Blessings Bring Prayer

Ephesians 1:15-16

¹⁵ For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

Paul’s prayer flows out of his opening statement, but it is built on the saints in Ephesus. He prays for them because of their faith in God and because of their love for other believers. This is not considered a model prayer, but it definitely provides a pattern for us to carry into our prayers.

It is assumed that we are praying for each other. Paul shows us how to do it. We continually lift each other up into God’s presence, and we start with gratitude. Now Paul invites us into his prayer life to see how it plays out in real time.

God’s great blessings prompt us to pray for each other.

Know God Better

Ephesians 1:17

¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Paul wants the Ephesians to know God better. That seems like a really simple prayer. But Paul knows this knowledge requires something only God can give. God has to give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Wisdom to know who God is and revelation to see the truth. These can only come from God through the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom and revelation lead to a deeper knowledge of God, a more intimate understanding of His plan. This is the core of Paul’s prayer. It is from this knowledge of God that everything flows. It is this knowledge of God that gives us purpose.

Our prayers should draw our fellow believers closer to God.

Know the Hope 

Ephesians 1:18

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

This intimate knowledge of God provides the illumination to learn the next truth that Paul prays for – the hope of our calling. Remember that first blessing Paul mentioned last week? God has chosen us for adoption, so now that we are His sons and daughters, we are heirs to His riches – His created universe and eternity with Him.

Paul’s word hope also recalls one of our blessings. It is tied to the seal of the Holy Spirit – the guarantee that everything God promises will happen and cannot be revoked. And from God’s perspective, His riches are all revealed in His people redeemed through Christ.

Our prayers should reflect the hope we inherited.

Know the Power

Ephesians 1:19-23

¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Finally, Paul prays that His followers would understand the power of God that assures us of our place in His family. And it all hinges on Christ. To know God better is to be drawn to Christ. To be saved through Christ means eternal life through His resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the grave, He is placed above every human and spiritual power and He is the sovereign Head of His church here on earth.

Our prayers should reveal the power of Christ in our lives.