A. THE PRAYER OF PAUL: 1:15-23
1. What would you ask Paul to pray for you?
a. Need list.
b. Ministry.
c. Physical health/healing.
Paul prays for
d. A spiritual needs.
2. You must become something before you get, or do something.
B. WHY PAUL PRAYED (v. 15)
1. Occasion: Paul heard about the Ephesians.
a. Faith: not initial, but day by day activity.
b. Love? “Faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6).
2. Duration: without quitting (v. 16).
a. Thanks: gratitude is the least remembered of all virtues, and the acid test of character. Giving thanks makes you stronger.
b. Prayer proseuchomai = toward God’s face, i.e., intimacy. Praying for others makes you stronger.
3. Formation: how to put a prayer together.
a. “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” now Jesus.
b. Glory (1) eternal nature (2) from creation (3) Jesus is glory of Father.
C. PAUL PRAYED FOR SPIRITUAL HELP (v. 17)
1. Spirit: this is the “influence of the Holy Spirit.”
2. Wisdom: this is to use what you know.
3. Revelation: to remove spiritual blindness. To see new spiritual truth.
4. Knowledge: Last in list because knowledge by itself is not enough.
D. PAUL PRAYED FOR SPIRITUAL REVELATION (v. 18)
1. Eyes to be enlightened (v. 18). “The god of this world has blinded” (2 Cor. 4:3).
The eye receives … conceives … communicates
2. To know hope of His calling: oida innate knowing by nature (v. 18).
Hope of victory over sin.
Answers to prayer.
Rapture to Heaven.
Eternal life with God.
3. To know the riches of His inheritance (18).
a. Not a storehouse to keep.
b. But a source based on relationship to use.
4. To know our potential power (v. 19).
a. Exceeding, i.e., to throw beyond expectation.
b. Greatness, “whoever will be great, minister to others” (Matt. 20:26).
c. Power, dunamo, i.e., God’s natural ability.
His calling – v. 18 – Father
His inheritance – v. 18 – Son
His power – v. 19 – Holy Spirit
E. THE BASIS OF PAUL’S PRAYER (v. 20)
1. Wrought: “to work.”
2. Raised: His resurrection is the pledge of ours.
3. From the dead: “from out among the dead;” separated from death.
4. Set Him: the act of honor (v. 20).
5. Right hand:
a. Place of power, Ps. 110:1.
b. Place of judgment, Matt. 25:31-33.
c. Place of happiness, Ps. 16:11.
6. Far above (v. 21):
a. Principalities, angels.
b. Power, authority.
c. Might, ability.
d. Dominion, lordship, or rulership
7. Every name: i.e., genealogy. “Given Him a name above every name” (Phil. 2:4).
8. Put all things under His feet, an act to recognize victory.
9. Head of the church, and the church received what Christ accomplished.
D. WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT PRAYER?
1. Become more praise-centered.
2. Become less things-centered.
3. Become more concerned with the spirituality of others.
4. Become more Christ-centered.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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