Ephesians 1:15-22 Advanced praying, Praying as God Intended, Praying for others
Notes
Transcript
10/25/20
How do you deal with difficulty?
Become self-focused
Introverted
Become sad and pitiful
Depression sets in --- negative attitude / incapable of action
Look beyond ourselves
Truly care for others
Minister to others
Pray for others
That they may see the Lord and His work in them
By the way that is our solution as well – to see the Lord and His work in us.
Paul is writing to the folks in Ephesus. He started that church. He ministered there for years. He obviously cared deeply for them.
In the midst of his own troubles He looks beyond himself. He looks to their needs.
Their need was not to control the government. It wasn’t to be financially secure. It wasn’t even to be healthy or free from governmental trouble. It was to see the Lord and His work within them.
And no wonder Paul shows no sign of depression or self focus. He saw this Lord in his own life. And then he ministered to others in prayer. Praying as God intended.
Let’s explore advanced praying – praying the way God intended – praying for others
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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,
I. Praying as God intended: Others the emphasis
I. Praying as God intended: Others the emphasis
A. Others focused praying
A. Others focused praying
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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,
1. Thought lots about them
1. Thought lots about them
2. Cared much for them
2. Cared much for them
3. Spent much time for them
3. Spent much time for them
B. Continuous praying
B. Continuous praying
(ESV) Ephesians 1 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
1. Consistency - Keep mentioning
1. Consistency - Keep mentioning
2. Perseverance – not quit
2. Perseverance – not quit
C. Specific praying
C. Specific praying
(ESV) Ephesians 1 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
1. People
1. People
2. Thanks
2. Thanks
3. Requests
3. Requests
D. Praying to He who is able to act for others
D. Praying to He who is able to act for others
(ESV) Ephesians 1 17a that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, …
1. God - Father
1. God - Father
a) Family relationship with the true God
a) Family relationship with the true God
2. Through Christ
2. Through Christ
a) Tight relationship of the two
a) Tight relationship of the two
b) Our relationship with the Father depends upon Christ’s work
b) Our relationship with the Father depends upon Christ’s work
c) In Christ – Intimate relationship with Father
c) In Christ – Intimate relationship with Father
3. The glorious One
3. The glorious One
a) Visible manifestation of God and His saving power (Shekinah wilderness)
a) Visible manifestation of God and His saving power (Shekinah wilderness)
b) the splendor of the divine presence and power
b) the splendor of the divine presence and power
c) Enlightenment
c) Enlightenment
II. Praying for others: To know Him
II. Praying for others: To know Him
A. To personally experience Him
A. To personally experience Him
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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,
1. Epignosis – experiential knowledge
1. Epignosis – experiential knowledge
2. Fulness of knowledge acquired through personal acquaintance
2. Fulness of knowledge acquired through personal acquaintance
3. Personal knowledge
3. Personal knowledge
a) From mind / From fellowship /From time
a) From mind / From fellowship /From time
4. Develop a spiritual understanding of Him
4. Develop a spiritual understanding of Him
a) Discernment in divine truth
a) Discernment in divine truth
b) Applied to a living relationship with Him
b) Applied to a living relationship with Him
B. to gain transformational awareness
B. to gain transformational awareness
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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,
1. A radical new realization
1. A radical new realization
a) Flooded with light (NLT)
a) Flooded with light (NLT)
b) Dawning of a new day
b) Dawning of a new day
c) Flooding of the light into darkness
c) Flooding of the light into darkness
d) Light for the blind
d) Light for the blind
e) Illumination
e) Illumination
2. A new framework for interpreting life
2. A new framework for interpreting life
a) Grid for living
a) Grid for living
b) World view
b) World view
3. A certain foundation
3. A certain foundation
C. To live in light of His calling
C. To live in light of His calling
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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,
1. The calling
1. The calling
From Ephesians 1
a) Initiated by God / Called to Himself in past / Called to walk with Him present / Called to be fully glorified in the future / Called to live forever with Him for eternity
a) Initiated by God / Called to Himself in past / Called to walk with Him present / Called to be fully glorified in the future / Called to live forever with Him for eternity
2. With an expectant future
2. With an expectant future
a) The calling will produce results
a) The calling will produce results
D. To live with perspective
D. To live with perspective
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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,
1. Awesome benefits / Inherit the things belonging to Christ
1. Awesome benefits / Inherit the things belonging to Christ
2. Or you are His inheritance / He treasures you
2. Or you are His inheritance / He treasures you
III. Praying for others: To live in light of the enormous power at work toward them
III. Praying for others: To live in light of the enormous power at work toward them
A. Indescribable power
A. Indescribable power
(ESV) Ephesians 1 18 … that you may know … 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
1. Unimaginably potent
1. Unimaginably potent
a) Pile up descriptive words – express the unexpressable
a) Pile up descriptive words – express the unexpressable
2. Huperballon –
2. Huperballon –
a) Throw over (Scottish guy throwing a pole)
a) Throw over (Scottish guy throwing a pole)
b) his incomparably great power
b) his incomparably great power
c) A totally different category of power
c) A totally different category of power
3. Power dunamis
3. Power dunamis
a) Working/Energy energeia / Effective power (Electricity arcing)
a) Working/Energy energeia / Effective power (Electricity arcing)
b) Capability / Potential / Dynamite waiting to explode
b) Capability / Potential / Dynamite waiting to explode
c) Operational power / The sun
c) Operational power / The sun
4. Strength kratos
4. Strength kratos
a) Power exercised in resistance and control
a) Power exercised in resistance and control
b) Strength in relation to an end to be gained
b) Strength in relation to an end to be gained
c) Massive clam building the Florida canal – dredging and removing dirt – Krakon movie Clash of the Titans - invincible
c) Massive clam building the Florida canal – dredging and removing dirt – Krakon movie Clash of the Titans - invincible
5. Might ischus
5. Might ischus
a) Bodily strength / Muscular force / The Hulk - transformed
a) Bodily strength / Muscular force / The Hulk - transformed
B. For their benefit
B. For their benefit
(ESV) Ephesians 1 18 … that you may know … 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
1. Power toward us – power that has been exerted on our behalf and is now available for us to appropriate
1. Power toward us – power that has been exerted on our behalf and is now available for us to appropriate
2. In us (later) perhaps (into)
2. In us (later) perhaps (into)
C. Same power exhibited in Christ
C. Same power exhibited in Christ
(ESV) Ephesians 1 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.
1. Victorious power at work
1. Victorious power at work
2. Raised Him - Defeated death – paid penalty for sin
2. Raised Him - Defeated death – paid penalty for sin
3. Exalted Him – though He had taken on sin
3. Exalted Him – though He had taken on sin
a) Above all opponents
a) Above all opponents
4. Never failing
4. Never failing
The radical prayer we need to pray for other that they may know Him and His power at work in us ---- and we need to pray for ourselves in the same way