More than we ask or think.

     I have always been intrigued with the "prayers" we find in scripture.  They give us insight into how biblical personalities viewed life and faith.  It seems to me that sometimes they (those biblical characters) were tapped into something that we have somehow lost or at least have not yet quite discovered.  For example take the Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians chapter three.  I know that I have not yet fully realized the full impact of his prayer, but I am giving myself to meditate upon it.  So far, this is what I have come up with.
     Verse 10 seems to set the context.  God's intention is that now through the church his plan will become visible.  I take this to mean that God is doing something through the church that will eventually be astonishing.  (All of the created realms in heaven and earth will marvel at God's multi-dimensional plan.)  This eternal purpose was set in motion through Christ; his life, his death, his resurrection and our redemption and reception of the Life of His Spirit.  Because of this eternal purpose and the victory brought to us through Churst, Paul Prays this prayer in verses 14-20.  There are seven (7) clear facets that Paul prays for the church,  I will summarize them this way:

• That we would be strengthened with power by His Spirit in our inner man. 16
• That Christ would dwell in our hearts by faith. 17
• That we would be rooted and grounded in His Love. 17
• That we would be able to comprehend the fullest dimensions of God's love by revelation. 18
• That we would be filled with all the fullness of God. 19
• That we might experience His exceedingly great power at work in us, working through what we think and ask. 20
• That Christ's glory might be seen throughout the generations. 21

     Paul's seven prayer requests for the church indicate that these are aspects God's intention for us.  Paul is praying by inspiration of Holy Spirit, that we the church would begin to "get it."  That we would begin to understand and walk in the fullness of our purpose, power and destiny.  Verse 20 seems to be the high point, the climax or crescendo.  "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask of think, according to the power that works in us."
   
     As we walk in these seven dimensions of life in the Spirit, Paul indicates that God is ready to do more than we can ask of think.  Meaning, as we walk as "carriers of his fullness" (vrs. 19) what we think and then ask, God is ready and able to do, "exceedingly abundantly more" according to His Power that is at work in us.

     As we are filled with his fullness we can begin to trust, what we think and then ask in faith, God will do (exceedingly abundantly) in us and through us.  We need to stop looking at our limitations and start trusting in the resources of God in us to accomplish his purposes.

    Let's join with Paul in praying this seven-fold prayer for the church and watch what God is able to do. The destiny of future generations are at stake.  What will be our legacy to them?