Ephesians 1:15-23 - Thanksgiving & Intercession

Introduction

It’s hard to be bad at prayer, but I’ve been known to do hard things.

Typically I find myself praying, “Let us have a good day” prayers or “Let us have a good night’s rest” prayers and especially “Please bless this food” prayers.

When I pray for others, I usually pray “Please help them” prayers or “Please heal them” prayers or “Please keep them safe” prayers.

Now, these are not wrong prayers but I do think they are bad prayers or at least “not as good as they could be” prayers because they are very limited.

They are limited in the sense that they only pertain to the here and now rather than eternal things.

And they are limited in the sense that they only pertain to physical things rather than spiritual things.

But Paul’s praying is different. Throughout his letters, we have written examples of his praying for different believers and they are what I would call unlimited prayers.

They are unlimited because they primarily focus on things of eternal value.

They are unlimited because they most often focus on spiritual things rather than physical things.

That’s the kind of prayer we read here in Ephesians 1:15-23—an unlimited prayer—a prayer from Paul to “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” concerning the Ephesian Christians.

And perhaps that word “glory” best sums up the tenor of this prayer because everything in it is aimed at the glory of God in the life of these Ephesian believers.

[INTER] As we examine this prayer this morning, let’s also examine ourselves: As we pray for one another, are those prayers aimed at the glory of God?

[CONTEXT] Paul began his letter with a customary introduction—Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God—followed by a magnificent praise section in vv. 3-14, and now we come to this prayer section—this thanksgiving and intercession section…

[READING - Ephesians 1:15-23]

Ephesians 1:15–23 NASB95

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about 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 every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection 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.

[PRAYER]

[TS] Let’s notice two parts to Paul’s prayer here—thanksgiving and intercession…

Major Ideas

#1: Thanksgiving (Ephesians 1:15-16a)

Ephesians 1:15–16 NASB95

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

[EXP] Paul began to tell the Ephesians about his prayers of thanksgiving for them by referencing back to that magnificent praise section in vv. 3-14. Because the Ephesians has believed the message of truth, the gospel of salvation, Paul had heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints and had not stopped giving thanks for them.

We should notice that the faith that Paul is thankful for is a specific faith—it is faith in the Lord Jesus.

The only saving faith is faith in the Lord Jesus.

The Ephesians had this saving faith in the Lord Jesus so Paul continually thanked God.

We should notice that this faith is an active faith—it produces good works.

James tells us that faith without works is dead faith or faith that won’t save.

First John tells us that we are not to love in word only but also in deed.

The Ephesians demonstrated this active faith in their love for all the saints, i.e., all followers of Jesus.

And we should notice that this faith is a praiseworthy faith—and that praise goes to God continually.

Paul has just laid out in vv. 3-14 how all of salvation from past ordination to present salvation to future glorification is to the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—so it is God who deserves the praise and it is God who gets the praise in the form of thanksgiving from Paul.

Paul is thankful for the saving work that God has done in and through the Ephesian believers.

And Paul is thankful continually. He said that he did not cease to give thanks for them. Paul’s heart attitude toward the Ephesians was “Thank you God!” And upon every remembrance of them in prayer, Paul responded with thanksgiving.

[ILLUS] John Paton was a missionary to the cannibal islands of the New Hebrides. He really did preach the Gospel to where no one have ever named the name of Christ before. He buried his first wife and child there and a few other children from his second marriage too. Sometimes the work was tortuous. Other times it was literally murderous.

But not long after John saw the first natives on the islands place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he wrote, “My heart was so full of joy that I could do little else but weep.”

That’s a prayer of thanksgiving.

That’s the kind of joy Paul felt when he thanked God for the Ephesians.

[APP] Let me ask you some questions...

Do you have a specific faith in the Lord Jesus?

The Ephesians could have placed their faith in any number of false gods or idols. Many in their city worship the false goddess Artemis or Diana. So today there are many false gods and idols that attempt to pull us away from a specific faith in the Lord Jesus.

There is a pluralistic notion that suggests that its fine for you to believe in Jesus so long as you believe in everything else too.

But remember, the faith that save is a specific faith in the Lord Jesus—and He is not Lord if He is lumped in with everything else.

Next question, is your faith in the Lord Jesus producing good works?

As I mentioned, Ephesian faith in Jesus was producing love for all the saints. Is our faith doing the same?

We are likely to be too hard on ourselves here. If were to point to you right now and say, “Tell me the good work your faith in Jesus is producing,” you might struggle to come up with an answer.

But if your serving and loving your husband or wife in the way that Jesus says… or if your raising your children in the way Jesus says… or if your serving your brothers and sisters in the church as needs arise… or your caring for your neighbors as God gives you opportunity… well, your faith is probably more active than you think.

And a final question on this point, do you thank God for the salvation of anyone?

Paul thanked God for the salvation of these Ephesian believers because without Jesus these Ephesians were destined for hell.

Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, spoke of “the great Niagara of souls passing away into the dark in China.” He said, “Every day, every week, every month they are passing away!”

Paul thanked God because God had saved these Ephesians from passing way into the eternal darkness of hell.

Perhaps if we remembered more often that without Jesus all our brothers and sisters in Christ would be in hell, we’d thank God for their salvation more often.

Let’s begin to thank God more often today.

[TS] …

#2: Intercession (Ephesians 1:16b-23)

[EXP] Paul not only thanked God for the Ephesian believers but also interceded on their behalf.

First, he told them in v. 17 that he prayed...

Ephesians 1:17 NASB95

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Translations differ on whether ‘spirit’ in this verse refers to human disposition or the Holy Spirit, but we don’t have the wisdom of God apart from the Holy Spirit and knowledge of salvation won’t be revealed to us apart from the Holy Spirit.

In other words, if you have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, it is because of the Holy Spirit.

Paul wanted to see godly wisdom and godly knowledge increase in the Ephesian church, so he asked God for it on their behalf.

Second, Paul told them in v. 18 that he prayed that…

Ephesians 1:18 NASB95

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Paul wanted the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to open the eyes of the Ephesian Christians so they will understand the hope to which they’ve been called.

The hope is the hope laid up for them in heaven, which they heard in the Gospel (cf. Col. 1:5).

And it is a certain hope because it is God who has called them to it.

Third, Paul told them that he prayed (also in v. 18) that God would reveal to them…

Ephesians 1:18 NASB95

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

The riches of God’s glorious inheritance given to those who trust in Jesus was explained in vv. 3-14 as every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.

This inheritance includes election, redemption, forgiveness, and sealing in the Holy Spirit.

It’s an inheritance that we can enjoy in part now, but the full enjoyment awaits us in the presence of God in Heaven.

And, finally, in v. 19 Paul told them that he prayed that God would show them…

Ephesians 1:19 NASB95

19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Now here Paul aims to open Ephesian eyes so they can see the greatness of God’s power toward believers in Jesus Christ. Look at vv. 20-23, where Paul says the surpassing greatness of God’s power toward believers is demonstrated in the strength of His might…

Ephesians 1:20–23 NASB95

20 which He brought about 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 every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection 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.

Notice those four things that God did in Christ…

First, He raised Christ from the dead (v. 20a).

Second, He seated Christ at His right hand in the heavenly places (v. 20b).

This position is exalted—not just above—but far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named both now and forever.

Third, God put all things under the feet of Jesus, all things in subjection to Him (v. 22a).

“All things” means “all things,” so Jesus is conqueror supreme.

And fourth, God gave Jesus as Head of the church (vv. 22b-23).

As the bride of Christ, the church is the body of Christ, but Jesus is the Head of the church.

Adam described Eve as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen. 2:23) and God described the union of husband and wife as “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24), but the husband is the head of the marriage.

In the same way, the church has been spiritually joined to Jesus through faith so that the two have become one, but Jesus still leads the way.

And where does Jesus lead His church?

He leads us through death to resurrection.

And He leads us to the right hand of the Father—the position of rule and reign.

In 2 Timothy 2:10-12, Paul wrote…

2 Timothy 2:10–12 NASB95

10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

[ILLUS] In John 14, Jesus told His disciples about going away to Heaven. They were obviously bothered by this news and didn’t understand what Jesus was talking about, so Jesus comforted them by saying, “If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to get you, so that where I am, you may also be,” (John 14:3).

So, where is Jesus?

He is raised from the dead.

And there we shall also be.

So, where is Jesus?

He is exalted to the Father’s right hand.

And there were shall also be.

This is the surpassing greatness of God’s power toward those of us who believe in Christ.

[TS] …

Conclusion

Do you believe in Christ?

Do you trust that Jesus alone has saved you from God’s wrath on account of your sins?

As I said earlier, it is not easy to believe that Jesus alone saves when there are so many other pretend saviors.

But remember that only faith in the Lord Jesus will save—for only He has lived perfectly for us, died sacrificially upon the cross for us, and rose triumphantly to prove to us that we have been made right with God if we trust Him.

Believe in Christ!

Believe so that we can thank God for your salvation!

Believe so that we can ask God to show you more of what He has done for you!