The last two weeks when I have gone to take care of the grandchildren I have noticed that Aiden awakens with an obsessive desire to see his daddy. He appears frightened, a little panicked. Ron works a 3 pm to 3 am so is in the middle of his sleep as this occurs. Aiden stands outside Ron’s bedroom door pleading, "Daddy, come back. Daddy, where are you?" Ron finally emerges, tired and sits with him a little while after which Aiden is calm, peaceful and ready for his day. Then, Ron can go back to sleep and Aiden’s fears are transformed to peace and joy. He needs to know Daddy is there. Have you ever just needed to know that your heavenly Father is there? You awaken in a panic and "Daddy, where are you?" Then you pray. Prayer–talking to God is key to our walking throughout the day. We must remember who our Father is and en-wrap ourselves in His Abiding Love and Joy. Paul the apostle frequently prayed for the churches that he wrote to and included those prayers in his letters. As all scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.) God is ever present and I find it amazing that He even provided us with prayer examples throughout the inspired scriptures. Prayers that have such deep impact so filled with depth of meaning so that we may cling to each word as a shield and sword for our lives. A reminder that our Daddy is right there with us in the midst of any trial or circumstances, we have nothing to fear. So it is that when we pray God’s own prayers back to Him, there is a might and power that supersedes all other. I want to examine this prayer in Ephesians 3 and I desire to pray this prayer for each and everyone of my readers and friends here. I also ask that you take a moment to pray this prayer for me and for someone else that you know. We can start revival within our own hearts and within the world around us, one person at a time, one prayer at a time. Let’s look at the power of this prayer and what it is asking verse by verse.
Ephesians 3:
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Verse 14: I fall down on my knees to God the Father, the Creator of this Universe who is so worthy of my praise, so Glorious that I must bow my knee before Him, who has placed Jesus Christ as the Lord of my Life. He who so desired to pour out His love and Joy upon us that He sent His Son to earth to sacrificially pay our debt of sin on the cross, to suffer the agony of separation from His beloved Son, and then to raise Him from the grave victorious over sin’s power. I must bow my knees in utter surrender to the Father.
Verse 15: He, God is Father over all of heaven and all we who are adopted into His Kingdom. Do you know the significance of that? He is my Father. I can run to Him with any problem, any fear, any doubt and He will sit with me for a while. Romans 8: "14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Do you see the significance of that? He chose to adopt me. I am chosen. Do you know Him as Father? If so shout it out loud, "I AM Chosen to be His child."
Verse 16: My inner man, that part of me that trembles with fear, doubt and sorrow. That part of me that I would hide from the world will be strengthened by the might of His Spirit. Think about this. The strength of His Spirit entering, filling and driving out all fear; dispelling all worry, removing all doubt. This is done out of the abundance of the riches of His Glory. That Glory which is so great in magnitude that our earthly bodies cannot look fully upon it. The riches of the Creator and owner of all the Universe–the power of the one who by His Voice can command let there be light and all the stars and suns be created in one breath. That is what can strengthen your inner man.
Verse 17: Faith, that which is the substance of everything hoped for. Faith which believes that Christ is and that He paid my price that I might have His Indwelling presence. That Christ in me and I in Christ have everything, joint heir with Him–that I might be a recipient of His Joy, His love. Rooted and grounded in that love with such depth that no storm can shake me free or cause me to doubt His love for me.
Verse 18: Because of His love and His Salvation, He has taken my sin and clothed me in His righteousness, thereby proclaiming me a saint. His love has cast my sins away as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12) That is not as far as these mere humans eyes can see; but rather as far as God can see as He looks down upon all the galaxies that would be east from west beyond infinity. Can you begin to comprehend the breadth, the height, the length and the depth of His love for you?
Verse 19: Do you know the love of Christ? Do you feel the power of that love rising up and overflowing in your heart? That love fills you and you are filled with the power and the might of God to go out and battle against every attack of Satan whispering, "Really, did God say that? Surely He didn’t mean it. He couldn’t possibly really love you?" By the power and might of God’s Spirit filling you shown by Christ’s love for you, tell Satan where he should go with all His lies and stand firm in your faith, victorious over sin’s power, grounded and rooted in God’s love.
Verse 20: God will perform a mighty work in you, through you and for you? What, dear child, can you possibly have to worry about? He who rests in His own love for you, singing a song of joy over you while cradling you in His arms (Zephaniah 3:17); why would you ever doubt His love for you and His desire to do marvelous and wondrous things for you?
Verse 21: "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" Let the praise song begin and continue on forever and ever and ever. Amen
Can you pray this prayer for me today? I have for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYV7hpD9JTI