Last night I taught on Ephesians 3:14-21, which was Paul's prayer for spiritual strengthening and growth. The interesting thing about the prayer was that it was not about him being tired or worn out, but of him wanting a deeper understanding of God and of love. It was strength in a way that the world does not usually first view it.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in Heaven and on Earth derives its name. 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. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:14-21
The difference between human strength and God's strength is as deep and as many as the differences between land creatures and sea creatures. Our strength is measured physically and is constantly changing and growing. It is never enough. God's strength is perfect and is always more than enough for anything and everything. When we seek out strength and receive it ourselves, we are seeking our own strength about our own needs. When God gives us strength, He gives it to us in accordance with His glorious riches, which means He gives us what we need according to the glory that He is about to reveal in the world.
When people think of strength, what most people usually think of is muscle or body building. The image of physical strength usually comes to mind. There is nothing wrong with that! We think of images to fit our words. That is natural and human. We must remember that God's strength is versatile and comes in many forms. In this verse, we see His strength coming in glory, in love, in understanding, and in fullness. His strength deals with the inner man, also known as our spirit man. His strength in inside and comes out. Our strength is strictly carnal.
We must not be afraid to pray for strength; not just for ourselves but for others as well. We are to be strengthened in Christ. It is a part of the glory and love that God wants to share with us. When we feel weak or as if we are just too imperfect to serve God, we must remember that God is here for us. If we feel afraid, He gives us strength to overcome our fears. When we feel tired, He gives us the strength to get up. When we get mad, He gives us the strength to control ourselves. When we feel confused and crazy, He gives us the strength to say "let go and let God." He gives us strength in times of trouble!
So, I agree with Paul when he says, "for this reason I kneel before the Father," because this is something worth worship and reverence that should be shared "throughout all generations, for ever and ever." This gift that God gives us can bring us through any storm, can put a smile on our faces, and can overcome anything that we have ever done in the past or even the present. I know that we all come against struggles of many kinds, but let us not be discouraged. Instead, let us pray to a God who is loving and just to be there with us through it all. He is our rock and our strength through all things.
-D
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