copyright Millie Plastaras 7/31/2007
Therefore, I ask that you do not lose heart
at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole
family in heaven and earth is named.
that He would grant you, according to the riches
of His glory to be strengthened with might through
His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may
DWELL in your hearts through FAITH,
that you being
ROOTED and GROUNDED IN LOVE,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what
is the width and length and depth and
height, to know the love of Christ which
passes all knowledge; that you may be filled
with the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:13:19
As I read these passages tonight, I thought
what was Paul saying, that is relevant to us
today? What can we learn from these
scriptures? And the thoughts came to
me how precious these verses were to
the lives of those who are filled with Christ,
and rooted in Him.
Paul was asking us not to lose heart at
the tribulations that we, and the church would
go through. That these tribulations would
bring about good as a testimony to the power
of God to overcome, and to proclaim the gospel
to everyone.
You see, when life is smooth sailing, very few people
think about God. They don't feel the need to.
They are satisfied, comfortable, in that little
comfort zone that feels safe, and restful.
But when the trials come, all of a sudden
God becomes relevant. Some to pray to Him,
some blame God. But through it all, God is
in the middle of those times with us. We never
walk through those valleys, tragedies, hard times
and illnesses alone.
But when we have gone through the trials
of life, and have turned our face to God,
we come through on the other side of those
trials with a testimony of faith, the power
to persist in prayer, and the love and
graciousness and comfort of God to sustain us,
no matter what we face!
Paul further instructs us to do as he does ... to
bow our knees to Christ. To me this speaks
of humbling ourselves before God, just
as Christ did in the garden of Gethsemane.
Not my will, but thine be done oh God.
Are you brave enough to do this, even
in the good times? Are you willing to give
all for Christ's sake? To give up your will for
his? This is the test of a true mature Christian
who recognizes their place in God.
Paul says that He prays God will grant us
according to the riches of His glory that we
might be strengthened with might through
God working in our inner man, our spirit.
When we bow before God, and seek His will,
it is then, and only then, that God can work in us.
Otherwise we are blocking His hand, because
we have not surrendered all. We are clinging
to little areas, we do not want to give up, and
it is blocking his very hand and blessing from
our daily walk and life with Him.
In Verse 17 Paul says that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith; that you being rooted
and grounded in love might fully comprehend
the full love of God.
What are your roots like today? If someone
did a spiritual cat scan of your spiritual life,
what would they see? Would they see Christ
reflected in your spirit, your musings, your
prayer, your daily walk? What is the predominance
in your life? Is it Christ, or your own way?
Would your spirit shine light or darkness
through that spiritual cat scan?
The Bible says when Christ comes, that
all that is done in darkness will be brought
into light. Nothing will be hidden. Are you
ready for that revelation?
Paul said if we do these things, we can be filled
with the fullness of God. How many of us can
say this tonight? Probably none. For most of
us speak his name with our lips, but our hearts
in many areas are far from Him.
My friend, if you want to have boldness in
your prayers, if you want to have victory in
your life, if you want to be free of the past,
and strong in your walk, rooted in
His strength, grounded in His love,
surrendered to His will. It starts on your knees.
Father, I have sinned, forgive me. Cleanse
me from all unrighteousness. Make my
spirit clean and pure before you, and teach
me your ways. Let me walk in your path for
my life, that I may be pleasing to you in all
I say and do. Show me the way to go,
and I shall follow you all the days of my life.
Are you willing to pray this? Who are you serving
if you do not?
For what shall it profit a man
if he gain the whole world and yet loses his own soul?
Matthew 16:26.
I again, feel compelled to tell you.
Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done for Christ, will last.
For Me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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