Echoes from Ephesians: Empowered for Love
Empowered for Love
Ephesians 3:14–21
By Pastor Tammy Long
© South Bay Community Church
Ephesians 3:14–21
By Pastor Tammy Long
© South Bay Community Church
Quick Glance: For Your Heart Today
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is one of the most breathtaking passages in Scripture. Not only does he pray for us to be strengthened by the Spirit, but that Christ would make His home in our hearts. That we’d be rooted in God’s expansive, limitless love—and filled with the very fullness of God. All of this crescendos in an outpouring of praise to the One who can do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine. This isn’t just theology—it’s an invitation. A deep “yes” to the Spirit’s work in you. A “yes” to being empowered by love… and empowered for love.
3 Takeaways
If You Only Have a Moment
Take a breath and let this prayer rise in you:
Inhale: “Christ, dwell in me.”
Exhale: “Empower me by Your love.”
Full manuscript. Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is one of the most breathtaking passages in Scripture. Not only does he pray for us to be strengthened by the Spirit, but that Christ would make His home in our hearts. That we’d be rooted in God’s expansive, limitless love—and filled with the very fullness of God. All of this crescendos in an outpouring of praise to the One who can do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine. This isn’t just theology—it’s an invitation. A deep “yes” to the Spirit’s work in you. A “yes” to being empowered by love… and empowered for love.
3 Takeaways
- The Spirit gives strength from the inside out – Paul doesn’t pray for changed circumstances—he prays for changed inner beings. When Christ makes His home in our hearts, we are stabilized, centered, and strengthened.
- We are rooted in love—and made to experience it – God’s love isn’t just something to study. It’s a love wide enough to hold our pain, deep enough to meet our needs, high enough to lift us out of shame, and long enough to last forever.
- God is able to do infinitely more in us and through us – Not by our effort, but by His power at work within us. We are empowered by love… so we can live a life that overflows with it.
If You Only Have a Moment
Take a breath and let this prayer rise in you:
Inhale: “Christ, dwell in me.”
Exhale: “Empower me by Your love.”
Full manuscript. Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Empowered for Love
Introduction: Drawing Closer
We’ve gathered a little differently today—on purpose. This is not just for atmosphere; it’s to help us imagine something deeper.
Imagine being part of the early church in the first century. Not in a sanctuary like this, but in someone’s home. Maybe a courtyard. A candle-lit room. A space where people squeezed in—shoulder to shoulder—expectant, prayerful. They sat close. They sang. They shared a meal. And they listened—attentively—as letters like the one to the Ephesians were read aloud.
There weren’t microphones or big screens, but the Spirit was present. There was power. And there was love.
Today, we’ve kept our tech, livestream, and microphones—but today I want us to draw closer. Closer to one another. Closer to the Word. Closer to the Spirit of God.
Let me also say: if you’re joining us online, welcome into the circle. You’re not just watching—you’re part of this. We invite you to create a sacred space wherever you are: light a candle, turn off any other distractions, and let the Spirit draw you closer.
This sacred experience is part of our current series, Echoes from Ephesians. So far in this journey through Chapters 1 and 2 we’ve explored:
By the time we arrive at today’s passage in chapter 3, Paul is no longer teaching—he begins praying. With a powerful prayer that ends in a crescendo of praise.
So, we’re going to do what those early believers did. We’ll listen to God’s Word. We’ll respond in worship. And we’ll reflect on what it all means for us today.
Please open your Bibles or devices to Ephesians 3. We’ll be starting with verse 14 of Paul’s letter. He writes:
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.”
“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
We’ve gathered a little differently today—on purpose. This is not just for atmosphere; it’s to help us imagine something deeper.
Imagine being part of the early church in the first century. Not in a sanctuary like this, but in someone’s home. Maybe a courtyard. A candle-lit room. A space where people squeezed in—shoulder to shoulder—expectant, prayerful. They sat close. They sang. They shared a meal. And they listened—attentively—as letters like the one to the Ephesians were read aloud.
There weren’t microphones or big screens, but the Spirit was present. There was power. And there was love.
Today, we’ve kept our tech, livestream, and microphones—but today I want us to draw closer. Closer to one another. Closer to the Word. Closer to the Spirit of God.
Let me also say: if you’re joining us online, welcome into the circle. You’re not just watching—you’re part of this. We invite you to create a sacred space wherever you are: light a candle, turn off any other distractions, and let the Spirit draw you closer.
This sacred experience is part of our current series, Echoes from Ephesians. So far in this journey through Chapters 1 and 2 we’ve explored:
- The spiritual blessings we’ve been given in Christ
- That Christ is in us and we are in Christ—not just to survive until we get to heaven, but to thrive right here and right now
- We’ve learned that Christ is creating one new humanity, replacing division with unity—as the zipper-fixer
By the time we arrive at today’s passage in chapter 3, Paul is no longer teaching—he begins praying. With a powerful prayer that ends in a crescendo of praise.
So, we’re going to do what those early believers did. We’ll listen to God’s Word. We’ll respond in worship. And we’ll reflect on what it all means for us today.
Please open your Bibles or devices to Ephesians 3. We’ll be starting with verse 14 of Paul’s letter. He writes:
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.”
“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
Movement One: Strength for the Inner Life
Sisters and Brothers, Paul begins this passage by writing, “When I think of all this…” So, what is the “all this”? He’s thinking of everything he’s written in the first part of the letter—about how we’ve been blessed with every spiritual blessing and sealed with the Holy Spirit. That we were once dead, but made alive through God’s grace. And now we are in Christ and Christ is in us. That we are God’s masterpiece—created with a purpose. And that God is forming one new humanity, a new world order—the Kingdom of God.
When Paul thinks of all this… the passage says he falls to his knees. Now, that may not seem unusual to us—many of us kneel when we pray. But in Paul’s day, standing in prayer was the norm. Kneeling meant something more. It was a posture of reverence, deep dependence on God, and humility.
Now listen to what Paul prays for from this posture. He writes:
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.”
Notice, he prays for strength in the inner being of his hearers, which includes us. He prays for the Spirit to empower strength from the inside out. And from that empowering, he says Christ would make His home in our hearts. His home—not just a stop by or a weekly visit on Sundays. But a home. This conveys a settling in. Taking up residence. A rearranging and tidying up of some things.
Paul prays that the hearts of his listeners would become a dwelling place—where Christ is fully at home, welcomed, and the center of it all. Now I want you to think about that for a moment: what might that look like in your life? A life where Jesus isn’t just included, but central. Where our decisions, desires, relationships, and identity are all shaped by His presence. Where peace replaces chaos, and trust drives out fear. Where we become centered and grounded—because Christ is at home in us.
This is Paul’s prayer, and he invites us to imagine it. To long for it.
I want to pause here and join Paul with a prayer of our own in song. That through the Spirit’s power, our inner beings would be strengthened, and our hearts are a home for Christ. That Jesus would be the Center.
Congregational Response Song: “Jesus, At the Center”
When Paul thinks of all this… the passage says he falls to his knees. Now, that may not seem unusual to us—many of us kneel when we pray. But in Paul’s day, standing in prayer was the norm. Kneeling meant something more. It was a posture of reverence, deep dependence on God, and humility.
Now listen to what Paul prays for from this posture. He writes:
“When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.”
Notice, he prays for strength in the inner being of his hearers, which includes us. He prays for the Spirit to empower strength from the inside out. And from that empowering, he says Christ would make His home in our hearts. His home—not just a stop by or a weekly visit on Sundays. But a home. This conveys a settling in. Taking up residence. A rearranging and tidying up of some things.
Paul prays that the hearts of his listeners would become a dwelling place—where Christ is fully at home, welcomed, and the center of it all. Now I want you to think about that for a moment: what might that look like in your life? A life where Jesus isn’t just included, but central. Where our decisions, desires, relationships, and identity are all shaped by His presence. Where peace replaces chaos, and trust drives out fear. Where we become centered and grounded—because Christ is at home in us.
This is Paul’s prayer, and he invites us to imagine it. To long for it.
I want to pause here and join Paul with a prayer of our own in song. That through the Spirit’s power, our inner beings would be strengthened, and our hearts are a home for Christ. That Jesus would be the Center.
Congregational Response Song: “Jesus, At the Center”
Movement Two: Rooted in Love, Filled with Christ
Let’s continue with Paul in prayer and hear what he prays for next. After praying that his hearers would be empowered with inner strength through the Spirit, creating a home for Christ in their hearts, Paul continues with these words in verse 17b:
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
Paul uses a striking metaphor here—a tree whose roots grow deep into the soil. And not just any soil. The soil of God’s love. That’s how we stand strong when the winds of life blow—when conflict arises, when disappointment hurts, or when doubts beat us up. These roots in soil of love hold us steady. I’m not talking about sentimental love, but the self-giving, patient, enduring love of Jesus. Paul says this love keeps us strong.
And the more deeply we’re anchored in it, the more resilient we become. We might not see the roots growing, but they’re there—underground, beneath the surface, drawing strength from a source that will never run dry. Growing deeper as we grow deeper in Christ.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He continues his prayer with:
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully…”
Now, Paul reaches for language to try to explain the unexplainable. His language gives us some insight and stretches our comprehension. He tries to describe the expanse of God’s love with words like: How wide… How long… How high… How deep…
I can never read this passage without wondering if Ashford and Simpson recalled this text when they wrote the words Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell made so famous. You know it: “Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough… To keep me from getting to you, Babe.” That song expresses the passion of human love—a love that will go to any length.
But even that bold promise is just a fraction of what Paul is talking about. Because God’s love really is that expansive—and more. It climbs higher. It reaches deeper. It stretches farther. It holds stronger than any love we can fathom.
What’s more, Paul longs for us to not only understand this love—but to experience it deeply. To know it—not only with our heads, but also with our hearts and spirits—just how much we are loved. Paul is praying that we wouldn’t just talk about God’s love abstractly but that we would experience it in such a way that we are transformed by it.
He goes on to explain what happens when we experience this love:
“Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
God’s love is the kind of love that strengthens the weary, revives the discouraged, and breathes life into those dry places of our lives. He’s that kind of friend, companion, and lover of our souls.
To experience the love of God Paul is talking about is to be filled with joy, power, and the abundant life Jesus talked about.
But here’s the thing: Paul knew we need help even to begin to grasp and experience this fullness. That’s why he prayed we’d be strengthened in our inner being through the Holy Spirit—because it takes the power of the Spirit to truly receive the power of God’s love.
And family, I believe if we’re honest… we all long for that kind of love. Not just to hear about it, or know about it in our minds—but to feel it in our souls. To be rooted in it. To be held by it.
And that begins with falling in love with Jesus. Not as a one-time moment, but as a growing, deepening journey of love and trust—walking together. The more we open ourselves to love Jesus, the more we’re able to receive His love. And the more we receive His love for us, the more we are filled with His joy and power.
So as we move back into a moment of worship, let this song be a prayer of longing and surrender to fall in love with Jesus—because truly, it is the best thing you’ll ever do.
Congregational Response Song: “Falling in love with Jesus”
“Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
Paul uses a striking metaphor here—a tree whose roots grow deep into the soil. And not just any soil. The soil of God’s love. That’s how we stand strong when the winds of life blow—when conflict arises, when disappointment hurts, or when doubts beat us up. These roots in soil of love hold us steady. I’m not talking about sentimental love, but the self-giving, patient, enduring love of Jesus. Paul says this love keeps us strong.
And the more deeply we’re anchored in it, the more resilient we become. We might not see the roots growing, but they’re there—underground, beneath the surface, drawing strength from a source that will never run dry. Growing deeper as we grow deeper in Christ.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He continues his prayer with:
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully…”
Now, Paul reaches for language to try to explain the unexplainable. His language gives us some insight and stretches our comprehension. He tries to describe the expanse of God’s love with words like: How wide… How long… How high… How deep…
I can never read this passage without wondering if Ashford and Simpson recalled this text when they wrote the words Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell made so famous. You know it: “Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough… To keep me from getting to you, Babe.” That song expresses the passion of human love—a love that will go to any length.
But even that bold promise is just a fraction of what Paul is talking about. Because God’s love really is that expansive—and more. It climbs higher. It reaches deeper. It stretches farther. It holds stronger than any love we can fathom.
What’s more, Paul longs for us to not only understand this love—but to experience it deeply. To know it—not only with our heads, but also with our hearts and spirits—just how much we are loved. Paul is praying that we wouldn’t just talk about God’s love abstractly but that we would experience it in such a way that we are transformed by it.
He goes on to explain what happens when we experience this love:
“Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
God’s love is the kind of love that strengthens the weary, revives the discouraged, and breathes life into those dry places of our lives. He’s that kind of friend, companion, and lover of our souls.
To experience the love of God Paul is talking about is to be filled with joy, power, and the abundant life Jesus talked about.
But here’s the thing: Paul knew we need help even to begin to grasp and experience this fullness. That’s why he prayed we’d be strengthened in our inner being through the Holy Spirit—because it takes the power of the Spirit to truly receive the power of God’s love.
And family, I believe if we’re honest… we all long for that kind of love. Not just to hear about it, or know about it in our minds—but to feel it in our souls. To be rooted in it. To be held by it.
And that begins with falling in love with Jesus. Not as a one-time moment, but as a growing, deepening journey of love and trust—walking together. The more we open ourselves to love Jesus, the more we’re able to receive His love. And the more we receive His love for us, the more we are filled with His joy and power.
So as we move back into a moment of worship, let this song be a prayer of longing and surrender to fall in love with Jesus—because truly, it is the best thing you’ll ever do.
Congregational Response Song: “Falling in love with Jesus”
Movement Three: Infinitely More
Family, we’ve been walking through Paul’s prayer—step by step. It’s been: a prayer for spiritual strength, a prayer for experiencing the vastness of God’s love. And now, Paul brings us to a climax.
It’s like, the longer he prays, the more his heart catches fire—and he erupts in praise. He writes:
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
It’s easy to miss how this has been building from verse 14 when Paul begins his prayer. And verses 20 and 21 are pure praise—of exuberant gratitude and worship.
He begins with God is able—not barely able, or just enough able, but able to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever ask or even imagine.
Let’s pause and consider each word: Infinitely. More. Than we could ever ask. Or think.
In other words, we can’t even get close in our requests or imaginings—God’s ability goes far beyond all of it. Infinitely more.
And Paul is not talking about a genie granting wishes. This isn’t about a yes for everything on your prayer list. He’s talking about what God can do in us and through us—the transformation, the growth, the healing, the calling—for His greater purpose. The bigger picture of God’s infinite goodness for you and for me.
That makes it personal. The power of the Spirit is not just a gift—it’s God’s presence with us. Immanuel. Alive in you. Working in you. Renewing your mind. Healing your heart. Anchoring you in love. And strengthening you to live with purpose and joy.
At this good news, Paul can’t help but worship and he breaks into a doxology—an outpouring of praise to God.
He writes: “Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!”
Family, when we catch even a glimpse of this… when we see the Spirit at work—when we begin to experience this fullness of His love, life, and power at work within us—the only fitting response is praise.
So, let us respond like Paul did. Family, let this final song rise from the fullness in your own heart—from the love you’ve received, from the strength you’ve found, for the God who is able. To do infinitely more—is worthy of all honor, and glory, and praise.
Congregational Response Song: “How Great Is Our God”
It’s like, the longer he prays, the more his heart catches fire—and he erupts in praise. He writes:
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
It’s easy to miss how this has been building from verse 14 when Paul begins his prayer. And verses 20 and 21 are pure praise—of exuberant gratitude and worship.
He begins with God is able—not barely able, or just enough able, but able to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever ask or even imagine.
Let’s pause and consider each word: Infinitely. More. Than we could ever ask. Or think.
In other words, we can’t even get close in our requests or imaginings—God’s ability goes far beyond all of it. Infinitely more.
And Paul is not talking about a genie granting wishes. This isn’t about a yes for everything on your prayer list. He’s talking about what God can do in us and through us—the transformation, the growth, the healing, the calling—for His greater purpose. The bigger picture of God’s infinite goodness for you and for me.
That makes it personal. The power of the Spirit is not just a gift—it’s God’s presence with us. Immanuel. Alive in you. Working in you. Renewing your mind. Healing your heart. Anchoring you in love. And strengthening you to live with purpose and joy.
At this good news, Paul can’t help but worship and he breaks into a doxology—an outpouring of praise to God.
He writes: “Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!”
Family, when we catch even a glimpse of this… when we see the Spirit at work—when we begin to experience this fullness of His love, life, and power at work within us—the only fitting response is praise.
So, let us respond like Paul did. Family, let this final song rise from the fullness in your own heart—from the love you’ve received, from the strength you’ve found, for the God who is able. To do infinitely more—is worthy of all honor, and glory, and praise.
Congregational Response Song: “How Great Is Our God”
Closing Reflection & Invitation to Say “Yes”
Family, in preparing to close, I want to share this final reflection. When we stop to think about it, Paul’s prayer is actually breathtaking. Strength from within. Love that is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than we can grasp. The fullness of God dwelling in us. And a God who can do infinitely more than we could ask or think.
But the truth is… we don’t always live like it’s true. Sometimes we hold back. Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we don’t believe God really loves us as Paul declared. Or maybe we forget that the power of the Spirit—of our amazing God—is in every believer who calls Jesus Lord.
So, here’s my question for you—what if we didn’t hold back or forget? What if today, we simply said yes? Yes—to the Spirit’s power alive in us. Yes—to Christ making His home in our hearts. Yes—to being rooted in love that is stronger than shame, fear, or wounds we may be carrying. Yes—to being filled with the fullness of life and power that only God can give.
What if we said yes—to love Christ with our whole hearts, and to let His love be the power that gets us there? Because the truth is, the process and the goal are inseparable. We are empowered by love… and empowered for love.
So, wherever you are on your journey toward yes—maybe for the first time, or the hundredth—I invite you to lift your voice, let your “yes” rise in worship, and stand as we declare one more time with a closing prayer of worship.
Congregational Response Song: “I’ll Say Yes, Lord, Yes!”
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
But the truth is… we don’t always live like it’s true. Sometimes we hold back. Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we don’t believe God really loves us as Paul declared. Or maybe we forget that the power of the Spirit—of our amazing God—is in every believer who calls Jesus Lord.
So, here’s my question for you—what if we didn’t hold back or forget? What if today, we simply said yes? Yes—to the Spirit’s power alive in us. Yes—to Christ making His home in our hearts. Yes—to being rooted in love that is stronger than shame, fear, or wounds we may be carrying. Yes—to being filled with the fullness of life and power that only God can give.
What if we said yes—to love Christ with our whole hearts, and to let His love be the power that gets us there? Because the truth is, the process and the goal are inseparable. We are empowered by love… and empowered for love.
So, wherever you are on your journey toward yes—maybe for the first time, or the hundredth—I invite you to lift your voice, let your “yes” rise in worship, and stand as we declare one more time with a closing prayer of worship.
Congregational Response Song: “I’ll Say Yes, Lord, Yes!”
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
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