Spirit verses Flesh (Ephesians 3:14-19)

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

COMMENT

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named

What reason? Perhaps the things he was just speaking of. That God is in charge. That all that Paul has and is comes from the grace of God. That Paul is the least of all of the saints. That God is now choosing to reveal His plan, That we not lose heart because of the circumstances we are in... Paul bows before God, because he know both, who God is and who he (Paul) is. 

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Paul's prayer is for strength in the inner being, our spirit. No promises of prosperity, perhaps even speaking of the difficulties that must be endured. Not overcome, endured. Like Jesus had to endure the cross. That in our spirit, we may find strength in Christ.

that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Maybe lacking in material possessions, which can and will pass away, but rather be filled with the fullness of God, which cannot be taken and will not pass away. And God is love. But do we even understand that word today? Seems that many think that love is a weak thing, that just gives with no thought of the consequence of the gift to the one who receives it. Or that love demands that we get what is coming to us. How many commercials use the words, "You deserve...?" Like, get all the benefits you deserve. You deserve a nicer, newer car. And so on. So we have a mentality that we deserve anything and everything, just because. But this kind of thinking ends when we can't pay the credit card or make the house or car payment. Try telling the bank you should get to keep something just because you deserve it. But that is the mentality in America today. 

I can't help but hear the words of Matthew 18:8. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?