COMPREHENDING THE MAGNITUDE -- Tomorrow:
"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." (Ephesians 3:17-19)
"That he would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (Eph 3:16).
The strength needed to survive, exercise kingdom initiative, and complete the race, comes from the wealth of God's glory. His glory is the expression of His Person. More precisely, it is the experience of His influence upon our lives. It is when His countenance is upon us (Psa 4:6; 21:6; 44:3; 89:15; Acts 2:28). Spiritual adequacy does not come through an academic channel, but through God's glory. It does not come by discovering who you are, but by perceiving Who He is! Self-centeredness stops the flow of Divine strength and adequacy.
God's glory is the diffusion of His Person -- the revelation of what He is like in both nature and purpose. When Moses requested that God show him His glory, the Lord replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee" (Ex 33:18-19). Our text reveals that a certain adequacy is realized by to whom the goodness and name of the Lord is made known. Emphasizing this very reality, Paul said elsewhere. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19).
No person who is fundamentally ignorant of God is spiritually strong. Such a one is not able to carry out the will of the Lord, successfully, resist the devil, or persevere in the race to glory. Whatever value that may be found in academic preparedness, it will not make a person morally or spiritually strong. Pedantics have no effect upon the will, nor do they have transforming and revitalizing power. That is something that is realizing in the invigorating light of the glory of God -- particularly as it is seen "in the face of Christ Jesus" (2 Cor 4:6).
God desires to be known. He is declared as One making "known the riches of His glory" (Rom 9:23). Paul declared "my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19). This is another way of saying needed resources are found in the Lord Himself. No person can be made adequate for the rigors of spiritual life apart from the Lord Himself. Further, His Person is abundant with good things. As we walk with Him by faith, we will experience complete adequacy for the good fight faith.
Paul prays the Ephesians will experience participation in the Divine nature, as is also stated by Peter in 2 Peter 1:4. Peter declares the practical means by which they marvelous participation is realized -- God's "exceeding great and precious promises." Paul emphasizes that exposure to the Person of the God of the promise brings strength to the inner man of the believer.
One other thing about this intriguing phrase, "riches in glory." It emphasizes that God's standard of giving is abundant, liberal, and overflowing. If, in His glorious richness, He gives wisdom, it is "liberally" (James 1:5). When He sends His Holy Spirit to those in Christ, it is "abundantly" (Tit 3:5-6). Jesus came that we might have life in abundance (John 10:10). Even our transition to the world to come can be an "abundant entrance" (2 Pet 2:11). Small thinking, minuscule effort, and paltry giving really have no part in the Kingdom of God. They are not harmonious with the God who has saved us!
The Apostle does not pray for a limited measure--that will do us no good. He prays in accordance with the nature of God and salvation. He asks for "all might" to be granted out of the rich treasure of Divine glory.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, and with great expectation, I join with Moses in saying, "Show me Your glory!