“…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.” (Eph. 3:16)

This is not the first time we have heard of the riches of glory. Paul previously mentioned it in 1:18. It is an interesting adjective, isn’t it? Usually, we use rich as an adjective to describe food or some statement. At first, we might think that glory would not need an adjective, just glory would suffice. Anytime you are discussing an attribute of God there aren’t enough adjectives to do it.

The glory of God is rich, Midas rich, Solomon rich and more and more and more. No multiplier would do. Even the Nth power leaves something out. God’s glory fills the whole earth. It blinds the stars, including our sun. There is nothing like it and so the angels and the saved cry holy, holy, holy continuously.

Paul wants us to see that the majestic glory of God is for us. God will use his glory to strengthen us with its power. God shares his strength by sharing his glory; by sharing himself in the person of the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit is not to bring glory to the outward man. It isn’t like a halo shining over our heads so that men may see us. No, the Holy Spirit of God is coming into our inner man. The changes the glory of God will make are not outward beauty or strength. The opposite is true. The Spirit works within us to transform us to be more and more like God. Day by day the awesome power of God’s glory is at work making us holier and purer, more and more recreating us in the spiritual image of God.

The inner man. The heart of man. The thinking, feeling part of man. The part of man that produces love or hate, angry or kindness. It’s where all manner of things can grow depending on the environment.

Paul gives us a view of one type of product: “…immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like that.” (Gal. 5:19 – 21)

But these are not the fruit of the Spirit. If the Spirit is working through the glory of God in you, a different type of product is manufactured. He says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;” (Gal. 5:22, 23)

Why is this growth of inner man so important? Paul answers that question in the next verse: “…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;” (Eph. 3:17)

Want Christ in your heart? I want him in mine. I must let the glory of God change me by the Holy Spirit in my inner man. “Give me a clean heart, oh God.”