8/3/25 - Prayer for Spiritual Strength - Part 2
Notes
Transcript
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
Paul’s prayer requests began last week with the invocation
this was simply Paul addressing the Lord
With a posture of spiritual humility
Of having his heart bow before the Lord God Almighty
Reminding the Ephesians who the Lord is
The Creator of unity
And asking for His blessings on this church
We had an opportunity to talk about prayer
why people don’t pray
some basics of how to pray as a believer in Christ
and why we pray
which is the most important
that we pray because we depend on God
This isn’t some perfunctory prayer though
meaning that we pray to check off a list
or we pray just to through something at God
and see if it sticks
Prayer is more than just words we say
there needs to be the attitude of prayer
Much like Paul uses the posture of kneeling to show reverence
we too should show that humility when approaching the throne of God
we may not physically have to kneel
but we should spiritually kneel in our heart and spirit
we have to recognize Who God is
and who we are
before we ever make requests to the Lord of the Universe
Sometimes that brings us to the place where
we understand our own limits
I’ve always been taught to understand my own limits
I think every leadership book that exists
tells us that we should understand our boundaries
and that we learn to accept those boundaries.
The older I get
the more I understand my boundaries
I can no longer jump on a rollercoaster
because when I do now
I get dizzy and nauseous
Back in the day I could ride those things
over and over again
stupid amusement park rides like a Tilt-o-Whirl
or the Gravitron, where the floor drops out as you are turning 2 G’s
or the Enterprise, which was a wheel that spun you upside-down over and over again.
Now I can barely get on the merry-go-round
and not have to hold on for dear life.
I know my limitations now
I no longer can stay up until all hours of the night.
I used to do lock-ins with the youth.
We’d be up all night playing video games
and playing all sorts of things
now, I’m in bed by 9 or 10
and awake by usually 5:30 or 6am
I have to have at least 6-7 hours of sleep to be any good
My friend Allen Murray
our NC Baptist President
he posts every Saturday on Facebook
Church on Sunday is a Saturday night decision.
He’s not wrong, especially for preachers.
If I’m not showered and in bed before 9 on Saturday
the whole congregation is aware because
I turn into the groundhog coming out of my office
if I was up too late the night before.
Understanding our limitations isn’t a bad thing
Limitations keep us from doing dumb things
that we shouldn’t be doing any more.
Mostly physical.
But what happens over time
those limitations become just that, limitations
We begin to focus on the limitations in our lives.
Suddenly they move from limitations to liabilities
and they effect more than just our physical being
they begin to effect our emotional and spiritual beings
We stop begin adventurous and going beyond limitations
because we don’t want to fail.
Somewhere along the way
we were taught that coloring outside of the lines wasn’t a good thing.
We were taught that to dream, and dream big
was just a fool’s errand
and that dreams never happen.
Mostly because we rely on our own strength to get us there.
We master managing our strengths, gifting and talents
so we can live a relatively convenient, comfortable life
within our comfort zone.
Nobody like to step out of their comfort zone.
Our comfort zone is like a protective fence around us.
I remember the first roller coaster I ever rode
I think it was called Rolling Thunder
at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey
It was a wooden roller coaster
but I was younger, and had never rode one before
All my friends got in line to ride this thing
I of course was talked into going on it as well
When you’re in line all you can hear is the roar of the coaster
and the screams of the people
but you can’t see much
Then you enter into the station where you can see the cars and the track
That’s when your heart begins to pound a little faster
When you’re in that station, you still have a long line of people ahead of you
as we were weaving back and forth through the que line
I kept watching all these people staggering off the ride on one side
and people getting in on the other
The lap bar would drop and off they would go
I still couldn’t see what was ahead
and the screams were intensified now
We got close enough where you could pick how for to the front you could go
My friends all wanted to ride in either the front or the back car.
I was quite happy being in the middle
but so we wouldn’t get separated
I went with a friend of mine who I thought was going toward the back.
It was actually the front
I had a comfort zone
and each step toward getting into that car
in the front of the line
was breaking down my comfort zone
and the closer I got to getting into that thing
my anxiety level was getting worse
because I was blowing through my comfort zone
Now we were in line for the front car
there were three pairs of people in front
and each time the train came into the station
my anxiety level got a little higher
finally we were in the front ready to get onto the coaster
and that thing pulled in
and I watched people get off the coaster
staggering off the ride
walking a little more slowly than before
It would have been really easy
to walk off the ride.
To walk straight through to the other side of the train
go down the exit stairs
and never have rode the roller coaster.
I could have stayed within my comfort zone
and have lived a very productive life
not having ever been on the ride.
When it comes to our spiritual life
here is something to remember
Jesus is well aware of our comfort zones
He knows what we can and cannot do
He knows our limitations
He knows our “lack of faith”
and He knows our “hardened hearts”
But Jesus still tells us this incredible promise in scripture
12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Wait, what?
The obvious questions that come up are
how in the world are we supposed to do greater things than Jesus?
What kind of works are we going to be able to do?
How in the world are we supposed to do that?
and what does this have to do with Ephesians?
we’ll get there, I promise
just follow with me for a minute
Jesus says we’ll do greater works
but there is a clause in there we need to address
there is a caveat, a condition to greater works
The Condition for Greater Works
The Condition for Greater Works
First, did you notice the condition to do these greater works?
13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
The condition is prayer
The requirement for doing the greater works is prayer
I mentioned last week that
why should we pray if God knows what’s going to happen anyway
and the reason I gave was
we don’t pray for the purposes of God
we pray so we are dependent on Him.
Sure we could a lot without God’s help
but we’ll never do anything great without praying first
I read an article and have used this in a few services I’ve preached lately
There are three things that every human wants
You can help me to confirm if it’s true or not
I read that there are three things that people long for in their life
The first is peace
The second is prosperity
And the third is purpose
Let me define each one to make sure we are hearing the same thing
Peace is easily defined as the absence of anxiety
It would be awesome to not have any stress in our life
Most all of us long for a peaceful existence.
We want restful weekends
We want to have no conflict with each other
We work hard to eliminate anxiety and have worry free minds
Having peace answers what we long for.
The second is prosperity
This is more than just having a ton of money
Prosperity can be defined as having security
For some people that means financial wealth
For others it could mean something else
In reality prosperity means that there is a safe place to live
Enough food to feed the family
And enough money to pay the bills.
People will migrate thousands of miles to reach a safe-haven in America
And risk their lives to be part of this system
To be prosperous answers what we care about
The last longing is purpose
This is the deep longing to make a difference
People all over the world ask the same questions
“Why am I here?”
“What is my purpose?”
So, “purpose” answers the question of why we are here.
If you’ve ever asked any of those questions about your life
You are not alone.
These questions get asked over and over again
And people will try anything to answer those questions in their own power
In their own strength
With their own answers
Can I tell you something?
That never works out.
In a perfect world, meaning all things are in perfect alignment with each other
And that there is no such thing as evil
Pain, suffering, disease, natural disasters
Even in that perfect world
Those questions cannot be answered
I know that because at one point
According to the Bible
There was a perfect world
Did you ever wonder where these longings in every human being come from?
That perfect world had all the answers
The Bible gives the answer to peace
There was peace because there wasn’t destruction
There wasn’t anxiety
There wasn’t shame
There was prosperity
The Bible speaks about Adam and Eve in the garden
And they had everything they needed
All they cared about was each other
And walking with God every day
There was purpose
God told them to take care of the garden
That was their sole purpose in life
These people had all three of the human longings
And they were conned into being discontented with life
They were told that if they disobeyed the command of God
They would have everything that God had
In essence, they could become like God
They were so shortsighted about their discontentment
They gave up all three longings
For something more
Since that time, the world has been broken
Our relationship with our Creator is broken
The very lifeline we had
All three things of peace, prosperity, and purpose
These are now longings are in every human heart
Because we were disconnected from the very one who created us
Ever since the first man and the first woman
Chose to be disobedient to God
We’ve lost that connection with God
Now we work against the world
And the world works against us.
God was our provider
God was our prosperity
God gave us our purpose
And when He removed us from the Garden
We felt like we no longer had a purpose
We were no longer prosperous or secure
We were no longer provided for
We had to work for our own
This is why the world is broken
But this is not the end of the story
God made a promise to us
God promised that He would provide a way
To return us to the paradise He created
Just as God created the perfect place in the beginning
He would provide a perfect place for us in the end
God’s promise, the new creation
Would take place through His Son Jesus
Jesus came to earth, as a human to show us the way
He would be born of the same line of Adam and Eve
He would live a life of a human
And He would die to pay the penalties for the brokenness in our life
All so that we could have the promise of God
The promise of peace, prosperity, and purpose
Let me ask you
If you are experiencing a lack of peace
A lack of prosperity or security
A lack of purpose
It could be you have never accepted the promise of God
or it could be that you are living in fear
in your comfort zone
not trying to accomplish the command and greater things of God.
Too scary.
It’s only too scary because you feel like you are all alone.
That’s just what the enemy wants you to feel
but that’s not true
For all those that are believers listening
Seeing as how Jesus said we would be able to accomplish greater works
and we still struggle with sin in our lives
including our own fears
the only way we are going to be able to do anything for God
is if we ask God first
because it’s not us that does the works
its Jesus that does the work through us
that’s why it’s called a great co-mission
we aren’t doing this on our own
What Does “Greater Works” Mean Anyway?
What Does “Greater Works” Mean Anyway?
Is this the beginning of the health and wealth era?
is this the name it and claim it passage we’ve all been looking for?
Let’s roll back a little in John and find out
what are the greater works Jesus is talking about.
What are the works that Jesus has already done in John?
Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman in John 4
his disciples just brought Him some food for Him to eat
and Jesus says this
34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work,” Jesus told them.
What work is He talking about?
he was referring to the work He was just doing
He revealed to the woman at the well that He was the Messiah
He was witnessing to this woman
That was the work he was talking about
Keep looking ahead in John
In John 6 Jesus finished feeding the 5,000
after he was finished a crowd began to search for Him
and then eventually find Him again
Once they are alone with Jesus
they ask this in John 6:28
28 “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.
In Greek it actually reads
what can we work to work the works of God?
Jesus answers in John 6:29-30
29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”
The work of God
the greatest work on the planet
the best thing that can happen in life
is placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ
Keep looking ahead
In John 9 the disciples roll up on a blind man
The common thing in Biblical times was
to believe that someone was blind because of the sin of the parents
So the disciples ask Jesus what did his parents do to cause this man’s blindness?
Jesus answers
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.
4 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.
This blind man got saved
after being healed of his blindness
the man converted to Christ
and he becomes a disciple
even though it cost him the social stigma
of being put out of the local synagogue
he confesses Jesus as being the Messiah
Jesus then urges the disciples to continue the work
Because a time is coming when this work will end
In what is known as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
He prays this in John 17:4
4 I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
And what did Jesus come to do up to this point?
Jesus came to establish men and women
in a faith-walk with God the Father
So the point is that the work Jesus sent for us to do
is discipleship which begins with evangelism
Now to Ephesians
Paul begins this with the prayer to the Father about the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
Paul is going to lay out his requests before the Lord
Each one of these requests leads to the other
This is not just a list
this is a progression
Paul begins with the first request
16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit,
Here’s something to note about the letter to the Ephesians
look at what Paul doesn’t pray for
He doesn’t pray for any change in their circumstances
either for himself or for them
His prayer isn’t that he should be released from prison
to be able to return to preach to them in Ephesus
His prayer isn’t some general prayer for them either
the whole “Lord, bless them. We pray for blessings upon these people.
We pray for God’s grace to be upon them
Paul’s prayer is pretty specific
His first request to the Father is spiritual
Paul’s first request to the Father is
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
Jesus was always dealing with people that were
worrying about food, drink, clothing, material things
living in fear.
Jesus, knowing these things,
says to start with the unseen things first
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Don’t start with the material things
don’t start with what you know
don’t start with what you can touch
start with the kingdom of God
Jesus knows our limitations
He knows our weaknesses
God’s promises are never based on what we can do or achieve
God’s promises are always based on
who He is and what He can do
Knowing that the greater works that Jesus said we will do
are evangelism and discipleship
both of which are spiritual in nature
you need some serious inner Spirit strength
The promise of greater works was never based on what the disciples could do
it wasn’t based on or dependent on what they possessed
their background, skill, or strength
these guys were mostly fisherman, tax collectors, and mercenaries.
The promise of greater works
was based on something that Jesus was going to give them
It was based on the promise and the power of the Holy Spirit that was to come
Paul does the same thing here as the first request to the Father
Paul understands the limitations and fears of human beings
so his first request is spiritual
Let me ask you
Is the first thing that you pray about in your devotional time with the Lord spiritual?
What is your greatest concern about yourself?
Is it circumstances? Ambitions? Body? Finances?
or are you primarily concerned with
your spiritual state and condition?
What receives the most time in your prayers and the most attention?
are you most concerned with the whole question of spiritual growth and development?
Your knowledge of God?
your relationship to Him?
your enjoyment of Him?
Is that a big thing?
or are we only concerned about the external material aspects of life?
Once you go past those things
are you really confident to be able to handle
all the things that life throws at you without God?
The Bible promises we aren’t going to have an easy go of it.
33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
22 strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Is that enough Bible references
to tell us that we are going to face pain and suffering in life?
That being the case
how are you prepared to handle these things that are promised to us?
There are no short cuts in the spiritual life
When our bodies go through sickness and disease
there is a way that our bodies fight off disease and sickness
some people have a natural immunity to certain things
for example poison ivy
I can’t even say the words poison ivy without getting itchy
and I begin to break out in a rash.
I don’t just get a few bumps.
Just looking at poison ivy gives me a rash.
But I’ve known a few people in my life
that have a natural immunity to poison ivy
and I’ve known someone else that had to build up immunity to poison ivy
As a kid, his mother used to make him drink Poison ivy tea
very small doses as first
and I’m not recommending this
so don’t count me as some sort of witch doctor or herbalist
but as a child he used to drink poison ivy tea
Through time
he gradually built up an immunity to poison ivy
our bodies do the same thing
some people take immunizations to build an immunity
to certain infections and disease
We’ll take flu vaccines, shingles shots
so our bodies build up the immunity to the disease
Paul is praying that the Ephesian Christians
to be strengthened with power in their inner being through the Spirit
Why?
to build up immunity to spiritual attacks
to build up immunity to the sufferings of this life
to live in the world we live in
so that we can be more than conquerors
in spirt of everything that happens to us
To help with the fear that can keep us in our comfort zone
To move us from fear to faith.
What Paul is trying to tell the Ephesians, and us as well
is it all starts with prayer
and prayer should start with the strength of the Spirit
that’s where the true power lies
Paul is telling us to keep the main thing the main thing
Get your center right
and the rest of your life will fall into place
Get your source of strength right
and you don’t need to worry about all the pains and stress
Our issue is generally in the source
7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
or Proverbs 4:23
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
What’s in your heart?
is the Spirit the source and power of all your strength?
or are you the source and power of all your strength?
Can I tell you that you’ll never do greater things
without the Spirit being the source of power in your life?
You may do some great things
but we’ll never do greater things than Jesus.
