Overview:
Ephesians 3:14-21
What do you do when you lose heart? When the wind goes out of your sails and your morale drops to a new low? When life has weighed you down once again and those times of encouragement and joy seem no more than a distant memory? Paul, sitting in a Roman prison and yet filled with the joy of the Lord, was concerned about the Ephesian believers falling into discouragement over his fate. He wanted none of that! So he prayed to God on their behalf that they would be filled with the love of Christ and the strength of His Spirit.
Message Summary:
What do you do when you lose heart? In this stirring message from the Becoming a People of Grace series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Ephesians 3:14–21 to answer that question. Even while sitting in a Roman prison, the Apostle Paul was not consumed by his own circumstances; instead, he was deeply concerned that the Ephesian believers might fall into discouragement over his fate. His response was to fall on his knees in one of the most profound prayers recorded in Scripture.
This overview details Paul’s petition for the believers to be strengthened in their "inner man." Pastor Chuck highlights the four-fold request of this prayer: for spiritual power, for Christ's dwelling, for a deep rootedness in love, and for the ability to comprehend the incomprehensible dimensions of the love of Christ.Message Key Facts:
- Series Title: Becoming a People of Grace
- Message Number: 11
- Speaker: Pastor Chuck Swindoll
- Central Theme: Accessing divine strength and the fullness of God through persistent, Spirit-empowered prayer.
- The Four Petitions of Paul’s Prayer:
- Inner Strength: Praying for the Spirit to provide power that sustains the heart during trials.
- Christ’s Indwelling: That Christ would not just be present, but would "make Himself at home" in the believer’s heart through faith.
- Rooted in Love: Establishing a firm foundation and deep roots in the love of God.
- Comprehending the Incomprehensible: Understanding the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ which "surpasses knowledge."
Message References:
- Primary Passage: Ephesians 3:14–21
- Supporting Contexts:
- Ephesians 1:15–19: Paul’s first prayer in the letter, focusing on spiritual enlightenment and understanding our inheritance.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16: The reminder that though our outer man is decaying, our inner man is being renewed day by day.
- Psalm 138:3: David’s testimony that when he cried out, God answered him and made him bold with strength in his soul.
