A PASTORAL PRAYER
Ephesians 1:15-23 Wherefore I also, after I heard
of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for
you, making mention of you in my prayers; 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: 18 The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what
the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding
greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his
mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the
dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and
power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this
world, but also in that which is to come: 22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of
him that filleth all in all.
In This Epistle You Find Two Prayers by Paul For Believers.
·
The 1st is in 1:18. That
we may know... Prayer for Enlightenment.
·
The 2nd is in 3:19. That
we may be... Prayer for Enablement.
·
In the 1st he prays that
we may know what God has done for us.
·
In the 2nd he prays that
we may live up to what God has done for us.
He rejoiced they were saved (v 15), and “loved one another.” Paul’s prayer begins with thanksgiving to God for the Ephesians (v 16).
Those whose lives are filled with love for others show they have the love of God in their hearts. 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Another Concern of Paul In The First Prayer: He prays...
1. That we might fully understand our wealth in Christ (v 17-18).
2. That we might see Christ’s exalted position (v 19-23).
As we examine this prayer please notice
four request made in our behalf.
1.
PAUL PRAYS WE WILL KNOW HEAVENLY
DISCERNMENT (v 17-18a).
Spiritual things are spiritually
discerned. 1 Cor 2:10-14 ..God
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God. 11
...the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit
of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things
that are freely given to us of God. 13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Paul uses four words in connection with Discernment.
· Wisdom (sophia) = The
varied knowledge of things human and divine, acquired by spiritual acuteness
and experience.
· Revelation
(ap-ok-al'-oop-sis) = Disclosure of truth, instruction concerning things
previously unknown.
· Knowledge
(ep-ig'-no-sis) = Used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine.
· Understanding
(kardia) = The heart, the thoughts or feelings.
Paul prays the Father may give to us an inward source of wisdom concern unseen things. We are reminded not to remain satisfied with the simple things of our salvation, but to reach higher.
People Follow Christ For Different Reasons. John 6:2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
2.
PAUL PRAYS WE WILL KNOW THE HOPE OF
GOD’S CALLING (v
18b). That ye may know what is the hope of his calling. Hope =
Joyful and confident expectation.
We Have A Purposeful Calling. Romans 8:28 We know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose.
We Have A High Calling. Philippians
3:13-14 I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
We Have A Holy Calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
We Have A Heavenly Calling. Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
We Have A Holy Calling. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
We Have A Heavenly Calling. Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
3. PAUL PRAYS WE WILL
KNOW THE RICHNESS OF OUR INHERITANCE (v 18c) and
what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,..
Riches = abundance, fullness, plenitude of possession.
Our
Inheritance: According to 1 Peter 1:4 our inheritance is going to
be glorious!
·
It is Incorruptible = unspoiled, inpenatrable.
·
It is Undefiled = moral, godly, sinless, clean, pure, holy.
·
It Fadeth not away = perennial, perpetual, never ending, unchanging.
·
It is Reserved = kept, watched over, tended to, preserved, held fast.
4. PAUL PRAYS WE WILL KNOW THE GREATNESS OF GOD’S POWER
(v 19-23). And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to
usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,...
His Power Revealed In The Resurrection (v 20a). Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,...
Colossians
2:12-14 Ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who
hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins.., hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,.. and took it out of the
way, nailing it to his cross.
His Power Revealed In The Ascension (v 20b - 21a). and set him at his own right
hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far
above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,...
Hebrews
1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
His Power Revealed In The Name of Jesus Christ (v 21b). and every name that is named,
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Acts
4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Philippians
2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
His Power Revealed In All Things Being Put Under Christ
Authority (v 22a). And hath put all things under
his feet,...
Hebrews
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
His
Power Revealed In Christ Being Made The Head of The Church (v
22b-23). and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
As Head of the Church, each member is
to yield absolute obedience to Christ in all things.
