The Process

The saints of Ephesus had been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. For what, then, will Paul pray? Paul is praying for the saints of Ephesus to receive the third great work of grace, the fullness of God.

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15)

God is creating a family. God's family is Israel, His elect, the saints, the brothers of Christ. The whole family is called by the name of God.

Whoever will choose to do so may become a member of the royal family. The Lord Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life of the Father—the Father of the family. The family for eternity will reveal the Father among the angels and the members of the nations of saved peoples of the earth.

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (Ephesians 3:16)

Notice that the moving of the saint from the second area of the Holy Spirit to the third area of the fullness of God is accomplished by the riches of God's Glory. If the maturing and completing of redemption were left to us we would despair. But there is enough Virtue, strength, and wisdom in the riches of God's glory to bring every willing participant to the fullness of God. The Lord Jesus is not only the Alpha, the beginning, but the Omega, the ending.

The beginning of salvation is perfect, having been wrought by the Lord. The process of salvation is perfect, being wrought by the Lord. The conclusion of salvation will be perfect because it will be accomplished by the Lord. The riches of God's glory are sufficient to bring to pass all that God has envisioned concerning each believer.

"To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."

In order for us to be able to receive the fullness of Divine Glory that God has ordained for His sons we must become much stronger in our inner nature. We become stronger in our inner nature as the Holy Spirit enables us to conquer the pressures that come against us in the present world.

If we would gain strength we must eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ. We are given the flesh and blood of Christ in the spirit realm as we obey God and finish the work He has given us.

If we would gain strength in the inner man we must minister and be ministered to. The Holy Spirit has given to every believer a ministry and gifts of the Spirit. We must each day look to the Lord for opportunities to minister to the members of the Body and for opportunities to be ministered to by members of the Body of Christ. We must exhort one another daily and not neglect the assembling of ourselves together for the purpose of giving and receiving the necessary portions of the Spirit.

If we would gain strength in our inner nature we absolutely must turn away from our own life, take up our personal cross, and follow the Lamb wherever He leads us. It is as our adamic strength is brought down to the death of the cross that our reborn inner nature is filled with the Life of God. The Life of God strengthens us so we may receive more of the Presence of God. The end result of this cycle is to be filled with all the fullness of God.

To be continued.