| It is
clear from looking at the letters of Paul that he was a man of constant
prayer who devoted him self
continually to talking with God. We can see that demonstrated here in the
book of Ephesians. Prayers in Ephesians · Ephesians 1:15-23 – Paul’s prayer
that follows the praising God for all the spiritual blessings in Christ. He
begins with, “For this reason.” · Ephesians 3:14-21 – The focus of Paul’s
letter is transitioning here from doctrinal to practical application and this
prayer is part of that transition. He begins with, “For this reason.” ·
Ephesians 6:18-20,24 – Finally, the letter ends in prayer, where Paul asks
for their prayers, and concludes with a prayer for them (Eph. 6:24). We have
confident access and boldness!! · “For through Him we both have our access in
one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). · “In whom (Jesus) we have
boldness and confident access through faith in Him” (Eph. 3:12) God’s power
working in the inner man. · Take a look at Ephesians to notice Paul’s
emphasis on God’s working in the inner man, and His fullness dwelling within
the inner person and collectively filling the body of Christ. · God’s Power o
1:19 – surpassing greatness of His power…the working of the strength of His
might.o 1:21 – Jesus is above all power, including those in the heavenly
places. o 3:7 – Effective working of His power. o 3:16 – Strengthened with
power through His Spirit in the inner man. o 3:20 – According to the power
that works in us. o 6:10 – The power
of His might. · Working in the inner man (His fullness in the inner man). o
1:17 – A Spirit of wisdom and revelation o 1:23 – The fullness of Him who
fills all in all o 2:2 – Contrasted to “the spirit that now works in the sons
of disobedience” o 2:22 – Dwelling place of God in the Spirit o 3:16 –
Strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man o 3:17 – Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith o 3:19 – Filled with all the fullness
of God o 3:20 – The POWER that works in us o 4:6 – Over all and through all
and in you all o 4:10 – That He might fill all things o 4:20-24 – Learned
Christ (heard…taught…truth is in Jesus)…be renewed in the spirit of your
mind…new man created (see 2:10) according to God. o 5:10 – Finding out what
is acceptable to God o 5:17 – Understand what the will of the Lord is o 5:18
– Be filled with the Spirit o 6:18 – Praying in the Spirit Ephesians 1:15-23
· Paul, after praising the Lord for all the spiritual blessings in Christ,
continued with “for this reason” as he prays for their spiritual growth. ·
Notice that he prays for God to give them: o A spirit of wisdom and of
revelation in the knowledge of Him o That the eyes of their heart (not their
physical eyes) may be enlightened. o He prays for the light to come on
spiritually so that they will know: § What is the hope of His calling.
Considering all of those wonderful blessings in Christ that Paul just
mentioned, how can that stir up hope within the Christian? § What are the
riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Paul wants them to
begin to grasp what God has in store for His children! § What is the
surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. The God who created
all things and raised Jesus from the dead seeks to work His mighty power to
create a new man from the inside out! o Paul continues by saying that the
above things are in accordance with (connected to) the power that God
demonstrated when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him above all
authority and power. Ephesians 3:14-21 · Notice that the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit are all mentioned in this prayer. · Paul just wrote about how God
brought Jews and Gentiles into one body in Christ and He displayed His wisdom
to the entire spiritual realm by the creation of the church. As Paul is about
to move into the practical applications of this teaching (chapters 4-6), he
offers up a prayer for |
