Ephesians 3:14-17

Introduction

Jesus said: "Pray ye." James wrote: "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Dr. Ravenhill: "Preaching affects men; prayer affects God. The pastor who is not a praying pastor is a playing pastor. The congregation which is not a praying congregation is a straying congregation. To be much for God we must be much with God."

Dr. J. H. Jowett: "I'd rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach." Dr. R. A. Torrey: "Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies beyond the will of God. Prayer can do anything, prayer is omnipotent."

Martin Luther: "I am so busy now that if I did not spend three hours each day in prayer, I could not get through the day." John Wesley: "I have resolved to devote an hour each morning, noon, and evening to prayer—no pretense, no excuse whatsoever."

Paul is writing a prayer here. He began the prayer early in the chapter and now continues it. He is kneeling which is an unusual posture for a Jewish man to take in prayer. The norm was to stand while praying.

Paul makes the point of his unusual posture in order to make a point…what I am about to pray now is serious stuff…I am praying hard for you…so much so that I am changing my posture to a more emphatic and determined one.

Paul desired that His readers would enter fully into the privileges of the Christian life. That we would more fully enjoy all that Christ has done for us through the Cross.

According to the riches of His glory — Our prayers are lifted up to God who is unlimited in His power, resources and goodness. He can do anything and we can ask Him for everything. God in His wisdom will give us His best answer.

Father — Abba…Our daddy and the one to whom we direct our prayers. Not a tyrant, harsh king or taskmaster. He is our Father and it is from Him that everyone owes their very existence. It is to the sovereign, almighty yet loving God to whom we direct our prayers.

n But it isn’t simply the duty of prayer that we are called to but the reality of relationship which prayer expresses.

A man boasted that he had not omitted saying his prayers for seventy years, at night. It pleased God to suddenly convert him at that age, and then he would say with a changed tone and spirit, "I am the old man who said his prayers for seventy years and yet all that time never prayed at all."

Do we pray prayers to our Abba Father? To our daddy? To a God with whom we have an actual relationship by grace through faith?

There are three things that Paul Prays for...

Strengthened in their inner man —

Comprehend the love of Christ —

Filled With the Fullness of God —

We are going to focus on those next week.

Strengthened in their inner man — That God would strengthen them with divine power in their mind, will and conscience. We need such strength in order to live the Christian life and follow God in holiness. Apart from His strength in our inner man we fail miserably at living an obedient and faithful life to Him

Philippians 2:13

Philippians 2:13 CSB

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

We are saved by grace and we live by grace. God’s grace led to our creation, recreation and continued life. He sustains us. He is the power whereby we are obedient to Him. Everything is completely dependent upon God’s work upon and within us. We cannot save ourselves nor can we live the Christian life, a life of holiness and obedience to Him, apart from Him.

Dwell in your hearts through faith — That they might have a genuine experience of Christ. This has to do with a greater realization of God and His presence in our life. It goes right along with the strengthening of our inner man. Paul desires that we experience more and more of God upon receipt of His strength.

Christ’s presence in us has its degrees and advances, its less and more, its outer and inner. A life may be truly Christian and yet far from fully Christian. It is this which distinguishes one Christian from another. Some have made little room for Christ, some give Him more, and in some He has the whole house. Or, viewed from another standpoint, in some Christ is just present, in others He is prominent, and in others again, He is preeminent Vaughan, C. (2002). Ephesians (p. 81). Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press.

Herein is the importance of prayer. We cannot obey God on our own. We cannot know God on our own. We cannot serve and be a part of what God is doing around us of our own volition, strength and power. We need God…we need His strength, power, wisdom. We need Him or we die!

Nearly one hundred years ago, Mrs. Maggie Vancott was conducting evangelistic meetings at Stone Ridge, New York. Near the beginning of the meetings, she expressed the expecta­tion of seeing two hundred souls saved. Many mocked the prediction, and accused her of presumptuous sins. A week went by with no apparent interest, and then Mrs. Vancott went into her room and left orders that she should not be called to dinner, nor yet to the service, unless she came of her own will. In a cold room, with a shawl about her shoulders, she knelt, and all day long she pled God's promises, "Ask, and ye shall receive.... If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. . . . Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." No answer! No peace! She prayed on. Satan suggested, "Give it up and go to church." She replied, "Get thee hence, Satan," and she prayed on.

The people of the house came into her room and found her with haggard face, cold sweat on her brow, and they begged her to desist and eat. They said: "God will not answer today." She replied, "Then today I die." And again to God she turned: "Oh, God, give me my two hundred. Thou hast said, 'Today is the day of salvation.' Christ has died to redeem them. I plead His perfect work; I will not yield. God, O give the answer."

Then she hushed. A sweet radiance spread o'er her face; assurance came from the Spirit. She rose and went forth, saying, "It is all over and I have His promise." She saw the altar of prayer crowded by penitent sinners that night, and when the service ended two hundred and thirty-five souls had been saved. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Conclusion

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 CSB

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

How is it that we can follow the dictate of Paul in this passage? Look at the world and its attempts to conform us? We live in a generation which prepares its attack upon the church, our lives and our God. The culture is hell bent on conforming us to its godless and hedonistic ways.

All around us are people who are lost and care nothing for their soul. They care nothing for God. They care nothing for anything but pleasure, entertainment and self. Their soul is dead and no clever words of man can stir them.

All around us are Christians, and it may be us, who are cold, lifeless and weak in their inner man. They possess not the strength to face such a culture and world of lostness. The church tries new programs and methods while the congregations and world grow farther and farther from Christ.

We need to do what Paul did here…and pray. And pray first for strength in our inner man. That God might do what we cannot…change us, make us strong, faithful and powerful for the living of His life.

Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20–21 CSB

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Why are these verses memorized and so important? Because in them is the confession of a man who understood the need in his inner man. The need for God to enter in and do what only He can do. This is why Paul prayed and it should drive us to the same type of prayer ourselves.

Pray, pray often and pray first and perhaps foremost for strength in our inner man.