'I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power* ( Greek: *dynamis* means ability, power) *through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power* ( Greek: *exischyo* means to be strong enough, to have power), *together with all the saints, to grasp* ( Greek *katalambanō* means to understand, realise, find out) *how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.'* ( Ephesians 3:16-19) The Church in Ephesus was well-grounded in the Word as is evident from John's letter to the seven churches but they had lost their passion. ( Revelation 2:2-6) It is possible for us to become knowledgeable about the Word of God but become *calloused* (insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic) in our hearts with the passing of time. Paul, who had ministered in Ephesus for over two years, exhorted the Church through his epistle, to *grasp* ( realise) the depth of God's love so that they may attain the fullness of God. The key to the fullness is therefore in *realising* ( becoming fully aware, understanding clearly) that which God has given us through Christ and it takes the power of God to open our understanding to experience this realisation. *'He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them," This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ...'* ( Luke 24:45-46) because *'at first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things have been written about him and that they had done these things to him.'* (John 12:16) Their minds were opened when *'he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."'* ( Vs 22) People who have read the Bible without having received the power to understand, have come off unimpressed by its literature. *"When anyone hears the hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart."* ( Matthew 13:19) While others have found a treasure chest of precious truths ! *"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."* ( Matthew 13:11-12) Many in Israel had heard and seen what Jesus said and did, but they failed to grasp the truth! *"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not understand ... 'For this people's heart has become calloused ... Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear."* ( vs 13-16) Amen.
270. Power to grasp.
Sam Matthews. K
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