“Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT)
”So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24 NKJV)
“My dear friends, I pray that you will remain strong and not be discouraged or ashamed by all that I suffer on your behalf, for it is for your glory. So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!” (Ephesians 3:13-21 TPT)
Step 1: Probe the prayer under the light of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s push forward in probing verses 14 – 16…
…So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.
Let’s see how far we can get on our list…
…unlimited riches of glory.
…unlimited riches of favor.
…supernatural strength.
…divine might.
…explosive power.
From the starting point of a humble recognition of the perfection of the Father, Paul moved into the things that he wanted to see “unveiled” for the Ephesian believers. He begins with “unlimited riches of glory.”
Have you ever noticed how those of us who follow Christ tend to create a dialect that only we can understand? We throw around words and phrases that no one stepping into our world can understand. Many times even those of us fluent in what I call “christianese” have no clue what we are actually saying. One example of this is the word “glory.” If God were to unveil the unlimited riches of his glory within me would I even recognize it? What is “glory” anyway?
According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance the greek word translated “riches” is “ploutos” which means “wealth, abundance, or a plentiful supply.” The same source states that the word from which “glory” is translated is “doxa” meaning “splendor, radiance, honor, or high esteem, reflecting God’s intrinsic worth and character. His brilliant presence, and an exalted estate. The Hebrew equivalent (kabod) also signifies weight, splendor, and wealth. ”
I have spoken before of the time in which Moses asked God to show him his glory. God granted his request in a way that defines exactly what that “glory” is…
…”And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (Exodus 33:18-19 NKJV)
When God responded back to Moses that he would show him his glory, the Bible states that he showed Moses his “goodness.” Glory is equated to, and demonstrated by, God’s goodness. God’s glory is the tangible evidence or demonstration of his goodness. That goodness flows from the very nature and character of God. God is good.
God’s glory resides within every believer. It is not some eerie, mystical religious experience. It is simply his goodness within us. The way that God’s glory is unveiled within me is through experiencing his goodness in my life. It is best seen by others through the acts of lovingkindness (goodness) that I do. Glory is demonstrated in someone’s life through random acts of kindness. When I submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit these acts of kindness (goodness) are not simply my own good deeds. When done from the “unlimited riches of glory” that dwells within me, expressions of goodness take on the weightiness of God’s glory (his splendor and radiance).
During the time of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) God visited his people and he dwelled in the tabernacle made by human hands. When he demonstrated his goodness it was said that his “glory filled the temple.” In the New Covenant (New Testament) he no longer dwells in a tabernacle made by the hands of men. He now dwells within anyone who has been redeemed by the blood of the lamb (saved, forgiven, born again children of God). His glory is now unveiled within us. His goodness flows from the inside out revealing the glory of God through acts of kindness.
As I follow the example of Paul, I begin by praying that God will “unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory.”
Start there as you ponder…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 439: Praying With Paul – Ephesians 3:13-21 Part 4