The 2nd Prayer to the Ephesians

   Some of the core components we want to shed a bit of light on in the second of Paul’s prayers to the Ephesians are as follows:

• God strengthens the inner man through the Holy Spirit
• Being rooted and grounded in love
• Paul prays they would comprehend the greatness of God’s love for them
• Paul prays that they would not only know the love of Christ but be, filled with all the fulness of God.

   The passage in Ephesians we will be covering is:

   Ephesians 3:13-21
   “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 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; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

   Today, let’s dive into the four points Paul made in this prayer, so we can better understand it and operate in truth and faith when praying this either over ourselves, or others.

God Strengthens the Inner Man Through the Holy Spirit

   It is not an ungodly goal to want to be, “-strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy…” according to Colossians 1:11. But this strengthening of our inner man, as Paul prays for the Ephesians to experience in this prayer, does not come with works and striving, but by abiding in the Lords presence, and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach and strengthen us. Are there areas in your spirit you need strengthening? In your mind? Emotions? Heart? Ask the Holy Spirit, who is the power of God, to help strengthen your inner man so you may walk in faith.

Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

   I appreciate, as I reflect back on this scripture, the reminder through this prayer that Paul sent to the Ephesians, that we can do nothing righteous outside of love, and that we are called to be rooted and grounded in love. So how does one become rooted and grounded in love? First, they must come to know and understand the Love of God and experience a renewing of their mind by spending time with Him and in His word. You can learn more about God’s love through our teaching, titled—The Fathers Love—here.

Paul Prays They Would Comprehend the Greatness of God’s Love for Them

   When we have an encounter and receive wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit on God’s love, its vastness, its breadth and depth…it alters everything about us. Many a believer struggles to feel loving towards God because they do not know how wonderful Gods love truly is. If you are in a season where you’re struggling to feel loving towards God or have never really and truly felt warm and fuzzy towards the Lord before, ask the Lord to help you to comprehend the magnitude of His heart for you.

To Know the Love of Christ and Be Filled with All the Fulness of God

   If we want to be filled with the fullness of God (Understanding Him, the New Blood Covenant, walking in His statues, Walking in His promises, etc.) we must first come to know the love of Christ. Because ultimately, it is in the broken body and shed blood of the Lamb that we have these gifts. We cannot enter into the Holy of Holies, receive grace and mercy, walk in love, operate in the gifts of the spirit, or anything else for that matter, apart from Christ.

This second prayer is packed with even more truth and the foundational principles as believers that the Holy Spirit wants to help us come into agreement with. In our teaching—2nd Prayer to the Ephesians—which you can watch and or listen to on our app or website, Pastor John Aldridge will lead you more in depth with references back to various scriptures that further solidify and reveal the core points discussed above.

   To watch or listen, click the teaching below!

Check out our scripture led teachings, as well as our other blog posts below!