What should we pray?
Faith Foundations (NCC) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewThis week, we take a look at question forty from the New City Catechism.
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Q: What should we pray?
A: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
See v. 14: For what reason do you bow before God in prayer?
The “what” of our prayers often reveals the depth of our spiritual life as a whole.
Today, we’re going to look specifically at Ephesians 3:14-21 to help us press forward to a more biblically informed and deeper life of communion with God through prayer.
PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
Paul has laid out the gospel and explained the Ephesians what role they have in living it out. He now shares with them what he prays for their lives. Let’s look at the first request he communicates:
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Do we tend to pray that God will remove the obstacle or “heavy” object in front of us, or do we pray for a deeper inner strength to face the obstacle in Christ?
See the source of spiritual strength.
See the source of spiritual strength.
Paul understands that spiritual strength in the life of the Christian comes from God’s gifting and not our own effort.
“According to the riches of his glory…”
“He may grant…”
“Through his Spirit…”
Our prayer life reveals where we look to for spiritual strength. This is difficult in a culture that constantly tells us that inner strength comes from who we are or what we do.
Self esteem verses gospel humility.
A deeper life in prayer comes from humbly receiving God’s gifts and not proudly looking at our own strength.
See the seat of spiritual strength.
See the seat of spiritual strength.
“In your inner being…”
Shallow prayer often stays seated at the material level and fails to reach the needs of the soul.
If things are good we say, “Thank you God that nothing is wrong.”
If things are bad we say, “God why aren’t you making things good?”
We tend to think that our current state of happiness is equal to our deepest human need(s) when in reality happiness is often a distraction from and not an aid to seeing the true state of our soul.
How often are we considering what God is doing in the “inner being” through our circumstances?
If things are good we might pray: “Lord, how is my inner being finding you as my ultimate good?”
If things are bad we might pray: “Lord, how is this adversity revealing weak spots in my inner being?”
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
See the solution to spiritual weakness.
See the solution to spiritual weakness.
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
This is Paul’s prayer for people who are already believers.
Paul here refers, “Not (to) Christ’s initial dwelling at the moment of salvation but his controlling presence over our attitudes and conduct as we continually trust him.” Douglas J. Moo
Our inner being needs strength from God so that our faith in Christ stays cultivated and does not grow cold.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Our shallow prayers: God keep me safe and comfortable.
A biblically mature prayer: God keep me close to Christ. (Even if that means danger and a lack of comfort.)
Do we pray for spiritual strength?
PRAY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST’S LOVE
PRAY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST’S LOVE
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Paul wants the Ephesians “to know the love of Christ” in greater depth so that their experience of God grows in greater depth.
See the medicine of measuring Christ’s love.
See the medicine of measuring Christ’s love.
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME?
It is far too easy in a world that we see with physical eyes to forget the deeper spiritual truths. Paul invites us to slow down and measure up the size of the love of Christ.
How do we measure the love of God in Christ Jesus?
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.
“We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.” John Owen
Shallow prayer asks: “What have you done for me lately?” Biblical prayer looks at the overwhelming past, present, and future love of God in Christ Jesus.
See the mercy of aiming at the fullness of God.
See the mercy of aiming at the fullness of God.
A reminder of the main idea of prayer: experiencing communion with God.
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
What does this mean?
In English we would say “filled to the brim” as a very rough equivalent.” S.M. Baugh
To be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” is simply a Pauline way of saying “to be all that God wants you to be,” or “to be spiritually mature.” D. A. Carson
I am convicted by the smallness of my average prayer: “God give me enough of you to feel spiritually safe and earthly comfortable.”
What might a Christian and a church of Christians aiming at “the fullness of God” look like?
PRAY FOR GOD’S GLORY
PRAY FOR GOD’S GLORY
Maybe the ultimate test of the depth of my prayer life is this: whose glory am I praying for?
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Glory: Honor, power, “brightness.”
“To him be glory” (Let God’s reputation and character get recognized and applauded.)
Remember the who of our spiritual life.
Remember the who of our spiritual life.
“To him who is able to do far more abundantly…”
When I pray for my will above God’s glory I am not actually praying for my best interest. God in God’s place is where my life is safest.
Remember the why of our spiritual life.
Remember the why of our spiritual life.
“to him be glory in the church…throughout all generations.”
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus’ humanity is revealed in a desire for physical safety and comfort AND the depth of his prayer life is revealed in his willing submission to whatever it takes for God to be glorified (the cross.)
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
What do we pray?
That by knowing God in Christ Jesus our lives would conform to whatever brings God the most glory.
How does it happen?
By the strength of God’s spirit in our souls reminding us of the love of Christ for us and pressing us to live and pray for the glory of Christ in all things.
[CLOSING PRAYER]
