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Lesson 6


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To the Praise of His Glory
A Study in Ephesians

And to know the love Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19


Ephesians 3:14-21


Read Ephesians 3:14-21
1) Paul bows his knees before the Father "for this reason." See verses 12 and 13 to find the reason Paul prays.





2) Examining Paul's prayer for the Ephesians, from Ephesians 3:16-19, write phrases that speak of:

  • the source of the answer to prayer





  • what God will grant through the Spirit





  • What the working of the Spirit will do for our hearts





  • The result of being rooted and grounded in love





  • the result of knowing the love of Christ








3) We've seen Paul's concern for the heart as the place where Christ dwells. What further insight do you gain from the following verses about the heart?

  • Proverbs 4:23

 

  • Matthew 6:19-21

 

  • John 7:38






The heart is exceedingly important. It is where Christ dwells, where God speaks to us, and the place from where the fruit of our lives is borne. It is no wonder that Paul prays that our hearts would be strengthened. The heart must be strong when so much relies on it.

4) Paul prays for the saints that their inner being would be strengthened so that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith. What different facets do the following verses reveal about what it means for Christ to dwell in us.

  • Galatians 2:20

 

  • Galatians 4:19

 

  • Colossians 1:27






5) Through Paul's prayer we've seen what God does in us by his power, and now in Ephesians 4:20 we are told that by his power he does more abundantly than we can think or ask. Search the depths of your heart. What is your need and what will you boldly ask God to do there?









6) Paul prays for the saints that they would know the love of Christ, even that they would know God himself. What understanding do you gain from 2 Peter 1:3 about knowing God?





7) What new insights have you gained through your study this week? How will this understanding help you to live in the fullness of God?







God works in us for his glory. By his power the Spirit is forming Christ in the depths of our hearts and we are being transformed into the image of Christ. When we know Christ's love we are filled with the fullness of God. This means that when we are filled with Christ's love, with God himself, we lack nothing. If there is any one thing we seek to know, let it be the love of Christ.