HOMEWORK REVIEW
3. When Paul prays for the Ephesians, he prays that they would know what? (list them or highlight them in your notes)
5. What is significant about the fact that Paul prays for the Ephesians to “know” this power rather than to “receive” this power?
Question: If you were talking to a non-Christian friend and they knew you were a Christian and asked you, “What is prayer, and why do you pray?” What would you say to them?
When we learn that prayer is not about getting God to accomplish our plans, but about gladly submitting ourselves to his, we will find that when we turn his plans into our prayers, they are constantly being answered! Many Christians struggle without this emphasis. If God “does not lie or change his mind” (1 Samuel 15:29), and if he “knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8), then what is the point of praying at all? But prayer is not about getting God to submit to my will, but about submitting ourselves to his.
Calvin’s six biblical reasons why we should pray:
Question: How do Calvin’s list and Coekin’s description of prayer differ from what many Christians think of when they think of prayer?
SUMMARIES
Before we look at our text, we will need to review and summarize the previous sections of Chapter 1 briefly, and I’d like to do it this way. I’m going to read the whole chapter, and I’d like for you to put a dot in your journal next to a phrase or section of the text that impacted you or you remember from the previous lessons.
SUMMARIES
Summary of Ephesians 1:1-2: The believer’s identity as a saint and called to faithfulness in Christ, and God as the source of grace and peace.
Summary of Ephesians 1:3-14: Paul praises God for His sovereign grace in salvation and the spiritual realities of the believer, which are only found in Christ, in whom all things will be summarized in/subject to at the “fullness of time.”
OUTLINE OF OUR TEXT
1. PAUL IS COMPELLED TO PRAY FOR THE EPHESIANS (15-16)
ASKING QUESTIONS
Ephesians 1:15–16 (ESV) — 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) —
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
Ephesians 1:15–16 (ESV) — 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Why does Paul say, “I have heard”? Doesn’t he know the Ephesians?
(AD 52) Paul is in Ephesus and the church asks him to stay longer, but he declines (Acts 18:19-20)
(AD 53-56) Paul goes back to Ephesus and stays for about 2 years (Acts 19:1-10).
(AD 57) Paul meets with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-18)
(AD 60-62) Paul writes the letter to the Ephesians.
The relationship between faith and love?
FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE
(1 Cor. 13:13; cf. John 13:34-35)
I do not cease to give thanks
A hyperbole…
2. PAUL PRAYS FOR UNDERSTANDING (17-19)
ASKING QUESTIONS
Ephesians 1:17–19 (ESV) — 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND OF REVELATION…
Ephesians 1:17–19 (ESV) — 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
“SPIRIT” - PNEUMA
Mark 1:12 (ESV) — 12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
John 3:8 (ESV) — 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8 (ESV) — 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Galatians 6:1 (ESV) — 1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND OF REVELATION…
Ephesians 1:17–19 (ESV) — 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
To understand three things…
Ephesians 1:17–19 (ESV) — 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
An understanding of their present hope (v. 18)
Ephesians 1:18 (ESV) — 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Question: How do you feel about praying for people’s needs and asking that they might know the hope to which God has called them? Is that kind of prayer encouraging?
An understanding of the inheritance (v. 18)
Ephesians 1:18 (ESV) — 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
An understanding of the inheritance (v. 18)
Deuteronomy 4:20 (ESV) — 20 But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people of his own inheritance, as you are this day.
2 Samuel 21:3 (ESV) — 3 And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?”
1 Kings 8:51 (ESV) — 51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace).
Psalm 33:12 (ESV) — 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
An understanding of the inheritance (v. 18)
Ephesians 1:18 (ESV) — 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Reflection: What might you say to someone who might hear you pray like Paul prays here and tell you that you need to “come back to reality”?
An understanding of God’s power available to them (v. 19)
Ephesians 1:19 (ESV) — 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
3. PAUL DESCRIBES THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD’S POWER (20-23)
Ephesians 1:19–23
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might
20 that 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 rule
and authority
and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named,
not only in this age
but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things 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.
Question: According to these verses, how is the Christian supposed to see Christ?
PAUL’S DESCRIBES THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD’S POWER (20-23)
1. Seen in Christ’s being raised (v. 20)
2. Seen in Christ’s enthroning (v. 21)
3. Seen in Christ’s authority (v. 22)
4. Seen in Christ’s headship (v. 22-23)
Psalm 110:1 (ESV) —
1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
PAUL’S DESCRIBES THE MAGNITUDE OF GOD’S POWER (20-23)
1. Seen in Christ’s being raised (v. 20)
2. Seen in Christ’s enthroning (v. 21)
3. Seen in Christ’s authority (v. 22)
4. Seen in Christ’s headship (v. 22-23)
But Paul also asserts that Christ, in his status as ruling authority over the powers and the whole universe, is given to the church. God has given Christ a great victory over the powers of darkness and now possesses full authority over them for the benefit of the church. The head of the church is a victorious and powerful Lord. On this basis, Christ can impart to the church all of the empowering resources it needs to resist the attacks of powers and to engage in the mission of filling the world that God has called it to
GOSPEL CONNECTION
Ephesians 1:10 (ESV) — 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
PRAYER
With so much talk about prayer, let us put it into practice. Let us learn to pray like Paul. Let us pray for our church using these things that Paul models for us, and let us pray for the needs of the church that, through the work of the Holy Spirit, believers might grow in the knowledge of Christ. I will close our time after a few of us pray.
MEMORY VERSE
Ephesians 1:10 (ESV) — 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.