To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees.
- Billy Graham
Paul may have meant humble or small, but in many ways the Apostle Paul stands head and shoulders above even many Biblical authors. Writing more than half the New Testament, the words of the vicious persecutor turned viciously persecuted apostle of grace, echo down through millennia. And while often misinterpreted by modern Christianity, his words remain more relevant today than ever.
Among his message's many themes is his personal prayer as recorded in Ephesians. Recognized by the church for its beauty and promise, part of Paul's prayer has been used as a doxology for generations. Reading it carefully, particularly doing so in a few different versions, a question or two comes to mind.
Scripture declares all the fullness of God dwells in Christ uniquely. Yet in Paul’s great prayer in Ephesians, he writes, “that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Do we dare take these wonderful words literally? Should we actually hope for such an overwhelming personal revelation and experience of God in this life?
The Bible's filled with unbelievable Good News. Many of it's most wonderful passages were penned by the Apostle Paul who understood the grace of God perhaps more than anyone. A leading persecutor of the early Church, by his own admission he was unworthy of apostleship and the chief of sinners. Yet the grace of God labored in Paul more than others, his zeal for lost Israel earning him 195 scars as five times God's foolish people beat the great apostle literally to within a lash of his life.
While in harmony with all of Scripture, Paul's insights were phenomenal. In fact his message was so revolutionary and accompanied with such spiritual power that three times Paul refers to it as "my gospel." This gospel was not given to him by flesh and blood but through revelation after revelation. Including being caught up to the Third Heaven and shown such wonders he was forbidden to tell, except to reiterate, "Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has prepared for those who love Him."
Paul shared glorious promises that Christians worldwide have clung to for millennia. He reinforced the concept that God's not just good, but great! That God desires to draw us near as dear children, planning to make us heirs. Thus offering to sharing His very glory with us!
- "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are." Romans 8:17-19
Paul paints a picture of the lavish love of God in the boldest strokes and colors! His language is expansive as he describes the revelation God offers His people through an overflowing personal and transformational experience with Christ. One that goes beyond knowledge, and answers to our prayers. Exceeding all possible expectations!
Ephesians 3:14-21 (The Message)
"When I think of all this,
I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,
the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources
he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand,
as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete
with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able,
through his mighty power at work within us,
to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus
through all generations
forever and ever!
Amen."
Ephesians 3:14-21 (New King James)
"For this reason I bow my knees
to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from 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
through His Spirit in the inner man,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the width and length and depth and height
to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever.
Amen."
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