Launching into Hyper Speed: Ephesians 3:14-21
“14) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19) and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20) Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21) to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
The second prayer that Paul prayed for believers as recorded in the book of Ephesians continues to focus on the building up of the human spirit.
Let’s zero in for a moment on verse 16; “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…”. The inner man is a reference to the spirit that comes alive at the moment of salvation. According to Ephesians 2:1-7, it was dead because of trespasses and sins, but was made alive at the moment of salvation.
Notice, according to Ephesians 3:14 &16, the Father wants to strengthen our inner man with power through His Spirit according to the riches of His glory. This reference to the Father is unique, but it should come as no surprise because according to Acts 1:4-5, the inner ministry of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Father.
Notice according to verse 17, the goal is “that Christ might dwell in your hearts through faith.” Again, the word “heart” is a reference to the human spirit. This explains the mystery of the born-again believer becoming the temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 6:19-20) At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit indwells the human spirit.
The relationship between the Holy Spirit and the human spirit becomes so interwoven, it becomes hard to distinguish between the two. 1 Corinthians 6:17 goes so far as to say; “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him.” The context goes on to warn of the consequences of sexual immorality followed by the mystery of our body becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:13 helps explain this mystery by pointing out that the human body was created for the Lord. Unlike animals, people were created in the image of God as body, soul and spirit. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:23) The spirit is what distinguishes people from animals. We were created to be host to the Spirit of God.
The potential of the born-again and Spirit Filled believer now becomes almost unfathomable. Not only does Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, but we can be rooted and grounded in “agape love.” God Himself is the source of this kind of love. (See 1 John 4:8 & 16) It cannot be known or duplicated on the level of the unredeemed human flesh or soul.
According to verse 18, the Spirit filled believer can begin to comprehend the multi-dimensional realities of the spiritual realm. These extend far beyond the limitations of naturalism that the five basic senses of the human body can perceive and experience. (See 1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
Verse 19 then moves the potential of the Spirit filled believer into hyper speed. Paul now pushes the limits of human understanding. He talks about “knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.” I’m not sure what that means, but if it’s available “in Christ” and through the Holy Spirit… I want it! I know it goes way beyond the focus of the shallow and carnal modern church.
The next two verses seem to summarize the potential of the Spirit filled believer. Verse 20 says; “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”. We don’t need to sit around praying for more power and anointing, we need to set up and step out and start doing. Why? Because the power is already present. Why? Because Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already within us! Therefore He gets all the glory!
So with Scripture being so clear about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the potential for the believer who becomes “might in spirit”, why is there so much controversy and confusion about this subject? The Bible teaches that the enemy of the gospel keeps people distracted, blinded and stuck in sinful bondage. You have no excuse! You can answer the call of James 4:7-8. Don’t settle for a life of mediocrity!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“14) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16) that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19) and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20) Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21) to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
The second prayer that Paul prayed for believers as recorded in the book of Ephesians continues to focus on the building up of the human spirit.
Let’s zero in for a moment on verse 16; “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…”. The inner man is a reference to the spirit that comes alive at the moment of salvation. According to Ephesians 2:1-7, it was dead because of trespasses and sins, but was made alive at the moment of salvation.
Notice, according to Ephesians 3:14 &16, the Father wants to strengthen our inner man with power through His Spirit according to the riches of His glory. This reference to the Father is unique, but it should come as no surprise because according to Acts 1:4-5, the inner ministry of the Holy Spirit was the promise of the Father.
Notice according to verse 17, the goal is “that Christ might dwell in your hearts through faith.” Again, the word “heart” is a reference to the human spirit. This explains the mystery of the born-again believer becoming the temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 6:19-20) At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit indwells the human spirit.
The relationship between the Holy Spirit and the human spirit becomes so interwoven, it becomes hard to distinguish between the two. 1 Corinthians 6:17 goes so far as to say; “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him.” The context goes on to warn of the consequences of sexual immorality followed by the mystery of our body becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:13 helps explain this mystery by pointing out that the human body was created for the Lord. Unlike animals, people were created in the image of God as body, soul and spirit. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:23) The spirit is what distinguishes people from animals. We were created to be host to the Spirit of God.
The potential of the born-again and Spirit Filled believer now becomes almost unfathomable. Not only does Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, but we can be rooted and grounded in “agape love.” God Himself is the source of this kind of love. (See 1 John 4:8 & 16) It cannot be known or duplicated on the level of the unredeemed human flesh or soul.
According to verse 18, the Spirit filled believer can begin to comprehend the multi-dimensional realities of the spiritual realm. These extend far beyond the limitations of naturalism that the five basic senses of the human body can perceive and experience. (See 1 Corinthians 2:9-10)
Verse 19 then moves the potential of the Spirit filled believer into hyper speed. Paul now pushes the limits of human understanding. He talks about “knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.” I’m not sure what that means, but if it’s available “in Christ” and through the Holy Spirit… I want it! I know it goes way beyond the focus of the shallow and carnal modern church.
The next two verses seem to summarize the potential of the Spirit filled believer. Verse 20 says; “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”. We don’t need to sit around praying for more power and anointing, we need to set up and step out and start doing. Why? Because the power is already present. Why? Because Jesus and the Holy Spirit are already within us! Therefore He gets all the glory!
So with Scripture being so clear about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the potential for the believer who becomes “might in spirit”, why is there so much controversy and confusion about this subject? The Bible teaches that the enemy of the gospel keeps people distracted, blinded and stuck in sinful bondage. You have no excuse! You can answer the call of James 4:7-8. Don’t settle for a life of mediocrity!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
