Both the Old and New Testaments contain prayers lifted to God on behalf of others. Ephesians 3:14–21 is one example. Here the Apostle Paul prays that Christians in Ephesus will be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit (v. 16), filled with faith (v. 17), rooted and grounded in love (v. 17), understand Christ’s love (v. 18) and be filled with the fullness of God (v. 19).
There is an urgency to Paul’s prayer in these verses indicated by his posture. The traditional position of prayer for Jews was standing (see Luke 18:11–13). Here Paul “bows (his) knees,” an indication of urgency and distress.
Paul’s first petition is for strength in the “inner man” of each believer. “Inner man” is a term used in the New Testament for the part of a believer that is rooted in God, the part ruled by the Holy Spirit. The inner man is the part of the self that delights in God (Rom. 7:22).
Sometimes, as in 2 Corinthians 4:16, the inner man is contrasted with the outer man. The outer man can be wasting away daily but the inner man can be growing in the Lord’s strength at the same time. Outward circumstances do not control what is happening inside the believer.
Receiving God’s blessings
Obviously Paul wants the Ephesian Christians to be strengthened so they can receive the blessings God has for them. It is like an ill person who must gain enough strength to take the medicine that will cure the disease.
But what were the areas in the Ephesian Christians that needed strengthening, and do Christians today need to be strengthened in similar areas to receive the blessings God has for them?
One area must have been everyday living. Then, like now, people were so busy going to and fro that they were worn out at the end of the day. There was never enough time to get everything done. One was left exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Today how many people are too busy to pray, too tired to read the Bible, too preoccupied to serve others in Jesus’ name?
Only God’s strength in the inner man can help believers establish priorities that help them be a blessing to others as well as enjoy God’s blessings for them.
The Apostle Paul struggled with temptation. Everyone does. In Romans 7:19 he explains, “For the good that I want, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” He describes the “war” raging between the law of God and the law of sin.
In despair he cries out in verse 24, “Who will set me free?”
In the following verse Paul answers his own question, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He is strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in the inner man to face temptation.
Like believers today, Ephesian Christians needed strength to face moral choices. Their city was famous for its devotion to the Roman goddess Diana. The tensions between the Christian faith and the historical religious devotion of the city almost cost Paul his life.
Today society appears to be moving back toward paganism. Cultural norms reject traditional Christian values and what was once considered immoral behavior is now protected by law.
Then, as now, followers of Christ needed to be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit in the inner man to make choices that reflected allegiance to God rather than to popularity.
Persecuted ‘on account of me’
But doing right can lead to suffering and suffering is something most people try to avoid. Yet Jesus called those reviled and persecuted “on account of (Him)” blessed.
Being mocked for faith in Christ or belittled for Christian values is called persecution. In many parts of the world, just as in Ephesus (Acts 19), Christians still face physical torture and death just for believing in Jesus Christ.
It takes strength from the Holy Spirit in the inner man to “(find) favor with God” through patiently enduring suffering for doing what is right (1 Pet. 2:20).
It also takes strength from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses for the Christian faith. Imagine the Ephesian Christians after the Apostle Paul was almost stoned in their city. Would they be next if they spoke for Christ?
Today many believers are fearful of sharing their Christian faith with co-workers, family members, friends or neighbors. Despite God’s promise that He will guide one’s conversation in such times (Matt. 10:18–20), many choose to remain “closet Christians.”
Power of God
Only the power of God can move the hesitant and resistant to speak up for their Savior.
Matthew 25:31 and following provides the clear teaching that strength from the Holy Spirit in the inner man is necessary for one’s life to support what one’s lips proclaim.
Ephesians 2:9 clearly states salvation is “not as a result of works.” One is saved by grace, through faith (Eph. 2:8).
Matthew 25 teaches that a profession of faith not supported by performance is a faulty faith just like performance without a profession is faulty faith.
Believers are saved for service in His name.
Ephesians 2:10 says it clearly, “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
In Matthew 25:41, Jesus casts out those who professed faith with their lips but who did not back it up with lives of service to others.
Some find this a surprising teaching, yet as early as the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned that “not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Those invited in will be those who do “the will of (the) Father.”
If the implication of the Apostle Paul’s first petition is that the believer must be strengthened in all of these ways before being able to know the faith and love and fullness of God, then being strengthened in the inner man is important.
Perhaps we should agree to pray for each other that all believers will be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”
It really is an urgent matter.
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