GOD'S POWER AND YOUR LIFE
Read Ephesians 3:14-21
I have never met a person who took a test without wanting to know what to study. Nor have I met a soldier who was willing to go into battle without his gun. Also, I have never met a pilot who wanted to lose power while still in the air.
But I have met Christians who were perfectly willing to live their lives without God's power. Why is this so? Possibly, there are some who are ignorant of how to tap into God's vast resource of power. Others know about God's power but would rather supply their own source of strength.
If we as Christians fail to plug into God's power, the results spill out in how we live: The fruit within us spoils. We take our relationship with God and turn it into just a religion. Without the power of God, Christianity becomes an empty form. Without the power of God, the joy of salvation is gone. The power of sin overwhelms us, and life becomes an endurance, not something to be enjoyed.
Do you want the power of God in your life, the power to conquer sin and to become victorious in life? God's power will come only when we learn to pray—to pray consistently and fervently.
Paul had a specific purpose in praying for the believers at Ephesus, it was so urgent that he bowed upon his knees, and it was addressed as all prayers should be to God the Father. "For this cause..." the specific purpose. "I bow my knees..." the urgency and humility in Paul's heart. "...unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." His prayer is addressed to God the Father.
Notice the content of Paul’s prayer. It consists of six requests:
Request 1: For strength and power within - received from God's Spirit - vs. 16
Request 2: For Christ to rule and reign within - by faith - vs. 17
Request 3: For the believer to be rooted and grounded in love - vs. 17
Request 4: For a full understanding of all things spiritual - vs. 18
Request 5: To know and experience the love of Christ - vs. 19
Request 6: For the fullness of God - vs. 19
The passage concludes with great encouragement intended to motivate us concerning the importance of prayer, and the power of God's Spirit which is at work in our lives. "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, 21Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. What are some things that you can do to bring a sharper focus to your prayers?
2. What, in simple terms, does "inner man" mean?
3. When do you notice God's power the most?
4. What do you think your role is in understanding spiritual things? What is God's role in this process?
5. How do we come to know the love of Christ?
6. With what does God fill the believer? How does God's fullness fill the believer?
7. According to Scripture, why does God answer prayer?
8. What is the source of answered prayer?