The Inner Being

Someone has said that we display externally what we are living internally.  After speaking in chapter 2 about how when we were dead  in our sin, Christ made us alive through faith.  The emphasis is clearly on what Christ has done.  And now Paul prays this for the Ephesians:

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”  ‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬a

Notice the source of the strength:  it is God using His own resources, His glorious riches.  Not long ago I was given an assignment I neither wanted nor felt adequate for.  But it was given to me.  I did not have the personal resources to handle it.  But out of His abundance riches, God showered and showed His resources through the task.  It was an amazing experience.  And glory came to Him.  That day, I felt His power.  He strengthened me in a way I could never imagine.

So Paul is praying for them to be strengthened with power in their inner being. Did he stop there?  No, his prayer went on to include Christ dwelling in their hearts through His Spirit.  Christ being formed in us.  Christ directing us.  Christ addressing the issues internally we are living out externally.  Christ in us, the hope of glory.  But also the “strength for today.”

So that is my prayer today, that Christ may strengthen you in your inner being, and that He may dwell in each heart by faith.  Pray this for me as well.

Power

 Power transforms.  It changes things. A toy with dead batteries become alive when fresh power is given to it.  When the grandchildren can’t carry something, they ask Daddy or Pappy to pick it up.  They know we have the power to do it.  Power enables.  It is essential to life.

   That is the third point of prayer God has given me for us. Here is how it is stated in Ephesians 1:

“and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

                                                                                                                ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We feel weak.  He is strong. We say we can’t.  He says “I have.”  We think things are impossible.  He says all things are possible.  Look at the description of this power God is pouring out in and through us.

1.  It is the same power  that raised Jesus back to life. What issue are you facing that you think would take more power than that?

2.  This power is being exercised by the one who is seated at God’s right hand, above EVERYTHING.  Satan, demons, any other political or social authority, all are below Him.  He is over all things.  And that goes for things now and in the future.

3.  God has placed all things under Jesus’ feet.  In ancient times when a King conquered someone, He placed His foot on the neck of the defeated foe to indicate His dominance over him.  All things are under the feet of Jesus.  And now as Head of the Church, He is filling us with His fullness.

So I am praying that we recognize and live in this power.  He is working in us.  He is working His power through us.  And as the writer to the Hebrews says:

“You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”

‭‭                                                                                                            Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NASB1995‬

Lord, release your power, in, through and among us, so that glory may come to you in us.