How could someone confined in a prison and awaiting a trial write such a passage and prayer to a body of believers? But that’s what Paul was all about.
Realize, a prison back then was nothing in comparison to what they are like now; but Paul didn’t want the church body at Ephesus to be worried about his imprisonment. There He was in awful conditions but he wasn’t looking for sympathy. Instead he wants to encourage them with the things He knows about God. And then he pens a prayer (found in Eph. 3:16-20)
“That He (God) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man.”
Paul needed that for himself, but he knew; although he was in a physical prison, his fellow believers may be in prisons in their own minds and rather than being tormented, he prays they will be strengthened with might by the Spirit of God in their lives. He then reminded them:
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.”
They had believed in faith–now remember – He is IN you! And never doubt the extent of God’s love for you in spite of any hardship you face.
“That Christ my dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (vs. 17-19).
As he closes, it’s like he’s saying, “Don’t lose heart, even in the worst of situations in your life because God is God, He has a plan for you. He’s going to do things beyond anything that you can imagine.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (vs. 20).
And it’s all for His glory.
“Unto Him be glory….” (vs. 21
What kind of a prison do you find yourself in today? Don’t forget:
>We have access to God.
>God will strengthen us.
>God loves us more than we can imagine.
>God will answer and do exceeding abundantly more than we ask or think.
Praise the Lord — it’s all about Him!