“PRAYER: YOUR SPIRITUAL PIN NUMBER”

"La Familia"

Read: “17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:17-23) [NIV]
 

Relate:
(vv. 15-17) After describing the glorious blessings given to believers (1:3-14), thoughts of the great promises of God led Paul to give praise and to pray for the church–the people chosen to receive those blessings. The phrase: “ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus”, could mean that Paul had heard a good report of the Ephesians’ growth in the faith.  It could also be a way of including the believers in the surrounding churches. Paul knew the Ephesian church well, but not all the other surrounding churches. And yet, he may have heard a positive report of all the churches in the area, and thus he could thank God for all of their faith and remember them in his prayers.
     

Paul never stopped thanking God for these believers. The fact Paul prayed for them constantly demonstrates personal attention. Paul was truly a prayer warrior–remembering all the churches in his personal prayers. Paul kept asking on behalf of these believers, that God would give them spiritual wisdom and understanding. The Holy Spirit gives us “wisdom”–the ability to see life from God’s perspective, to have discernment. He also gives us “understanding,” which refers to an enlightened understanding in their knowledge of God and the mysteries of His divine truth.
     

(v. 18) For the Jew, the heart was the core of one’s personality, the total inner person, the center of thought and moral judgment. The imagery of hearts flooded with light pictures an ability to see the reality of our wonderful future! Believers look forward to a glorious inheritance, as well as the blessings in this present world (v. 19) because of an action by God in the past (those he called).
    

(vv. 19-21) Paul prayed that the believers would begin to understand the incredible greatness of God’s power on behalf of those who believe Him. Because of His power, believers know that: (1) God is on their side, ready to help them meet each and every obstacle (2) God’s power is never stagnant or out of commission–it is always actively working on their behalf (3) God is always fighting against the forces of evil on the believers’ behalf (4) no human strength or spiritual power from the evil world (not even Satan himself) can deter or change God’s inherent power.
    

Only God’s power can change weak human beings into strong believers who are willing to sacrifice everything for the God who loves them. After impressively describing the completeness of God’s power, Paul points out three examples of God’s power: (1) He raised Christ from the dead; (2) He seated Christ in the place of honor in the heavenly realms; and (3) He is far above any ruler or authority! Christ has no equal and no rival. He is supreme over all other beings! These words ought to encourage all believers, because the higher the honor of Christ, as the Head, the higher the honor of all His people.
     

(vv. 22-23) Paul described Christ as having authority over all of creation–ALL things! Thus, the church receives the benefit of his universal headship because the church is His body. Paul used the analogy elsewhere when he wrote about the interrelationships of believers in the church. This passage focuses on Christ as the head of that body, the church. The church is not a building (or all the church buildings on earth)–it includes all believers in a living, growing, moving, working organism deriving existence and power from Jesus Christ. The church obeys Christ’s commands to carry out His purpose and His work in the world.
     

All believers, as part of Christ’s body, are filled by Christ who fills everything everywhere with his presence.  Christ fills all things with himself and with his blessings, bringing all believers to the state of obedience and praise for which God created them! The church is being filled with and by Christ, who fills all things totally. Thus, Christ, who is the fullness of God, finds full expression in His church.
      

By Christ’s resurrection and exaltation, he is head over all things for the church. Christ fills the church and then uses the gifts He bestows to fulfill his mission–revealing Himself to the world and drawing people to Himself by that witness. The image of the body shows the church’s unity. Each member is involved with all the others as they go about doing Christ’s work on earth. We should not attempt to work, serve, or worship on our own. We need the entire body!  We Need each other!
    
Reflect:

• As a child, did you ever persist in asking for something from you parent(s)?
• What was it?
• Did you get it?
• Why do you think you finally got it?
• What is your first memory of church? Is it anything like what is pictured here (vv. 22&23) and in Acts 2:42-46?
• How was it different?

Respond:

• What are some things that you are praying for right now?
• Are they God’s will or your wants? Why or why not? 
• What have you persistently asked God for in prayer over the years?
• How can your LIFE Group or church partner with you in prayer?

Request:

• Pray and ask God to open the eyes of your heart to the things you’re having a hard time accepting by faith!

Today is my grandsons 14th birthday. We affectionately call him "Isick".