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)
*How can we pray like Paul? -- Pray with growing gratitude.
2. AND PRAY WITH CONSISTENT CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE
*Paul is our example again in vs. 15-16, where he wrote, 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, making mention of you in my prayers:"
*This is the same kind of caring, consistent prayer Paul highlighted in Romans 1:7-10, where he wrote:
7. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
9. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10. making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.
*We also see Paul's caring, consistent prayers in Scriptures like Ephesians 6:18-20 where Paul urged those Christians to be:
18. praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
19. and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
*And in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul commanded all Christians to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
*Thank God for the Christians who cared enough to consistently pray for us! One of my favorite examples was a sweet, elderly Christian lady named Katie Finley. Mary and I got married on Valentine's Day in 1975. We lived in a little apartment in West Monroe, and Miss Katie lived in the apartment below us.
*In October of that same year, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. We really didn't know Miss Katie at the time, but we later learned that she had been praying for us every day for 6 months. Miss Katie faithfully prayed that God would help us find a church where we could worship Him together. Then by God's grace, we did find a church, and so much more!
*But Miss Katie would not have been living below us, if the Lord hadn't healed her in a miraculous way. Sometime later Katie told me about her healing miracle. She had extremely advanced cancer in her abdomen. It was so bad that the nurses had to be careful turning her for fear that they would just tear her open. But God's people were praying, and the Lord miraculously healed Miss Katie.
*Would I have gotten saved if those people hadn't cared enough to pray for Katie? Would I have been saved if Miss Katie hadn't cared enough to pray for me? I can't answer that. But I can tell you that God did heal her, and she did pray for me, and I did get saved! Praise the Lord! Miss Katie prayed like Paul.
*How can we pray like Paul? -- Pray with consistent care for other people.
3. ALSO PRAY WITH FAITH, BELIEVING THAT GOD IS A GIVER.
*Our God is a giver! Paul reminds us of this great truth in vs. 17 where he prayed: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."
*Paul was able to pray in faith, believing, because he trusted that God is a giver. And Paul was right! The true and living God of the Bible is the greatest giver of all! God's Word confirms this truth many, many times.
-For example, in John 3:16, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
-In Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
-In Philippians 4:19 Paul wrote, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
-James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
-And in Romans 8:31-32 Paul asked, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
*Every good gift is from God. And He has already given us so much! Christians: He has given us to each other. And best of all, God has given Himself. That's what Jesus did when He died on the cross for our sins. No wonder that in Romans 8:32 Paul asked, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
*Our God is a giver! Bro. Moses Lee surely believed this truth. I did not know him very well, but in 1993, I had the honor of preaching the funeral for Bro. Lee. He was 93 years old when he went home to Heaven, after serving many years as a pastor in Louisiana and Alabama.
*At the graveside, Bro. Lee's son told me something that happened when he was 13 years old. He said they were on the Boeuf River trying to have a baptismal service. The wind was blowing really hard that afternoon. It was so hard that the water had choppy waves on it, and they were afraid to get people into the water, especially the children.
*But Bro. Moses Lee took the problem to the Lord. He led the people in prayer and asked God to calm those waters so the baptismal service could go on. God answered that prayer! Almost immediately, the wind and the waves died down. And they stayed down until the last person was baptized. Then the wind and the waves came back up again.
*Our God is the greatest giver of all! The Apostle Paul believed this, Bro. Moses Lee believed this, and we should believe it too. So pray believing that God is a giver.
4. AND PRAY FOR US TO GROW IN GODLINESS.
*This was Paul's overall theme in vs. 17-23. Paul deeply desired for God's people to grow in godliness. He deeply desired for God's people to move forward in their walk with the Lord.
[1] SO HE PRAYED FOR US TO HAVE THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.
*This is another truth we see in vs. 16-17 where Paul said:
16. (I) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17. that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
*When Paul was praying for us to have the "knowledge" of Jesus Christ, the Apostle wasn't just talking about head knowledge. He was talking about knowing someone in a close, personal way. He was talking about having a growing, personal experience with someone. This original root word was also used in the Bible to describe the close, physical relationship between a husband and his wife. It's talking about a close, loving, caring, trusting relationship.
*My wife Mary and I recently celebrated our 49th Wedding Anniversary, and let me tell you that I really know my wife! I know her better than anybody else in the world knows her, except for the Lord of course. I know the schooling she has had, the jobs she has held, and the honors she has won. I've known her father, mother, and brothers. I know where she lived growing up, and the name of the family dog she had as a kid.
*In addition to all these facts about my wife, I know her life. I was there when she gave birth to our 3 children. I was there when her daddy died. I know her hurts, habits, hangups, and happiness. I know her quirks and her pet peeves; what makes her laugh; what makes her cry; her work and her worries; her strengths and her sins. I could tell you how God has worked in her life, and how she has worked in my life to bless me beyond measure. I have known my wife in a close, personal way for over 49 years.
*Church: That's a small taste of the way God wants us to know Him. And Paul was hungry for God's people to grow in godliness, so he prayed for us to have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
[2] THEN, IN VS. 18-21, HE PRAYED FOR OUR SPIRITUAL VISION.
18. the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19. and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20. which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21. far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
*In these verses, Paul prayed for our spiritual vision. And he did that because he wanted God's people to know: The hope of God, the riches of God, the glory of God, the inheritance of God, and the greatness of His resurrection power toward us who believe.
*But the resurrection power of God can only be found in the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That's why back up in vs. 13-14 Paul said:
13. In Him (that is, in Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14. who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
*Paul deeply desired for God's people to grow in godliness, so he prayed for our spiritual vision.
[3] THEN IN VS. 22-23, PAUL PRAYED FOR US TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PART OF THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF JESUS CHRIST.
22. And He (God the Father) put all things under His feet (Jesus' feet), and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23. which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
*Paul definitely wants us to understand what it means to be part of the Body of Christ. That's why he went into great detail in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Please listen to it today from the New Living Translation. There Paul said:
12. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.
13. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.*
14. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
15. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
16. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?
17. Suppose the whole body were an eye-then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
18. But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it.
19. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!
20. Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
21. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
22. In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.
23. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen,
24. while other parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
25. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other equally.
26. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27. Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
*On July 24, 2002, nine miners in western Pennsylvania got trapped 240 feet below ground in a flooded mine shaft. Think about a building 20 stories high. That’s how far down they were! Rescue efforts began right away. But the rescue crews knew the odds were against them saving those men.
*Almost everybody in the country had their eyes glued on the news from the mine. Those 9 miners were trapped for three days, then miraculously rescued. Even the mainstream media called it a miracle, because there was such a slim chance that anyone could survive in that flooded mine. The 55-degree water threatened to kill them slowly by hypothermia. And the rescue shaft had to be drilled in just the right place, 250 feet down in time for the men to be saved.
*Those miners were gasping for air, as floodwater rose to their chins. Blaine Mayhugh asked his boss for a pen when the water in the shaft kept rising. He said, "I want to write my wife and kids to tell them I love them." They tied themselves together so that no one could float away or slip under the water, but also so all their bodies would be found if they died. They shared food from a lunch pail that floated by.
*After they were miraculously saved, the men said that it was their decision to bond together that saved their lives. From the outset they watched out for one another. If one man got tired, his bond to the other men kept him afloat. When one got cold, the other eight would huddle around him and warm him up. They vowed that whether they lived or died, they would do so together. And that is a great picture of working together as part of the Body of Christ! (3)
*But there is another great lesson from that miracle in the mine, because even together, those men were hopeless without help from above. And when their rescue came, all they had to do was receive it: Just climb aboard that rescue cylinder and be lifted up to safety.
*That's what Jesus Christ does for everyone who will receive Him as their Lord and Savior. By His Holy Spirit, Jesus will put you in His spiritual Body, and you will be saved forever. But the Lord's salvation didn’t just take 3 days of non-stop work. It took 3 days in the grave. And Jesus Christ was the only one who could die on that cross for us. Now the Risen Savior is more than able to lift us up to everlasting safety!
CONCLUSION:
*So put your trust in Jesus Christ. Call on the Lord to save you today, and He will! He will also make you part of the spiritual Body of Christ, so that we can pray together, serve together, learn, love, and live together under the leadership of the name above all names, our living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
(1) "Love Expands" - "Charles Spurgeon Quotes" - https://loveexpands.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon-144161/
(2) Testimony from motivational speaker Cavett Roberts - Source: sermons.com email 12/07/2003
(3) Sources:
-"Miners took vow to live or die together" by Larry Neumeister, Associated Press, The Knoxville News-Sentinel July 29, 2002, p. A1. - Source: Sermons.com sermon "I Can Make It By Myself - Five Things Christians Should Never Say, #2" by King Duncan - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 - 2005
-Bill White, Paramount, California; Citation: adapted from "Teamwork Helped Miners Survive Underground," CNN.com (7-28-2002) from preachingtoday.com. Quoted in "Living The Call" by Joel Smith on www.sermoncentral.com.
