Peter Barnes | Ephesians 3:14-17a
SERMON NOTES
Praying for Power in Christians
(Ephesians 3:14-17a)
– In verse 14, Paul picks up his prayer begun in verse 1.
1. Prayer before the triune God.
– 3:14-15; standing for prayer in Ps.28:2; 63:4; 1 Tim.2:8; sitting in 2 Sam.7:18; kneeling in Luke 22:41; Ezra 9:5; Acts 20:36-38; 21:5
– to the Father, mediated by the Son, through the Spirit
2. Prayer for the strengthening of Christians.
– 3:16; see 6:10; Ps.138:3; also Acts 18:8-10; even Luke 22:43-44
– ‘holy ambition’ (Arthur Pink)
3. Prayer that Christ would indwell Christians.
– 3:17a; note that Christ already does in Rom.8:9-10
– Charles Hodge: ‘The indwelling of Christ is a thing of degrees.’