Pastor Rockwell / “I BOW MY KNEES UNTO THE FATHER”

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

“I BOW MY KNEES UNTO THE FATHER”

Ephesians 3:14-21

Introduction: When you look at Ephesians 3:8, Paul states that he is “least of all saints.” He stated in 2 Corinthians 11:5, “for I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles,” and in 1 Timothy 1:15, “. . .sinners, of whom I am chief.” In light of this view of himself he said, “. . . this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). Paul was comparing his “old” life with what he had in Christ. His view of the “grace of God” afforded him a step up in life, giving him the privilege of representing the Lord Jesus Christ to all people, including Jews and Gentiles. He clearly understood his position concerning the God of the universe, the creator of all things, was a massive promotion in life. His view of life was centered on eternity, not the world, although he saw the world as being in desperate need of what God had for them. It would not be too much to say that you and I should strive to develop a similar understanding of life and our purpose. This brings us to one of the more significant privileges of any Christian, “prayer.” This passage is another example of Paul’s devotion to God and the importance of lifting in prayer those he ministers to. An examination of the heart of God as Paul conveys it to us is in order, as he did for the church at Ephesus. 

  1. The Prologue for Paul’s Prayer, Ephesians 3:14-15. There is a textual issue in vs. 14 worth exploring. Some Greek Manuscripts omit the last part of vs. 14, which says “. . .of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This could be that some think all prayer is to be addressed to the Father, as in the “Lord’s Prayer” (Matt. 6:9-13), rather than to the Son. Jesus, in His instructions to the Disciples, told them, “. . .Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you” (John 16:23; cf. John 14:14, 26; 15:16). When Jesus told the disciples (and us) that when you pray in His name you are praying to God. These passages in John are another verification of the fact that Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14).
  1. Prayer and the Mystery, vs. 14. When Paul said “for this cause,” he drew attention to the narrative that precedes this prayer, which is about the “mystery” of the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 3:3-6). It is doubtful that we fully understand the depth of Paul’s heart for the message he preached after his conversion to Christ. The Apostle Paul gave all he had for the message of salvation in Christ; he had received it for his own life, but he also wanted everyone to hear what God has done for the world in Christ. 
  2. Posture of Prayer, vs. 14. When Paul said, “I bow my knee. . .” (vs. 14), he was demonstrating his respect for the God of the Universe. It has been pointed out that even today when a person approaches royalty, they bow the knee, though it may be one knee. Paul was prostrate on both knees, which should be the objective for a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, He is the “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16). Solomon, king of Israel, built the Temple and offered a lengthy prayer to God in the dedication. After his prayer, it says, “he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven” (1 Kings 8:54). Before the crucifixion, Jesus led his disciples to the Mount of Olives. He withdrew from them and went “a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed” (Luke 22:41). The practice of “kneeling” in prayer was established in the Old Testament (1 Kings 8:54; Ezra 9:5; Psalm 95:6; Dan. 6:10 et al). The Pharisees had an interesting practice demonstrated in the New Testament. The Jewish leaders prayed while “standing” (Matt. 6:5; Luke 18:11, 13). Compare this with what we observe in those who knew Jesus Christ as their Savior. Stephen when he became a martyr for his faith (Acts 7:60). Peter when he prayed for Dorcas who had died (Acts 9:40). Even Paul when he had met with the Ephesian elders “. . .kneeled down, and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:36). Respect for our God is important. Sadly, the current culture in some places will refer to God as “daddy-o,” which is blasphemous. They have interpreted the phrase “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4;6) in this way. The following prayer has several valuable applications that we should be aware of and desire to employ. Today’s “rock and roll” churches know very little about giving reverence to the Lord God, Jesus Christ. There is a statement we should know about our relationship with God in Hebrews 12:28 (KJV): “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” [Emphasis added.]  The object of this prayer is for “the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (vs. 15). That would include every saved believer.
  3. People Being Addressed, vs. 15. Paul addresses this message to the “whole family in heaven and earth.” That would be believers in heaven and believers on the earth. Without the qualifying phrase “in heaven and earth,” the verse would be ambiguous. This is referring to all Christians (Acts 11:26). The “family” (vs. 15) is the people of God, not all humanity. It comprises those born into the family by the new birth (John 3:3, 7; 1 Peter 1:23).
  1. The Purpose in Paul’s Prayer, Ephesians 3:16-19. This does not mean that people in heaven are to pray, but rather that they possess the attributes mentioned. Since they are in His presence, they already know the “riches of his glory” (vs. 16). This is one of the great benefits of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. We are still on terra firma, on planet Earth.
  1. God’s Grant for Believers, Ephesians 3:16 (KJV), “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” The first thing to note is the word “grant.” A grant is a gift that aids a person or project. It is free and does not require repayment. God’s resources are limitless. His desire for believers, including you and me, is that we would be strengthened spiritually in our “inner man.” Many Christians seldom consider the “inner man” and go about life as any human would, attending to physical matters, paying car payments, buying groceries, getting to work on time, ensuring the children are on their way to school, taking them there, and many other domestic activities that consume our time. John Phillips makes an astute observation. He says,

“The governing principle in man does not reside in instinct, as it does in animals. It does not reside in the intellect either, for brilliant people are not always right. It does not reside in the emotions, for feelings often lead us astray. It does not reside in the will, for a strong-willed person can be a tyrant. It does not reside in the conscience, for a conscience can be weak, warped, or wrong. It goes deeper than that. The ruling principle in man resides in the spirit.” 

A Christian should be focused on the operation of the Holy Ghost that dwells in them (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). We live in a world that is dominated by the flesh or being “carnal.” Note Romans 8:6–8 (KJV), “6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” This is the tension we live in as Christians. Ephesians 3:16 is part of the prayer Paul prayed for the Ephesians and applies to us as well. What is dominant in your life? Spiritual things or carnal things? 

  1. God’s Goal for Believers, vs. 17-19. These two verses, each beginning with the word “that,” are connected, forming a single thought. Remember, it serves the grammatical function of “purpose” or “result” and conveys the meaning “so that.” The first phrase in vs. 17 is, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. . .” This can be a challenging concept for some believers. Jesus lived on this earth among men and manifested what God expected man to be. He died on the cross, paying the penalty for sin, and resurrected three days later (1 Cor. 15:19-21). Because of Christ’s resurrection, Paul prays for three things.
  1. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. . .” vs. 17a. Salvation is “by grace are you saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8), and the same is for the presence of Christ in our heart. The word “dwell” has the meaning of a “settled dwelling,” making it permanent. The “heart” is part of the immaterial makeup of men.  My favorite Professor in seminary was Dr. Charles C. Ryrie. He adhered to what is known as the “Bipartite” makeup of man, referring to the dual nature of humanity, comprising both material and immaterial aspects. This runs contrary to what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV), “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are essentially both “material” and “immaterial.” Yet Paul pointed out that we are three parts: body, soul, and spirit. God gives every believer the “Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Rom. 8:9) at the point of salvation. We should remember what is stated in Romans 8:5 (KJV), “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Also, Galatians 5:16 (KJV) says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Now, note what is said in Colossians 1:27 (KJV), “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” There is something we need to understand. If Christ is “in you” (and me), then we have the presence of Christ. Look at what the Bible says about Christ in Colossians 1:19 (KJV), “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell,” and in Colossians 2:9 (KJV), “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” WE HAVE THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD DWELLING IN US! 
  2. “That ye, being rooted and grounded in love. . .” vs. 17b. The word “that” is found again. The purpose of Christ dwelling in our hearts, we are “being rooted and grounded in love.” Where is your love directed? Note: 1 John 2:15 (KJV), “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Then: 1 John 3:1 (KJV), “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Again: 1 John 3:14 (KJV), “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR LIFE? 
  3. “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. . .” vs. 18. That is a statement of “all included.” Nothing left out. The statement about the “height, nor depth” are found in another place. Look at Romans 8:38–39 (KJV), “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If you are a Christian you cannot be separated from the love of God.  
  4. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. . . [T]hat ye might be filled with all the fulness of God, vs. 19. This verse is somewhat of a summary of the previous two verses. We need to “know the love of Christ” and the “fulness of God.”
  1. The Power Working in Us, Ephesians 3:20-21. These two verses give the outcome of the Spirit’s activity in a Christian’s life. The power working in us is what has been seen in the previous verses. God wants to do “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (vs. 20), and “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (vs. 21). The church is to demonstrate the power and presence of God in all that we do.