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

Last time, I mentioned that our text ends a prayer in which three outrageous and audacious requests are made of God. Paul ends with doxology, reassuring the new fledgeling church that this God they now serve is able to do these things and even more.

Today, I want to consider the first of these requests. Here it is, \u201cI pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith\u201d (3:16-17).

This prayer is rooted in Jesus own teaching when he said, \u201cit is from within, out of a person\u2019s heart, that evil thoughts come\u2014sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly\u201d (Mark 7:22). Echoing Jesus, the Heidelberg Catechism teaches us to confess that \u201cI have a natural tendency to hate God and my neighbor\u201d (A 5).

This is the human problem. The main problem is not a lack of good education, it is not bad parenting, it is not a lack of resources or growing up in the wrong neighbourhood. All of these may be contributing factors and not insignificant, but the root problem of the human condition is the human heart. Else where in the Bible it is put this way, \u201ceach person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death\u201d (James 1:14-15).

How often do we not give in to temptation? How often have we not determined to do better but failed? So many times, we have committed ourselves to the way of love, but found selfishness winning the day. Is there any hope? Yes! Absolutely yes, prays Paul.

Christ dwells in us. And more than that, out of God\u2019s glorious riches God strengthens us with power through his Spirit in our inner beings, that is, our hearts. This is not a reference to our biological heart, but the place where thoughts, feelings, desires, and decisions come from.

God strengthens us so that we can resist the temptations we face. The Spirit changes us so that we are no longer filled with sexual immorality, any kind of impurity or greed; nor are we spewing forth obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking (cf. Eph. 5:3-4). Rather, we say only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, we act with kindness and compassion to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (cf. Eph. 4:29,32).

God\u2019s power in our hearts through faith: that is the hope for us. This is the solution. As the Heidelberg Catechism says, \u201cwe do good because Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself\u201d (A 86).

Reading the Bible and prayer are helpful; participating in church life is beneficial; volunteering at the local Food Bank may be a way of expressing our love, but the key to the transformed Christian life is Christ in us through faith. Our hope is not in our ability to change or our determination to do better. Our hope is in God!

That is Paul\u2019s first outrageous and audacious prayer: that Jesus, living in us powerfully through his Spirit will give us the new engine we need for a transformed life, a new heart. When we say, \u201cI can\u2019t forgive her,\u201d Paul responds, \u201cI pray that you may be strengthened in...\u201d When we say, \u201cI can\u2019t help that person, he is too needy.\u201d Paul says, \u201cI pray that you...\u201d When we say, \u201cI can\u2019t participate in that ministry, I\u2019m not qualified.\u201d Paul says, \u201cI pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.\u201d Believe it!