5.8.38 8.19.2018 Ephesians 3.1,14-21 Real Prayer for Real Life

• You would expect that such a series would be include discussions of spiritual warfare. Defending the faith. The intersection of pagan culture with our biblical

You would expect that such a series would be include discussions of spiritual warfare. Defending the faith. The intersection of pagan culture with our biblical heritage.

heritage.

And now for the second time in less than a month we are discussing prayer.

• And now for the second time in less than a month we are discussing prayer.

Wasn't, you may ask, Paul a theologian, student of Scripture, a pastor's pastor, a missionary, an apologist. Yes, he was all those things.

• Wasn't, you may ask, Paul a theologian, student of Scripture, a pastor's pastor, a missionary, an apologist. Yes, he was all those things.

Every task he pursued, the whole variety of his ministry experience-lived out so passionately and publicly with churches like the one in Ephesus expected biblically sound, theologically empowering ministry to begin with prayer.

• Every task, the whole variety of his ministry experience-lived out so passionately and publicly with churches like the one in Ephesus expected biblically sound,

theologically empowering ministry to begin with prayer.

Engage: Maybe our artificial distinction between practical, pastoral, prayerful ministry and theologically, biblically, intellectually informed faith is just plain wrong.

• Engage: Maybe our artificial distinction between practical, pastoral, prayerful ministry and theologically, biblically, intellectually informed faith is just plain wrong.

Expand: Notice that Paul is praying for the content and direction of the faith, as well as the perception and growth of believers. For Paul is never the last resort…When all is lost, nor is it a pre-emptive plea for an escape from the uncomfortable.

• Expand: Notice that Paul is praying for the content and direction of the faith, as well as the perception and growth of believers. For Paul is never the last result…

When all is lost, nor is it a pre-emptive plea for an escape from the uncomfortable.

Excite: Prayer should be the practical, real-world application of honest, biblical theology. Biblically grounded prayer is theology, it is praxis, it is the structuring of faith, it is the scaffolding of service. Prayer is what brings theology and Bible study, and doctrine, down from the ivory-towers of academics into the dirty sheep-pens of reality.

• Excite: Prayer should be the practical, real-world application of honest, biblical theology. Biblically grounded prayer is theology, it is praxis, it is the structuring of

faith, it is the scaffolding of service. Prayer is what brings theology and Bible study, and doctrine, down from the ivory-towers of academics into the dirty sheep-

Without sound theology Prayer is wishful thinking.

Without prayer, theology is hubris.

pens of reality. Without sound theology Prayer is wishful thinking. Without prayer, theology is hubris. When we are Biblically balanced…everybody grows.

When we are Biblically balanced…everybody grows.

• Explore: Prayer is Theology in action.

Explore:

Prayer is Theology in action

• Explain: 3 components of Paul's "Prayed Theology."

Explain: Today we want to discuss 3 components of Paul's "Prayed Theology."

▾ Body of Sermon:

1 Priority of Prayer.

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

.

Ephesians 3:14–15 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

▾ 1 Priority of Prayer…v. 1, 14-15

In 3.1 Paul the practical Pastor was interrupted by Paul the passionate theologian…but in vv. 14 & 15 the pastor is back.

Prayer is a priority because it is the intersection of necessity and provision.

• 1.1 In 3.1 Paul the practical Pastor is interrupted by Paul the passionate theologian…but in vv. 14&15 the pastor is back.

1.2 Prayer is a priority because it is the intersection of necessity and provision.

What the Church needs…

1.2

Only our creator God can provide

▾ 2 Purpose of Prayer vv. 16-19

2 Purpose of Prayer

Ephesians 3:16–19 ESV

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.

• 2.1 Strengthened Spiritually

Ephesians 3.16-19

2.1 Strengthened Spiritually

• 2.2 Grounded with His presence

2.2 Grounded with His presence

• 2.3 Filled with God’s Fullness.

2.3 Filled with God’s Fullness.

• 2.4 Empowered with Understanding

2.4 Empowered with Understanding

• 2.5 Encouraged by Christ’s Love

2.5 Encouraged by Christ’s Love

▾ 3 The Product of Prayer 20-21

3 Product of Prayer

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

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.

Ephesians 3.20-21

3.1 God Works with in Us…

3.1 God Works within Us…

• 3.2 God is Glorified through His Son in the Church

3.2 God is Glorified through His Son in the Church

▾ Shut Down:

Intentional, theological, practical

• When we desire right things, and pursue the right things, the right things become our priority and God can work mightily in our lives. Misaligned priorities warp our

When we desire right things, and pursue the right things, the right things become our priority and God can work mightily in our lives. Misaligned priorities warp our purpose(s), which means we don't produce what God expects. In the end what is Biblical is Intentional, theological and Practical

purpose(s), which means we don't produce what God expects. In the end what is Biblical is practical, Theologically Sound, and actionable.

I often ask or acknowledge that you pray. Maybe it is time for me to ask about what you prioritize and how you envision God's purpose in your prayer. If all you are doing is praying that bad things don't happen or that God fixes them when they do then you are missing out on the true adventure of life-changing prayer.

• I often ask or acknowledge that you pray. Maybe it is time for me to ask about what you prioritize and how you envision God's purpose in your prayer. If all you are

doing is praying that bad things don't happen or that God fixes them when they do then you are missing out on the true adventure of life-changing prayer.

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