted sons and daughters. God desires them and all Christians everywhere to glorify God's name.
With all that in mind, Chapter 3, verse 14 tells us that he is bowing his knees before the Father. He prays to God in a very humble stance. People in those days would stand to pray. Only during extreme struggle or begging would one fall to their knees. So, when we read that he bows his knees, we are invited to listen carefully to what Paul is begging God for.
Ephesians 3:15–16 (ESV) — 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
What does he ask for God to provide? What is he begging for God to give? Strength to the Ephesians. He is pouring his heart out to God, asking God to give the Ephesians supernatural strength. We might wonder at this and think, "What kind of war are they about to be fighting that would require such strength?" The answer is at the end of the verse. He wants them to be "strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." Paul recognizes that the type of strength the Ephesians needed was not external. They didn't need to fight a physical battle but a spiritual battle. They needed inner strength.
Let's pause right there for just a second. What would that look like?
The Inner Being?
When we think about internal being, what are we talking about? Aren't we discussing the mind, heart, spirit, and soul? The soul is either alive or dead. There is not any more variation than that. But these other three are somewhere on the scale of weakness and strength. To put it in terms that we are more used to, we might think about intellectual, emotional, or behavioral strength. These are areas where we need strength to deal with struggles in life.
Strong
What would a strong mind think about and pursue? What would a strong heart desire? What would a strong spirit pursue? We need to understand this.
A strong mind can think critically about why we are here and our purpose. The stronger our mind is, the more we can fixate on that purpose. We can also understand how to pursue that purpose. The strong-minded person knows where he/she should be going and why they are going there. A Christian with a strong mind is committed to deepening their understanding of the Gospel and Christian doctrine. This may involve regular reading of the Bible, participating in Bible studies, theological inquiry, prayerful reflection, and even gaining a grasp of church history and Christian literature. A strong-minded Christian seeks wisdom, discernment, and guidance from the Holy Spirit. They are mentally resilient in their faith not easily swayed by doctrines that conflict with their beliefs. They can defend their faith intelligently and respectfully engage in spiritual discussions. They exercise self-control and mindfulness, cultivating a mind focused on things above rather than earthly distractions (Colossians 3:2).
The strong heart has resilience, perseverance, and determination. In Christianity, this is where faith stems. Faith is an intellectual pursuit and an emotional tying to Christ. The emotionally intense Christian knows that they will fail, and they push through the difficult times. They feel passionate about God and Christ. A Christian with a strong heart exemplifies compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and love in their interactions with others. These are characteristics that Jesus emphasized in His teachings. This person's heart is filled with gratitude; they often express their faith through worship and praise. They are deeply passionate about God's word, people, and creation. They have a heart for service and seek to love their neighbors as themselves, following Jesus's commandments. They quickly repent and seek forgiveness when they fall short, understanding that "a broken and contrite heart, God will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).
Strong Spirit: A Christian with a strong spirit is firm in faith and convictions, demonstrating perseverance in trials, integrity in their actions, and courage in the face of adversity. They display the fruits of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ."They are prayerful and spiritually attuned, continually seeking a closer relationship with God. They strive to live by the Spirit, allowing it to guide their lives and decisions. They're open to the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, which aids them in leading a life that aligns with God's will.
Weak
What would a weak mind, heart, and spirit look like? The weak mind, heart, and spirit are immature, unknowledgeable, susceptible to false teachings and deceptions of Satan, and continue to pursue the purpose of the world's people. They say they love God and others, but their compassion and zeal are non-existent. They lack consistency. The weak Christian is easily discouraged in trials and easily overwhelmed by life's difficulties. It may be that discouragements or dangers would drive the weak away from God. We could easily see them falling to temptations and being too proud to change. They seem unable to follow what is right and good for various reasons. They are constantly learning but never coming to an understanding. There is no passion or strong desire in the weak heart. They are lazy and refuse to pursue a life of holiness.
What Does That Look Like?
To hammer this home, let's look at an example or two. Paul, the guy revealing this prayer he has for the Ephesians, is one of the strongest people we know internally. Here is a man who is all in. His mental devotion, determination, and persistence are off the charts. There is nothing that will stop him from fulfilling his purpose in life. It doesn't matter how difficult it is. "To live is Christ, to die is gain."
The fantastic thing about Paul is that he is willing to push himself to do what's complicated and does it with the right motives and a good heart. He genuinely loves his Savior and those lost enough to lay it all on the line for them. He maintains a sense of joy and hopeful assurance when they don't accept the truth.
He sees his suffering as, at the very least, an opportunity to lift those who are saved.
How Can We Grow Strong?
Strengthening our inner being isn't as simple as working out with weights or exercise. How do Christians develop this strength? That is going to be the biggest question for us today.
Ephesians 3:16–19 (ESV) — 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
He mentions four important phrases to understand how to be strong. Here are the phrases: "through his Spirit," "rooted and grounded in love," "Christ may dwell in your heart," and "Be filled with all the fullness of God." These four phrases teach us that we can come to a greater comprehension and knowledge of Christ. They move us from no strength to the greatest strength.
Through His Spirit
First, he is praying for God's Spirit to bring this strength and power. This is the most fundamental. Growing strong is not a matter of willpower. We don't have any, remember? We are too weak to become strong on our own. We need the Spirit of God working in our lives providentially and perhaps miraculously (though I'm unsure how to distinguish between those two). Paul prays for this strength to come inside the Christians in Ephesus by the working of God.
Rooted and Grounded In Love
Then, he starts at the bottom. He says we need to be "rooted" and "grounded." These are statements of strength. When we build, we start with a firm foundation. Notice that the love of God
He says that the purpose of this strength is for Christ to dwell in our hearts through faith. What does that mean? It's evident to me that he wants us to resemble Christ. Notice that there are several parallel statements to consider. Parallel statements are usually synonymous. If that is the case, Christ dwelling in our hearts means we have the strength to comprehend and know Christ more fully. Especially for us to know his love, which is the fundamental characteristic.
Paul is praying for the Ephesians to have significant internal strength through the Spirit by understanding and becoming more like Christ. He's telling us that Christ is the source of our spiritual strength. Without him and knowledge of him, we would be hopelessly weak and miserable. When God gave us Christ, he gave us a fountain of living water and bread that gives us real spiritual life.
Filled With The Fullness of God
The last part of verse 19 tells us one more parallel statement. To be filled with the fullness of God is to experience the ultimate transformation of our inner being. It's akin to a vessel being filled to its brim, leaving no room for anything else.
Imagine that you are a container, and God's love, His Spirit, and the presence of Christ have been poured into you. It's not a matter of merely having a sip of these divine attributes but being completely immersed, saturated, and overwhelmed by them. This is where our spiritual strength finds its zenith.
When we are filled with the fullness of God, we become vessels of His grace, love, and power. We reflect His character in all we do. We exude the love that flows from Him. Our actions, words, and thoughts resonate with His presence.
And as we allow the Spirit to empower us, as we open our hearts to Christ's dwelling through faith, and as we continually seek to know the depths of His love, we inch closer to being filled with the fullness of God. It's not a destination we reach once and for all; rather, it's a lifelong pursuit. It's a journey marked by growth, transformation, and an ever-deepening intimacy with our Lord and Savior.
Conclusion
So, my dear brothers and sisters, as we strive to grow strong in our inner being, let us keep these four phrases in our hearts: "through His Spirit," "rooted and grounded in love," "Christ may dwell in your heart," and "filled with all the fullness of God." These phrases guide us on our journey towards spiritual strength, reminding us that our strength is not our own but comes from the boundless riches of our heavenly Father. May we continue to press forward in this pursuit, for in it, we discover the profound depth of God's love and the transformative power of His presence.