August 7, 2023
This week we finished Galatians, and read Ephesians and Philippians. Ephesians and Philippians were written by Paul while he was in prison in Rome. We will focus on the prayer Paul said to the Ephesians in chapter 1:15-20 and 3:14-21.
Here is his prayer from Chapter 1.
“15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”
Paul was moved to pray for the Ephesians in Chapter 1 because of their great faith in Christ, and their love for other believers. He prayed continually for the Ephesians, giving thanks for them. Then he prayed for their spiritual walk with the Lord.
He asked God to give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation so they would know Him better (1:17).
He asked God to open the eyes of their hearts and be more enlightened so they would know:
- God’s hope which he called them to.
- God’s riches of his glorious inheritance.
- God’s great power (1:18-19).
Thus, Paul wanted the Ephesians (and us) to know God better, and to understand that we have hope that is beyond what is on earth. Because of our faith in Christ, we have an eternal heavenly inheritance. Through God’s power, we will be raised from the dead into heavenly glory.
Chapter 2 reveals all that Christ has done on the cross. He saved people by grace (2:1-10), reconciled them to Christ and others through his death on the cross (2:11-22), and united both Jew and Gentile as one body.
Then Paul prays again for the Ephesians in chapter 3.
“14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
When Paul says, “For this reason…” he means all that was said in Chapter 2. Because we were saved, reconciled, and united with each other.
Then we read the 2 prayer requests of Paul.
- The first is that God’s glorious riches strengthen them with power through the Holy Spirit in their inner being so that Christ may dwell in their heart through faith. As one commentator put it, Paul hopes that the reality of God’s spiritual power grips you, so your resolve to maintain faith in Christ will grow, because you will realize that Christ in you through faith is all you need for salvation.
- The second request it that they will have the power to grasp the extent of the Christ’s love, and they be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (2004) summarized Paul’s prayer in chapter 3. “He wants the readers strengthened by God’s Spirit so that they may know intimately Christ’s presence and love. If this happens, all else will fall in place. The ethic of chapters 4 – 6 has its foundation in this prayer.”
Between chapter 1 and 3, a summary of Paul’s prayer to the Ephesian believer is to continue to know God better and understand the hope they have for eternity. He wants them to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit so they may know Christ’s presence and love. If this happens, the Christian lifestyle will fall in place. Chapter 4:1 says, “As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Throughout chapters 4-6 he describes how they are to live.
We can pray for others and for ourselves using Paul’s prayer as a template. The Promise Bible Study gives an example of a personalized prayer based on Ephesians chapters 1 and 3.
“ Lord Jesus Christ, I pray to you, the Father of glory, that you may grant me a spirit of wisdom and revelation a deep and intimate knowledge of you, that the eyes of my heart be enlightened, that I can know and understand the hope to which you have called me, and the richness of your glorious inheritance in the saints…that I can know and understand the immeasurable and unlimited greatness of your power – in and for me – as I believe, demonstrated in the working of your mighty strength, through Christ when you raised Him from the dead and seated Him in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power and dominion, and every name – in this age, and the one to come.
Lord, you placed all things under your feet and have appointed your Son, Christ Jesus, to be head over all things, and to the church, which is His body: the fullness of Him, the all in all.
For this reason, I bow my knees before you, Heavenly Father, my Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to your riches in glory, I may be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ dwells in my heart through faith, that I, together with my brothers and sisters in Christ – rooted and grounded in your love – may be able to comprehend the breadth, length, height and depth of Christ’s Love: receiving your fullness.
Now to you, who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than I ask or think – through the power that works within me.
To you be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus, through all generations, forever and ever AMEN.”
Next week we will read Colossians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Have a blessed week!
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