The Working of the Holy Spirit

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

As I read these few verses at the end of Ephesians chapter 3, I am struck by the fact that most of the matters Paul is writing about here are to do with the working of the holy spirit within the children of God in Christ Jesus.

He talks about strengthening in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith, and being rooted and grounded in lve. He speaks of being able to comprehend the fulness of the love of Christ and being filled with the fulness of God.

All of these things and much more come to us through the working of the Holy Spirit within. None of these are things we can achieve by ourselves, but only by the Holy Spirit working through the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the grace of God. So let us briefly examine some of these matters.

The Family of God

Paul shows in the first few verses of this section that God is the source of all the families of the earth. He was after all the Creator and He created man, so that makes intrinsic sense.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named (Ephesians 3:14-15)

However, God is even more so the Father of all who seek Him out, especially those who come to Him through Christ Jesus. God promised Abraham that he and his offspring would inherit the earth. (See Galatians 3:16)

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many; but, referring to one, “And to your offspring,” which is Christ.

What was important about that verse is that the promises were made not to ALL of Abraham’s offspring, meaning many, but to just ONE offspring: Jesus Christ. So it is those who come to God through Jesus Christ who are to be the recipients of the promises of God to receive eternal life.

And we are told elsewhere that it is those who come to God through Jesus Christ who are the family of God. We can only come to Him by being called by God, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us to perfection in Jesus Christ so that we can truly be the children of God, perfect as He is perfect.

The Working of the Holy Spirit

In the next few verses we see how God is preparing us. We are shown that it is by the working of the Holy Spirit in us that we are being prepared for the glory that is to be revealed as we become the sons and daughters of God in Jesus Christ.

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Look at the things described in these few words.

First we see that we are to be “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” This is the direct working of the Holy Spirit who helps us when we are weak. The Holy Spirit lifts us up and builds us up and gives us the strength to fight the attacks of the devil and the passions of our flesh that tempt us.

When we learn and understand how to walk in the Spirit, we can put the power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to overcome these things. Thus, we are strengthened in the inner man by the working of the Holy Spirit.

As we look further at these few verses we see that Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith and that we will be rooted and grounded in love.

How does this occur? Once again it is by the working of the Holy Spirit. As we have faith and receive the Holy Spirit, our faith is strengthened in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and we have the love of God poured into us as we see in this verse.

“…and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

Furthermore as we continue we see that we receive the power to comprehend the fullness of the depth of the love of Christ Jesus for us that surpasses all knowledge. Again this is by the working of the Holy Spirit in us, as we see in this section of scripture.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

It is by the working of the Holy Spirit in us that we are able to receive, know and understand all that God offers us. And it is also the way in which we can truly be “…filled with all the fullness of God,” for the fullness of God is given to us and shown to us by the working of the Holy Spirit in us.

The Abundance of God

The final note in this section is Paul extolling the glory of God as we should do also.

20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

What is it that we could ask of God that He cannot do? Is there anything outside the power of God that He will not do for His children?

This is why He gave us the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit could and would work with us and in us to transform us into the children of God.

This is the true power of the Holy Spirit working in us: the power to become the Children of God. It is by the working of the Holy Spirit in us that God is preparing a people with whom He can live for eternity. He is creating a people in the image of Jesus Christ, perfected in Him so that we can receive the abundant blessing of the Father.

And there is tremendous abundance in the working of the Holy Spirit in us to complete this work so that we can be truly the children of God. Look at what power is at the disposal of the Holy Spirit to work transformation in us.

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-15)

Note well that last verse. ALL that the Father has is given to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can and will take ALL of that to declare to us and to assist us to become the children of God.

The abundance of what is available to the Holy Spirit to work in us and on us is beyond human comprehension. We cannot even begin to imagine the power, knowledge and insight that created the universe and everything in it, which can be brought to bear to effect the transformation God wants for all of His people.

This is why we should give glory to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is by grace that these things have been made possible, and it is by grace that the working of the Holy Spirit in us is changing us from one degree of glory to another, day by day as we walk with Jesus.

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