Faithful on Fridays Blog

… and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might Ephesians 1:19 ESV

Read that again, slowly this time. It’s a glimpse into Paul’s heart toward believers, into his prayer time, and filled with treasure that we have to dig out. Grab your shovel.

This verse is in the middle of the apostolic prayer of Paul from Ephesians 1:17-23. It’s one long sentence that needs to be taken in small scoops so let’s only consider verse nineteen as we dig.

Found within this prayer is Paul’s desire for saints to know God; he even lists the Trinity (vs. 17). However, it’s not just knowing about God but actually experiencing Him through the Spirit. How does that happen? Practically speaking, in every day life, how do we experience God? Paul prayed for the Holy Spirit to give divine wisdom and revelation; that means we can’t conjure it up, we can’t make it happen, it’s a gift that’s received and put to work. Wisdom is making the right decisions at the right time under the Spirit’s direction and revelation (apokalupsis). It’s God’s light shining on the eyes of our hearts (vs. 18) in order to know what to do when confronted with a decision. These are benefits of the Holy Spirit, part of our inheritance in Christ, and given to build up our inner life in Him. It’s kingdom living at its best.

Getting back to verse 19, let’s consider that word: immeasurable. It’s two Greek words that mean beyond calculation, limitless, inexhaustible, and unfathomable (huper) combined with ‘to run or throw beyond, even overthrow’ (ballo). The beauty of this word shows God’s excessive power, in Latin it’s super, and in English we might say God super-sized His power to those who believe. It’s true.

We could say that this immeasurable power overthrows any attack of our enemy. This power is infinite and greater than any temptation, fear, or anything he throws at us. It’s not found in us, in our ability, or strength but only in Him. Paul wants us to know God intimately in order that we’re prepared to fight and win.

This glorious inheritance (vs. 18), better than any dollar amount, fills us with the ‘riches’ we need. This filling (riches) of God’s power is a supply that’s more than enough, huperballo, to build up your inner man and cause you to triumph.

… that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being … Ephesians 3:16 ESV

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV

You can pray this prayer in Eph. 1:17-23 over yourself and your family. It will renew your faith and remind you of who you are ‘in Him’. Let’s continue digging next Friday and uncover more jewels.