Paul’s Prayer
READ EPHESIANS 3:14-21
MEDITATION: Saint Paul offers two main requests, which are both prayers for power. The first (3:16) is that the Ephesians would be strengthened with power through the Spirit in the inner person, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith. The second request (3:18) is that they would be able (have the power) to comprehend the incomprehensible love of Christ, so that they may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
This is a prayer for their spiritual maturity, that they may be fully conformed to Jesus Christ. If Paul’s request seems humanly impossible, his benediction reminds us that God is able to do far more than we can ask or think, according to His power that works within us. And, he reminds us, all of these amazing blessings are not primarily for our happiness (although we will be supremely happy when they are applied to us), but rather for God’s eternal glory. We should also note that this prayer is Trinitarian: Paul prays to the Father that Christ may dwell in their hearts through the power of the Spirit.
Limiting ourselves to the first part of Paul’s prayer, there are three things you need to make Christ at home in your heart:
1. To make Christ at home in your heart, you need prayer, power through God’s Spirit, and faith. (3:14-16a). Paul’s prayers are models for us to pray for others and for ourselves. It is significant that although he was in prison when he recorded this prayer, he does not mention his need for deliverance. When he finally does get around to asking prayer for himself (6:19-20), he asks them to pray that he will be bold in making the gospel known as he should. I wouldn’t have thought that Paul needed prayer for boldness, but he did! Briefly, note five lessons on prayer:
Prayer should aim to bring God’s purpose and promises into reality. Paul begins, “For this reason….” This takes us back to 3:1, which looks back to chapters 1 & 2, but especially to 2:19-22. What he prays is that God would make real in their experience what is true of them positionally in Christ.
Prayer should be offered with reverence and submissive intimacy before the Father. Paul could have said, “I pray,” but instead he says, “I bow my knees before the Father.” He is not mandating a posture for prayer so much as he is revealing an attitude for prayer. The Bible reveals people offering prayer as they stand, sit, lay prostrate, and kneel. Kneeling revealed reverence, submission, humility, and adoration before God. The Greek word translated, “before,” means, “toward,” or “face to face with.” Along with the word, “Father,” it implies the intimacy of a child coming before his father, who will welcome and receive him in love. In that culture, “father” was not only a term of intimacy, but also of authority. The father sought the good of his family, and ruled the family as he saw best.
While we are invited to come to God as our loving Father, we should always do so with reverence and submission to His sovereign authority. He is not our “good Buddy in the sky”!
Prayer should be made in light of our new standing as children in God’s forever family. Next, Paul adds, “from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” He used this expression to emphasize to the Ephesians that they were no longer Jew or Gentile, but that they all belonged to God’s new family, or household (2:18), the church. God’s giving each family its name signifies His authority in bringing them into existence and exercising dominion over them.
Thus when we pray, we should recognize that we belong to this great family, the saints in heaven and on earth. As God’s children, even the most insignificant believer can come before Him with confidence because they are members of this family which enjoys the privilege of the heavenly father.
Prayer should bring us before the Father on the basis of His grace. Paul prays that God “would grant” the Ephesians these blessings. The word means to give freely. It recognizes that we never should ask God for anything based on any merit of our own. Rather, we only receive from Him according to His grace.
Prayer should be made in light of God’s infinite riches. Paul asked God to grant them, “according to the riches of His glory.” Some translate it, “His glorious riches.” God’s glory is the sum of all of His attributes, or everything that makes Him glorious. He is “the Father of glory” (Eph. 1:17). The universe declares the glory or splendor of His mighty power (Ps. 19:1; Rom. 1:20). Paul does not ask God to give out of the riches of His glory, but according to those riches. If a billionaire gives you $100, he gave out of his riches. If he gives you ten million dollars, he gave according to his riches.
The point is, God is not lacking in resources to meet our needs. As Paul prays (Phil. 4:19), “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Here (Eph. 3:16).
When you pray, are you guided by these 5 lessons from St. Paul? In your prayers, do you aim to bring God’s purpose and promises into reality? Do you pray with reverence and submissive intimacy before the Father? Are you praying in light of our new standing as children in God’s forever family? Are you approaching God’s throne of Mercy on the basis of his grace? Do you pray in light of God’s infinite riches?
ACTION: MODEL PRAYER FOR EXTENDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
This week use this Model Prayer as a way to plead for the salvation of people. In order to use the prayer guide place the name of the nation or people you wish to pray for in the blank spaces. Click Here to download Prayer Guide
