The letter to the Ephesians is rich for those of us numbered among the ekklesia, the church. Not to say that all scripture isn’t rich. But, those who know me well know of my appreciation for the depth of the revelation given the apostle regarding Jesus and “the church, which is His body the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23) that is delivered in this epistle. Paul’s heart for this message given to him to reach the Gentiles, and his passion for the purpose of the church is wonderfully obvious particularly in his prayers for the corporate body of believers in his writing here. Prayers I believe were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Prayers coming, as it were, from the heart of Jesus, seated at the right hand of the throne, regarding the eternal purpose of God in Jesus continuing through His body, the church.
Here are a couple of those prayers from Ephesians 3:14-21 and Ephesians 1:15-21. I encourage you not to just read these two today, but to pray along with Paul for (yourself and) the gathering of saints you may interact with to give expression to living in, and serving, Him. As you consider these prayers, please note the supplications I have underlined.
[Ephesians 3:14-21 NASB95] 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; [and] that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
(You may ask as you look at the beginning of this passage for what reason?… when he says “For this reason.” Ithink that reason is revealed in the previous passage when he says [Ephesians 3:8-11 NASB95] 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly [places.] 11 [This was] in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,) It is also good to note the emphasis on power that is in us by the Holy Spirit in this passage as well.
[Ephesians 1:15-21 NASB95] 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which [exists] among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention [of you] in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 [I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
(Again in the passage you may ask for what reason?… when he says “For this reason”. And again I think it is tied to eternal purpose in Christ revealed a few verses previous: [Ephesians 1:9-10 NASB95] 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, [that is,] the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. And, it is good to note the emphasis on His power and the strength of His might)
Paul’s prayers here are powerful based on a revelation of his purpose and ministry, but also a revelation of the Father’s eternal purpose in the Son, Jesus, and through Him for us as His body as well.
In John 16 it has often struck me very interesting that Jesus in telling His disciples that He would be leaving them and dealing with their confusion, surprise, and perhaps mourning and sorrow (John 16:6) in hearing that, tells them it will be to their advantage saying:
[John 16:7-11 NASB95] 7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Have you considered that in saying “it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Jesus is actually saying, or at least inferring, that having the Spirit come as a Helper to indwell them is even better than having the bodily presence of the risen Savior with them. Wow! A bit mind blowing. I am not sure we fully comprehend the power of the Spirit in and with us.
The first advantage He outlines after saying this is regarding convicting the world regarding sin and righteousness and judgment. This conviction is not just in the criminal sense of being convicted of a crime. It is not simply a legal term. In a broader sense it is to convince, prove, expose. There is much here regarding the world that is unbelieving. But there is also some depth of truth for believers to grasp and know His power in coviction as well. Much more could be said, but I will leave that for next week or another time.
However, I will draw your attention to just after outlining this advantage regarding sin and righteousness and judgement, Jesus gives the next advantage regarding the power of revelation/disclosure saying it is more than they/we can handle:
[John 16:12-15 NASB95] 12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [them] now. 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose [it] to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose [it] to you.
The Spirit comes with the disclosure and revelation of mysteries regarding truth, all that is Jesus’, and all that is in the Father. Wow! Again, I am not sure we comprehend the power of the Spirit in and with us. Selah!