Prayers of Paul - Ephesus
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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.
vs 15
i have heard of you faith in the Lord
is your faith loud enough to be heard - true faith is not just speech but demonstrable actions
faith to sit in a chair
Is your love shown to all the saints? God’s love is universal
vs 16
I do not cease to give thanks
unceasing prayer does not mean you pray every second of every day but rather that you repeatedly and consistently lift it up in prayer to God
Jesus has the same idea in in mind when he tells the parable of the persistent widow
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
vs 17
Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation of knowledge of Him
Knowledge - is the having understanding of facts information and skills
Knowledge focuses on the what or how of something and can be acquired through education experience or observation
Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge and experience to make sound judgments and decisions.
Wisdom focuses on the Why or the when of something and can be acquired life experiences and reflection
I want you to know God who he is what he has done in the world and specifically for you not just head knowledge from reading the Bible but to experience God in your life that's knowledge
But Paul also says I want you to have the Spirit of Wisdom to allow the knowledge of who God is and what he’s done to change your outlook on life to change who you are to change how you think to change how you act to crucify your flesh and submit to him. That’s Wisdom
vs 18
Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened
to see and understand the truth
sometimes what we know is not true
At one time the whole world knew the earth was flat we now know the world is round
sometimes even our wisdom is not true
story of cooking the ham cutting the ends off
know the hope to which he has called you
salvation
peace
eternal life
sinless life
heaven
painless life
the riches of his glorious inheritance
children of God
co-heirs with Christ
vs 19
immeasurable greatness of his power toward us
How powerful is God
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
He uses that power for our benefit
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
vs 19b-20
according to the working of his great might
He granted us salvation
He raised Christ from the Dead
we can know God will do these other things because he did these great things in the past
vs 21 -
above all rule and authority
Jesus is in charge no one above him
When you pray remember who is in control
when you share the Gospel remember who is in control
when you struggle with sin remember who is in control
what would change in your life if you remembered who was in control
Not just in this life but the life to come
eternal consequences and significance
vs 22 -
head of the church
Its not my church the deacons church or even Pastor Billy’s church It’s Christ church
When it comes to decision making Jesus is in charge
We should be seeking his will and be serving him not seeking our will and to be served
vs 23
The church is his body
We serve Christ just as our bodies serve our desires we serve the desires of God.
How then do serve
Things we do ministries/acts of service
Things we say
Things we pray for
The way we live our lives - obedience
The way we treat others
Our times of devotion and study
Alone time with the Lord
Worship
