How to Pray Pt. 2

Intro

A little more than a month ago we talked about how and why we pray as Christians. This was part of our Who You Are in Christ series as we worked through parts of Ephesians chapter 1.

As we come to the end of Ephesians chapter 3, we find Paul talking about this then, in the context of this chapter.

Prayer is one of the most vital activities that we can be involved with. Without prayer, we have no communication with the Father through the Spirit and Christ.

As we will see in this passage today, prayer is all about God and involved each person of the Trinity. When you pray, you pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, through the work of the Spirit. Each person plays a role.

So, as you pray, you are experimenting relationship with God as a whole!

Why would we neglect this great opportunity? It doesn’t make much sense does it? But, so often we do it anyway.

One of the greatest ways the enemy keeps us far from God is by distracting us and keeping us busy to the point that we do not pray. Prayer and Scripture reading are the two most important ways that we grow closer to God, and they are the most simple. The enemy knows this, therefore, he works to make these two activities seem difficult.

If Satan can keep us from praying and reading the Word, then he has a strong foothold in our lives and he knows that.

Don’t allow it. Look with me, again, as we learn how Paul teaches us to pray.

Pray With Humility

Ephesians 3:14–16 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

Paul begins this passage by telling us that prayer begins with total humility.

Doesn’t that just make sense though? Our entire relationship with the Creator who we sinned against yet forgave us anyway should begin and continue with humility!

Paul is good about connecting his passages through context. He does that here.

He begins by saying “for this reason.” But, what is the reason? What is the reason he bows his knees in total humility and recognition of the Father?

The reason is the first half of the chapter that we learned about last week. Because of the revelation of the mystery of God that shows us that salvation is for all, Paul bows toward God. And we should too.

Praying with humility has a few ideas that go with is.

The first is, when we pray with humility, we pray with a holy reverence.

With Holy Reverence

Bowing is not a common practice in American culture. It is in other cultures, especially certain Asian cultures, but we are unfamiliar with the practice outside of finishing the Christmas play and bowing as actors!

So, what is the big deal with bowing before the Father?

The point of bowing is to make yourself lower than the other person. Is this not the same definition as humility?

You can bow in reverence to anyone, if you’d like.

But, putting yourself lower to God out of a holy reverence is something you can do to nobody else!

For, when you recognize the unique goodness and holiness of God, you will realize your need to bow as a sinner before a Holy God!

Paul recognized this, so he bowed in holy reverence.

Paul continues by telling us we should pray with humility because we belong to God!

For We Are His

He continues telling us that every family in heaven and on earth are from Him!

Do you realize how undeserving we are to be called His children? How undeserving we sinners are to stand righteous before a holy God?

Once you realize just how undeserving you are to be called His, then you will begin to realize just how much humility you should have in a praying life.

Because you don’t deserve to be called a child of God, yet you are anyway, come to God with humility.

As we do this, we have to remember that it is all for His glory!

Remember, It Is All for His Glory!

Never for a moment think that your prayer life is about you. It is not. You relationship with God is not about you. Your struggles in life aren’t about you. Despite what people may tell you, much of this life is not about you!

Isn’t that good news? That we don’t have to worry about ourselves all that much? That we have Someone who cares enough about us that we can just live in the freedom of Christ without having to worry?

One older gentleman on Facebook said “I don’t have to be anxious because I know, troubles don’t last.” This is because of Christ.

Therefore, our prayer life must be about Him as well.

Ephesians 3:14–16 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

Everything is according to his great and glorious riches, meaning that it all flows from Him!

Therefore, we should give Him the glory for it all!

Pray with humility.

For God’s Love and Power

Not only should we pray with humility but we should pray FOR God’s love and power!

Ephesians 3:16–19 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

The first thing that is important to note here is that his is all HIS love and power!

It’s His Power and Strength

Understand this morning that even the power to pray comes from His storehouse, not your own.

Everything you need comes from Him!

Nothing we can do comes from our own strength. If we don’t even have strength to keep ourselves alive, then we do not have the strength to do what God expects; therefore, it is His power!

But, what is the reason for this?

What is the Reason?

Simple: Christ and His Glory.

This is a simple thing because this is the answer to every question. Everything we can do must be for and about Christ and His glory!

It is his power and strength.

The reason is His glory.

But, as God is a good God, the reason is also for YOUR good!

Dr. David Jeremiah says “God is more anxious to forgive you than you are to be forgiven.” Is that not for your good and God’s glory?

God wants you, as Paul writes, to be filled with the fullness of God through His power and strength.

What does that mean?

That means that God wants and expects His children to be holy, righteous, quick to repent, and full of the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

You may be thinking. “Those all seem so far out of the realm of possibility because I cannot do all of that!” You would be right and wrong. It is NOT out of the realm of possibility, but it is not because of your strength.

You needed Jesus for life, breath, and salvation — why would you think you could be righteous, holy, and full of the fruit without Him? You cannot.

So, pray for his love and power. Pray for strength. Humbly, but boldly, come to the Father for these things.

And, as Paul rounds this out, pray with an expecting Spirit.

Pray with an Expecting Spirit

Ephesians 3:20–21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

First, in Paul’s fashion, he transitions with context. He starts by saying “now.” He says, “now that that’s settled, let’s move on!” But, to what?

Let’s look at the What, How, and Why of this passage.

What

What is Paul talking about.

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians What? (3:20a)

Paul says God is “able” (20a)! Able to do what? Notice how he heaps up phrases to describe God’s sovereign might:

• to do above [But that’s not all!]

• to do above and beyond [But that’s not all!]

• to do above and beyond all that we ask [But that’s not all!]

• to do above and beyond all that we ask or think

God can do more in response to one prayer than we can do in one hundred years of planning and plodding. Do we believe God alone is the only Sovereign? He is the One who raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him as head over the church, and He has put all things under His feet! If so, then pour out your heart to Him, believing He is able.

God is able, that is what Paul is talking about. May we never forget the reality that God is above and beyond able to do above and beyond what our feeble minds could even begin to comprehend or ask.

Your God is better than your thoughts.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

How

But, how does God do this?

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians How? (3:20b)

How does God work beyond our imaginations? Paul says it is “according to the power that works in us” (20b, emphasis added). Think about the examples of this in the Bible. Think of His work in the lives of Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Elijah (a man like us according to

And, believe it or not, that includes you! God wants to use YOU for incredible things on this planet. God wants to work beyond your imagination. God wants to work His power in you.

Are you ready to let the Lord use you to do incredible things?

If so, do what Psalm 46:10 says and be still. Know that God is God and God is good. Trust that He will speak to you and guide you!

Why

But, why? Why does God do all of this?

Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Why? (3:21)

Why does God do these things? Paul says it in verse 21. This should be the ultimate goal for our prayers for power and love: “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” God blesses His people for His own glory.

But notice Paul says that God desires His glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Stott says, “God desires glory in the bride and in the bridegroom; in the community of peace, and in the Peacemaker” (Ephesians, 141).

For how long? Forever. Forever, God will be glorified for His power and love. Forever, God will be glorified by His people. Forever, God will be glorified in Christ Jesus, the Lamb who was slain. Forever, God will be glorified in the Christ, who fell to His knees before the Father in the garden of Gethsemane, who took the cup of wrath that we could receive the cup of grace, who has reconciled us to the Father and one another, and who now dwells in our hearts, through faith by the Spirit. To God be the glory forever!

Fictional astronaut Ryan Stone was correct: we are all going to die. But you can live forever through Jesus Christ, who also gives us access to the Father in prayer right now.

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Conclusion

Are you ready to live forever? Are you ready to learn to pray? Are you ready to submit your life and your desires to Christ Jesus?

*salvation plea*

Maybe this morning you need to stop and realize that your praying life needs some work. Today, right now, can be when you start. When you humble yourself before God and God’s people, you can expect Him to work in your life. When you humble yourself and go to God, you can expect Him to receive you. When you humble yourself, you can be a person with a strong prayer life. Is that what you want?

Come pray.

Pray with humility, pray for His love and power. Pray with an expecting heart that He is able to do more than you can think or imagine. Pray expecting Him to work in your life. God knows your thoughts and innermost desires, trust that. Pray to Him.