Paul Prays a second Time for these Ephesian
Believers Part 2
Ephesians
3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love, KJVAll throughout our world today, in the past, and surely in the future mankind will worship because we were created by God to worship, but Adam’s sin passed down to each human being after him has separated man from the worship he so desperately seeks and desires, which is the worship of God. Paul knew this fact perhaps better than anyone because he spent his entire life in Judaism doing things to worship and please God, but he knew that his Jewish religious practices did not bring him close to God or gave him intimacy with Him. Paul has preached the Gospel of Grace to many in the city of Ephesus and God the Holy Spirit has regenerated and resurrected from the death of trespasses and sins many Gentiles in this city that have been brought together in Christ Body the Church and founded a local congregation. Paul’s second prayer here for these group of believers was more than for them to receive their blessing from God, but in contrast Paul digs deep into his own inner man and petitions our Heavenly Father to make these Ephesians seek such intimacy that they would know “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians 3:17).
The two seemingly small English words “may dwell” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word katoikeo which means to occupy a house that is, reside (figuratively inhabit, remain, inhere); by implication to cohabit: - dwell in or live in permanently. In other words, Paul knew the tremendous difference of knowing of God and about Him verses knowing God experimentally residing in him (Galatians 2:20) and let us remember these words that he used to close the previous Chapter 2 when he said, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22), for in these words here and these words in his prayer here (verse 17) we find the end goal of redemption through the Blood of Christ and that being a new race of humanity that God the Father, through the Blood of God the Son, and through the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit have a permanent eternal residence of occupancy.
Even as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ declared Himself would be the reality for everyone who loves Him when He said, “Just a little while now, and the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you. The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]” (John 14:19-21). Paul knew that Christ ruling and reigning in the “heart” or inner man was the only way for these believers in Ephesus to live a truly authentic Christian life in this world of sin and woe and also to defeat the constant onslaughts from the enemy the devil (Luke 4:1-13).
Paul knew that surrender and submission to our Lord Jesus Christ was the only way for Him to be in control of the inner man, for He will not force His children to submit and this submission revolves around the Word of God as Paul spoke the same ideas to the Colossian believers with these words, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:16-17).
Paul prays that they individually and as a body of believers “being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17), that is, becoming stable, consolidated, and settled in love (agape) meaning love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - dear, love for God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, but also for one another, seeking the others good and doing no harm to one another as the Apostle John wrote in this manner, “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” (1 John 2:10) and likewise as Paul implored the Roman believers with these words, “Why do you criticize {and} pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon {or} despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise].’ And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. Then let us no more criticize {and} blame {and} pass judgment on one another, but rather decide {and} endeavor never to put a stumbling block {or} an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:10-13).
My own Personal Note: Paul’s strong desire for these Ephesians believers and for us today was and is that our Lord Jesus Christ be the center of everything we do, we believe, we seek, we desire, and we love and that is only possible when He is put first by each of us moment by moment each and every day as Paul wrote with these words to the Colossian believers, “He also is the Head of [His] Body, the Church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything {and} in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent].” (Colossians 1:18).
“The kernel of this prayer is in the clause that Christ may make His home in the believer’s heart through faith. The previous petitions lead up to this. Note the Apostle’s attitude-with bended knee; his plea with God-that He is the Father from whom all family love emanates; his measure-the wealth of God’s glorious perfection; the necessary preliminary to Christ’s indwelling-the penetration of our inmost being with the strength of the Holy Spirit. And then note the outcome: The indwelling Christ means that we shall be rooted and grounded in love.” F. B. Meyer
“Trust, which is faith, is self-distrust. ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.’ Rivers do not run on the mountain tops, but down in the valleys. So the heart that is lifted up and self-complacent has no dew of His blessing resting upon it, but has the curse of Gilboa adhering to its barrenness; but the low lands, the humble and the lowly hearts, are they in which the waters that go softly scoop their course and diffuse their blessings. Faith is self-distrust. Self-distrust brings the Christ. Faith is desire. Never, never in the history of the world has it been or can it be that a longing towards Him shall be a longing thrown back unsatisfied upon itself. You have but to trust, and you possess. We open the door for the entrance of Christ by the simple act of faith, and blessed be His name! He can squeeze Himself through a very little chink, and He does not require that the gates should be flung wide open in order that, with some of His blessings, He may come in.” Alexander MacLAren
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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