Exploring Ephesians #7 - A Second Prayer from Paul

Text: Eph. 3:14-21

Thesis: To learn what the vital ingredients are to become the people God desires.

Introduction:

(1)    “Now he completes the sentence of v. 1 and reports the content of his intercession for them (vv. 14-19), which has been enriched by all that has been said in the so-called digression of 3:2-13” (O’Brien 253).

(2)    Let us examine Paul’s prayer:

Discussion:

I.                   The Invocation:

A.    The Reason – What God has done in Christ (Chapters 1 & 2)

B.     The Position – Kneeling

Signifies [MacArthur 101]:

1.      An attitude of submission or recognition that one is in the presence of someone who is of much higher rank, dignity, and authority.

2.      Times of intense passion and emotion.

C.     The Person – Father God

II.                The Petition:

A.    Strength from the Holy Spirit

B.     Love of Jesus Christ

1.      Know it – a “love [that] goes in every direction and to the greatest distance” (MacArthur 110)

a.       Wide enough to embrace the world (John 3:16)

b.      Long enough to last forever (1 Cor. 13:8)

c.       High enough to take sinners to Heaven (1 John 3:1,2)

d.      Deep enough to take Christ to the very depths to reach the lowest sinner (Phil. 2:8) [Hughes 117]

2.      Practice it

C.     Fullness of God (“He is praying that they may ‘be all that God wants them to be,’ that is, spiritually mature” (O’Brien 266).

III.             The Benediction:

A.    God is able to bless us more than we can ask or imagine.

B.     Therefore, as the church, let us bring Him glory forever and ever.

Conclusion:

(1)   Indeed, in Christ, we have ‘all spiritual blessings.’

(2)   Let us utilize these blessings and be the church that God desires and bring Him the glory and honor that He deserves.