Ian & Jocelyn Barker

Knowing His will and purpose enables us to be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (1:11). Looking forward to His plan to bring all things under His Son and bring us into glory (3:3), gives us strength as we wait for the fullness of His coming Kingdom.

As we groan in our bodies (Rom. 8:23), His power is available to us that we may act with godly character in every area of our life as we wait for our resurrection. F. F. Bruce states, “an endowment with divine power will enable them to stand firm in the face of trial and opposition and everything else that may come to test the quality of their faith.”

The natural response to the unveiling of God’s will to us is a thankful and worshipful heart. Richard Melick writes, “The text describes this as heartfelt, genuine thankfulness that grows out of the experience of salvation.” Paul will state the reasons for his thanksgiving in the next section (1:12b-14), and continues on in rapturous praise (1:15-20). Notice how prayer begins with thanksgiving (1:3-8), continues on with a request (1:9-12a), and ends in thanksgiving and worship (1:12b-20). All three of these expressions should be included in our prayer life.