Ephesians – Part 5

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Ephesians – Part 5

Prayer For Strength

This passage resumes Sha’ul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17-19.

3 ¹⁴ For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its character. ¹⁶ I pray that from the treasures of His glory he will empower you with inner strength by His Spirit, ¹⁷ so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also, I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love, ¹⁸ so that you, with all God’s people, will be given strength to grasp the breadth, length, height, and depth of the Messiah’s love, ¹⁹ yes, to know it, even though it is beyond all knowing, so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

Praise to God

²⁰ Now to him who by His power working in us is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine, ²¹ to him be glory in the Messianic Community and in the Messiah Yeshua from generation to generation forever. Amen.

From generation to generation forever. The language is that of the Psalms (e.g., Psalms 48:13; 119:90; 145:4, 13).

In the workplace, you may encounter stress and pressure that weigh heavily on you. Ephesians 3:14-21 emphasizes the importance of drawing strength from the Ruach HaKodesh. When faced with overwhelming demands, take a moment to pray silently, asking for the Ruach’s strength to guide your actions. Additionally, consider starting a prayer group with colleagues where you can gather weekly to share burdens and pray for one another. This will not only strengthen your faith but also create a supportive community.

Exhortation Regarding the Church

Unity Among the Saints

4 ¹ Therefore, I, the prisoner united with the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

Therefore. Because of everything God has done in chapters 1–3, Sha’ul calls on believers to do everything in chapters 4–6, all of which is summed up in the phrase, “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” Compare Ro 8:1, 12:1.

² Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, ³ and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called, you were called to one hope. ⁵ And there is one Lord, one trust, one immersion, ⁶ and one God, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is in all. ^[1]

The Brit Hadashah states that “they will not teach [each other], saying, ‘Know Adonai,˒ because they will all know me” (Jeremiah 31:33(34)). This has not happened yet, and although the process has begun, we still need teachers (v. 12). How long? Until we all arrive at unity (see vv. 2–6), which is implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, and the other points of vv. 14–16 are fulfilled.

In our next post, we continue to examine Sha’ul’s Letter to the Ephesians.

Click here for the PDF version.

^[1] Ephesians 3:15-4:6