The Challenge to Have Christ Dwell in Our Hearts

by Mitchell Tan
March 18, 2020

HAVING PURPOSE IN PRAYER

Do you have a sense of purpose when you pray? This was something that the apostle Paul exemplified in his prayer life. He prayed with a tremendous sense of purpose for the Ephesians. Because he knew them well and their obvious needs, he sought to determinedly and yet humbly pray for them. He understood that they had to be stronger spiritually.

“To be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man …”
Ephesians 3:16

Paul prayed with this goal that the Ephesians needed may be strengthened further with the might of the Lord’s power. He knew that this was a divine work that only the Spirit of God can do. There would come this inner man strength within the Ephesians to stand stronger.

PRAYING FOR CHRIST TO DWELL IN OUR HEARTS

“… That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”
Ephesians 3:17

Another goal that Paul had in prayer for the Church at Ephesus was for Christ to dwell in their hearts.

1. THE PERSON OF CHRIST DWELLING IN OUR HEARTS

The word “dwell” in Greek means “inhabiting”. The Lord Jesus is meant to dwell in the hearts of people and to inhabit them. Paul prayed that the person of the Lord Jesus would dwell deeply within the hearts of the Ephesians. Why did he make this prayer?

A. FOCUS ON CHRIST

It is easy for the Ephesians to lose their focus on the Lord. Many things can fill their hearts for the wrong reasons and cause them to lose heart. Because of this, they needed to learn to focus on the Lord Jesus … to be Christ-centred. He is their Lord and Saviour; the One who had given them access to God and His spiritual blessings. They were to focus on Him and to put Him first place in their hearts.

B. FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST

Furthermore, Paul wanted the Lord Jesus to dwell in their hearts that He may be close to them. If the Lord Jesus had done so much for the Ephesians so graciously as Paul had explained in the earlier chapters, how can they not seek for Him to be precious in their hearts! His presence within them should be something they would seek that they may love Him and fellowship with Him.

2. THE PRACTICE OF FAITH

A. PERSONAL FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS

It was through having personal faith in the Lord Jesus that the Ephesians were able to have salvation. It was through trusting in Him that they were saved.

B. DAILY PRACTISING OF OUR FAITH IN THE LORD

Faith should also be practised as an everyday endeavour. Christ can dwell in the hearts of the Ephesians through the daily practice of faith and prayer. It was through the exercise of faith that God’s power can work in their lives (Ephesians 1:19). Daily, we can have faith to walk with Him; reading the Scriptures, relating to Him in prayer and learning to practise His word.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Young people, there is this growing concern with regards to the Covid 19 pandemic. Some countries are now in lockdown mode, including Malaysia. This is a good time for us to get to know the Lord Jesus better and to pray for Him to dwell in our hearts that we may focus on Him and fellowship with Him. Let’s learn to exercise faith daily that we may find strength to walk with Him by reading and memorising His word. Let’s always have Christ to dwell solely in our hearts, so that we may not lose heart.

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