Prayer that changes things. Ephesians 1:15-20

 Sermon by Pastor Dennis Gleason - September 14, 2003

If you want things to happen spiritually in your life or the lives of your loved ones pray for yourself and for them like Paul did in Ephesians 1:15-20.

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and you love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you , while making mention of you in my prayers; 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. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be 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, 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 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…"

Paul has just unfolded for us the principles underlying our faith and what God is doing for us and now he begins praying for the saints who will receive his letter.

Why does Paul pray for these believers?

He makes that clear in verse 15 when he says, "For this reason…" This reason looks back at the section he has just finished that contains the fundamental facts about our faith. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all three involved in the work that God does for us. Paul prays for them because they need to understand these truths and what they mean.

Although he was never known as a church attendee or perhaps even a Christian, Abraham Lincoln had this to say about prayer: "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day."

Paul is convinced that they are Christians because of two things that have come to his attention…their faith and their love. They have acknowledged Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord of their lives…but what convinced him that their faith was true was their love for one another. Let me make this statement:

Perhaps that is why Christians sometimes have difficulty in their witness to others. We tell them about our faith and they don’t see the love for others we should have. Faith and the resulting love for others go together when faith is the real thing.

Is there someone in your family who could benefit from the things Paul asks for God to do in the lives of the saints in Ephesus or one of the other churches which would receive this letter?

Could they use a spirit of wisdom?

Would it be nice if they would receive a spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Jesus?

Wouldn’t be great if they would have the eyes of their hearts enlightened

So that they might know

…what is the hope of His calling?

…the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

…what is the surpassing greatness of His power?

Paul knows it could happen in the lives of the Christians in Ephesus and because of that he prays for them. It can happen in the lives of those for whom we pray, if we will just do it.. If you pattern prayer

John Trapp put it this way: God never denied that soul anything that went as far as heaven to ask for it.

When we pray, remember: 1. The love of God that wants the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it.

 

God must get the eyes of your heart opened to receive what He has for you. Our loved ones need to have their hearts moved by the love, wisdom and power of God if their lives are going to be open to Christ.Notice if you will how Paul prays…he prays to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus prayed for his disciples, he prayed that the truth of the Word of God would grip their hearts so that they might be changed by the truth they knew.

Paul knows God as the Father of Glory…He is the one who originates glory. He produces glory! He will take the truth and make it known to us. He will make that truth glorious, come alive, and make it vivid, living, and vital for us.

Notice what he prays for in verse 17: He prays that they will be given a spirit of wisdom… He is not praying for them to receive the Holy Spirit…they already have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. What he prays for is a special ministry of the Spirit of God. (See Isaiah 11:2). It is clear from the Isaiah passage that the Holy Spirit has a seven-fold ministry of illuminating and enlightening the heart. That is what Paul is praying for here…that the Holy Spirit will accomplish that in their lives.

He does not take it for granted that this will happen in their lives. So he asks God to do this for them. If you want the Word of God to come alive in your life, you must ask for illumination. If you want this to happen in the lives of your loved ones you must ask God to do it. Remember what James had to tell us:

Pray this for yourself and your loved ones. And God will give it! When you read your Bible pray as you read: "Let me explain what I am trying to say about this passage in Ephesians 1 with this illustration:

The China Inland Mission Journal gives an account of two churches among a group of churches in a certain province of China. These two churches flourished tremendously, while other churches did not grow as well. The mission director of that area in China became very interested in why these two churches were growing so much better than others in the area. He set about investigating the reasons for the growth. He found that a couple of years earlier, at a conference in England, information was given out about these all these churches, and certain individuals were requested to pray for the churches. One man took it upon himself to pray for these two churches. Every week he prayed for these churches, that the truths they heard would be understood. The result was that these two churches grew tremendously. The other churches were teaching and preaching the same truth, but no one seemed to grasp it and understand it. This man’s prayer had the power to open the eyes of those for whom he was praying.

Paul knows that and that is why he prays for them like this. He prayed that the eyes of their hearts be opened so that they could understand the truth of God’s word and have their lives changed by it.

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus encountered Jesus on the road (Luke 24:32). Their comment was that their hearts burned within them when he talked with them. That is the opening of the eyes of the heart.A young man became a Christian

Naturally, his wife became concerned about this. She and a friend decided that they would pray for her husband every day. She decided that she would not nag him or push him. She would not pressure him to come to church or do anything when his heart was not in it. She resolved simply to pray. For a month, they prayed every day and nothing happened.

Gradually her husband’s attitude began to change. One day she came home and found him reading the Bible. She did not say anything to him, but she was obviously encouraged by what she had seen. Then one Sunday morning he announced that he was going to go to church with her. She rejoiced but did not make a big deal about it.

One day he told her this: You know, dear, I’ve really been way out of it! Somehow or another I lost all my interest in the Lord. But God has moved and met me and brought me back."

What a wonderful testimony to the power of this kind of prayer…

Pray that the eyes of your heart (and their hearts) might be enlightened…opened.

Pray for one another.

Pray for the church.

Pray for your friends and family, the people you work with and those who live in your neighborhood…

that the enlightenment of their hearts might come…

that their hearts might be open to the Spirit and that they might receive a spirit of wisdom and of revelation…"

Pray for them and for yourself that the truth of the Word of God might move from your head to your heart. When the eyes of your heart are opened, then you will be rightly motivated and you will begin to grow spiritually. The promise of God’s word is that those for whom we pray will have what we have asked for them. When they respond to Holy Spirit and accept Christ, everything God has is available to them.

Love

Forgiveness

Hope

A new life for them and for yourself for here and for eternity.

Pray for them and for yourself as Paul prays here and watch what happens!

 

 

 

, joined a church and eventually married a young woman who had grown up in that church. In the beginning, he was warm, open and responsive spiritually. He eagerly read the scriptures. But after a while, it all began to grow cold as it sometimes does. He lost interest in the Scriptures, and eventually stopped going to church. Lord show me yourself." For you should realize that this Book is designed to lead us into the presence of the true, living God, so that we might know Him and sense His love, wisdom, strength and power. It will help us to understand our relationship with God. Christ can step out of the pages of this Book and change your life forever. "You have not because you ask not." Everything that God has is for us but we must ask for it. As we receive it and acknowledge what God gives us, it will lead us to develop a thankful heart. Isn’t that interesting? He does not make anything of the equality of Jesus with the Father here. He does not pray directly to Christ here…he prays to the God of the Lord Jesus here. Why? That is who Jesus prayed to. And it is recognition that the God who will answer this kind of prayer is the One to whom the Lord Jesus prayed. for your children, your spouse or loved ones after this prayer, I can guarantee that the kinds of things God desires for them will happen in their lives spiritually. If our faith has not resulted in us becoming a more loving person, at least in growth in that direction, then our faith is not genuine faith. It is as if Paul is saying to us here: "Show me you love, and I’ll see your faith. Don’t talk to me about your faith unless love is present."