Ephesians 3:14-16
“For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self”.
Paul prays that the Ephesians would be strengthened in the inner self. That's where it counts. It's nice to be strong physically, but far better on the inner self. What is the inner self? I Thessalonians 5:23 says, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Our inner self consists of two parts, soul and spirit.
Our soul is our consciousness while our spirit is that which connects to God. When Adam and Eve were told not to eat the fruit, it was said that if they did, they would die. They didn't die physically, but spiritually, which was far worse, as it meant they were separated from God.
When we were redeemed our sins were forgiven and we were born again, as in our spirits were made alive and we were connected to God. Our spirits go through developmental stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Each stage is real and good. However, we can get stuck in any of these stages. Some stay in infancy their entire lives. Hebrews 5:12 says, "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food."
Paul prays for them to be strengthened in the inner man. As we read and hear the Word of God, we are challenged to grow. We still have our fallen, selfish natures and we still seek our own desires. We bump into others whose selfishness drives them to fulfill their wishes first. God tells us to love others and to deny ourselves. We do so and learn that the joy we receive is far greater than if we had gotten our way.
God leads us on a new highway. Psalm 16:11 says, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Isaiah 35:8 describes it this way, “And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it–only those who walk in the Way–and fools will not stray onto it.” We are physically in view of others, yet on different highways.
Those not in Christ don’t see this highway. Jesus said this in Matthew 13:13, “That is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand'”. He gives all opportunities to come to Him, if they reject it, they remain blind to His ways.
The world paints God’s way as backwards, limited and joyless. But David described the path as full of joy with eternal pleasures. Part of the answer is that we get wrecked when we have no limits. The other answer is being connected with God. David said in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.” Meaning not having God creates want. We will never be satisfied without Him. I’ve heard it said there is a God-shaped hole in us that only He can fill. Ecclesiastes 3:11 hints at that when it says, “God has placed eternity in their hearts”.
Jesus says that we are to deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow Him. That’s a tough challenge. However when we do that we learn that His burden is easy and His yoke, light. This is the right thing to do. It’s why we were created. Part of the reason we are at peace is because we aren’t striving against God and His ways. The other reason we have joy is because that’s what God’s presence brings. This peace and joy strengthens our inner man.
Earlier we addressed the Hebrews passage which spoke of maturity in Christ. As we grow in Him we become stronger. We go through the young adult stage and then on to spiritual adulthood. Many things that used to rattle us do no longer. That being said, we need the Lord. But that is also part of maturity, we are greatly dependent on Him.
God thank You that You want to strengthen us in our inner selves. Thank You for the maturity that You work in us. Thank You for the endless grace and joy that You give. Thank You also for the invisible highway You’ve provided for us.