It means the Holy Spirit empowers the believer from the inside, where Christ Himself takes up residence in the inward man.
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16 asks the Father to grant believers “to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” Les Feldick teaches that this is not an external or merely intellectual blessing—it is Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwelling within the believer and giving victory over the old nature. The result is that the believer can be filled with all the fullness of God and receive the power that works within him.
Ephesians 3:16 — This is the exact verse behind the question—Paul asks God to strengthen believers with might by the Holy Spirit in the inner man.
Romans 8:26 — This verse shows how the Holy Spirit strengthens believers in their weakness by making intercession with groanings.
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is the clearest place where this phrase appears. In verse 16 he writes, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” The next verse connects this strengthening to Christ living in the believer: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). The Bible also shows the Spirit’s work in the believer’s weakness. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” The same inner conflict is described in Romans 7:22–23: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man… but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind.” Finally, Ephesians 3:20 gives the measure of this inner power: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” The power is not something the believer manufactures; it is God’s own power working in him.
Les Feldick explains that the “inner man” is the place where Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwells after conversion. He points to Romans 7, where Paul says that Christ is dwelling within him—that is the inward man [Clip 5]. Because the Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead living inside the believer, this inward strengthening is taken by faith, not by sight [Clip 1]. Les also shows that this strengthening is revealed in prayer. When believers do not know what to ask, they can be quiet and let the Holy Spirit make intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered [Clip 3]. The goal of the whole process is that every believer, not just a special class of Christian, can be filled with all the fullness of God—Paul was praying for ordinary believers living in the area of Ephesus [Clip 4]. Paul’s praying is anchored in the administration of grace given to him for the Gentiles [Clip 0], and he prayed in the same way for the Colossian believers [Clip 2]. Paul also prayed for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation for the Ephesians [Clip 6], and his own ministry was sustained by the prayers of the saints [Clip 7].
Les Feldick identifies the inner man with the place where Christ now dwells. He says of Paul in Romans 7, “Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit is dwelling within him—that’s the inward man he’s talking about. That Christ now dwells within” [Clip 5]. This inward residence is the source of victory over old Adam, because Christ is the one who gives victory [Clip 5].
When a believer reaches a place where he doesn’t know how to pray, Les says, “Just be quiet, just shut up, and let the Holy Spirit commune for you.” The Holy Spirit actually intercedes on our behalf with groanings that cannot be uttered [Clip 3]. Scripture states that the Spirit helps our infirmities because we do not know what to pray for as we ought (Romans 8:26).
No. Les makes the point that in Paul’s closing prayer, he “is not talking to angels, he’s not talking to people who have gone on to glory, he’s talking to people in his own day and time living there in the area of Ephesus” [Clip 4]. Paul also prayed for the Colossian believers, who were predominantly Gentiles [Clip 2]. This was a prayer for ordinary believers who had believed the gospel of grace, not for a clergy class or super-Christians.
Grace Given to Paul for the Gentiles
Les explains that the same Paul who prays for believers received the administration of God’s grace for the Gentiles.
The Holy Spirit Indwells the Believer
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person of the Godhead dwelling inside the believer, so strengthening comes from within through faith.
Paul’s Prayer for Gentile Believers
Paul prayed for the Colossian believers, who were mostly Gentiles, and the Holy Spirit has placed believers into the body of Christ.
The Spirit Strengthens Our Infirmities
When we don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit makes intercession with groanings—a way God strengthens us in our weakness.
Filled With All the Fullness of God
Every believer has the potential to be filled with all the fullness of God, because God works exceed abundantly above all we ask through the power inside us.
Christ Dwells in the Inward Man
The inner man is the place where Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwells, and He gives victory over old Adam.
Paul’s Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation
Paul prayed for believers to receive spiritual wisdom and revelation, showing that inner strengthening is a matter of prayer.
Sustained by the Prayers of the Saints
Paul was sustained in ministry by the prayers of other believers, connecting inner strength with intercessory prayer.
Ephesians 3:16: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
This is the key verse that defines the meaning of being strengthened with might in the inner man.
Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
This connects the Spirit’s strengthening to Christ’s dwelling in the believer’s heart through faith.
Ephesians 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
The purpose of inward strengthening is to be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
This describes the limitless power that works in the believer because of the Spirit’s inward ministry.
Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
This shows the Holy Spirit strengthening believers at their point of weakness, especially in prayer.
Romans 7:22: For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
This verse uses “inward man” in a way that matches Paul’s later prayer language in Ephesians.
Romans 7:23: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
This describes the battle in the believer’s inner man where the Spirit gives victory.
Ephesians 1:17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Paul’s prayer for spiritual understanding is part of his pattern of praying for believers’ inward growth.
Yes. Ephesians 3:16 says, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” This is Paul’s prayer for believers.
Les says the inner man is the place where Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwells within the believer. He uses Romans 7 to show that Christ now dwells in the inward man and can give victory over old Adam.
Paul prays for it, so it is not automatic; believers should ask God to grant it. Les also tells believers that when they don’t know how to pray, they should be quiet and let the Holy Spirit intercede with groanings.
Paul prayed it for Gentile believers in places like Ephesus and Colosse. Les emphasizes that he was not talking to angels or people in glory but to ordinary believers in his own day—so it is for believers today as well.
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