How To Pray Like The Apostle Paul Series

How to Pray Like the Apostle Paul

Ephesians 1:15-23

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Series: The Book of Ephesians

(Prepared March 16, 2024)

(Revised to correct error about Philippians 1:18-20 - Sorry)

Message:

*Charles Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers who ever lived, but he once said, "I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach." (1)

*Spurgeon knew the power of prayer, and he knew how to pray. God also wants us to learn, and the Apostle Paul has some great lessons for us today. We can even learn to pray like Paul!

1. HOW CAN WE DO IT? -- FIRST, PRAY WITH GROWING GRATITUDE.

*We can see Paul's gratitude in vs. 15-16, where he said:

15. Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

16. do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

*Even though Paul was in chains as a prisoner of Rome, he was still growing in gratitude, and Christians, we should be growing in gratitude too. The original word for "giving thanks" in vs. 16 is found 39 times in the New Testament. And this reminds us that our gratitude is a big deal to God.

*For example, in Matthew 15:36 Jesus "took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude."

*In Luke 17:12-16, as Jesus:

12. . . entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.

13. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!''

14. So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests.'' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

15. Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16. and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

*In 1 Corinthians 1:4 Paul wrote, "I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus."

*And in in 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul told the church, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other."

*Our gratitude is a big deal to God. And the best way to get to gratitude is to focus on the good things God is doing. That's what made Paul so happy here. Again in vs. 15-16 Paul said, "Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you."

*Paul had heard some great news about the Christians in Ephesus. He heard about their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul also heard about their love for one another. And that's good news! Everybody has troubles in life, but there is good news in this world! We've just got to hear it, really hear it, so it gives us more gratitude.

*The question for us each day is this: Where's our focus? The more we focus on God and His goodness, the more happy and grateful we will be.

*Cavett Roberts was reminded of this truth one time at a convention in Boston. This little incident was a big wake-up call for Cavett. He started the day in a foul mood because Cavett thought he had a 3-day reservation at the hotel. Unfortunately, the very full hotel only had him down for 2 days, so he had to go.

*And Cavett later gave this testimony: "As the elevator came down it stopped at the seventh floor, but nothing happened. I was irritated, and in a hurry to catch an early plane, and said, 'Come on in.' -- Nothing happened. Again I said firmly, 'Come in; let's get the show on the road.' -- Still nothing happened. Finally, in a loud voice, I said, 'Come on in. Let's go. I'll be late!'

*At that moment a fine looking man with a white cane, completely blind, stepped in cautiously, feeling his way along. I felt awful. I had to say something, so I cleared my throat and said, 'How are you today?' He smiled and said, 'Grateful, my friend, grateful.'

*I couldn't say a thing. I was choked up. Any impatience or worry I had simply shriveled into nothingness. He was a man blessing the darkness while I was cursing the light. I couldn't have cared less whether I caught that plane. I found myself that night in my prayers asking that someday I might see as well as that person." (2)