God’s Glorious Riches-Ephesians 3:14-21

Posted by on Apr 2, 2014 in Weekly Word | 0 comments
Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Efesini 3:14-21 “Per questo motivo piego le ginocchia davanti al Padre, 15 dal quale ogni famiglia nei cieli e sulla terra prende nome, 16  affinché egli vi dia, secondo le ricchezze della sua gloria, di essere potentemente fortificati, mediante lo Spirito suo, nell’uomo interiore, 17 e faccia sì che Cristo abiti per mezzo della fede nei vostri cuori, perché, radicati e fondati nell’amore, 18 siate resi capaci di abbracciare con tutti i santi quale sia la larghezza, la lunghezza, l’altezza e la profondità dell’amore di Cristo 19 e di conoscere questo amore che sorpassa ogni conoscenza, affinché siate ricolmi di tutta la pienezza di Dio. 20 Or a colui che può, mediante la potenza che opera in noi, fare infinitamente di più di quel che domandiamo o pensiamo, 21 a lui sia la gloria nella chiesa e in Cristo Gesù, per tutte le età, nei secoli dei secoli. Amen.”

            Paul closes the first part of his letter to the Ephesians. This is a prayer that covers three chapters. Ephesus was the center of occultism in Asia Minor. Paul preached there on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19-21) and returned on his third missionary journey to minister there for two more years establishing a church and setting leaders in place.

The content of his prayer to the Ephesians is also relevant for us today. Paul begins by addressing the “Father”. God is our Father and the supreme example of all fatherhood. When we acknowledge Him as our heavenly Father, His name is stamped on us. Paul also refers to the Spirit (v. 16) and the Son (v. 17) as he does throughout the earlier portions of this prayer in chapters 1-3.

Secondly, he prays for “His glorious riches”. Paul uses this phrase or a variation of it five times in Ephesians. He tells the church that according to God’s glorious riches, they will receive internal strength with power (v. 16), a continual presence of Christ in their hearts that will root (plant) and firmly establish (build) them in His love (v. 17).

Third, Paul prays that they will understand what is comprehensible with His glorious riches of love deposited in them. God’s glorious riches are wider than we could ever picture, longer than we could ever visualize, higher than we could ever observe and deeper than we could ever imagine. This is not to be understood as a description but rather illustrates the immensity of God’s love and His glorious riches for us.

Lastly, Paul concludes by asking for them to be filled to the full measure of Christ. This is our goal. Our spiritual measurement is in Christ, not in other believers or in works. It is incorrect to measure our spiritual lives by viewing someone else’s faults or by how much we have done. Paul encourages them to always strive for the goal of being all they can be in Christ.

Pray with me: Lord, You are my Father who has given me glorious riches in the Holy Spirit. Help me to grasp the immensity of Your love and to be filled with all that You have in store for me.



Leave a Reply