EPHESIANS 3:14-19 – “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
THEME OF THE DAY: A PROFOUND PRAYER FOR PROFOUND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. One of the greatest preachers of the 20th century was D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He was an accomplished medical doctor and in line to be the Queen of England’s personal physician. Yet, he believed the Lord called him into Gospel ministry and he began a fruitful pastoral ministry for many decades starting in Wales and ending in London. His commentaries are pure gold, and none more precious than his sermons on the book of Ephesians. He said of today’s prayer . . .
“It is undoubtedly one of the great mountain peaks in the scripture. Indeed, there are many who would say that this is the highest peak of all in the entire glorious range of scripture truth and revelation.”
Yet, I wonder, including myself, if we know anything about what is promised in this prayer from God for us, His people? Remember this prayer is for believers. Read every line again. This goes way beyond believing in Jesus and being saved. God is promising us a life of the Lord being so real that He exceeds any other relationship we may experience in our lives. He is also inviting us to experience His love to the extent like never before, even to being overwhelmed with its beauty, majesty, and magnitude. However, listen to these words from the 17th century Puritan pastor Thomas Goodwin of believers in relationship to this prayer . . .
“Paul prays for what in this life is to be obtained. I add this, it is attainable by all saints, though not attained but by few.”
When it comes to this prayer, I want us to do some thorough self-examination of our lives with four questions. Each one penetrates our hearts to expose our experience of this prayer, or lack thereof, and whether we desire its transforming power in our lives. Let’s sit down and take a healthy spiritual examination . . .
1st – Do we know anything about what Paul is asking to be the experience of all believers?
2nd – Do we desire these profound experiences?
3rd – Do we earnestly, consistently, and passionately pray for these?
4th – Do we seek them for what they are – the greatest things in life?
Imagine if we committed to plead with God to make this prayer our walk with Him? And remember, we are not pleading to a God reluctant to answer our pleas. He has given us His Son, His Spirit, and His Word to enable us to experience a living Christ every day, and to be controlled by His love every day. It will be these things that make the difference in our walks with Him, and our influence for Him. May it be so!
PRAYER: Lord, may I never be complacently satisfied in fellowship with You, but always wanting more of You.
REFLECTION: Life’s greatest pursuit, greatest pleasure, and greatest privilege is a deepening walk with God.