is to be proclaimed to the whole world. Through the Saviour we have boldness and access in confidence by faith into God’s presence (Eph. 3: 12). Through prayer as well as our experiences of life, we have this holy privilege since we belong to the one Body of believers. Ephesians 3:13 is an exhortation to those who might have lost heart because of the trials of life. Although Paul was a pris oner in Rome and his earthly work was ending, there was the assur ance and hope to which he pointed. Paul was performing his part in the plan formed by God before the foun dation of the world. He wanted his readers to understand that any tem porary anguish was a fulfillment of the will of God for His life. The Ephesians could feel honored that here was one accomplishing such a divine mission, suffering on their behalf. His example would bring them encouragement and hope rather than grief and despair. Then, from Ephesians 3:14-19 the Apostle Paul prays for spiritual pow er. It is a wonderful passage to ap ply to our own lives. What more could we desire than such a request that we should be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith . . . that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” This prayer refers back to the great realities Paul earlier presented. In the first chapter we were reminded of God our Father and that by faith we are adopted as sons. In the sec ond chapter we read of our access by one Spirit unto the Father. In the third chapter Paul writes of our boldness and access in confidence through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. C hapter T hirteen O NE OF THE Christian’s mos t blessed privileges is the minis try of intercession. In Ephesians 3: 14-19 we have Paul’s heartfelt peti
tion on our behalf, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We can and should turn to God in every circumstance of life. There are unbelievers today who speak loud and long about the universal Father hood of God. They say that all of His creation are His sons. This is cer tainly not the teaching of the New Testament. While all human beings are creatures of God, yet only those who by faith receive Jesus Christ as personal Saviour are adopted into His Eternal family, and are His sons. The prayer Paul offers here is specifically fo r spiritual strength. The source of this power is the Holy Spirit. The sphere in which it is to be realized is in the inward man. The true church of Jesus Christ was being built for a habitation of God. This is true of every individual mem ber as well. Each one of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within. All Christians need to pray for that inner enrichment for which Paul here is asking. It is the very office and function of the Holy Spirit to make Christ real and regnant in the life of believers. “He shall glo rify Me,” is what Jesus said about Himself. This denotes both perma nent residence as well as abiding presence. The heart is considered the seat of the affections, as well as the center of intelligence and will. It isn’t just the muscle that pumps blood through the body. Faith is the sole condition. The door of your heart must be opened. Christ is will ing and ready to enter. Yet He will not force open the door Himself. All desired blessings a re f rom God through Jesus Christ the Son, com ing through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As a condition for knowledge we must be “rooted and grounded in love.” This means they are to be se curely settled and deeply founded. Love is the element in which Chris tians are to be thoroughly grounded. This is indeed the fruit of the Holy Spirit. One must be throughly estab- 27
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