Paul’s Prayer For Grace-Filled Believers Series

Sermon – Paul’s Prayer For Grace-filled Believers

Scripture - Ephesians 1:15-23 “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”

Introduction – Paul began with a beautiful introduction of how we as grace-filled believers have received every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. We have been adopted to sonship, we have been chosen, forgiven, and redeemed. We have been marked with a seal and given the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance. Then Paul prays that we will have the revelation of Christ so we can know the hope and power we have been called to as grace-filled believers. We are the Body of Christ, the Church with Jesus Christ as its head. Let’s examine Paul’s prayer for these grace-filled believers at Ephesus. Paul's prayers for the Ephesian believers is really a prayer for all believers. In this Roman occupied territory, Christian believers were in the minority. They were experiencing hardships, economic woes, and the same difficulties as the general population. Paul does not dwell on their lack; he places his attention on what they have.

Notice Paul prays for their spiritual insight, inner strength, and the discovery of God’s endless supply of power. Paul wants God to help the believers discover their purpose and to understand God’s truth, so they can know God better, and be filled to overflowing with God’s power.

1. Grace-filled Believers Need to Grow in the Wisdom and Knowledge of God. Ephesians 1:15-17 “Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

How commendable it is for any believer to have strong faith in God and fervent love for one another. God is glorify as we display our faith and love. There is a tendency for believers to become complacent and satisfied to be saved. 2 Peter 3:18, encourages believers by saying, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Paul was asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give the believers spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. Spiritual wisdom can be defined as the understanding and knowledge that comes from a deep connection to God and one's inner self. It is the ability to see beyond the material world and to understand the interconnectedness of all things working together for good. Believers must deal with four classes of wisdom, according to James 3:15-17: earthly wisdom, intellectual wisdom, devilish wisdom, and the wisdom from above. With wisdom from above, believers can overcome every trial, and trust God through every difficulty. Paul knew every believer would need to keep growing. Wisdom is more than knowledge; it is sound judgment and discernment. It is knowing what to pursue and what to let go, what to long for and what to flee. Where does wisdom come from? “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding” (Psalm 111:10). “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). Grace-filled Believers Need to Grow in the Wisdom and Knowledge of God.