The Ephesian Prayer

Intro.

Ephesians 1:15–23 LSB

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him, 18 so that you—the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength, 20 which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection 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.

Paul’s Prayer

Ephesians 1:15–17 “15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the full knowledge of Him,”

Having just written to the Ephesians Christians about the wonderful things which are theirs in Christ, he now begins to pray over them. Or, at the least recounts over them the reasons he constantly keeps them in prayer.

Firstly, as in these verses, is that God would give to them the Spirit of revelation and wisdom.

Wisdom here is the idea of having knowledge, as well as the ability or capacity to use that knowledge appropriately.

Lexham Theological Workbook: Refers to the quality of having knowledge, skill, and experience in the sense of mastery over a particular subject or trade through practice and learning. In the NT (and Greek literature more broadly), sophia has the same essential range as OT words for wisdom, referring generally to the capacity for sound judgment or the possession of specific skills. Like the OT, the NT recognizes that it originates in God, that God gives it to people

It is also referred to in one definition has the trait of using knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.

Essentially, in praying that they be given the Spirit of wisdom, he is praying that they receive insight from the Spirit of God, to know what to do with their knowledge in Christ.

Second, Paul also asks that they be given a Spirit of revelation.

This simply means a “revealing”. It could be a prayer for miraculous revelations from God for their knowledge in Christ, but even if that were the case, it retains the same meaning for us who do not experience that.

The Holy Spirit of God is the One who reveals the things of God (1 Cor. 2.10), and He reveals the things of Christ to us through the Word which He has inspired. We are to be guided and taught by the Spirit, and He will reveal the truths of God to us as we learn and grow in Christ!

This is receiving the Spirit of revelation, because the Spirit is allowing us to receive revelation about Christ. Not new revelation, but new to us revelation which is already taught in the Scriptures.

Finally, in verse 17, Paul prays that they receive this Spirit of wisdom and revelation, “in the full knowledge of [Christ],”

The word for “full knowledge” basically means to have a deep and intimate knowledge of something. Not just to know a lot of facts, but to know something at a meaningful level.

As Paul begins to divulge into his prayer over the Ephesian Christians, he starts by telling them he prays for their growth in learning about Christ, that they would continue to learn who Christ is and who God is. To know that deeply, and to know how they should live as a result of Who Christ is!

Ephesians 1:18 “18 so that you—the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”

The reason for praying for their growth in learning Christ is here given to us in v. 18-19.

“the eyes of your heart being enlightened” — I am reminded of 1 Jo. 1.9, and what the Apostle says Christ does for us: “enlightens everyone.”

The only way that the eyes of anyone’s heart would ever be enlightened is in the knowledge of Jesus and by Jesus! Therefore, having received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Christ, their heart’s eyes will likewise be enlightened by Him who enlightens all!

Following this parenthetical, Paul gives the first reason for his prayer in v. 18: That they will know the hope of His calling and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the holy ones.

Hope of His calling — this refers to the hope which we have in His calling us to Christ through the Gospel. I remind us of 1 Pet. 1.3, the “living hope” to which we have been born again by the grace and power of God!

This hope is that “confident expectation” of eternal life and all that goes with it! Even the things in Christ which we experience now are part of this “hope of His calling”:

Fellowship with Christ

Forgiveness of sins

Fellowship with each other

Holiness in Christ

Joy and Peace

Etc.

His inheritance in the Saints — grammatically this is a bit of a weird sentence. It can mean one of two things: God’s inheritance, or, ours from God in Christ.

Either it refers the riches of God’s inheritance which is His possession in His people, or it refers to the inheritance which we are to receive from Him in Christ.

Though the former is true, the latter is what makes most sense here! Paul is prayer for the holy ones in Ephesus that they would know the hope and glory of their inheritance!

Now, this word for know is different than the first. This has the idea of having seen something and understanding what is seen or perceived. Another way to explain it is to say, “having knowledge and understanding that knowledge.”

Paul wants them to have more than facts about their hope and their inheritance; Paul wants them to truly understand what it is so that they will live the lives they are called to in Christ!

Do we intimately and truly understand the hope or our call in Christ and our inheritance? Or, are we guilty of simply knowing facts about it which don’t meaningfully impact our way of life?

Ephesians 1:19–20 “19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength, 20 which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,”

This is the final portion of what Paul prays that they would know in Christ: The greatness of God’s power toward the believers, which He worked out in Christ.

This power at work toward us who believe is that very power which raised Christ from the dead! And it is manifestly at work toward us by His own strength! Paul wants us to know that this same power of God is directed toward us, to sustain us and help us and raise our own bodies from the grave!

Paul prays for the Church in Ephesus truly understand the grace of God which is directed toward them as His holy ones!

Being enlightened in their knowledge of Christ

Knowing fully to what they have been called in Christ as their inheritance

Knowing fully the great and awesome power of God in His grace toward us.

Christ’s Fullness in the Body

Ephesians 1:20–23 LSB

20 which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection 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.

I only want to hit one specific thing here which is in Eph. 1.22-23

Ephesians 1:22–23 LSB

22 And He put all things in subjection 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.

Nobody who is outside of the Church can ever experience the fullness of Christ in their lives

John 1:15–16 “15 John bore witness about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

Only in the Church Jesus built will one receive from His own fullness!

One might get glimpses of Christ. One might learn a few facts about Christ. One might even love Christ to a certain extent! Yet, one will not have the fullness of Christ if they either have not been added to the Church by God or if they have disconnected from the Body of Christ having once been saved.

The Body, the Church, is the fullness of Christ says this verse — fulness meaning that everything that is included in Christ is found here in the Body.

So what does it mean?

Christ is in His Body the Church — Revelation 1:12–2:1 “12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters, 16 and having in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword which comes out of His mouth, and His face was like the sun shining in its power. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things…”

Christ is the Head over the Church, supplying to us life and grace —

Ephesians 1:22 “22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,”

Colossians 3:1–4 “1 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.”

Conclusion

Brethren, it is a good thing for us to always be praying and seeking to know more. But not just to know facts; rather, to intimately know Christ and Who He is! Only He, by His grace and kindness, is able to enlighten our hearts to the truth through the Spirit.

Brethren, let us always pray that He would enlighten us to these deep and amazing truths about His power and grace!

Lastly, we all know people who think they are Christians, whether having been one formerly or not. It is a sad statement, but one needing to be said, that if one is lost they do not have the fullness of Christ and they will not get close to it! Let us who experience this great joy to have His fullness in our lives share with them the greatness of it! Share the truth, pray over them in your quiet places, and never stop planting those seeds. God gives growth when we plant and water into others!