Ephesians 1:15–23

Review…

• The background of Ephesus…
  • Ephesus was the largest and most powerful city in Asia-minor (modern day Turkey)…
    • Paul first visited Ephesus on his 2^nd missionary journey – Acts 18
    • Paul then returned to Ephesus on his 3^rd missionary journey – stayed for 3 years…
    • While Paul was in prison in Rome – he wrote the letter to the – Ephesians…
  • Outline of the Book of Ephesians…
    • Chapters 1-3 – The doctrine of the blessings we have in Jesus Christ…
    • Chapter 4-6 – The practical duty we have in following Jesus Christ…
    • The blessing of God…
  • 1^st – The book was written by Paul to the Saints in Ephesus – and faithful in Jesus…
    • It was not a book of reproof – like I and II Corinthians…
    • It was a book of encouragement – meant to build up the believer in their faith!
  • 2^nd – We have been blessed by – God the Father / Son / and Holy Spirit…
    • Chosen by the Father before the world was made – to be adopted as the sons of God!
    • Redeemed by the Son – the great debt of sin we all owed was paid in full!
    • Sealed by the Spirit – as a down payment / promise God would bring us to heaven!
  • The 1^st prayer of Paul … (3 things)
  • The prayers of Paul…
  • There are two prayers recorded by Paul in Ephesians…
    • The first prayer is a prayer for saints to understanding – enlightenment…
    • In Ephesians 3:14-21 – Paul gives a prayer for strength – empowerment…
    • Paul opened up the book talking to the church about the Lord…
  • Now he is going to talk to the Lord about the church!
    • We often talk to people about Jesus – but we forget to talk to Jesus about the people!
    • We can try our best to convince people – show them their need for Jesus…
    • But only God can change their heart – only He can give them a hunger for Jesus…
    • So take the time to talk to God / pray – for those you tell about Jesus!
• 1^st – The reason for Paul’s prayer... vs. 15-16
  • Paul prayed because – he heard of their faith and their love for the saints…
  • Paul was not praying because they had problems – but because things were going well…
  • To often in life we only pray when things are falling apart – trial / troubles…
  • Yet the reason why we face trials – is because we get our eyes off Jesus…
  • Why wait till everything has gone wrong – pray while things are going right…
  • That way we keep our eyes on Jesus – and avoid having to go through the trials!
  • It turns out this was a needed prayer…
  • When Jesus spoke to John in Revelation about Ephesus He had this against them…
  • Revelation 2:4 – “I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
  • Ephesus was a VERY successful church – but in their success they forgot about love!
  • The danger when everything is going right – it is to forget about Jesus…
  • I think of some of these HUGE ministries today – 15,000 people on Sunday morning…
  • Their pastors write books – ‘Purpose Driven Life’ – telling people how to be blessed…
  • Forgetting that being blessed is not about what we do – but whom we know – Jesus!
• 2^nd – The frequency of Paul’s prayer… vs. 16
  • Praying for others…
  • Knowing the trials / temptations – as well as opportunities – for believers in Ephesus…
    • Paul prayed for them – to stand strong/uncompromising in their faith…
    • Recall that the Ephesians had previously believed in the goddess Dianna…
    • They had abandoned their faith in false gods – and placed their faith in Jesus!
  • But Paul prayed for them so they would remain strong – not go back…
    • There are always going to be temptation to go back to our life before Jesus…
    • We slowly get tangled back up into the life and sin Jesus saved us from…
    • II Peter 2:22 – “According to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit…’”
    • We live in a very dark world – so we pray for our brothers – that they will stand…
    • Pray they will be strong in Jesus – uncompromising in their faith towards God…
    • Pray to keep them from the temptation of going back to their old lives!
  • It was not an occasional prayer – it was CONSTANT prayer…
  • The typical view of prayer is coming to God with a list – needs / wants / ect.
    • It is treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…
    • As if somehow if we recite some words to God once or twice a day – it is enough…
    • Rarely do we take the time in prayer to listen – it’s a one-way conversation…
    • It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11
  • Prayer should be a conversation with our Father in heaven…
    • How can we have a relationship with God – if we never get a chance to talk to Him…
    • Telling Him about our day – getting to know the God who created us…
    • Taking the time to listening to the wisdom He has for our lives!
    • When we have a good day / when we have a hard day / when things go right…
    • When we do not know what to do next – find a quiet place and pray!
    • Prayer is not something we do – it is the definition of how we live our life…
    • I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing…”
  • It was not a repeated prayer…
  • * Matthew 6:7 – “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.”
  • Its Ok to repeat a prayer – Jesus asked the Father 3 times to take away cross…
  • It is OK to ask for the same thing more than once – the persistent widow – Luke 18:1-8
  • But the idea of scripted prayers is just silly – that is a speech – not a prayer…
  • And we must be careful not to make prayer a ritual rather than a conversation…
  • Imagine if a ‘friend’ came up to you the same time every day and said the same thing…
  • Never any variation – never waiting around for a reply – no relationship!
  • When we simply repeat ourselves out of habit there is no conversation…
  • Paul did not pray to change God’s mind…
  • God sees the end from the beginning – everything – knows what is best for our lives…
  • So it is only logical for us to desire ‘God’s will’ for our lives…
  • Luke 22:42 – “Nevertheless not my will, but Your will, be done.”
  • Prayer is not about changing God’s mind – getting Him to agree to our plans…
  • Prayer is about God changing our mind – getting us to line up with His plans – His will!
• 3^rd – The content of Paul’s prayer… vs. 17-23 (6 things)
  • 1^st – Pray for Wisdom… vs. 17
    • Paul prayed that God would grant wisdom to the church…
    • Not the wisdom of men – the ideas that come from men – but Godly wisdom…
    • I Corinthians 2:13 – “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…”
    • Men are quick to give us advice – their ideas about how to deal with our problems…
    • I remember praying about going on a missions trip to Russia when I was 19…
    • I asked the two Godliest men I knew for advice – my pastor and my father…
    • My pastor told me he had prayed – and the Lord told him I was not to go…
    • My father told me he had prayed – and the Lord told him I was to go!
    • People want to help – but more often than not it is just their opinion’…
    • We do not need the wisdom of men – we need the wisdom of God!
  • 2^nd – Pray for Revelation…
    • Paul prayed the Lord would reveal His will to the church…
    • Maybe we have an idea – but we are not sure if it is from God or just from us…
    • The way we find out is God reveal to us his will – so we know what He wants…
    • How does He give us a ‘revelation’ – notice what Paul says – by getting to know Jesus!
    • Colossians 2:3 – “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…”
    • The more time we spend in prayer / Word – the better we get to know Jesus
    • By knowing Jesus – His Word – we are able to discern between our ideas and Gods!
  • 3^rd – Pray for understanding / enlightenment… vs. 18
    • Paul prayed for God to open up their eyes – not physical eyes / but spiritual eyes…
    • For God to ‘turn on the light’ so they could ‘see’ where they were going…
    • So often it feels like we are walking through life blind – no idea where we are going…
    • The reason is because we are trusting in what we can see – but we cannot see far…
    • If only we could see tomorrow we might make very different decisions…
    • Making decisions by what we can see – is in truth walking around blind…
    • We know who can see tomorrow – Jesus sees it all…
    • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
    • If are willing to ask and trust Him – we will always know where to go…
    • Trusting in the Lord who sees all – that is walking by true sight!
  • 4^th – Pray to know the hope of our calling…
    • Paul prayed the church would realize the great hope God had called them too…
    • That they were not saved by their efforts – but simply by grace through faith!
    • If someone you do not know gives you a gift – you feel like you owe a debt to them…
    • Yet if a close friend gives you a gift – you know see it as act of love…
    • The father we are from Jesus – the more we feel the need to ‘earn’ our salvation…
    • But as we spend time with Him in prayer – building up our friendship…
    • We realize more and more what He did for us was simple a gift given out of Love!
  • 5^th – Pray so we realize we are God’s inheritance…
    • Paul prayed the church would realize how important they were to God…
    • Just as Christ was their inheritance – they were are also Jesus’ inheritance!
    • An inheritance is the cherished possessions given to those you love when you die…
    • When Jesus died – He gave us His kingdom – Luke 12:33
    • When we die – we have nothing to give to the Lord – no possessions…
    • I Timothy 6:7 – “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
    • But what we can give ourselves to Jesus – we are His inheritance!
    • And the Lord sees us as greater than all the ‘riches’ in the world…
  • 6^th – Pray to receive the power of God… vs. 19-23
    • That through the power of God – nothing can stand against us – Romans 8:31
    • Not just any power – but exceedingly great mighty power of God…
      • The same power that God used to raise Jesus from the grave…
      • How ‘great’ is the power God has given – it brought Jesus back from the grave!
      • We have been given victory through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ…
    • But we still need to be careful – satan is like a lion…
      • I Peter 5:8 – “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”
      • Satan can make noise – but he is like a lion without teeth – bark worse than bite!
      • Yet Satan is smart – he knows he cannot directly come against God’s people…
      • Instead he tries to get us to compromise our walk with the Lord…
      • If satan can trip us with sin – can get us to walk away from the protection of God…
      • Prayer keeps us close to God – far from sin – and safe from the attacks of satan!
    • Through the power of God – we are completed…
    • The same power that set Jesus on the right hand of the Father in heaven…
      • So that Jesus is ‘ age – and in the time to come – new heaven and new earth!
      • Making Him the authority over everything – as well as the head of the church!
      • And we are His body – made complete by Jesus Christ!
    • Jesus has all the power and authority – so He can finish what He started…
      • It does not matter what other people say – they have no authority…
      • It does not matter if satan does not like – he has no power…
      • Only Jesus has ALL Authority and ALL Power – giving us the confidence…
      • If Jesus tells us we are His church / body – and that He will redeem us…
      • Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”