Eph. 3:13-21 Therefore …

13 Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.

14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father,

15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Let us begin:

13 Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.

when you see a “therefore” always ask “what is it there for?”

He just outlined all the spiritual blessings that our Father in heaven has bestowed upon the saints

and says that his tribulations are a required path chosen for him to walk in order to tell the saints about these blessings

i.e. “I’m going through all this for your benefit”

but why would he indicate that other believers being discouraged is a contradiction to his troubles ?

Strongs concordance says it means to grow weary or lose heart.

Robertsons Word Pictures elaborates:

“not become discouraged” (mē enkakein). μὴ ἐγκακεῖν

The infinitive (present active) enkakein is a late and rare word (see already Luke 18:1; 2 Thess. 3:13; 2 Cor. 4:1, 16; Gal. 6:9)

means to behave badly in, to give in to evil (en, kakos). Paul urges all his apostolic authority to keep the readers from giving in to evil because of his tribulations for them. Your glory (doxa humōn). As they could see.

how can being discouraged over Paul’s troubles be considered giving in to evil ?

tribulations (θλῖψις, thlipsis, n.  [2567]. trouble or distress from the angle of oppression

“Oppression is malicious or unjust treatment or exercise of power, often under the guise of governmental authority or cultural opprobrium. Oppression may be overt or covert, depending on how it is practiced”

and he clearly has a view of both his mission and the oppression taking place as not only opposed to each other

but that they are opposed because this is a war.

Paul is experiencing troubles and persecution to teach the believers where their hearts should be focused

(a place where they should never lose heart or become discouraged – on God’s kingdom)

so to become discouraged over the stuff Paul is experiencing while sharing how to not be discouraged is to throw away the price he is paying to encourage us.

(we have the same way about throwing away freedoms fought for by those who came before us and  say

“if we give away those freedoms, then we are dishonoring those who fought for them and paid the price for them”

Imagine Paul running across a battlefield, getting shot up to bring us bullets

and when he gets to us, he finds that we have laid down our weapons because we feel bad that he got hurt trying to get to us ??!!

if you think the battlefield metaphor is too strong for Paul’s mission:

1Cor. 9:7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

There is a reward for fighting faithfully 

2Tim. 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

there is need to be focused on the nature and area of the battle
(what is at stake, what is being fought for, who is my enemy, what are his tactics)

Paul saw his mission in military terms, war time scenario stuff

2Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

2Cor. 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

2Cor. 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Eph. 6:10 ¶ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Eph. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Eph. 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Eph. 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

Eph. 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

Eph. 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Eph. 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Eph. 6:18 ¶ With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Eph. 6:19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Eph. 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

So Paul has gone through much to deliver what he considers information of prime importance …

a message that could turn the tide of the war …

and what is the benefit of Paul suffering on our behalf ?

our glory.

we don’t often think in terms of glory as something we have

(we might think of God’s glory, but not our own)

what is glory ?

δόξα doxa, dox´-ah; from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), 

in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective): — 

dignity, honour, praise, worship.

Eerdmans Dictionary

That aspect of a person or God worthy of praise, honor, or respect; often associated with brightness or splendor in theophanies. Used of people or creation, 

glory is that characteristic which people typically honor: 

• wisdom (Prov. 25:2), 
• might (2 Kgs. 14:10), 
• wealth (Esth. 1:4; Matt. 6:29 par.). 
• It can refer to a quality
• of land (Isa. 35:2) 
• or of people: 
• age (Prov. 16:31), 
• strength (20:29), 
• or outward appearance (Isa. 53:2)

glory (doxa)can be 

1. an attribute of someone or something

2. praise or worship given to another in recognition of their glory

Matt 6:29, Luke 12:27 (Jesus says solomon had glory because of the way he was dressed, which does not even compare to a lilly in the field, by the way)

Psalm 8:1, 3-4

“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens… When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

Psalm 19:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

The creation has glory, given to each part of it by God, to point us back to Him, the source of that glory.

Romans 1:20

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Psalm 139:14

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

we are part of the creation, the best part of creation

because we are made to fellowship with the Creator

and we have glory in order to glorify God

1 Corinthians 11:7

For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

the woman is the glory of man, and the man is the glory of God

there is a quality about each of us, commonness and uniqueness that reflects the source.

the weight of who we are, reflects the weight of who we come from.

(In stating that a man should not have his head covered in church, Paul argues that this follows from the principle that man was prior to woman and is the “image” (GK G1635) and “glory” (GK G1518) of God—meaning that he is to be subject to and represent God in authority. The woman, however, is the glory of the man—i.e., she is to be subject to man and to represent him in authority. Although God created Adam and Eve and gave both dominion over the creation (Ge 1:26), Paul argues for man’s exercise of authority over woman on the basis of man’s prior creation to woman. The argument goes like this: Woman was made from man’s body and she was made for man’s sake and not the reverse (Ge 2:7).)

“The glory of God is man fully alive” (Saint Irenaeus).

John 10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they ^amay have life, and ¹have it abundantly.

What does he mean abundantly?

John 7:38

“He who believes in Me, ^aas the Scripture said, ‘From ¹his innermost being will flow rivers of ^bliving water.’”

“living water”  does that sound like what our daily lives feel like ?

Proverbs 4:23

Watch over your heart with all diligence, 

For ^afrom it flow the springs of life.

our heart is meant to be a flowing spring of life?

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

same word used for tribulation, thlipsis, = oppression, persecution because of what you believe or to prevent you from believing something

but note that Jesus says to take courage , to not lose heart, because He has overcome this very system seeking to oppress us

How has can a system be overcome, yet till be in operation ?

because He has overcome it’s ability to oppress those who are free in Christ  !!!

We have been given the ability 

to believe

to see

to trust

to hope 

and in doing so, are able to resist the enemy’s Kosmos (his system of influence and power)

James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?

James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

the world for word is again Kosmos = the system that satan is in charge of, that we just read about in Eph 6

(allying oneself to the world is to ally oneself to the enemy of God, making oneself an enemy of God)

Matt. 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, ^aSatan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on ¹God’s interests, but man’s.”

Mark 8:33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, ^aSatan; for you are not setting your mind on ¹God’s interests, but man’s.”

Just moments before 

Peter played the part of a rock in the noble confession and was given a place of leadership. 

Now he is playing the part of Satan and is ordered to the rear. 

Peter was tempting Jesus not to go on to the cross as Satan had done in the wilderness. 

“None are more formidable instruments of temptation than well-meaning friends, who care more for our comfort than for our character” (Bruce). 

In Peter the banished Satan had once more returned

Peter would later write:

1Pet. 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1Pet. 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

1Pet. 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Let us reexamine the gospel

what is the gospel?

popular answers include:

• I’m saved and going to heaven
• Jesus paid for my sins
• my sins are paid for on the cross
• Jesus paid for my big sins, so I can bear the price of the small ones in pergatory
• Jesus died for me, so I can live the way I want and still go to heaven
• i have a divine “get out of jail free” card

some of these are half truths, while others have crossed into blasphemy

Is. 61:1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, 

Because the LORD has anointed me 

To bring good news to the afflicted; 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

To proclaim liberty to captives 

And freedom to prisoners;

Is. 61:2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD 

which people does He refer to as:

• afflicted who need the good news
• brokenhearted who need to be made whole again
• captives who need liberty proclaimed over them
• prisoners who need to be literally freed

Paul is on the same mission as our Lord:

“enduring tribulation for the sake of getting a message to others that will set them free.”

Gal. 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Free from the power of sin and the enemy to become what they were intended to be in their glory

which glorifies God the Father.

this freedom is not just intellection information, 

it is meant to be freedom for the entire heart of a person, not just their mind

(where the mind is a faculty of the heart)

the whole heartedness that Jesus proclaims by reading Isaiah 61

it is this restoration and freedom of the whole heart, in the midst of a war waged against our hearts

that Paul concludes his list of all our blessings from the Father

a list that has covered the first half of this epistle to the believers in Ephesus

14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father,

15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

I bend my knee (continue submitting to God and resisting the enemy)

 to the father for the purpose of revealing and sharing your glory

• in the church
• and in Christ 
• to all generations
• which reflects back to His glory (which empowers the one seen in us)