Ephesians 3:13-21 (KJV)

3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Firstly, I love what pastor David Osteen has to say about it. He wrote that “Christ suffered to purchase our salvation and Paul suffered to proclaim it” (Colossians 1:24). 

Paralleling this verse with Colossians 1:24, we see that Paul had experienced great tribulation and afflictions for the sake of the Body of Christ. 

Just as he did not let trials reduce his zeal for the Gospel, he encourages the Church to remain strong in light of his tribulations as well. 

3:14-15  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named

Throughout the Bible, bowing down is an act of humble worship (ex. Exodus 20:5; Psalm 95:6; Philippians 2:10). 

When we go to the Father in prayer, we are praying to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20) by the Holy Spirit. 

Christians are all part of the family of God on Earth and in Heaven (Galatians 3:26). 

Additionally, Jesus Christ is the intercessor of our prayers to the Father and because of this we can humbly approach Him in prayer (Romans 8:34). 

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

We are strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man by the Word of God. 

Colossians 3:16 reads, 

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Also, the inner man needs to be a definitive focus within our prayer because it is an eternal matter, not the outward man. 

3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Christ dwells in the heart of the believers and it is possible by faith (Colossians 1:27). 

Moreover, Christ dwelling in us means that we do not have to pray for the presence of God or for His Spirit to continuously descend upon us as it did in early Acts. 

Whereas we do not live from experience to experience; rather, we stand and live in faith and constant communion with the Holy Spirit. 

Like a structure under attack by an earthquake, we as Christians can stay solid and standing by the love of God. 

When grounded in love, we have an extraordinary ability offered only by the Spirit. We are able to know the love of Christ. 

The Word says that this love, “passeth knowledge”. With our human knowledge we will not be able to know this love. 

However, we know it by the Spirit (Romans 5:5) which is delivered through the mystery that Paul delivered (Ephesians 3:3-6). 

This Spiritual knowledge is important living what some would deem the “Full” Christian life. A full Christian life requires “all the fulness of God” which comes by believing in His Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 

3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Lastly, with verse 21, the book of Ephesians is divided in half and the main doctrinal portion is concluded.

Undoubtedly, it is concluded with the full assurance that God is not limited in His mighty works. The power that we pray and draw from is already inside of each and every believer. 

It is His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Christ Jesus reflects the glory of Christ through His Body (The Church). This will be true endlessly into eternity.