Ephesians 1:15-23

                                                                         Ephesians 1:15-23

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

Paul has just finished describing the work of the Trinity in salvation.  As glorious as the work of God in salvation is, too often believers do not live in accordance with these riches.  Paul now turns to the Lord in prayer on behalf of his readers and us in an effort to show how important it is that these truths not only be known but assimilated into the believer’s life.  Paul’s prayers should be instructive models for us and our prayers. 

 

THE MOTIVATION FOR PRAYER: The reason that Paul was moved to pray for the Ephesian believers was their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for one another.  These two qualities should always go hand in hand.  Those who truly have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus will demonstrate an abiding love for others.  When we see that combination of faith and love, it produces an assurance that God is at work in this person’s life and we should be greatly desirous of participating in what God is doing in their lives through prayer.  Once again, we see that just as Paul pointed out the roll of each member of the Trinity in saving us; his prayer involves each member of the Trinity.  He prayers to the Father, through the Son, for the Spirit’s working in our lives.  As we observe brothers and sisters in Christ who are faithfully trusting Christ and loving one another, we should be especially motivated to pray for them that the Trinity might continue to expand His work in them.

 

THE CONTENT OF PRAYER: The prayer requests that Paul makes for these believers should also stand as a model for our praying.  The first request is for them to have the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge of Christ by having eyes of the heart that have been enlightened.  This seems to be a prayer for perception of the riches of the salvation that we have in Christ and salvation.  Too often we fail to focus on or even remember these wonderful aspects of God’s work on our behalf.  The second request is for them to know the hope of their calling and the richness of the inheritance we have in Christ.  This request is for persistence in maintaining hope in all circumstances because of our position in Christ.  The third request is for power that comes from the Lord Jesus Christ that is far beyond in pawer that we might have.  Paul speaks of this power using four different terms that are translated as greatness, power, working, and might.  Paul understands that for believers to make full use of God’s gift of salvation they must be perceptive of the richness of our salvation, persistent in hoping in our inheritance in all circumstances, and be empowered by and dependent upon the Lord Jesus.  

 

THE OBJECT OF PRAYER: Jesus Christ is the object of our praying and the only means be which these requests or the salvation described in the previous section can be attained.  We can be assured about the source of the answer to our prayers because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, the has been seated at the right hand of the Father and all things have been placed under his feet.  There is nothing on earth or in heaven that has escaped His sovereign control.  Just as Paul used four words to describe the power Jesus wants us to know; he uses four titles to describe the forces of evil: rule, authority, power, and dominion.  These are indications of the hierarchy in the demonic world.  But it is clear that the power of Christ if far greater than any of these things.  When we come to Christ, we can expect opposition, but it is a blessing to know that power of Christ is greater than anything else.

 

APPLICATION: Demonstrate our faith in Christ by loving others.  Pray for spiritual perception, persistence, and power to be realities in our lives.  Depend fully on the power of the Lord Jesus Christ for victory over difficulties or even demonic attacks. 

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