A PRAYER FOR THE EPHESIANS Ephesians 3:14-21

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1 1 A PRAYER FOR THE EPHESIANS Ephesians 3:14-21 Prayer is simply a wish turned God-ward. --Anonymous A quick way to Christians feel guilty is to ask them, How is your prayer life? Why is this so? Because most of us find prayer difficult. The main reason is probably because we do not know what we ought to pray for (Rom. 8:26). Why don t we know what we should pray for? Paul does not elaborate on our inability to pray as we ought. But there are some obvious reasons: because of our sinful nature (which is still part of us), we still struggle with our finite minds, limited perspectives and human frailties. Consequently we are not able to pray in absolute consistency with God s will. Many times we are not even aware that spiritual needs exist, much less know how best they should be met. Even when we pray sincerely, faithfully, and regularly we cannot possibly know God s purposes concerning all of our own needs or the needs of others for whom we pray. In the passage in Romans 8, Paul says that the Holy Spirit will help us in our praying. The Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures will use passages such as the one before us this morning to show the way. There is much to learn from one of Paul s prayers for the Ephesians. We will look at the second of two prayers recorded in the Book of Ephesians. The first is found in chapter 1 verses where Paul prays for enlightenment. In this second prayer which we are considering this morning, he prays for enablement.1 Paul now expresses a prayer that grows out of his awareness of all that God is doing in believers. God s key gifts are power (vv. 16,18,20) and love (vv ). The Spirit gives revelation so we may have power to understand and act. In the following section Paul prays that the Ephesians would be given power, not power to act but power to understand the extent of God s love. Only the Spirit can reveal this. That limitless and gracious love is revealed ultimately in Jesus and His sacrifice. A HUMBLE YET AUDACIOUS PRAYER (Eph. 3:14-19) How Paul Prays Paul begins this section by praying to God the Father: For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name (vv ). For this reason resumes the thought of verse 1 of chapter 3, that is, as believers we not only receive God grace for personal salvation but also as responsibility to build up the church.

2 2 Praying to God the Father is the most common way prayers are offered in the New Testament. Prayers are offered to the Father through the Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. His whole family is literally translated fatherhood and probably includes angels (who are called fellow servants in Rev. 19:10) as well as people. We all bear God s name because we derive our origin from God. We are all part of His creative act. A Humble Prayer I kneel expresses deep emotion and reverence, since people in Paul s time typically stood to pray. But Paul prays humbly as he kneels before His Maker. Posture in Prayer Does it matter what physical position (posture) God's people assume when they engage in public prayer? The Scriptures specifically mention posture in prayer and indicate that it is not a matter of indifference. For instance, the slouching position of the body while one is supposed to be praying is disrespectful to the Lord. On the other hand, it is also true that Scripture nowhere prescribes one, and only one, correct posture during prayer. Different positions of hands and of the body as a whole are indicated. All these are permissible as long as they symbolize different aspects of the worshipper's reverent attitude, and as long as they truly interpret the sentiments of the heart. What is stressed throughout Scripture, however, is that prostration seems to be reserved for days of special humiliation and mourning (Joshua, David, Job and Christ). Kneeling would appear not be the posture of the body or the position of the hands but the inner attitude of the soul. Biblical Examples 1. Standing: Abraham stood before the Lord when he prayed for Sodom Gen. 18:22 and Solomon stood when he prayed to dedicated the temple I Kgs. 8:22 (see also I Sam. 1:26; Mt. 6:5; Mk. 11:25; Lk. 18:11,13). 2. Kneeling: Paul kneeled when he prayed for the Ephesian believers Eph. 3:14 (see also II Chron. 6:13; Ps. 95:6; Isa. 45:23; Dan. 6:10; Mt. 17:14; Mk. 1:40; Lk. 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5). 3. Falling Down with the Face Upon the Ground: Jesus fell on His face when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:39 (see also Gen. 17:3; 24:26; Num. 14:5,13; 16:4, 22, 45; 22:13,34; Deut. 9:18,25,26; Josh. 5:14; Judg. 13:20; Neh. 8:6; Ezek. 1:28; 3:23; 9:8; 11:13; 43:3; 44:4; Dan. 8:17; Mk. 7:25; 14:35; Lk. 5:12; 17:16; Rev. 1:17; 11:16). 4. Hands Spread Out and/or Lifted Heavenward: Paul says he wants men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer I Timothy 2:8 (see also Ex. 9:29; 17:11,12; I Kgs. 8:22; Neh. 8:6; Ps. 63:4; 134:2; 141:2; Isa. 1:15; Lam. 2:19; 3:41; Hab. 3:10; Luke 24:50).

3 3 5. Bowing the Head: The Levites sang praises and bowed their heads and worshiped II Chronicles 29:30 (see also Gen. 24:48; Ex. 12:27; Lk. 24:5). 6. Looking Up Toward Heaven: Stephen, the first Christian martyr, looked up to heaven when he was being stoned to death--acts 7:55 (see also Ps. 25:15; 123:1,2; 141:8; 145:15; Jn. 11:41; 17:1; Dan. 9:3). 7. Sitting: David sat before the Lord when he prayed about the future of his kingdom (I Chron. 17:16). 8. Lying in bed: David testified: On my bed I remember You, I think of You through the watches of the night (Ps. 63:6). 9. Other postures: Elijah was bowing down to the ground, with face between the knees (I Kgs. 18:42) and the tax collector was standing at a distance, striking the breast (Lk. 18:13). Prostrations seems to be reserved for days of special humiliation and mourning (e.g. Joshua, David, Job, Christ). Kneeling would appear to be the most appropriate for individual devotions, family prayers or small group prayer (Daniel, Stephen, Paul, and Christ). Bowing of the head may be done at any time and in any circumstance, even while standing (Abram's servant, the elders in Egypt, Hezekiah). The most appropriate general position in public devotion would seem to be standing, an indication of respect and reverence (as we might rise, to our feet if the president or king entered the room, out of respect for his office). The people stood while Solomon knelt to pray (II Chron. 6:3,13). Standing appears to have been the common position for prayer at the temple, in the synagogue, and in the worship of the early New Testament church. It was the posture adopted in the Church of Scotland, among the Puritans of England, and by the descendents of both churches in America. The posture of sitting in public prayer was not practiced in the ancient church and was universally regarded as an irreverent and paganistic mode of engaging in public devotion unless a worshipper did so because of physical weakness. An exception to this generalization might be David who "sat" before the Lord and prayed (11 Sam. 7:18; 1 Chron. 17:16). The only other defense used for the practice of sitting during prayer was where the disciples are said to have "continued with one accord in prayer and supplication," and later that the sound from heaven "filled the whole house where they were sitting." (Acts 1:14; 2:2). But there is much intervening activity and no indication that they did not sit down after standing or kneeling for prayer. If sitting is to be occasionally allowed, it should be in the position and attitude of being devoutly engaged in the service. The Greek word for family is similar to the word for father, so it can be said that the family derives its name from the father. And since God is our Father, we can commit our prayers to Him in confidence.

4 4 An Audacious Prayer Paul not only prayed humbly, but also audaciously: I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Eph ) Although Paul appealed to God in humility by kneeling before Him in prayer, he did not pray timidly. There is no apprehension here. When Paul says that he prays that out of or according to His glorious riches, he is acknowledging that he is praying to a God who is gloriously rich and who gives accordingly. God not only gives us a portion of His resources, but a proportion, that is, what is fitting considering His wealth. If God did not have vast resources, we could not pray for such resources, but because God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He can answer any request, whether it is physical, material, mental, emotional or spiritual. What Paul Prays Rather than praying for the material needs of the body, Paul prays for the needs of their soul (we also find this same emphasis in the other prison prayers Phil. 1:9-11 and Col. 1:9-12). His prayer here is for spiritual strength; that He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Eph. 3:16). While it is legitimate to pray about our physical and material needs, too often that is the focus of our prayers. We need to learn from Paul and focus on the spiritual needs and thus seek God s kingdom first (Mt. 6:33). lives: The idea of dwell is to be completely at home. Christ was already present in their You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9; see also Eph. 2:22). Hearts refers to the whole inner being or true self. Inner being is literally translated inward man. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge (vv ) What could be more important to pray! If love is the most important thing in life (I Cor. 13:13), then what is more important to pray about?

5 5 Paul prays that the Ephesian believers will be rooted and established in love. The verb rooted comes from the plant world. Trees must get their roots deep into the soil if they are to have the necessary nourishment to grow strong. In the same way, Christians must have their spiritual roots deeply planted into the love of God if they are to grow and mature. Established or grounded is an architectural term referring to the foundations on which structures are built. The deeper the foundation, the higher the building can be built. There is a direct correlation between the depth of the foundation and the height of the building. As believers, we cannot grow any higher than the depth of our experience. The storms of life will reveal the depth of our roots and foundation. Jesus told the story of the two builders, one of whom did not go deep enough for his foundation (Mt. 7:24-29). When the winds came the house fell. Unless our spiritual roots are deep in the soil of God s love, we, too, will crumble when the going gets rough. For this reason Paul prayed that these believers might have a deeper experience with Christ to sustain them during the severe trials of life. Only when we are deeply embedded in God s love can we hope to grasp or comprehend the various dimensions the breadth, length, depth and height of God s love. The deeper we are planted in God s love, the more we will be able to comprehend the multi-faceted aspects of His love. that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (v. 19b). Paul is praying that the Ephesian believers may know the love that surpasses knowledge, that is, that they may know the unknowable. Something so great that it cannot be completely known! Just as nature abhors a vacuum, so the divine nature abhors emptiness. God wants us to experience His fullness. The means of our fullness is the Holy Spirit (5:18) and the measure of our fullness is God Himself (4:11-16).2 When Paul refers to fullness he is referring to God as our Source. After all, it is God who is infinite in all His attributes and He allows us to draw on His resources in this case (context), His love... A BENEDICTION or DOXOLOGY (Eph. 3:20-21) Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (vv. 20,21). When Paul says immeasurably more he is making a specific reference to the matters presented in this section of Ephesians, but is not limited to these. He is saying that the power of Christ, like the love of Christ, is beyond human understanding or measurement.

6 6 Such power is given not so we can build our own little kingdoms, but to give God the Father and God the Son glory. That glory is the splendor and beauty of His infinite perfection which is to be manifested in the church. It is this very power that is needed to live a life that is pleasing to God a life to His honor and glory. His power refers to God s extraordinary divine force by which Jesus Christ was raised (1:20). It is this same power at work in and through believers. And, as we have already seen earlier in this letter, this power is given by the Holy Spirit. Paul ends with the phrase throughout all generations or literally unto all the generations of the age of the ages. This emphasizes the eternality of God s glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, which consists of ages or generations endlessly succeeding each other. APPLICATION 1. Glorify God by feeding your soul on Him and His attributes. This makes sense since God s glory is the splendor and beauty of His perfection, His character, His attributes. 2. Glorify God by worshiping Him in His beauty and splendor. This means praising God for who He is. Like Paul whose admiration for God was boundless, it is giving place for doxology in your life. Do this until that day when the glory of God will fill the world with His glory as the waters cover the sea, a glory that will last forever, through all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. NOTES 1 Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987), Ibid., 88.