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Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul's Prayer for the Saints
to be Enlightened “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
In this passage we see the importance of prayer. The Apostle Paul turns from the teaching of great praise in verses three to fourteen of chapter one to the teaching of great prayer, verses fifteen through twenty-three. He turns from praising God for blessings to praying to God for blessings. Praise and prayer are the balance scales of benediction and petition in the Christian life. We are to pray without ceasing (I Thess 5:17). A life without prayer is a life without thought of God or God’s children.
Next we see that prayer is an evidence of a gracious state. Concerning Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus Jesus said, “Behold he prayeth” (Act’s 9:11). Here in vs. 15 Paul rejoices in the Ephesians faith in Christ. Faith is a dependence upon and a trust in Christ. All men do not have faith so Paul joys to see those that do (II Thess 3:2). Individuals also evidence their being God’s children by their love for the saints (I Thess 4:9). Noting these characteristics Paul rejoices that the Ephesians are his brethren and he thanks God for them. Thanksgiving is an evidence of spiritual maturity, so Paul’s love for these people is deep and pure and he does not cease to mention them by name before a throne of grace. When we
love people we as Paul pray and thank God for them.
Thirdly, this text teaches the contents of prayer. Paul prays that they may be given “revelation in the knowledge” of the Lord. The Lord teaches all of his own initially and fundamentally (Jn 6:45, Heb 8:11), but God’s will and Paul’s prayer is that they may know the Lord intimately, experientially, and obediently (Jer 9:24, Hosea 6:6, I Cor 15:34).
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We are all dependent upon the Holy Spirit who is instrumental in the opening of the eyes of any that gain the knowledge of God taught in the scriptures. (I Cor 2:9-13, Acts 16:14) For this reason Paul begs the Lord to enlighten their eyes. May we learn that it is incumbent upon each of us to constantly pray for the enlightening of our own eyes, the eyes of those we love, and the eyes of others around us.
Paul is burdened that their eyes be opened to three areas of knowledge. First, the “hope of his calling” is not a flimsy wish God gives his children, but an earnest expectation (Titus 1:2, Heb 6:17-20). It is a mental helmet worn in the battle of the mind (I Thess 5:8). Verily it is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Those whose eyes are opened rejoice in hope (Ro 5:2), experience purified lives through hope (I Jo 3:3), and maintain endurance by hope (Ro 8:20-25). Do you and those you know have such obedience in hope? Pray that it be so.
Secondly, Paul prayed that they would know “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” This is not speaking of the saints’ inheritance, but the saints being God’s inheritance. Saints need to know that the Lord is rejoicing that they are his inheritance (S of S 2:16, Mal 3:17). Are you rejoicing that the Lord possesses you? Are others? Pray for the Holy Spirit to open eyes to experientially enjoy this truth.
Thirdly, Paul prays that eyes may be opened to an intimate “exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.” Four insights into God’s power are here: (a)power, grk dunamis, i.e. inherent power; (b)working, grk energia, i.e. operative power; (c)mighty, grk ischus, i.e. sovereign conquering and prevailing power; and (d)power, grk kratos, superlative power. Let us pray that all God’s children may personally walk in the strength of God in our decaying society.
Paul asks the Lord to bless the saints with the knowledge of where they are going, God’s home, i.e. their eternity, and he proves it by Christ’s resurrection. He prays that they would know to whom they belong, God’s family, i.e. their identity, and he proves it by Christ’s enthronement. Finally he prays they would know how they will get there, God’s strength, i.e. their security, and he proves it by Christ’s headship. Make a note of the points of Paul’s prayer and begin to include these requests when praying for yourself and others.
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