For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,
from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of His Glory
He may grant you to be
strengthened with power
through His Spirit in your inner being
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—
(Ephesians 3:14-17)
We’ve been working our way through Paul’s prayer in Ephesians. Paul is praying that we may be strong and powerful … in who we really are on the inside, our inner man … so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Christ in our hearts, on the inside of us. This truth has so many facets. Let’s just name a few.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus doesn’t just come in a little and then grow to be bigger as we grow in Christ. We grow, Jesus doesn’t.
Jesus is a flesh and blood man. He was murdered and rose as a flesh and blood man. Yes, He could walk through walls and “pop in” and “pop out” as needed, but He was still human – with a glorified body. He even ate with the disciples after His resurrection. Luke 24:40-43 tells us When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. How can this flesh and blood person live inside us? The answer is through His Spirit.
How does all this happen? Through faith. Faith is complete confidence in someone. Faith is believing what we don’t necessarily see. Merriam-Webster offers this definition: firm belief in something for which there is no proof. (Although creation certainly points to a creator.) Faith in Jesus as the Incarnate Son of God. Faith that He came to pay the price for our sins and redeem us from slavery to Satan and bring us into the household of God. And faith that He’ll be with us always. And faith that He keeps His promises. (Because He does!)
There are even more benefits to His living inside us. We are never alone. He has created us for good works. How can we do them? Because He lives within us by His Spirit. We can do all things (He’s prepared for us to do) through Christ. His Spirit doesn’t give us the ability to leap tall buildings or stop a locomotive, but we have power to do the works He’s prepared for us to do. What if some of those things are really hard? Think about Who is inside us. He can empower us to do His Will. And this gives glory to our Heavenly Father.
Not only is Christ in us, but we are in Him. Right before He died, Jesus told His disciples Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:19b-20)
This is truly amazing. Jesus is in the Father. He is saying He is God, He and the Father are One. Right before this, Jesus declares I and the Father are one. (John 10:30) Then He continues, you in me – we are in Him – and He is in us. He’s in us, and we are in Him. That is oneness. Unity. Relationship. Close. And then together, we are in the Father.
In that company, is there anything that we should fear? Are we ever alone? When He tells us to do something or say something, He’s backing us up.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)
Since Jesus, through His Spirit, lives inside of us, and this Holy Spirit was able to raise Jesus from the dead, is anything too hard for Him?
Lord,
Your Word is true.
You never lie.
So we believe
At least in our heads.
Help us to believe in our hearts
And in our actions
walking every day with You!
Amen!