Paul Prays a second Time for these Ephesian
Believers Part 1
Ephesians
3:14-16 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His
Spirit in the inner man; KJVSome of God’s finest men He chose to make commentary on His Holy Word such as Marvin Vincent (1834-1922) believe Paul begins his pray here picking up where he interrupted himself from beginning to pray a second time for these Ephesian converts to Christ at the close of (Ephesians 2:13-22). While other very excellent commentators like Adam Clarke (1760-1832) and Albert Barnes (1798-1870) believe that Paul begins his second prayer here with the thought of the preceding verse “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Ephesians 3:13). However, I believe Paul was not one to compartmentalize his inner most desires and thoughts for those whom he preached the Gospel of Grace to, but instead he here begins this second prayer with the words he wrote from the previous Chapter 2 in mind as well as the words from verse 13 in this Chapter 3 and we can see that in the words he prays here in verses 15 and 16.
First, Paul begins this great prayer with his accustomed posture before God on his knees. This posture of prayer is not the only way we can approach our Heavenly Father, but it was practiced regularly by the Jews in that day and every young Jewish child would be taught to kneel before YAWEH as the Psalmist wrote in this manner, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” (Psalm 95:6). In these words written by the Psalmist we find three (3) key Hebrew words we must pull out and examine. First, the English phrase “let us worship” is translated by one Hebrew word shachah which is a primitive root; meaning to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - humbly beseech, do or make obeisance, do reverence. Secondly, the English phrase “and bow down” is translated by one Hebrew word kara a primitive root; meaning to bend the knee; by implication to sink, to prostrate: - bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue. Thirdly, the English phrase “let us kneel” is translated by one Hebrew word barak a primitive root; meaning to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration).
In other words, the Psalmist is here declaring complete humility of heart and soul, complete respectful deference, reverence and awe before the Self-Existent and Eternal One JEHOVAH or YAWEH. This is the attitude Paul grew up learning as a little Jewish boy and it continued into his adult life as he became a Jewish Pharisee serving as a voting member of the Sanhedrin. Now that Paul knows personally and intimately the One True God he was taught about as a boy through faith in Jesus Christ, he kneels or bows his knee as his custom physical posture, but most important Paul humbles his heart before “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:14).
It is evident that Paul resumes his thoughts from the end of Chapter 2 here in praying for these Ephesians having been brought into the family of God by the miracle of the new birth as he declared to them at the end of Chapter 2 with these words, “And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near. For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him]. Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household.” (Ephesians 2:17-19). Paul’s prayer for them is that they know without any doubting, wavering, or uncertainty that they too are brethren (not only now with the Jews), but also with the holy angels of God now in Heaven as one of said angels expressed it with these words to the Apostle John when he said, “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, ‘See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.’” (Revelation 22:8-9).
The purpose of Paul saying in his prayer here “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15) is that the Ephesian converts would grasp the immense or huge or vast spiritual kinship they are a beloved part of when they were a short time ago “having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). It is not by human blood relationship to the Jews and the angels in Heaven are these Ephesians fellow brethren, but it is by the Blood of the Lamb, the Blood of Christ that they are in the eternal family of God as the Apostle Peter declared it in this manner, “You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious Blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
It is also evident that Paul wants them to refrain from cowering back in their faith by what they are witnessing happening to him (his imprisonment for preaching the Gospel) by saying in his prayer for them “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:16). The English phrase “to be strengthened” is translated by one Greek word krataioo meaning to empower, that is, increase in vigor: - be strengthened, be (wax) strong. The English phrase “with might” is translated by one Greek word dunamis meaning force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): - ability, abundance, meaning, might, power, strength. Note: This Greek word dunamis is where we derive our English word dynamite from and also it is a favorite word used by Paul and other Apostles some 120 times in the New Testament. In other words, Paul wants these Ephesian believers and us today to have a Holy Ghost explosion on the inside that they and we would be fearless under the threats from the human instruments used by the enemy the devil and also that they and we would be strengthened to fight against the corruption of the old nature, and also that they and we would be powerful in the duties (whatsoever they are from our Lord Jesus Christ) to serve Him with love, awe, reverence, praise, humility, gratitude, continually, consistently, and confidently.
My own Personal Note: Paul wants them to know without doubt that they can have as much intimacy with our Father in Heaven as they want by just simply asking Him as he prayed in a similar manner for the Colossian believers with these words, “For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray {and} make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding {and} discernment of spiritual things--That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him {and} desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing {and} increasing in {and} by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. [We pray] that you may be invigorated {and} strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.” (Colossians 1:9-12).
“This prayer of the Apostle is one of the most grand and sublime in the whole oracles of God. The riches of the grace of the Gospel, and the extent to which the soul of man may be saved here below, are most emphatically pointed out here. Every word seems to have come immediately from Heaven; laboring to convey ideas of infinite importance to mankind. No paraphrase can do it justice, and few commentators seem to have entered into its spirit; perhaps deterred by its unparalleled sublimity. Ye have many enemies, cunning and strong; many trials, too great for your natural strength; many temptations, which no human power is able successfully to resist; many duties to perform, which cannot be accomplished by the strength of man; therefore you need Divine strength; ye must have might; and ye must be strengthened everywhere, and every way fortified by that might; mightily and most effectually strengthened. By the Sovereign energy of the Holy Ghost. This fountain of spiritual energy can alone supply the spiritual strength which is necessary for this spiritual work and conflict. The outward man is strengthened by earthly food, etc.; the inward man, by spiritual and Heavenly influences. Knowledge, love, peace, and holiness, are the food of the inward man; or rather Jesus Christ, that bread of life which came down from Heaven: he that eateth this bread shall live and be strengthened by it. The soul must be as truly fed and nourished by Divine food as the body by natural food.” Adam Clarke
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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