August 13, 2017

Prayer for the Church

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph. 1:15-23

This is  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.  Let’s explore this precious prayer to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of what Paul is asking God to provide for the church.  It is noteworthy that Paul’s prayer can be our prayer for the church.

• Paul prays for the church to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him;
• Paul prays for the eyes of the church’s understanding to be enlightened – in order that the church might know:
• The hope of His calling;

o   The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints;

o   The exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe;

§  Which God worked in Christ when He raised Him and seated Him in the heavenly places;

§  Above all power, principality, might, and dominion, and name;

§  Putting all things under His feet; and,

§  Giving Him to be the Head over all things to the church;

§  Which is His body – the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

This is a powerful way to pray for the church!  It is important to note that Paul, who was Jewish, wrote this prayer in order that the people comprising the church at Ephesus might have “knowledge of Him.”  Paul was not writing about head-knowledge.  Paul was praying for heart-knowledge – that the very eyes of hearts would be opened to see things in new and different ways; the ways that God sees.  Such heart-knowledge, or experience, comes through the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 

When we experience healing, we know Jesus as Healer!  When we experience restoration, we know Him as Restorer.  It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that revelation and wisdom comes.  When we have peace in our lives, we know Him as Jehovah-Shalom.  Each experience draws us closer to the Lord.