Happy Monday! Today’s blog will feature my verse by verse thoughts on the passage below. I hope this finds you well. Rest up my friends. His presence will manifest when we sing from a place of rest.
Paul Prays for Love to Overflow
Ephesians 3:14-21 in The Passion Translation talks about love and rest like this:
14 “So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,”
This is a good way to start a prayer, in a humble heart posture. I got this thought while in the shower: When our inner prayer says, Lord I just don’t know what to do anymore, that language is a recipe for Him to pour the more.
15 “the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth.
What a statement. He’s the Perfect Father of every father. No matter your given name, Jesus’s name is above every other name. Once you accept Him into your heart, you receive His inheritance.
16 “And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.”
I have to say that I am living this very verse. In 2017, I received a level of energy and a level of power I had never walked in before. I believe this came because of the choice I made not to deny God in the midst of my loss, but instead choose to praise.
17 “Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.”
I have learned that faith is a verb. It is more of an action than a mental belief. Using your faith is leaning into your daily activities with obedience to the quickening of the Holy Spirit. It says here in verse 17 to constantly use your faith. It doesn’t say constantly believe your faith. It says the acting out of our faith releases depth inside us and creates a resting place for His love to take root. Our heart is a garden, and we want good seed taking root. When it does, good fruit is what He produces.
18-19 “Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!”
This verse says you will be empowered to experience astonishing love. Christ’s love is Agape love.
Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to unconditional love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God." Within Christianity, agape is considered to be the love originating from God or Christ for humankind.
This is a pure love in all its dimensions. Just like a diamond, each facet has a different dimension of light. Love is light. Love makes you feel light. Love makes your countenance look bright.
“How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His love! How enduring and inclusive it is!”
Far-reaching, His love goes beyond the boundary lines and crosses over into enemy territory. This is about the heart. We might try to build our walls to keep Him out, but at some point, love melts the walls within so you can feel the warmth of Him.
“this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!”
I just can’t help but add a song that reminds me of this passage. I encourage you, after reading this blog, to take some time to journal while playing this song. Also, you could play this song and read this blog again to see if anything else lifts off the page.
Extravagant, Steffany Gretzinger by Bethel:
20 “Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.”
Let me put this in all caps...NEVER DOUBT GOD’S MIGHTY POWER. He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.
21 “Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!”
I want to end with this thought that I mentioned at the beginning of this blog: His presence will manifest when we sing from a place of rest.
When you sing and activate the truths that you are singing about, rest manifests. It starts ringing liberty within your being, for the victory starts radiating outside of you and me. Victory is the overflow of love, because you know deep down in your bones Jesus has transformed you from the inside out. So, there is no doubt. For, you have been given a Holy Ghost shout that never runs out.