Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 ~ for this reason I bow my knees before the Father

Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family [fatherhood] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

We always think of Joseph when we see images, like the one we are using today. In Genesis, we are told man is the image of God. So today, this image reminds me of God looking upon His Son being born to journey in this life. 

When Jesus chose to live our life, He made it possible for all of us to have access to Him. Like the Holy of Holies we read about in Leviticus. Aaron's sons were killed for not sacrificing correctly. People longed to place God's power behind a veil, in a Temple. 


In Jesus Christ, all we have to do is - ask  - God to hear us. It doesn't say, in this particular chapter, we have to have perfect faith. It says we have boldness and access with confidence in our faith. And we being imperfect, rude and self-centered, the God who created all things will Listen. 


It says the Church will be part of knowing God. So many people would like to skip that step. The Church being imperfect isn't new. Even in the last chapter of John's Gospel, the disciples want to know what blessing Jesus has for John. Before we even get to The Acts of the Apostles. Before Jesus has ascended. Asking how long John will live. We take what we have learned from Church (the unborn Church Jesus told His disciples about in Caesarea) and we will live it in eternity. Eternity, beginning now. We carry those family names into Heaven. It says something about the importance of the people God gives you. It says the Church is important.


Jesus goes so far as to tell us, the Church is His Bride.


And then... it says you will need to be strengthened with Power through His Spirit in your inner being. Why? You'll need it. And God will do more than listen, He will dwell within you.  Only in Father God, in the amazing love of Jesus Christ, will we know how GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, THE MAKER OF THE UNIVERSE loves you. Calls you by the name He has bestowed upon you. 


And believing the name given to you is from Him, you just begin to glimpse something else:

may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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