Praying for Others Pt. 2
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Announcements
Girls’ Bible Study
Anything else?
Pray
Pray
Introduction
Introduction
We’re going to continue in the last section of Ephesians 1 today.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 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, 18 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, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Review
Review
How many blessings were in verses 3-14?
Chosen for adoption by the Father
United with Christ
Sealed with the Spirit
How many sentences was that section
1
How many sentences is verses 15-23.
so much theology here!
What aspect of prayer did we talk about last week.
knowing God v.17
Tonight we’re going to look at two other reasons of why and how we pray for others.
To know Greater Hope
Inheritance
To Know Greater Hope
To Know Greater Hope
What are some things we hope for? Why is it good to hope?
God knows the way we see in this world. We see things according to what we desire, fear and avoid. We don’t operate of what we know, but what we love. What we know though informs what we love, but we seek knowledge of what we love. If you love God, you’ll want to read His Word and pray to Him. It’s a cycle. The affections of our heart help us learn about what we love and what we learn reinforces what we love.
18 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,
The heart isn’t just describing our muscle in our chest pumping blood around. It’s about our desires. Paul is praying that our desires and how we love would be “enlightened” so that we love what God loves and we see the world according to how God sees the world.
Circumstances and Hope
Circumstances and Hope
We pray a lot for God to change our circumstances. I think it’s important for us to understand that more often than we’d like, God doesn’t want to change our circumstances. He wants to change the way we see our circumstances. He wants to change our hearts. God uses adversity in our lives to change our hearts to be enlightened to see what He sees. Remember, Paul is writing this in prison, but isn’t asking God to change his circumstances.
Paul sees himself as a dignified ambassador, not a victim of his circumstances. He finds his value in evangelizing to fellow prisoners and guards that Christ is enthroned in victory even over his enemies.
We need to pray that the “eyes of our hearts” will be open to see the world that way. Where setbacks become opportunities to trust in Christ. Where wounds and trials become banners where runners gather to aim for the finish line.
Being a Christian, at its essence, is about living a life of confident hope. Not about changing our circumstances, as hard as they may be. If our circumstances were always easy, why would we even want to hope for the future? Think about it from God’s perspective. If you didn’t need hope for redemption, why pursue Him at all?
We have a lot of superficial and misdirected faith in our western world. We hide in alcohol, work, sex, entertainment, or even our families. Paul prays that his readers will know with a confidence that God is the one who shapes their ambitions and hopes.
Inheritance
Inheritance
At this point, you’re probably expecting Paul to say something about what believers will inherit from God. About how happy we’ll all be in heaven, floating around with harps or something. By the way, that’s totally false. We are physical creatures who will receive a physical resurrection just like Jesus. Yes, Jesus has a physical body, even right now. Yes, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, but one day the world will be remade for us to live , physically.
Instead Paul points to the “riches.” This is an abundant wealth! Where is it located? IN THE SAINTS.
18 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,
We are His inheritance! That’s the hope we’ve been called to. God has chosen utterly sinful and broken people like us to be His children. We’ve been chosen, redeemed, adopted, and sealed to be His children and He wants to enjoy our company and shower us with abundant blessings forever as His inheritance!
However hard your life currently is, can your heart see how magnificent this will be? It’s impossible to illustrate this wonderful future—but let me try. One of the reasons I love going to my in-laws is the overwhelming sense when we walk in the door that they have massively looked forward to us being there. So much has been carefully planned. Vast amounts of food have been cooked, expensive wines have been opened and lined up on a dresser ready for the meal, and gifts of baked cakes and jars of marmalade have been prepared for us to take home. It’s lovely to feel so welcome. Unbelievably, God has been preparing for our arrival for eternity past, because we are his glorious inheritance!
To Know His Power
To Know His Power
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Paul prays that the Ephesians grasp how secure their future is, that they grasp God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe”
God’s Power in Raising Christ
God’s Power in Raising Christ
It’s reassuring to know that God’s power has already been shown to us in how He raised Jesus, His Son, from the dead.
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection. It’s a physical resurrection that will actually happen. We have a place in heaven and can rest in knowing that since God has already resurrected His Son, He will do it again for those who believe with faith that Jesus is Lord and repent from their sins.
We don’t need to be afraid. Christ is the head of all things. His power extends over all authorities and powers
21 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.
Why did God the Father do this? So Christ would have power over everything for the church.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
We are the church. Christ is the head of the church. To not love the church, is to not love Christ’s body. It’s like saying, “Gregg, I really like you but I hate your wife.” If you ever said that to me, or treated her that way, our relationship is over until you apologize and repent.
That’s the same way Christ feels about the church. It’s as close to Him as His physical body
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
However small and vulnerable His church looks, comprised of many local churches, every genuine church gathered together through the gospel under the rule of Christ will enjoy “the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” God is gathering churches together and keeping them in unity as His body.
Ephesians for You To Know His Power
We shall most certainly be raised to life with him, because he himself was raised to life and we are his living body. Our head cannot be separated from his body!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Ephesians for You To Know His Power
Paul was in the habit of praying that the Ephesians would be strengthened by knowing that their hope of heaven was certain because God had already raised Christ our King to be supreme in the spiritual realms, because he is now sovereign far above all our enemies, and because God has appointed him King to ensure that he brings his people home to be with him for ever.
We need to learn from Paul how to pray for other believers in our family, in our church and across the world. Let’s not just pray for them to know earthly peace and prosperity, health and happiness. Let us pray for them to experience the huge spiritual privileges—of knowing God better, of knowing the hope to which he’s called us, and of knowing the power which he has committed to bringing us home to be with him. Next time we are tempted not to pray, or think we don’t know what to pray for, we can employ these verses in confidence that this is the kind of prayer that others need and our heavenly Father loves to answer.
Let us pray.
Pray
Pray
Group Questions
Group Questions
Ephesians for You Questions for Reflection
1. Which Christians do you know who need you to pray for a deeper appreciation of the future hope they have in Christ?
Ephesians for You Questions for Reflection
2. Which Christians do you know who need you to pray for a deeper sense of God’s power at work in and through them?
Ephesians for You Questions for Reflection
3. Paul not only prays for his Christian friends—he encourages them by telling them what he’s praying for them. How will you do this with the people whom the two questions above have prompted you to pray for?
