"One Good Reason to Pray"

Ephesians 3:14-21

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of breast cancer. It’s an opportunity to educate people about the importance of early detection, support those affected by the disease, and fund research for a cure. Communities worldwide come together through events like walks, fundraisers, and wearing pink to show solidarity and help fight breast cancer.

Dear Lord,

We come to You in this time of Breast Cancer Awareness to lift up all those who have been affected by this disease. We pray for strength and healing for those battling breast cancer, comfort for the families, and peace for those who have lost loved ones. Guide the hands of the doctors and researchers working to find a cure. May Your love surround those in pain, and may hope shine brightly in their hearts. Help us to come together in compassion and action, bringing light and support to all in need.

Amen.

Introduction

As believers, we know that prayer is essential to our spiritual lives. It’s the way we communicate with God, seek His guidance, and express our needs and gratitude. Yet, do we find ourselves running out of what to pray? or better yet saying the same thing over and over again? Have we ever paused to consider the purpose behind our prayers? Are our prayers rooted in a clear understanding of God’s will and a desire to see His purposes fulfilled in us and through us? What happens when you you write down your prayers? These are questions that I pray we can answer today, as we turn to Ephesians 3:14-21, where the Apostle Paul gives us “one good reason to pray.” A prayer that aligns with God’s deepest desires for His people. He starts the paragraph with

“For This Reason”

Definition of Reason a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.

He is recalling those things that he has written down, noticed, and prepared for his prayer. Ephesians Chapter 2:

• Verses 1-3: Our Condition Before Christ

• Verses 4-7: Made Alive in Christ

• Verses 8-9: Salvation by Grace through Faith

• Verse 10: Created for Good Works

• Verses 11-13: Brought Near through the Blood of Christ

• Verses 14-18: Christ Is Our Peace

• Verses 19-22: United as God’s Household

Last week we learned about the plan of salvation and how it has been a mystery and is now being revealed to us by way of the Apostle Paul

Ephesians Chapter 3:

• Verses 1-6: Paul’s Revelation of the Mystery

• The mystery reveals that Gentiles are co-heirs with Israel, members of one body, and sharers in the promise of Christ through the gospel.

• This mystery was not made known to previous generations but has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. basically saying I got a good reason, purpose, or cause to pray.

• Paul became a servant of the gospel by the grace given to him, despite his past as a persecutor of the church.

In this passage, Paul reveals what it means to pray with purpose. He doesn’t just ask for physical needs or temporary blessings. Instead, he prays for inner strength, a deeper knowledge of God’s love, and the fullness of God’s presence in the lives of believers. This prayer serves as a powerful reminder that our prayers should be more than a list of requests—they should express our desire to grow closer to God and see His will accomplished.

1. Pray for Inner Strength through the Spirit (Verses 14-16)

Paul begins his prayer by saying, “For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.”

Notice that Paul’s first request is for strength—not physical strength, but strength in the inner being.

Our inner being is the center of our spiritual life. It’s where faith is nurtured, where battles are fought, and where Christ takes up residence. Without inner strength, we are susceptible to discouragement, doubt, and fear. But with inner strength, we are empowered to face challenges, remain steadfast in faith, and experience God’s presence more fully.

example of a cold and a good immune system

This prayer teaches us to prioritize the spiritual over the physical in our petitions. When we pray for ourselves or others, let’s ask God to strengthen our hearts, minds, and spirits so that we may stand firm in faith and walk in the power of His Spirit.

2. Pray for Christ to Dwell in Our Hearts through Faith (Verse 17a)

Paul’s next request is “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” This is not about the initial moment of salvation when Christ enters our lives. Paul is praying for something deeper—that Christ may dwell, or make His home, in our hearts.

When Christ dwells in us, He influences every area of our lives. Our thoughts, actions, and desires are shaped by His presence. Paul is asking God to help the believers move beyond surface-level faith and enter into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ. This is a purposeful prayer because it seeks a transformation from within—a transformation that only happens when Christ is at the very center of our lives.

“Let your residency turn into some responsibility”

In our own prayers, let us ask God to make us more aware of Christ’s presence and to surrender every part of our hearts to Him. May our prayers reflect a longing for Christ to truly dwell in us, shaping us into His likeness.

3. Pray to Grasp the Magnitude of Christ’s Love (Verses 17b-19a)

Paul then prays, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 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, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.”

This is a prayer for revelation. Paul wants the believers to grasp the magnitude of Christ’s love—a love that surpasses all human understanding.

It’s easy to talk about God’s love, but how deeply do we really understand it? Paul’s prayer reminds us that we need God’s help to comprehend this love fully. It’s a love that reaches beyond our failures, a love that is not diminished by our weaknesses, and a love that is unending and unconditional.

When we pray, let’s ask God to help us and others to see and experience this love more fully. Let’s pray for a revelation of His love that will change our hearts and draw us closer to Him.

4. Pray for the Fullness of God (Verse 19b)

Finally, Paul prays “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” This is the culmination of his prayer. To be filled with the fullness of God means to be filled with His presence, character, and power. It’s not something that can be achieved through human effort; it’s the work of God’s Spirit in us.

Being filled with the fullness of God means living in constant awareness of His presence, walking in His ways, and being conformed to His image. It’s a life that reflects God’s glory and brings His kingdom to earth. He becomes alive through us. The world does not believe in Him because we are not sure or confident in what we know.

Let’s include this in our prayers—not only for our own spiritual growth but also for the church as a whole. May we pray that every believer would be filled with the fullness of God, living out His purposes and manifesting His presence in the world.

5. Pray with Confidence in God’s Power and Glory (Verses 20-21)

Paul concludes his prayer with a doxology: “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, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

This ending reminds us that God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or think.

Our prayers are purposeful not because of our eloquence or understanding, but because of God’s power. He is able to accomplish things beyond our imagination, and He does so according to His power that is at work within us.

Let us approach God confidently, knowing that He hears us and can do more than we could ever ask. As we pray, let’s seek His glory above all else, trusting that He will work through our prayers to bring about His will.

Conclusion

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is a model of purposeful prayer. It shows us that our prayers should be focused on the spiritual growth, strength, and fullness of God in our lives. Let’s follow this example in our own prayer lives, seeking not only the things we need but the greater things that God desires for us—His strength, His presence, His love, and His fullness.

We have some homework this week. The apostle Paul is praying for these things because we need to be ready to understand and utilize our gift for His good works. Chapters 4-6 make a transition

What is our reason to pray?

Ephesians 1:1 (NLT)

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

I would like to say that everyone in Ephseus was faithful, but that would be false. so for no other reason pray for the faithful and the unfaithful to become faithful.

Matthew 25:23 (NLT)

“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

May we pray with purpose, trusting in God’s power and looking forward to the great things He will do in and through us for His glory.

Closing Prayer

“Father, we thank You for the example of purposeful prayer given to us in Your Word. Help us to pray with the same intention and focus as Paul, seeking Your strength, Your presence, and Your love above all else. May we be filled with all the fullness of God and bring glory to Your name in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”