Young People's Group

Strengthened with Might

by Mitchell Tan
March 11, 2020

PAUL’S FIRST PRAYER REGARDING KNOWING THE LORD’S POWER

God’s power strengthens our lives. In Paul’s first prayer for the Ephesians, he prayed that they may be able to understand and personally know the exceeding greatness of His power.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe”
Ephesians 1:19

The Lord’s power is truly limitless. It is exceedingly great and nothing can be compared to it. As a testimony of His amazing power, the Lord God created the universe and all within it. Furthermore, this power can be personally experienced. We can understand, discover, and even apply it in our lives to do many things, even great things, when we believe. God’s power can really energize our lives.

PAUL’S SECOND PRAYER REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE LORD’S STRENGTH

1. THE MANNER OF PRAYING FOR STRENGTH

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus … that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory …”
Ephesians 3:14-16

A. PURPOSEFULLY

Because Paul experienced the grace of God, he prayed purposefully for the Ephesians. He sought the Lord to grant strength to the Ephesians that they may apply it into their lives. What was this strength for? First, it is to have Christ dwell in their hearts. Second, it is to discover the love of Christ in a far deeper way. Third, it is to seek the fullness of God to fill their lives (Ephesians 3:17-19).

B. HUMBLY

Understanding that it is the Lord God who must grant power and strength to a person, Paul humbly bowed his knees to the Father of the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, he knew that God grants strength on the basis of the riches of His glory. God’s glory has many different aspects, one of which is the glory of His grace. Paul was most conscious of the work that the Lord can do in the lives of the Ephesians that they may reflect His glory. He thus prayed humbly according to the riches of God’s glory.

2. THE MEANS OF HAVING STRENGTH

“… To be strengthened with might through His Spirit …”
Ephesians 3:16

A. LEARNING TO WAIT ON THE LORD, THE SOURCE OF POWER AND STRENGTH, AS WE PRAY

“To be strengthened” conveys the idea that someone must do the strengthening from the external. It is God who must endow the Ephesians with power and strength. While the word “strengthened” has the idea of being “empowered”, the word “might” in Greek means “dynamic power.” They were to be empowered with the might of His dynamic power. With it, there is the ability to do and achieve things for God.

B. THE AGENCY IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD

This empowering comes through the Spirit of God. Jesus Himself promised that the Spirit would empower (Acts 1:8). Through the Spirit, we can see the reality of this empowering at work in our hearts and lives. We must therefore seek the empowering by relying on the Spirit of God. He would effectively work in our lives.

3. THE RESULT OF PRAYER ANSWERED – INNER MAN STRENGTH

“… In the inner man”
Ephesians 3:16

The strength that will be given would be located in our inner man. Our inner man would be renewed through the Lord’s power and strength. This is not an external physical strength. It is the strengthening of our heart, mind and spirit through His Spirit. We can find the ability to do so much more.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Young people, this inner man strength that comes through the Spirit of God is available to all. As we continue to face this Covid 19 outbreak and the upcoming 2nd school term that will be more challenging, let’s seek the Lord for that strength to endure. Our part is to purposefully and humbly pray for it. Let’s learn to wait on the Lord to grant us that power. Let’s pray for the Spirit of God to give us that inner man strength.

Back to Article Listing