THE KING’S BUSINESS
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strengthening was not to be merely outward, but in the inner depths o f their being—-“ in the inward man” (literally, into the inward man,” the form o f expression representing the Spirit as sinking His mighty power deeper and ever deeper into the innermost recesses o f our being). The strengthening was to be through the only agency that can impart real strength, viz., “ His Spirit” (cf.' Acts 1:8). It is evident from this passage that it is right to pray for the Spirit (cf. Luke 11:13; Acts 4:31; 8:15). Many seek to escape taking Luke 11:13 as a warrant for praying for the Spirit in this present dispensation by saying that that was said before Pentecost. Dr. C. I. Scofield says. “ To go back to -the promise o f Luke 11:13 is to forget Pentecost and to ignore the truth that now every believer has the indwelling Spirit.” But certainly this pass age in Ephesians that we are now studying is long after Pentecost, and, consequently, there is no warrant for saying “ it is to for get Pentecost to pray for the Holy Spirit.” Not only was this written long after Pente cost, but it was after the church in Ephesus had had its own especial Pentecost (cf. Acts 19:1-7). It is also evident from this passage that even after one has'definitely received the Holy Spirit, and been sealed by Him as those in Ephesus had (ch. 1:13, 14), it is still right to pray for a larger measure o f the Spirit’s manifested presence and power. It is true that; the Holy Spirit has already come to every believer, but He is ever coming more and more fully, and always iri -connection: with, prayer. Tuesday, July 16 . f Eph. 3 : 17 . , In the following .verses,. we see many ‘ glorious results that would flow from this strengthening with power from the Spirit iii the' inward man: (1) First', Of all, “ Christ” would “dwell” in their “hearts.” The word for “dwell” is a Very strong one, ■it means to “ dwell down,” or “dwell deep,” to take up His permanent abode (see notes on ch.'2:22). The .tense of the verb trans lated “may dwell” indicates a definite act ;in- a ..definite point. o f time, 'may “come to
in concord; this recommends the correspond ing bodily attitude, where there- is no dis tinct reason against it.” Paul speaks of God, to Whom he presents his petition for the saints in Ephesus, as “The Father, from (or orit o f ) whom every family (the word translated “ family” is derived jj from the word for “ father” and possibly might better be translated “ fatherhood” ) in heaven and on earth is named.” There are reasons for preferring the rendering given in the Authorized Version, “ the whole family in heaven arid earth.” If we take this render ing Paul here represents all holy beings in heaven and on earth as belonging to one great family, having its source in God and name frotn God. The holy angels are thus our brethren, and sons o f God (cf. Gen. 6 :2 ; Rev. 22:9, R. V .). The thought of the unity o f believers runs through the book, but if we take this interpretation we have here a larger unity still, including holy angels as well as believers (cf. ch. 1 : 10 ). However, if we take the rendering of the Revised Version the ’ thought is that.every fatherhood, whether an earthly fatherhood or a heavenly fatherhood, gets its name from the real Fatherhood, i. e., the Father hood o f God. In verse IS and following down through the 19th verse Paul tells what his prayer for them was. This prayer takes up again the thought of' believers as the permanent dwelling place o f God (cf. ch. 2 : 22 ), but it is no longer the church as a body that is the dwelling place, but the heart o f the individual believer (v. 17), and it is no longer “God” who indwells, but “ Christ.” In 1 Cor.-6:19 it is “ the Spirit” who is represented as indwelling. The measure according to which Paul asked God to' grant to the Ephesians is a great one indeed, “according to the riches o f His glory” (cf. Phil. 4:19). What he asks first o f all is that they “may be strengthened with power.” !‘ The tense indicates something to be done at a definite point o f time, but it .is a,l-sp an. operation to be oft repeated at different definite .points ...of time, just as Peter was -again arid again “filled with the Spirit”-: (Acts . '2 :4 ; -4 ¡ 8 ; 4:31). 1tTbis
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