"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being," vs14-16

The inner being is where everything is. This is why Paul prays for us. Ultimately, we don’t live in our house or country; we live in our souls. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If the inner being is strong, then we’re strengthened with might to serve the living God. If he is weak, no matter what else we have, we are empty, vain, and chasing the world.

Paul prays for our strengthening. “For this reason I bow my knees.” Let us pray for ourselves. Let us zealously pursue the inner man being right with God and following Christ zealously. Let us live for the kingdom and not ourselves. Let us truly live. 1 John 4:9 - "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."

Secondly, the inner man is strengthened by faith. Ephesians 3:17 - "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love," This is the amazing thing about God’s love - as we contemplate it in Christ - he transforms us into the image of his Son. This is not something that we do by works; it is not mustered up by our merit or strength! This is God’s gift to us through beholding his Son.

Rest your soul on God’s love. Contemplate it. Do you need to grow in grace, then think about him loving you out of the pit of corruption, and giving you all that you need. Do you need cleansing, then his blood was shed and the Spirit is given. Your identity troubling you? You have been adopted into God’s family and stand on equal ground with all saints: he loves us one and all the same, because he loves us BASED on Jesus Christ. Do we need power over sin? The Holy Spirit enables us to do what we cannot by his transforming power. This is God’s promise, so rest!

Thirdly, we shall be filled with the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19 - "and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Amazing grace and wonderful power are ours. God gives himself to us.

The greatest thing that we can have is not in California. It doesn’t come in a diamond ring shaped box. It’s not the adoring eyes of a spouse, or the blossoming love of children. It’s not in money or fame. It is God dwelling in us in the fullness of power, manifesting himself to us and in us with amazing strength to do his will; it is contentment and peace, power over sins and joy; it is Christlikeness in sincerity!

All of this is God’s gift to the vilest sinner who trusts him; it is ours, if we only believe. Do not doubt that he can do it! He can! He can do more than we ask or think by his power within! Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,"

Finally, to him be glory! Ephesians 3:21 - "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

All glory belongs to God in our salvation through Jesus Christ. Glory is his because he does all of the work: He chose us, redeemed us, and taught us. Ephesians 1:9 - "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ" He works everything to bring us to Paradise. He has predestined us to the inheritance and given us the Spirit, assuring us that we’ll overcome, because we are his. Ephesians 1:14 - "The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory." He uses our faults to teach us, rather than to condemn. He brings good out of evil.

Let us never take our eyes off of Christ. Our greatest delusion is our own strength, which is nothing more than seeking glory for ourselves; it is like Uzzah touching the ark, and these efforts must die. 2 Samuel 6:7 - "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God."