"Prayers For Growth" Series

“What Paul does in Ephesians chapter 1, and therefore encourages us to copy, is both to keep praising God that in Christ all spiritual blessings are ours and to keep praying that we may know the fullness of what he has given us in his son.” John Stott

In verses 16-19 Paul gives special significances on God’s character as the “Father of Glory”.

Psalms 29:3 “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.” (NIV)

As the Father of Glory: God is the source of all glory and power. He is Omnipotent and is the boundless resource for all of our prayers.

Paul specifically begin to intercede in prayer to God for:

1. Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation:

 σοφία sophia: is the Greek word for wisdom meaning— the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living.

Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (NIV)

Within the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Paul’s prayers is that we would “Know” God.

 ἐπίγνωσις epignosis: is the Greek word for Knowledge meaning— a precise and correct knowledge.

To know God is to be in a close personal relationship with God. For our knowledge of God is not fixed or permanent but is something that can only grow in the lives of those who are obedient.

Philippians 1:9 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” (NIV)

2. Spiritual Insight:

Psalms 13:3 “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.” (NIV)

The purpose of the insight is that we may know these three things:

 The Hope to which God has called us:

Paul’s prayer is that we might grasp more fully the hope to which God has brought us.

The Unseen Hope that God has called us is: Salvation (1Thess.5:8), Righteousness (Gal.5: 5), the Resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:52-55), Eternal Life in Christ (Titus 1:2) and God’s Glory (Rom.5: 2).

 The Glorious wealth of God’s Inheritance of the Saints:

God’s people are His inheritance, His own possession, in which he will display to the universe the untold riches of His Glory. Now we are to live up to this High calling. Ephesians 4:1

 The Great Power for all who Believe in the Lord:

Ephesians 6:10-12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)