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THE LORD JESUS.--"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him" (Luke 2: 40).
We can now understand perhaps a little better the reason for the "riches of glory", for
this is no mean or every-day petition. It is asking for an experience similar to that of
John the Baptist and the Lord Himself! Power (dunamis) was necessary to equip the
apostle for his ministry, "the energy of His power" (3: 7). The same power is at work in
connection with the abundant answer to prayer of verse 20--"the power that is energizing
in us". The same power is necessitated here.
By observing these references we can understand what distinctive power is intended
by the apostle. It is none other than the "power of His resurrection". In the first great
prayer the petition is that we may KNOW
"What is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to
the energy of the strength of His might, which He wrought (energized) in Christ, when
He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him . . . . . far above all" (Eph. 1: 18-21).
In the second prayer the plea is that we may EXPERIENCE this same mighty
resurrection power. Two further clauses must be observed before we learn the necessity
for this great power:--
"Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3: 16).
The strengthening is "through His Spirit". We often hear great emphasis laid upon the
work of the Spirit, often with a reference to Pentecost or I Cor. 12: Here is a work of the
Spirit dispensationally right but sadly neglected. The Spirit Who seals is the Spirit Who
strengthens. In both cases His work is the application of the resurrection of Christ. The
strengthening is "with a view to the inner man". Ephesians speaks of an "old man", a
"new man", and an "inner man". The inner man is connected with the "mind" in
Rom. 8: 22, and contrasted with the "members" of the body. In II Cor. 4: 16 the
"outward man" is spoken of as "perishing", while the inner man is "renewed" day by day.
This spiritual inward strengthening completes the preparation. The preparation of the
heart is for the reception of the highest and holiest Guest:--
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (Eph. 3: 17).
We have already seen that this is a direct outcome of the glorious conclusion of
Eph. 2: 22:--
"A habitation of God in Spirit."
The parallel thought in Colossians is
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly" (3: 16).
This is important. Christ may dwell in the heart by faith, but Christ personally is still
at the right hand of God, there to remain until the time comes for Him to return to this
earth. Christ dwells in the heart by faith. Colossians suggests that Christ cannot be