Oceans in the Desert

By Kathi Pelton

The Holy Spirit has had me praying for the body of Christ and our nation out of Ephesians 3, beginning with verse 16, for the past few weeks. Verse 16 says,

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:16‬

What a powerful and wonderful prayer that we should all be praying for every believer. It’s such a Kairos time to see the Spirit of the Lord empower each of us with “inner strength” out of His “glorious and unlimited resources!” This is a prayer we should be praying over our lives, our loved ones and even our nations leaders who believe in Christ as their Savior. An inner strength is needed like never before in our lifetime.

Ephesians 3 goes on to say in verse 17,

‭ “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.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:17

I see so many who are weary and feeling weak and yet this verse offers a solid solution for keeping you strong. As you are empowered by His Spirit with inner strength; which will produce trust in Him— then Christ will make His home in your heart. As your heart becomes a resting place for our Savior, His love will empower you and the roots of your life will go deep into the rich soil of His love. It’s a beautiful progression of inward prosperity and riches.

If trust in God is what causes Him to make His home in our heart then just think of what would happen if our nation(s) turned back to “In God We Trust!” God would find a home and a resting place in the heart of our nation once again. But often these restorations begin in the house of God (in His people first).

Let’s continue onto verse 18,

“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.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭

This is so essential for God’s people! If we would pray that the Spirit would empower us to understand the width, length, height and depth of the His love then we would know what is needed and what the world is crying out to understand and experience. It says, “…as all God’s people should…” In other words, we don’t but we should! Often as you scroll through social media and observe much of what God’s people have to say, what you will quickly discover is that there are a lot of opinions and words without a depth of love— or without being rooted in love. What is prophesy or words without love?

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:1-2‬ ‭

The gifts of the Spirit without the love of God are just noise! There is already too much noise out there. What sets our words and voice apart from all the noise? Love! When we begin to be rooted in the love of God, which begins with trusting Him, then we release the sound that breaks through the noise! Love is the frequency of Heaven that shatters darkness, confusion and fear. It breaks through barriers and opens deaf ears.

Ephesians 3:19 goes on to say this,

“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.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:19‬

There is an “experience that surpasses understanding.” When a person has an experience with the love of God— then they are forever changed! I can understand that “you love me” but the personal experience with your love will impact and change my life!

Men and women are made complete and “full of life” when they experience God’s love. But what does this verse also say? They will be made complete in His “power” that comes from God!!

I have been around Christian ministers who moved in a so-called power ministry and yet there was a great lack of love. Power without love is illegal! Almost all of these ministries end up falling away because we must be rooted and grounded in love to rightfully be empowered by His Spirit and to see others experience the life changing power that the love of God brings. Power without love will destroy both the user and the receiver.

Finally, Ephesians 3:20 says,

“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.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭

We love this verse!! The “more than we can ask or think (imagine)” is one of Christian’s favorite verses. But we must put it into context. This verse comes after verses 16-19. There is a progression that we cannot skip.

• Praying for His Spirit to empower us with inner strength.

• Trusting Him so that He makes His home in our hearts.

• Allowing the roots of our life to go deep in the soil of His love.

• Asking to understand the fullness of the love of God.

• Asking to experience the love of God since we cannot fully understand it.

• Asking the Spirit to make you complete with all life and power that comes from God.

• Yeilding to God’s mighty power to work in each of us which accomplishes more than we can ask or imagine!

I believe that these are key verses the Spirit of God wants prayed over our lives, our loved ones and those in leadership. Love shifts everything! It changes the sound, the narrative, the power to change the lives around us, the atmosphere and the world!

Let’s silence the noise and release the sound that has depth, width, length and height…the sound that is rooted in the love of God!

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