|
Introduction: Paul worked as an
evangelist in numerous congregations. One of the churches to which
Paul was the closest was in Ephesus, where he had worked for three
years (Acts 20:31). If
you read Acts 20, you
cannot help but see that Paul loved the Ephesians. Thus, when we
read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians
1:15-23, we see His most intimate desires for a church to
succeed. It makes sense then to make this our prayer for this
congregation. We should make these things our goals. Read Ephesians
1:15-23 and note four desires Paul had for the Ephesian
church, which desires should be ours as well. Discussion: I. Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesians “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17-18). A.
The basic
theme of these three related requests is that the Ephesians have a
mindset or spiritual disposition governed by wisdom, knowledge and
understanding. When you boil these requests down, Paul was praying
that the Ephesians would be different from the world. In Romans
11:8, Paul described those who remain in the world. They have
a spirit of stupor and blindness. But read the context of Isaiah
29:9-14, the passage to which Paul alluded in Romans. These
people have blinded themselves because they refuse to listen to
God. They do not follow after God’s things but man’s. B.
Paul’s
hope for the Ephesians is reiterated to the Corinthians in a
different manner in I
Corinthians 2:12-3:3. Paul wanted them to think spiritually,
not carnally, following after the things of God, not man. As he
said in I Corinthians 14:20,
he wanted maturity in understanding, but simplicity in
evil—exactly the opposite of the worldly. C.
In order to
grow in wisdom, understanding and knowledge, we must first ask for
it (James 1:5-8).
Secondly, we must study for it (Ephesians
3:3-4). Finally, in contrast to those described in Isaiah
29:9-14, we must live according to what we have learned from
God. D.
Paul wanted
the Ephesians to grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding
because through this knowledge God grants all things pertaining to
life and godliness (II
Peter 1:3). Thus, without increasing in wisdom, knowledge and
understanding, the Ephesians would have neither godliness nor
life. They would be lost and condemned forever. We must make this
our prayer and our goal—to grow in wisdom, knowledge and
understanding and, therefore, obtain life. II.
Paul prayed
that the Ephesians would “know what is the hope of His
calling” (Ephesians 1:18). A.
Paul wanted
the Ephesians to consider their options. He wanted them to
contrast being in Christ with being in the world. In Christ, we
are to walk worthy of His calling (Ephesians
4:1).We are to turn from the passing pleasures of sin. We are
to put aside our own will, sacrificing ourselves to live according
to Christ’s will. In the world, we get to do whatever we want.
We get to follow our feelings and find immediate gratification for
every desire. Regrettably, far too many people never get past this
part of the contrast. But this is not where Paul wants us to stop.
B.
What hope do
we have in these two options? In the world, there is no hope (Ephesians 2:12). There is only the certain terrifying expectation of
judgment (Hebrews 10:27).
But when we walk worthy of His calling there is great hope. What
is the hope of His calling? According to Acts
23:6, it is the hope of resurrection from the dead. Titus
1:2 says our hope is eternal life. Colossians
1:5 says our hope is laid up in heaven. Our hope is that this
life is not at all about this life, but about our eternal destiny.
C.
How many
people never get past looking at this life? How many people do not
become Christians because they do not want to make the commitment?
How many Christians turn away because they decide it is too
difficult? Do you realize what is really being said by these
people? They are saying that the Christian path is not worth it.
They have never looked past what they are seeing now. They have
never looked to the unseen hope (Romans
8:24-25) of eternal life that lies at the end of the narrow
and difficult path (Matthew
7:13-14). It is worth it. D.
Paul wanted
the Ephesians to know the hope of His calling because it would be
an anchor to their souls (Hebrews
6:19). We must make this our prayer and goal—to know the
hope of His calling. Look past this life and focus on eternity.
Where have you been looking? III.
Paul prayed
that the Ephesians would “know … what are the riches of the
glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians
1:18). A.
One of the
factors that most distracts us from doing the Lord’s will is
worldly riches. Jesus said it was difficult for a wealthy man to
enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew
19:23). Paul told Timothy that the love of money had caused
many to stray from the faith (I Timothy 6:10). B.
How many
people would become Christians if God promised each of us a
$1,000,000 signing bonus upon our baptism, a house, a new car, all
the appliances, entertainments and computer gizmos we wanted, plus
a huge annual salary? People would become Christians in droves.
Sadly, He has promised us greater riches than these. Yet, people
have turned their back on them in the pursuit of all the things I
have just mentioned. Some of them will get earthly things. But
like the men in Matthew
6:1-2, 5, 16, they have all their reward. There is no reward
waiting for them on the judgment day—only punishment. C.
But God has
offered us, His chosen and peculiar people, exceeding riches—not
earthly riches which vanish with the using and can be stolen or
destroyed. He has granted us heavenly riches which cannot be
destroyed or taken from us (Matthew
6:19-20). We must be like Moses in Hebrews
11:24-27. We must not look at the seen, the here and now. We
must focus on the unseen. We must remember the reward. We must
know what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints. D.
This is
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and should be our prayer for the
Franklin Church of Christ. Only by knowing these riches will we
keep our focus on things above (Colossians
3:2), lay up treasure in heaven (Matthew
6:20-21), store up for ourselves a good foundation for the
time to come and lay hold of eternal life (I
Timothy 6:17-19). IV.
Paul prayed
that the Ephesians would “know … what is the surpassing
greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians
1:19). A.
What had God
done for you? How many people get upset when they are not healed
of sicknesses? How many get upset when they are not blessed with
“earthly blessings”? How many turn away from God because He
has not used His power to keep them from disappointment, pain and
harm? Have you ever thought about what these people are really
saying? They are saying that God has not done enough for them. Why
should they serve God, He did not keep their parents, spouse or
children from dying? He did not keep them from pain and suffering?
He has not kept them from poverty? Paul’s prayer for the
Ephesians was to realize what great power God has displayed toward
us who believe. B.
He has saved
us from sin. In order to do that He sacrificed His Son and then
raised Him up to sit at the Father’s right hand in heavenly
places (Ephesians 1:20-21). He established His church of which you can be a
part in order to help you go to heaven (Ephesians
1:22-23). And through all of this He made you alive from the
dead, forgiving your sins (Ephesians
2:1). Finally, He has raised us up to sit in the heavenly
places with Christ Jesus so that He may shower us with the riches
of His grace in the ages to come (Ephesians
2:6-7). When you consider what He has done for you, does it
matter if He has allowed you to suffer some temporal pain or
poverty in this life? C.
Who else has
done so much for us? Is there anyone in your life that has done
more than this to whom you should owe your allegiance above God?
Has any mother or father done even half as much for their
children? Has any preacher, pastor or priest done anything even
similar to this for the members of their church? Yet, people the
world over show allegiance to family, friends and clergymen and
leave behind the teaching of God. D.
Paul prayed
that the Ephesians would know what power God had worked on their
behalf. This must be our prayer and desire for the Franklin Church
of Christ as well. For when we recognize God’s love toward us,
then we will be convicted to also love Him (I
John 4:19). Conclusion: Just think how much fruit the Ephesians would bear to God’s glory if they prayed for and worked toward these goals. We too must make this prayer our own. When you pray for this church, pray for these things. When you focus on growth, grow in these things. May we grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding, knowing the hope, riches and power of God in His grace and mercy.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
|
||||||||||
