Paul’s First Prayer for the Ephesian Saints Part 1
Ephesians
1:15-17 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.
KJV Paul having completed his detailed explanation to these Ephesian believers of the great and rich blessings that are theirs from the heart and purpose of God the Father, through the selfless sacrifice of God the Son, and by the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit, Paul now lifts up his eyes and heart to heaven and begins to pray for these brothers and sisters of his who are “in Christ”. Wherefore or since or because you are “in Christ” and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul begins by first giving thanks and praise to God the Father for them and for their faith in Him and love for all the saints everywhere. Paul is expressing here that it has been proven to him that their trust in our Lord Jesus Christ is true, real, and genuine because of their expression of true love or agape love (which is God’s love) has been shown to all saints no matter whether they were in Ephesus, Jerusalem, Asia Minor, Galatia, or anywhere else in the known world at that time.
God’s agape love is not sentimental (sappy, gooey, cutesy, cheesy) or emotional love, but instead it is sincere “love in the truth” as the Apostle John wrote in this manner in his opening greeting to the elect lady, “The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” (2 John 1:1-3). The Ephesians had the truth of Christ in them (2 Corinthians 11:10) and therefore they upheld and unleashed the truth of Christ “in love” to all saints. “Love and truth must be maintained in perfect balance. Truth is never to be abandoned in the name of love. But love is not to be deposed in the name of truth...Truth without love has no decency; it’s just brutality. On the other hand, love without truth has no character; it’s just hypocrisy.” (Dr. John MacArthur)
Paul’s first order of his prayer for them was “to give thanks” for them and this English phrase is translated by the Greek word eucharisteo which means to be grateful, that is, actually to express gratitude for someone. Paul was so grateful to God the Father for the salvation of these Ephesians knowing what great mercy they had been shown being trapped in pagan/satanic worship and darkness all their lives. The Grace of God had found them and Paul wanted to lift up his adoration and worship to God the Father on their behalf at every occasion he prayed to Him. Paul was sure of the legitimacy and authenticity of their conversion to Christ that he wanted to be an instrument in the strengthening of their faith in Christ so he never stopped praying for their spiritual growth to God the Father. Paul knew the importance of prayer for others because he needed and solicited such prayer from the saints on his behalf (1 Thessalonians 5:25). Paul did not know if he would ever see them again in the flesh, but he knew he could stay connected or united to them by his prayers for them and their prayers for him.
Paul prays for them to get a deeper revelation, knowledge, and understanding of our great Father in Heaven and of the great treasure chest of rich grace the Ephesians and we have “in Christ” and for the Holy Spirit to illuminate or to make clear to them and to us everything that is ours “in Christ” and that they would lay hold of all of their inheritance as he wrote it in this manner to the Colossians, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” (Colossians 3:1-5). Paul knew the temptation would come to these Ephesians and to us today from the enemy trying to get them and us to regress (which leads to sin and rebellion) in contrast to the Holy Spirit seeking our progression in the faith which leads to righteousness, peace, and joy in Him (Romans 14:17).
Paul (in the beginning of his prayer) refers to God the Father as the “God of our Lord Jesus Christ” and in so doing he was only declaring what our Lord Jesus Himself declared when He spoke these words to Mary, “Jesus saith unto her, ‘Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.’” (John 20:17). When Paul refers to Him as the “Father of glory”, he is declaring that from Him alone does this glorious, brilliant, radiant beauty alone come from as the source. We really don’t have any human understanding of what glory truly is as yet, nor can we clearly define it with our weak, washy, and wanting human language. I believe that when we are “praying in the Spirit” to God the Father we are being united with Him and all that He is included His glory, although we cannot even comprehend it or fully understand this glory as Paul wrote with these words to the Corinthian believers, “For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody]. Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind {and} understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind {and} understanding also.” (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).
Paul wants these Ephesians and us today to allow God the Holy Spirit within us to give us the mental and spiritual disposition of “wisdom”, “revelation”, and “knowledge” of Him. The English word wisdom is translated by the Greek word sophia which means higher spiritual understanding; to be insightful, thoughtful, intelligent, and wise having a cautious character; having practical skill and given over to shrewd and keen insight. In other words, Paul prays for the Holy Spirit to enlighten them with the deep truth in the Word of God so that they would live wise, sober, self-controlled lives doing the will of God for the glory of God as they and we are still in a corrupt world (Colossians 4:5). The English word revelation is translated by the Greek word apokalupsis which means to disclose or to take the cover off of that which is hidden. In other words, Paul prays that God the Holy Spirit would let them and us see all the beautiful and wonderful spiritual blessings/graces that are freely available to us “in Christ” through enlightening or illuminating His Holy word in our inner man as the Psalmist wrote in this manner when he said, “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” (Psalms 119:18).
Finally the English word knowledge is translated by the Greek word epignosis where epi is a primary preposition meaning superimposition and gnosis is a prolonged form of a primary verb which means to know absolutely, therefore, put together the word means recognition, that is, full discernment or to become fully acquainted with someone or something. In other words, Paul prays for the Holy Spirit to make these Ephesians and us today fully acquainted with and completely introduced to the person of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as He is truthfully unveiled in Holy Scripture. That is to have super-knowledge and understanding of Him and all of His ways (His Perfect Love, His Unflinching Truth, His Pure Holiness, His Righteous Character) as our Lord Jesus declared would be the case when He said this, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his Master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his Master. If they have called the Head of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign the members of His household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:24-28).
My own Personal Note: I will become more and more attached to truth as I exercise myself to speak only truth. The principle of abstaining from or “fleeing” fornication is strengthened through practice. So it is with honesty. The more I exhibit honesty, the more it becomes the settled rule of my life. The tendency of godliness in my heart will grow stronger and stronger only through exercise. The Word of God is unlike any other book ever written. This book is Divinely inspired, meaning that the words contained therein are God’s own words. They are born of His Divine influence and supernatural power. The Bible is a living book. There are many scriptures that, when I engraft them into my individual spirit, release the supernatural power of God through Christ that breaks the yoke and bondage of pornography and masturbation (all sexual addiction) in my life. This means that I must learn scripture—God’s own Word—and apply what I learn to my personal situation daily. Excerpt from my Book entitled “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs”
“God is infinitely glorious in Himself all glory is due to Him from His creatures, and He is the author of all that glory with which His saints are or shall be invested. Now He gives knowledge by giving the Spirit of knowledge; for the Spirit of God is the teacher of the saints, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. We have the revelation of the Spirit in the word: but will that avail us, if we have not the wisdom of the Spirit in the heart? If the same Spirit who indited the sacred scriptures do not take the veil from off our hearts, and enable us to understand and improve them, we shall be never the better. - In the knowledge of Him, or for the acknowledgment of Him; not only a speculative knowledge of Christ, and of what relates to Him, but an acknowledgment of Christ’s authority by an obedient conformity to Him, which must be by the help of the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.” Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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