Ephesians 1:15-23

eph 1:

Ephesians 1:15 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

Ephesians 1:15–16 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

Ephesians 1:16 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

Faith in Christ always works its way out into the life of the local church.

That is why we cannot disconnect our relationship with Christ from our fellowship within the local church.

We do life together because that’s what faith in Christ does - it brings us into relationship within the context of the local church.

41 times - "one another"

He is speaking about life in the body!

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—

To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—

that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:39 AM January 27, 2019.

Please after praising God now he prays to God - Please pay careful attention to how he prays.

There was a man in my church growing up and he had a hangup when he prayed. He would use the same word over and over and over in his prayer. Among the spiritually immature within my church we we count the number of times he said this word. We paid attention to his prayer for all the wrong reasons.

When you see Paul pray you better pay attention for all the right reasons.

What does Paul ask for when he prays.

look at verse 16-18

Ephesians 1:16–18 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Three things I want you to focus on that Paul is praying for - First is knowledge.

In this test as Paul exemplifies how to pray for your church family - notice what he asks for and what he doesn’t ask for.

The priority of prayer for his church family is not about their physical condition. It is for their spiritual condition.

Look in verse 17 & 18 he prayers for their knowledge

Ephesians 1:17–18 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

eph 1 16-

Ephesians 1:16–18 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Pray that our RBC church family would know Him personally.

Paul’s designation for having a personal saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the Phrase “Knowing God”.

We don’t need to pray for bible trivia champions

Ephesians 1:17 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

eph 1

Second pray that our brothers and sisters here at RBC - would have a deep gospel hope in the finished work of Christ!

Ephesians 1:18 ESV

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ Paul Prays for Better Spiritual Vision (vv. 18, 19)

Hope is the opposite of despair — it breathes a massive optimism! We are going to stand with Christ at the final press conference of the universe, and our photograph is going to be taken with him, and we are going to look like him. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Third - pray that our brothers and sisters here at RBC would understand the fullness of the power of the resurrected Christ.

Paul is referring the the supernatural power. The power that raised Jesus up from the dead.

Ephesians 1:19–23 ESV

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

eph 1:19-23

Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ Paul Prays for Better Spiritual Vision (vv. 18, 19)

This stupendous power changes us from children of Hell to children of God and gives us practical victory over sin in our lives. We will see it visibly someday in the resurrection of our bodies, for no created power in the universe can do that. Only through the “great power” — “That power … the working … his mighty strength” — is it possible! Yet, this same power is operating in and for those of us who believe right now! Paul would ask, “Do you see it?”

Ephesians 1:15-23

Praise God for the faith and fellowship of our church family.

We should praise God for the fellowship of our church family.

How does my faith in Christ work its way out in this local fellowship?

Pray for the spiritual health of our church family.

Knowledge

Hope

Power