Lesson 41 July 23, 2003

Review:

This great prayer of Paul's revolves around 4 petitions for the Ephesian believers which are very important for each of us to understand.

 

3:16 Petition #1 Begins with the importance of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believers life.

Overall the thrust of Paul's petition is that the believer, you and me might have strength in our lives, spiritual muscle in our lives as we live day to day.

"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory,"

** The power of the H/S, the strength of the H/S in our lives as believers is not given out of God's riches but according to God's riches.

** What is the measure or standard of the giving of strength?

Since the standard of these riches is God's glory, His essence, than we must come to understand and believe that the resources for us far exceed anything we might need in time to fulfill the will of God for us.

 

 

3:17a Petition #2

This 2nd petition is the intended purpose of the strengthening of the Spirit.

"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

Breakdown of verse:

1. Answer to our question lies in the verb, may dwell; katoike,w [aor inf] which means = to dwell, to settle down, to feel at home; emphasis is on a permanent dwelling over against an occasional visit.

 

2. The means or agency of Christ being at home in the believer is through faith.

 

3. His place of dwelling, and being at home is "in the sphere of your heart."

 

The emphasis of Scripture and especially of Paul's epistles is on growing in the knowledge of the word!

 

4. Positionally Christ indwells from the point of salvation. Have an eternal Union He in us we're in Him

 

5. Progression of petitions so far; God/H-S strengthens the inner man with power, enabling you, so that you can grow in the word with the result that Christ is increasingly at home in your life.

 

3:17b-19a = Petition #3 Comprehension of the Love of Christ. Read!

Overview:

 

 

Pick up the details beginning with 3:17b. that you being rooted and grounded in love;

The objective of this 3rd petition is that the believer might be able to comprehend and to know intimately the love of Christ.

 

rooted = biological term; paints a picture of a tree or a plant having deep roots to give it stability and strength when the winds [pressures] come; or deep roots reach to life giving sustenance even in times of drought; severe testing.

grounded = architectural term; qemelio,w to lay a foundation, size, strength of the foundation is crucial as to the structure that can be constructed.

 

 

** These metaphors are used elsewhere which helps us to understand what's here:

1 Pet 5:10 Promise of God to you as a believer!

"And After you have suffered [undeserved] a little while

"who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, [loaded statement] will Himself

[then follows what God promises, what He obligates Himself to do for you as a believer;]

#1. perfect = katartizw fully equipped; BD, DOA's needed to deal with the tests of life;

#2. confirm = sthrizw to establish firmly; unyielding in truth; convictions based on the Word of truth!

#3. strengthen = sqenow to be strong in BD so that your able to stand up under pressure

#4. establish you = qemelio,w; to be grounded in DVPT, to have a firm secure foundation.

Also Col 2:7 Both of these metaphors, biology and architectural also appear together and context is very instructive.