Wednesday September 9, 2015

Read Ephesians 1:15-23            

If you had a friend who had just lost his or her job and needed income to support his/her family, I wonder how you would pray for that person. Certainly praying for another source of income is not be wrong or unbiblical. To not do so may be uncaring, unloving and hard hearted. But if that’s all we pray then something is seriously amiss.

As Paul prays for the Ephesian church he asks the Lord to fill them with a spirit of wisdom and revelation. The purpose or point of the prayer is given in the phrase at end of V17-  “so that they might know Him better.”

Consider again your friend who lost their job. Praying that they know God better is a wonderful prayer. As God answers that prayer you’ll see your friend pressing into God, growing in Him and being filled with the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.

Paul also prays that their hearts may be opened to know the hope which they have in Christ Jesus –  “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe”  (Vs18-19). Again this prayer is a powerful prayer for those in need or in dire circumstances. Praying that our brothers and sisters know more of the hope they have in Christ Jesus and the glorious inheritance they have and the incomparable power that Christ has for them causes that person to grow in grace. It causes them to grow in patience, in perseverance and in love for God and others even through tough times. We might even venture to say that should our friend have received a job too quickly he or she could have missed out on this great blessing of growing in hope and in the deepening of his/her relationship with God.

Again, what we see here in Ephesians is a God centred prayer that yearns to see others growing in grace and closeness to the Lord. Such prayers have eternal value and bring great glory to God. Interestingly, as I peruse the prayer requests from my brothers and sisters in persecuted lands I see them asking that we pray these kinds of prayers for them. They are not, by and large, asking for prayers to end their situation or suffering but for prayers to grow in grace, to persevere and to shine the light of Jesus brightly. As I peruse the prayers of many western churches I see prayers for comfort, prayers for an end to suffering (mainly due to ill health or poor finances) and prayers for an end to particular situations dominate the lists. Perhaps we have a lot to learn from our persecuted brothers and sisters overseas.

Before you sit down to pray today think about who you are praying for and what they are going through. Ask yourself whether or not the type of prayers prayed in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12, Colossians 1:9-12 and Ephesians 1:15-23 would be of value for your brothers and sisters and whether or not such prayers would bring glory to God. You don’t have to stop praying for their physical needs. Just include their spiritual needs as well! 

Prayer:

Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for

Adoration:

Confession

Thanks

Supplication:

· Think of 5 people in your congregation and pray Ephesians 1:15-23 for them. Pray for each one by name.

· Pray this prayer for the work of Student Life leaders in Australia and Uni Impact leaders in NZ.

 Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Someone at church asks you to pray for her and her husband as both are unwell and have several doctors appointments coming up this week. How can you pray in the light of the passages studied this week?

2. If someone at church said to you that they simply want prayer for healing and none of this other stuff, how would you respond?