Grace and Truth

Bible Ministries

We are continuing our examination of intercession as a facet of prayer in our study of the  doctrine of Prayer as a mandate for the believer in the PPOG for the church age. Phil 4:6; 1Thes 5:17

We are presently examining Paul's prayer recorded in Eph 3:14- 19; for the empowerment of the believers at Ephesus  which we can use as a model for our own prayers for other believers.

 

Eph 3:16;

He might give you all  ( to your advantage )according to the standard of the riches {ploutos}  of His glory/essence   (all that God is)  to become strong   (krataioo - advance to SuperGrace) by means of power ({doctrine in your soul) through His Spirit with reference to the inner man ( the believer's soul)

 

The Greek word Ploutos translated as riches means material riches in time an abundance of wealth or external  posessions. SuperGrace blessing is 'heaven on earth'. But material blessings are meaningless unless the believer has the 'capacity' to enjoy them. David referred to this as the 'cup in his soul' and 'my cup runneth over'. God can not pour unless you have a 'cup'. Doctrine in your soul forms the cup or capacity of soul.

 

These are the same words that are used in Phil 4:19 regarding material provision from God for believers.

 

The Greek word (κραταιόω  Krataioo) is translated" strengthened"  is in the passive voice indicating that  the strength is to be drawn from an external source. This is the believer becoming spiritually strong by persistent PMA of  Bible Doctrine under the mentorship of God the Holy Spirit and thereby grow up spirituality into SuperGrace in order to be able to overcome resistance.

 

This is similar to the idea expressed in the Old Testament in  1Sam. 30:6; and Zech. 10:12.

 

Believers become strong in the Lord by thinking the Lord's thoughts through the recall of Bible Doctrine.

 

Eph 3:17;  That Christ may  reside and be at home in your hearts by means of Bible Doctrine; {and} in virtue love having been  rooted and founded....

 

The Greek word (  κατοικέω katoikeo  )translated dwell does not simply mean to be residing  some place, it means  here means to reside, settle down,  to be at home and comfortable there.

 

This is not the indwelling residence of Christ, which every member of the Royal Family of God has at salvation, this is Christ dwelling in the right lobe of the believer's soul by means of Bible Doctrine.

 

Christ is at home and comfortable where his words ( metabolized Bible Doctrine ) are circulating in the stream of consciousness.

 

1Cor 2:16; John 6:63; Bible Doctrine (Christ's words)  is the mind of Christ.

 

Christ is resident and at home in the soul where His words are resident and circulating freely.

 

The greatest problem-solving device, which is available to mature believers, is PSD #10...Occupation with Christ. 

 

When  believers are occupied with Christ, they are living their life by means of Doctrine in the light of eternity, not  by means of empericism or rationalism in the darkness of the Cosmic system.

 

When Christ is at home in the right lobe of the soul of the believer, that believer is using the greatest problem-solving device available.

 

Eph 3:17b;...  in virtue love having been completely rooted and grounded ...

 

The word translated rooted is ( ῥιζόομαι rhizoomai)  means to cause to strike root, to strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded.

 

The word translated grounded is (θεμελιόω themelioo) and means to lay a foundation to be established.

 

© Copyright 2007, Michael Lemmon Bible Ministries. World Rights Reserved.