Giving thanks and interceding Ephesians 1:15-23 Part 1 Giving thanks and interceding

Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul shifts his focus from the praise of God’s work of salvation in 1:3-14 to thanking God for his specific work among the Ephesian believers, interceding on their behalf, and exalting the power of God demonstrated in the exaltation of Christ. “The first section [3-14] is about the spiritual blessings of salvation, and the prayer [15-23] is about grasping them.” –Tony Merida “We need the Spirit’s help to grasp the greatness of God, the supremacy of Christ, and the rich benefits of the gospel.” – Tony Merida

Structure of Ephesians 1:15-23 1:15-16 – Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians’ faith and love 1:17-19 – Paul prays for the Ephesians to see and know who God is and what He has done 1:19-22 – Paul discusses the incredible power of God illustrated in the exaltation of Christ

1 – Paul gives thanks for faith and love Ephesians 1:15-16 The main point is that Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians Why does he give thanks for them??? Because he has heard of their: Faith Love

Faith in the lord jesus Faith is active trust in Jesus as the only means of your salvation Ephesians 1:13 – when the Ephesians BELIEVED in Jesus they were sealed with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 2:8 – salvation comes by grace through FAITH Paul gives thanks because the faith of the Ephesians demonstrates that they are genuine Christians, true people of God.

Love toward all the saints Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians’ love for one another because it is evidence of their faith in Christ. “Faith in Christ leads unavoidably to ‘love’ for others whom God has set apart for himself in Christ.” -Klyne Snodgrass Jesus said, ”By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Love for others is a necessary quality for the people of God!

I do not cease to give thanks for you Paul sets the example for us when it comes to prayer. We must be people who “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17; also Luke 18:1), as well as people who take specific times out of our days to be with the Lord in prayer like Jesus (Luke 6:12; 9:18, 28-29; 11:1). We, like Paul and the Lord Jesus, should be people of prayer who are always giving thanks for God’s work in our lives, and the lives of others. “Let us thank God in our prayers for evidences of grace in God’s people— namely, faith and love—and let us also encourage the saints when we see traces of grace in their lives.” –Tony Merida

2 – Paul prays for the ephesians Ephesians 1:16b-19 “Remembering you in my prayers, that…” Paul doesn’t just thank God for what He has done for the Ephesians, he prays for God to continue to work in the Ephesian believers.

What does paul pray for It is important to take note of what Paul prayed for, so that we can pray the same things for our church, our families, and our believing friends. Paul prayed that God would give wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God so that they would know: The hope to which God has called them The riches of God’s inheritance The immeasurable greatness of God’s power

Priorities in prayer Notice what Paul gives thanks for and what he prays for: Faith and love Knowledge of God and of what God has done Paul prioritized spiritual matters over the physical and material matters of life. We should give thanks for God’s work in the lives of others making them more like Christ more so than giving thanks because they got a new TV. We should pray for God to help people know him more more so than we should pray for God to give them a nicer home.

He prays for the Ephesians to know God “Spirit of wisdom,” “revelation,” “knowledge,” “the eyes of your heart enlightened.” These words/phrases indicate illumination, which “is the simple idea that God opens our eyes to know Him and His truth.” –Tony Merida “Paul is asking God to give them spiritual eyes to see who God is and what God has done for them.” –Tony Merida We are incapable of grasping the greatness of God and His work for us without the Holy Spirit helping us to see and understand 1 Corinthians 2:12, 14 If you think you can know/understand God without the help of the Holy Spirit, that is evidence of pride and arrogance for which you must repent.

Paul wants the Ephesians to know 3 truths The hope to which God has called them The riches of God’s glorious inheritance The immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward them

I. The Hope to which God has called them What is the hope of the Christian? To be in the presence of God forever To be free from the power and presence of sin To be free of pain, sadness, and the fear of death To be happy for all of eternity “Our salvation is marked by massive hope.” –Tony Merida

II. The riches of God’s glorious inheritance This speaks of God’s inheritance being His chosen people. We, all believers throughout history, are God’s inheritance, His precious possession. Peter calls us “a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:8) We belong to God and He loves us! “Paul wants us to appreciate the value God places on us who are in Christ.” – Tony Merida

III. The immeasurable greatness of God’s power Paul mentions the power of God, and then goes onto describe God’s power (v. 20-23) His power is “toward us who believe,” meaning that God gives us the power to live the Christian life, because we cannot live it on our own. “Only by God’s power will we be able to engage in the spiritual battle described in Ephesians 6. Only by God’s power will we arrive safely into His heavenly kingdom.” –Tony Merida

Paul’s prayer summed up Paul gives thanks because of the believers’ faith and love, and then prays that God would help them understand more about Himself and more about their hope, their value in God’s sight, and the power they have access to for living the Christian life.

What can I take away? Be a person of thanksgiving, encouragement, and prayer. Thank God for the good things you see Him doing in the lives of others, encourage them by telling them about what you have seen in them, and pray that God would continue His mighty work in them.

What Can I take away? Live in light of these three truths: You have a glorious eternal hope awaiting you at the end of your physical life You are God’s inheritance, meaning you belong to Him and He values you You have access to God’s IMMEASURABLE power for living your life in a way that is pleasing to Him