More than We can Ask/ Ephesians 3:15-21
Arnold Palmer and the Golf Club
There is an old story about Arnold Palmer, the legendary golfer. At the height of his career, he was invited by the King of Saudi Arabia to travel to the Middle East to participate in a celebrity golf tournament.
At the dinner after the tournament, the King asked Palmer what he could give him as thanks for making the event a success. Palmer replied that a gift was not necessary. But, when the King insisted, Palmer replied that he thought a golf club would be an appropriate gift.
Arnie returned home thinking the King would send him a commemorative putter. However, several weeks later, a large envelope arrived from Saudi Arabia. Wondering how the package could hold a golf club, Palmer opened the envelope. To his surprise, it contained the deed to a 500-acre golf club at a prestigious resort.
What Palmer defined as a golf club was entirely different than what the wealthy monarch defined as a golf club. The King interpreted the request based on his capacity and capability. In contrast, Palmer based his request on his position and experience.
Praying for More Power and Love
Could this same dynamic hold true for our prayer life? Does God answer prayer based on our mundane requests, or does He desire to answer based on his endless resources? Paul answers this question when he prays that we receive far more than we can ask or imagine in Ephesians 3:16-21:
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rootedand established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever !
Power
Paul prays three times that we would experience God’s power: inner power through His Spirit (16), power to fully understand God’s love (18), and power that works in us (20). Earlier in Ephesians 1:19, Paul defined power as the effort God exerted to raise Jesus from the dead. Then Paul said this same power is available to us who believe!
Love
Paul also prays that we will know God’s love. The Greek word for love means to seek the highest good for the one being loved. Love describes God’s character. Therefore He is vitally interested in the highest and best for us.
Paul prays that we will be rooted deeply and grounded firmly in God’s love (17). He wants us to know God’s love that surpasses knowledge and can only be understood through the Holy Spirit.
More
Paul concludes his prayer by explaining that God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine through the power that is at work in us. This tells us God is never idle or resting but always at work on our behalf. He always listens to us and knows our very thoughts.
Paul so wants us to understand the extent of God’s work on
our behalf – that he makes up his own word, like Mary Poppins singing supercalifragilistic. He declares God can do immeasurably more than all we could ever ask or imagine according to His power at work in us.
Prayer is our key to being rooted and grounded in His love, because it is the way we can draw closer to Him so that His power and love will dwell in our hearts.
Are you are just praying for a putter when God wants to give you a golf course? If so, make Paul’s Ephesians 4 prayer part of your devotional routine. Personalize it, then make a habit
of praying it every day, and don’t be surprised like Arnie was when God gives you more than you can ever ask or imagine.
Maranatha
Andy
