From Praise to Prayer

Introduction

From Praise to Prayer - Ephesians 1:15-23

v. 15 - For this reason...

Eph 1:3-14

1. Paul’s Praise (15-16)

Ephesians 1:15 “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,”

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “1 A good name is better than a good ointment...”

Ephesians 1:16 “16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;”

Romans 1:8–9 NASB95

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,

1 Corinthians 1:4 NASB95

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 1:3–4 NASB95

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,

Colossians 1:9 NASB95

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

1 Thessalonians 1:2 NASB95

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

2. Paul’s Petition (17-20a)

To know God Better...

Ephesians 1:17–20 “17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you 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. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,”

Spirit of Wisdom and revelation

Know God

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Ask God for Divine Illumination (Ephesians 1:17–20)

Illumination is the simple idea that God opens our eyes to know Him and His truth. Inspiration is what we refer to as the nature of Scripture. Illumination is how we understand Scripture. It is absolutely necessary that we seek the Spirit’s help in understanding His truth. God’s mind is revealed in Scripture, but we need “Holy Spirit glasses” to understand it accurately and deeply. Spurgeon said that apart from the Spirit it is easier to teach a tiger vegetarianism than an unregenerate person the gospel

Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:31–32 “31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?””

Luke 24:45 “45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”

Eyes of the heart may be enlightened

His calling (Salvation)

Hebrews 11:1 NASB95

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

His inheritance (Us)

Ephesians 1:11 NASB95

11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Ephesians 1:14 NASB95

14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

His Power (in Christ)

toward us...

John 16:33 NASB95

33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

3. Christ’s Position (20b-23)

Resurrected

Reigning

Seated at the right Hand

All rule power and dominion

Matthew 28:18 NASB95

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Name above all names

Philippians 2:9 NASB95

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

Head over the church

1 Corinthians 11:3 NASB95

3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

Ephesians 5:23–24 NASB95

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

Colossians 1:18 NASB95

18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 12:27 NASB95

27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Study and Gratitude