Part 6 – Paul’s Prayer Looks toward the Completion

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called What God is Doing?.

Part 6 – Paul’s Prayer

After penning most of these three thrilling chapters of doctrine in Ephesians, the Apostle Paul prays for the mature Ephesian saints:

“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, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 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, (so) that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

What is the breadth of God’s current work?

He is bridging the former chasm or division between Jew and Gentile, joining them to make “one new man,” the “new creature,” called the Church, “the Body of Christ,” as the dwelling-place of His Spirit (Eph. 2:11-22; 3:6, 9).

What is the length of God’s present work?

The “Body of Christ” was not a last-minute decision, but rather something God planned long ago“before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). It is part of His eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:11).

What is the depth of God’s current work?

Ephesians 2:1-9 says He has reached down to the very pits of sin to be reconciled with such evil creatures (people willfully following Satan, the flesh, and the evil world system). Before we came to faith in Christ, this was our lot!

What is the height of God’s present work?

As God empowers us members of “the Body of Christ” to function according to His will. He by Christ’s cross destroyed the authority of the corrupt Satanic “powers” presently operating in “the heavenly places.” He will yet fully impact the governance ensconced in “the heavenly places” that He created for Himself (Ephesians 1:3, 20-23; 2:6,7; 3:10; 6:12) by replacing them with members of “His body.”

It is Paul’s wish—indeed the Holy Spirit’s objective—that we understand exactly what God is doing.

Returning to the opening chapter of Ephesians, we recall one of the Book’s main themes… the recovery of the heaven and the earth.

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (vs. 9-11).

Through the Apostle Paul’s ministry and doctrine, the God of creation has revealed His secret will. In prophecy, Israel’s prophetic program (His plan to reclaim the Earth), He had disclosed only part of His plan for creation. However, while revealing prophecy, He was yet withholding hidden information concerning His mystery (secret)” program and plan to reclaim “the heavenly places”).

Whatever Father God is doing, no matter where we are on the Bible’s timeline, there is one ultimate goal:

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”

The two realms of creation — the Heaven and on the Earth (Genesis 1:1) — have their respective governmental offices of rank and authority that parallel each other in “the Heaven and on the Earth”

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible (on earth) and invisible (in heaven), whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Colossians 1:16 (KJV)

Overall, all universal administrative authority is to ultimately be consolidated in Jesus Christ.

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” (Ephesians 1:10 (KJV)