God Wants Us to Pray Like the Apostle Paul - Part 1
Ephesians 3:14-21
Sermon by Rick Crandall
Series: The Book of Ephesians
(Prepared April 16, 2024)
BACKGROUND:
*Anyone who studies God's Word will find that it contains many prayers. The Dake Annotated Reference Bible lists 222 different prayers in the Bible: 176 in the Old Testament and 46 in the New Testament. (1)
*God put a multitude of prayers in His Holy Word. Why did He do that? One great reason why was to teach us how to pray. He also wanted to show us that prayer is essential for a healthy relationship with God. He wanted to show us the miraculous power of prayer. But God also put many prayers in the Bible because He wants us to pray! God even wants us to pray like the Apostle Paul, and great things will happen when we do. Please think about this as we read Ephesians 3:14-21.
MESSAGE:
*George Mueller lived in the 1,800s and was one of the greatest prayer warriors of all time. George kept a prayer journal over his long life, and recorded 50,000 answers to prayer! Mueller dedicated his life to helping orphans. By faith he started orphanages that cared for 10,024 orphans. During his lifetime, Mueller received the equivalent of over 7 million dollars to support his children's homes. That's over 165 million dollars in today's money! And all of it came through prayer. He also provided educational opportunities for orphans by establishing 117 schools that offered Christian education to more than 120,000 students.
*One of my favorite testimonies about George Mueller happened in August 1877. George was crossing the Atlantic on the SS Sardinian. The ship ran into terrible fog, and Captain Joseph E. Dutton later gave this report: "I had been on the bridge for 24 hours and never left it. And George Mueller came to me and said, 'Captain, I have come to tell you that you must be in Quebec on Saturday afternoon.' 'It is impossible,' I said.
'Then very well, if your ship cannot take me, God will find some other way. I have never broken an engagement in 57 years. Let us go down into the chart room and pray.' I looked at that man of God and thought to myself, 'What lunatic asylum can that man have come from, for I never heard of such a thing as this?'
Mr. Mueller, I said, 'Do you know how dense this fog is?' 'No,' he replied, 'My eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.'
He knelt down, and he prayed one of the simplest prayers. When he had finished, I was going to pray, but he put his hand on my shoulder and told me not to pray. 'As you do not believe He will answer, and as I believe He has, there is no need whatever for you to pray about it.'
I looked at him, and George Mueller said, 'Captain, I have known the Lord for 57 years and there has never been a single day when I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, Captain, and open the door, and you will find the fog has gone.'
*I got up and the fog indeed was gone, and on that Saturday afternoon George Mueller kept his promised engagement." (2)
*George Mueller had learned to pray like the Apostle Paul. And so can we! Our prayer life can surely grow. And this is essential, because our prayer life touches every other facet of our lives. Our prayer life can touch everything around us. Our prayer life can even touch the whole world! Why? -- Because in vs. 20 God "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!"
*Church: Our God is able, so let's start exploring how to pray like Paul.
1. FIRST: GOD WANTS US TO REACH OUT TO HIM WITH REVERENCE.
*That's what Paul did when he prayed. And we can see his reverence in vs. 14 where Paul said, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul showed proper, humble reverence to God by bowing down to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
*But what's really important is not so much the position of our body. It's the position of our hearts. People in the Bible prayed in all positions, standing, sitting, kneeling, and face down on the ground. We also know that many people aren't physically able to bow down on their knees, so the important thing is the position of our heart, bowing our hearts in humble reverence for God.
*We see this truth in the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector that Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14. There God's Word says:
9. Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13. And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!'
14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.''
*It may seem strange, but one of the most important things we need for a better spiritual life is humble, healthy, reverent fear of the Lord. The Bible stresses this truth many times. For example, in Proverbs 3:7-8 Solomon wrote, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." And in Proverbs 15:16 he said, "Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble."
*Solomon was talking about a holy and reverent fear toward God, and that's not a bad thing. It's a good thing. This is the kind of fear we all need, because our God is not a fluffy, little kitten. In Revelation 5:5, He is the mighty "Lion of the tribe of Judah" who has prevailed!
*But isn't God our Heavenly Father. No doubt, Christians, He is. And isn't God our friend? -- Yes, He is the best Friend we will ever have! In John 15:13, Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends." And this is exactly what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross for our sins.
*God is merciful, compassionate, and kind. But at the same time He is the holy, sovereign, Almighty God of the whole universe! And He is not to be trifled with. So Hebrews 12:28-29 gives this caution to believers: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."
*No wonder we should have holy reverence for God. You see, the fear of the Lord is a good thing. It helps us understand what matters in life. It helps us have the right priorities. Fear of the Lord doesn't crush our spirits. It puts us on the right path in life. It doesn't hurt us. It helps us. Godly fear doesn't blot out the mercy of God. It helps us see how much we need His mercy. So this godly fear will surely help us have a better life.
*And in vs. 14 Paul said, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Here Paul was looking back to all he had written in Ephesians 2. He was praying with great gratitude that, Christians, we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven through the blood of His cross. We were once dead in our sins, but now we are alive forever! Jesus has broken down the walls between us. We are now part of the Family of God! God's Holy Spirit is living in us, and we have constant access to our Father in Heaven!
*No wonder Paul reached out to God with reverence, and Christians so should we!
2. BUT WE SHOULD ALSO TRUST GOD AS THE FATHER OF HIS FAMILY.
*That's how we see Paul praying in vs. 14-15, where again he said, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."
*Who is your spiritual Father? I hope it is God the Father, because the terrifying truth is that if God is not your Father, then the devil surely is, even if you don't know it, and most people don't.
*In John 8:42-45, Jesus was speaking to some Christ-rejecting Jewish leaders, and Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me."
*Their spiritual father was the devil, and so was ours, without Jesus Christ. But when we receive the crucified and risen Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are spiritually born again into the family of our Heavenly Father.
*Praise God, we are also adopted by God the Father into His eternal family. This is why Galatians 4:4-6 tells Christians, "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'''
*But what does "Abba" mean? Well, when my babies were little, the first thing I taught them to call me was "Dada," -- "Dada." But when Jesus was a little baby, it was "Abba," -- "Abba." Christians: Our Father in Heaven is our "Abba," and we can always trust in our Heavenly Father. Through Jesus Christ, we get a kind and loving Heavenly Father, Who provides for us, watches over us, corrects us, and protects us.
*Remember what Jesus said about fathers in Matthew 7:9-11. There, the Lord started with questions and said, "What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"
*Think about any decent dad you know. If his son asked for bread, would Dad give him a stone? If his son asked for a fish, would Dad give him a snake? No! Godly dads want the best for their children, and that is exactly what our Heavenly Father wants for us.
*Louisiana is well known for hurricanes, especially Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005. But in 2004, Hurricane Ivan was a monster storm headed straight for Baton Rouge. Louisiana dodged the bullet that time. But we didn't know until the last minute, so they evacuated Baton Rouge on a Wednesday.
*Our daughter Katie had to work late the night before, and we anxiously waited for her to come home. Like many college students, Katie was out of money, but she did have an Exxon card, and went to fill up there. Unfortunately, they were out of gas due to the evacuation, and so was she. That's why she was in a bit of a panic when she called me that Wednesday morning.
*I went straight to her bank and put some money in for her. And I thank God for the friend who took Katie to the bank down there, and then to find a gas station with some gas. But I would have crawled to the bank to get some money to Katie! So would any decent dad. And if we "Joe Average Dads" would do that, how much more will our Heavenly Father do for His children? Infinitely more!
*When Paul prayed, he trusted God as the Father of His Family, and Christians, so should we!
3. WE SHOULD ALSO PRAY FOR MORE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.
*This is what Paul prayed for in vs. 16 when he prayed that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."
*That word "might" in the original language is "dunamis." It's the word they picked when they were trying to come up with a name for dynamite. So Paul was praying that we would be strengthened with the dynamite power of God. Why did Paul pray for this? And why should we? One of the main reasons why is because we need more strength! We all need more spiritual strength.
*If anybody ever needed more strength, it was the Apostle Paul. During his 3 missionary journeys, Paul faced many troubles. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 he said, "We do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life."
*Then in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 Paul said this in the New Living Translation:
24. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
*Paul always needed strength. But when he wrote this letter, Paul needed even more, because remember that Paul was a prisoner in Roman chains when he wrote this letter to the Ephesians.
*And in Philippians 4:10-13, Paul tells us where he got his strength. There Paul said:
10. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
*Paul was able to look back over his life and see that Jesus had given him the spiritual strength for every challenge he ever faced. And Christian, by His Holy Spirit, Jesus will do the same thing for you.
*Paul prayed for new strength. And the Lord promised to give it in Isaiah 40:31. There God's Word says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
*About 22 years ago, I had the privilege of baptizing a young mother named Kristina. The Lord renewed her strength in an amazing way. And here is part of a testimony she gave in 2004:
"A couple of years ago, Bro. Rick asked me if he could share my testimony with the church. I told him 'no' because I felt like it would make people look at me differently. Today I realize how wrong I was to say that. If I could make an impact for God on just one person by what He has done for me in my life then I would feel that I have fulfilled His purpose for me.
*You see, over seven years ago I was shot in the back of the head with a 38 caliber handgun at point blank range. The doctor told my mother that I would more than likely not make it through the surgery that night. By the grace of God, he was wrong. A few months later, he told my mom that I was only here by God's will, and I know that is for sure.
*Only by God's grace, I learned how to walk, talk, eat, dress myself, and care for my one-year-old child again. Eventually, I started driving again and I went to work. I got married again, and although my new husband and I were told that I probably could not have children, we have two more beautiful children.
*There have been so many instances such as that in the past seven years of my life. I look back and think about what a tremendously wonderful God we have. I wish I had lifted Him up to others in all of those moments.
*You may not have had such a tragedy as mine in your life. But surely our Gracious God has pulled you through some sort of trial in your life, whether it was the loss of a loved one or even a close miss of what could have been a horrible car accident. I urge you to look for God's grace in even the tiniest instances of your life and to give Him praise for it. Pray that He will show you how you can share his blessings with others."
CONCLUSION:
*Kristina's strength was renewed in a miraculous way by the amazing grace of God. And God will renew our strength too! That's why in Philippians 4:13 the Apostle Paul could say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
*So, pray, Christians, pray like the Apostle Paul! Reach out to God with reverence. Trust God as the loving Father of His Family. And pray for more spiritual strength, because you are surely going to need it.
*And if you have never put your trust in the Lord, I urge you to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today! You can call on the Lord to save you right now, as we go back to God in prayer.
(1) Source: https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/prayernew/222-prayers-of-the-bible/
(2) Sources:
-Adapted from Morgan, Robert J., On This Day, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 2000, c1997.
-Paul Lee Tan. Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations. (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979). # 1494 - Source: SermonCentral sermon "The Pathway of Faith" by John Hamby - Hebrews 11:1-7)
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Muller
-Eric W. Nye, Pounds Sterling to Dollars: Historical Conversion of Currency, accessed Thursday, January 04, 2024, https://www.uwyo.edu/numimage/currency.htm.
