The Perfect Prayer

Think of all of the people you are praying for.  It is likely that many of these are people you know or are aware of who do not know the Lord.  By not “knowing the Lord,” I mean people who have not embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and, so, we can refer to them as “unbelievers.”  We pray for unbelievers, of course, and, thankfully, when we were “unbelievers,” without doubt, someone was praying for us!* 

But for my focus today, think of all of the believers you know who you want see grow and mature in the faith.  First, think of YOURSELF and how you would like to see yourself grow and mature in the faith! 

Think of how you would love to know God Himself better; to have the questions you have about Him answered; to gain new insights into His person and character that will unlock doors leading to verdant paths of joyful wonder and delight.  Most importantly, perhaps, think of how you long for a deeper understanding of God Himself in order to lead you to a deeper understanding of life itself and, therefore, building within you the solid confidence that eases all anxiety for the present and erases all fear of the future.   

Searching for “that perfect prayer” – a prayer that is sure to wield great power with God?

Look no further than Paul’s prayer for the believers in the church at Ephesus.  The apostle Paul spent a great deal of time in prison.   In fact, he wrote the letter to the Ephesians from prison, referring to himself as “a prisoner of Jesus Christ…”  (Eph 3:1).  Now doesn’t that statement right there intrigue you to no end?  (I’ll be back another time to delve into that tiny/ginormous phrase!)

First, a little background

Paul had started the church at Ephesus, and he spent a full three years with them.  We know this from Acts 20:31, where Paul, speaking to the Ephesian elders, says: "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears." 

Paul was later imprisoned in Rome, his first Roman imprisonment, which was not in an actual prison but under house arrest.  It was here that he wrote several of his “prison epistles” – Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  So Paul is basically pouring out himself long distance by way of encouragement and instruction to this body of believers he knew so well, had tended to so carefully, and loved very deeply.  Of course, his letter was inspired by the Holy Spirit, Himself, and so its every word is applicable to us today.  What’s more, the Holy Spirit will use it actively within us as we interact with it through reading, studying, meditating on its truths, and all the while seeking His illumination. 

Another sidebar – about the Bible itself – this is critically important!

If we’re going to take a portion of scripture and form something real and reliable from it, we must realize what a supernatural tool we have in our Bible.   It is actually, literally, and perpetually ALIVE.  Take two books, side by side on a table.  One is the Bible, the other is any other book.  One of them is full of living, in-the-moment, vibrant spiritual energy, while the other is not.  The other might even be a wonderful book about God, quoting lots of scripture, perhaps, and while the scripture in the book is literally alive, that’s all that is.  Other books, although they may contain many true statements, are not actually alive. 

Living things breath, move, and interact.  While the Word of God NEVER CHANGES, when the Holy Spirit brings illumination to us through its pages, it changes us.  Living things can mount a defense or an offense, and the Word of God does this powerfully in the spiritual realm. 

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  (Hebrews 4:12)

Distinction:  This does not mean that God does not use the words of others to reach us, He certainly can and does, but the Word of God – the Bible – is unique in its word by word, sentence by sentence infallibility.  It also doesn’t mean that God does not “inspire,” for example, a pastor as he prepares a sermon, or an author as he or she pens an article or book, or a musician in his or her compositions, an artist, sculptor, dancer, choreographer.  It doesn’t even mean that God’s inspiration is confined to so-called “spiritual” pursuits, since He is the Lord and giver of life and the Creator of all things.  But the fruit of all of those endeavors, as magnificent and God-inspired as they might be, stand in stark contrast to what we mean when we say the Word of God is “inspired, infallible, and alive.” 

In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul wrote “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Here’s the important distinction:

• The word used in 2 Timothy 3:16 for "inspired" or "God-breathed" is θεόπνευστος (theopneustos).

• It’s a compound word:

  • Theos (θεός) = God

  • Pneō (πνέω) = to breathe, blow (like wind)

Literally, theopneustos means "God-breathed."  Not merely "inspired" the way we might say someone was inspired to paint a picture or write a poem, but breathed out directly by God Himself — carrying the sense of originating from His very being, not just influenced by Him.

 SO:  If we realize what a powerful treasure we have at our disposal, let’s use it, use it, use it!  Think about it!  If someone told you were holding the very key to the greatest mysteries of life and the answer to all of your most pressing questions and the solution to all of your problems right there in your hand, how would you feel?  Sometimes we just don’t get it.  It reminds me of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.  She searches and searches all along the Yellow Brick Road in a desperate quest to go back home.  It isn’t until finally, exhausted, having passed through many dangers, she makes it to Emerald City and learns she had her answer right there on her feet – of all places - the entire time!   

And that brings us back to…The Perfect Prayer

Paul makes his introductions in his letter to the Ephesians, encouraging them not to worry or be discouraged about what he is going through, and then he tells them precisely how he prays for them:

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, 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 passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph 3:14-19) 

First, notice the Holy Trinity involvement here!

Paul kneels before God the Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and asks the Father that He would grant them – according to his “riches in glory!”:

1) “To be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.”

NOW! This is a magnificent prayer request!  Think of it. 

What might happen to us if we are strengthened with might by His Spirit in our inner man? 

Well, let’s think about it; a few ideas:

·       Greater awareness and discernment; wisdom vs. folly/truth vs. lies

·       Greater power over temptation and sin

·       Greater power in witness and ministry

·       Greater enjoyment of God

·       Greater understanding of His Word

·       Greater capacity for endurance and patience and, really, the manifestation of all of the fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23)

2)  “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” 

·       Perhaps Paul is not taking for granted that everyone in the church at Ephesus is actually born again.  Salvation is by faith, and when one has placed his or her faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then Christ comes and takes residence up within “the heart” of that person.  Being part of a church congregation does not necessarily guarantee that this has happened.

·       For those who already believe, and that is really where Paul is going here, stronger faith allows the presence of Christ to flourish and have free reign as He dwells within us.  When we are fearful and doubting or caught up in sin, we can push Him to the back of the room temporarily.  I think of Paul saying here, “Be full of faith so that Christ can fully flourish, taking up ALL the space in your heart, mind, and soul.”  In Galatians 5:16 Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.”   When we are strengthened with might by His Spirit in our inner man, we will walk (live as rooted) in the Spirit and so become more sin-resistant. 

o   “Walk” in this context:  περιπατέω (peripateō)

o   From peri (around) + pateō (to walk or tread)

o   Literal meaning: to walk around, move about, conduct oneself

o   Figurative meaning: how you live your life, how you conduct your daily behavior, how you journey through life

3)  “That you, being rooted and grounded in love…”

·       Clearly, Paul connects “being strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” with “being rooted and grounded in love.”  A natural work of the Spirit as He strengthens us in our inner man is that we become more and more deeply rooted and grounded in love.  Love, the love that comes from God alone. The Greek word for love in this passage is ἀγάπη (agapē).  It is the highest form of love — selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, divine love — the kind of love that originates with God and is poured into us.

Let’s savor that one for a minute or two.  Let’s see.  When I am truly strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, love is the central motivator of my being; the fountain from which springs everything I think, say or do. 

“…the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5

This prayer is really all about LOVE…GOD’s love

It is easy to see why this is such a powerful prayer request!  If everyone in the Body of Christ – every believer – was having this prayer answered in his or her life, the ultimate source of all that we do – every single thing! – would be love – God’s pure love.  We can easily see that we often fall short of this.  What is the answer? 

Pray this perfect prayer for each other!  “That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love…” 

And now...on to the Crescendo!

4)  “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height…” 

The breadth, length, depth, and height describe the infinite dimensions of the love of Christ.  Because His love is the essence of who God is, in grasping His love, you are being drawn into the endless grandeur of God Himself.  “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”  I John 4:8. 

A friend recently shared this with me:

“Christ's love is wide enough to embrace the world,

long enough to last forever,

deep enough to rescue the worst sinner,

and high enough to lift us into glory.”

5)  “and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

·       The word "know" (ginōskō) here means to know by intimate experience, not just by information.

·       Paul is praying we will personally encounter the love of Christ, not just "know about" it from a distance.

·        It’s a love so vast and living that it surpasses anything the mind alone could grasp — it must be lived, felt, embraced; it must permeate our very being by the indwelling Spirit of God given free course as we yield our stubborn will on an ongoing basis.

We can’t fake this kind of love, and we can’t create it from within ourselves.  It is far too wide, too long, too deep, and too high, because its origin is rooted in GOD.  It can only begin to be grasped as…

“Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.”

Here’s a challenge…

I am going to make it a point to pray this prayer for myself and for others on a daily basis; not just once but on an ongoing basis throughout the day for different people; people I know personally and for the universal Body of Christ at large on the earth today. 

Do this with me!  While there are many things we can pray for when we pray for each other, this prayer is foundational; the true “Wondrous Root” when it comes to intercessory power. 

With Christ dwelling in all of our hearts by faith and with all of us being rooted and grounded in love, strengthened with might by His Spirit in our inner man, the Church of Jesus Christ will be well equipped for whatever lies ahead and a beautifully adorned bride, waiting for the appearance of our Bridegroom – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!   

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*Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today. Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide. Feel free to contact me with any questions: rebecca.montrone@gmail.com