vs 16-19 This is a process that leads to Christian maturity.

The first thing we need are convictions. Being strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man speaks of Conviction. There are those who while understanding the Christian faith, lack the confidence of conviction to live it. It takes a strong inner conviction characteristic of Biblical faith to allow to Christ to live through us. For without the confidence of conviction one is hindered from deriving applications of faith that may inevitably conflict with the world's view. Paul speaks of Abraham's confident faith as characteristic of Christian faith in Romans chapter 4.

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Rom 4:20,21

But having confidence is not an end in itself, nor is the subjective experience of Christ dwelling in our hearts. It is because of our confidence of faith that we set our hearts on Christ and on the things above associated with Christ. But there are those who simply seek a subjective experience of Christ as if that were an end in itself. But those who truly set their hearts on Christ walk by faith and not by sight, not simply seeking for a feeling, but approaching Him in faith with an attitude of Submission recognizing Him as Lord, giving deference to His will. For it is one thing to say that Jesus is Lord but quite another to treat him that way. For Christ to dwell in our hearts is to allow Him to determine what we should set our hearts on, the outworkings of which will be evident in our actions, attitudes and behavior.

How can one really get to know the love of Christ? The revelation of the depth of Christ's love is gained through an attitude of obedience which is a result of setting our hearts on Christ. Even in coming to believe the gospel with saving faith takes setting our hearts on Christ with an attitude of obedience. While rebelliousness darkens one's understanding.

Rom 1:21  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (niv)

In the vertical relationship we have with Christ, to "love" Christ is not simply to have a feeling of love, as the world speaks of it, but rather involves obeying Him. And this results in the getting to know Christ more

1John 5:3 "This is love for God: to obey his commands." (niv)

John 21:16 Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." (niv)

John 14:21 "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (niv)

The degree to which our concept of Christ's love is rooted and grounded is a function of the degree to which we have Christ dwelling in our hearts, which is revealed by our obedience to His Word.

Getting to know the love of Christ does involved study and meditation on the Word of God, as this is part of abiding in the Word which is His command (Col 3:16 " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly"). But such study and meditation must be application oriented. One should derive their life and their concept of Christ through such study, taking delight in the Word of God, setting their heart accordingly.

Christ's love is manifold, multifaceted. Paul speaks of four dimensions. We live in a four dimensional universe. Space takes up three of them, and time is the fourth. So is Christ's love. It takes up all of space and time. As we apply God's Word setting our hearts on Christ, we recognize the application of Christ's love in all circumstances throughout the world and throughout history.

In verse 19 Paul says that "to know the love of Christ (which passes knowledge)". But in particular he is not simply speaking of "knowledge" as information. For then he would have used the greek word "epignosis". Certainly it goes without saying that Christ's love surpasses the information about it. But that is true of all love. For to truly know any love one must experience it and not simply study it. But here Paul goes even beyond that idea, for uses the word "gnosis" for knowledge. What he is saying is that Christ's love even surpasses the experience of it. And this would seem quite reasonable, as our experiences of God are rather limited for now as we live in sinful flesh.

Being filled with the fulness of God speaks of Maturity

Eph 4:13  "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (niv)

But I must reinterate that this is not simply a "feeling" as some imagine it. But rather a transformation of the individual, conforming us to the image of Christ, which again is revealed by our actions, attitudes and behavior. But notice how such transformation is related to our revelation of Christ's love.

But realize also that you can't skip these steps just as one cannot gain experience by simply reading books. Christian maturity is a gradual process. In this age of technology, some become obsessed with techniques. And in this fast-paced age of the demand for instant satisfaction, some expect instant maturity. Thus there are weight loss programs and money making programs that promise instant success by applying simple techniques. But Christian maturity cannot be gained by simply repeating phrases over and over again, nor by habitually doing certain rituals, but by applying our faith with conviction, setting our hearts on Christ. This is a lifelong process.

vs 20 As Paul is praying this prayer, it is evident from this verse that he expected God to answer this abundantly. This was not simply wishful thinking as some pray. When they ask, they really mean they hope or wish. But Paul was confident in God's ability and willingness to answer. And certainly this was in accordance with God's will. But strangely enough I find prayers like this rarely spoken in the Christian community. People pray for practical things, which is OK, but let's be realistic, let's have our priorities straight! It is these spiritual things which should be far more valued by Christians. For it is these things kinds of things that make a Christian to become what they were meant to be. And it is these kinds of things which will ultimately bring fruitfulness to the Christian life.

"According to the power that works in us"  The significant thing that God is doing in the world now is internal. It is a work being done inside the believers. God doesn't care so much about our circumstances as he cares how we react to them. Realize also that such power working in us will not achieve its objective without our cooperation. For if we were but puppets then one would wonder why all Christians have not achieved the same level of maturity given the same time frame and circumstances. It is because God has given us a degree of freedom in cooperating with Him that we find such diversity of maturity in the Christian community. Paul writes:

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Php 2:12

He does not say to work for your salvation, but to work it out. Salvation having been obtained, one then works out applications of faith. But in working out applications of faith the believer is not alone. For God through the Holy Spirit that dwells in us is working in a synergistic fashion to achieve our spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. Thus one has to practice submission and obedience to achieve this end.

And in view of this, I don't get the sense that Paul expects God to answer his prayer in a puppet-like fashion contrary to His design of the believer, but to influence the believers toward this end.