(#884, Imperial, 1960)
Read Ephesians 1:15-23.
Paul's prayers can be an example to us...
w There
is no long preamble, no drawn out approach to God.
w He
spends no time explaining the Scriptures to God.
w He
is very explicit and specific.
w His
prayers revealed the desire of the heart.
This is a prayer for revelation. The Church needs to discover what marvels God
is store for the saints and faithful.
ƒ Thanksgiving.
Many of Paul's prayers begin with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the secret of peace (Phil.
4:6-7), victory (Psa. 50:14-15) and growth (Col. 2:6-7).
The ground of this thanksgiving is "faith and
love".
w Faith
in the Lord Jesus, the 1st principle of the Christian life. Faith and love
toward all the saints. Do our lives
incite thanksgiving in others.
w Note
that this is a continuous activity: "cease not."
ƒ Intercession.
Again Paul lives in an atmosphere of prayer; he ceases not
to pray for them. And what does he pray
for? He prays that they might be given
understanding, that the eyes of their heart be opened in regard to three
things.
w The
hope of His calling, v18. Hope is
something that enheartens us. "Hope
is a compound emotion that consists of desire and expectation." It is tied to Christ Who is "the hope of
glory" (Col. 1:27) and whose coming is the "blessed hope" (Titus
2:11-14).
w The
riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, v18. God is our "portion" and we are His
"portion". This is a request
that we would reflect His glory to others, a glory that is abundant.
w The
exceeding greatness of His power, v19. Within the believer God energizes us by
His power, a power which is resurrection power (v20), ascension power (v20),
and dominion power (v21).
There is a hope that beckons us.
There is an inheritance that blesses us.
There is power that backs us. (Paul Rees)
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