Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 69

Paul Entreats or Requests the Ephesian Believers to Pray for him

Ephesians 6:19-20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. KJV

Paul has now concluded his instruction to the Ephesian believers and we believers today on our spiritual armor including the two weapons of our warfare, but now before he ends this letter he has a personal request from these believers and that is their prayers for him in the very same spiritual battlefield. Paul had on many occasions spoken boldly the Gospel of Grace, example number one shortly after his conversion on the Damascus road as documented for us by Dr. Luke here, “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:26-27). Example number two during the violent conflict at Antioch as again documented for us by Dr. Luke, “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the Word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 13:44-46).

There were other documented examples of Paul’s boldness in declaring the Gospel of Christ, yet he requested here the prayers from these Ephesian believers that God the Father would grant him even more boldness or strengthen his current boldness and courage to declare the truth of the Gospel despite his current imprisonment at Philippi. Paul is very aware of the weakness in his old man and old nature to cower from the assaults both upon his person and his sincerity to Christ and His Gospel, especially by the Jews seeing that he was a former high ranking Jewish leader that his fellow Jews would not accept his about face from Judaism into Christianity, therefore, even this bold preacher of Christ needed the prayers of other believers, even new believers like these Ephesians because Paul knew and understood the power in prayer to God the Father. Paul never ever wanted to fall into depending on his natural abilities that he acquired during his many years of studying Judaism, but he knew that he at all times needed a fresh touch from God the Holy Spirit to empower him to continue to be bold in the midst of great opposition and constant violent attacks that landed him in prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ many times as he declared with these words written during one of his prison stays to the Philippian believers exalting the Triune God for what only He could have done, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14).

The Apostle Paul was constantly beseeching other believers to pray for him and for others understanding that the human instruments that came against him was only the representatives of the evil one, therefore, he wanted our Heavenly Father to always hear prayer petitions and supplications coming constantly up to Him on his behalf as he also expressed to the believers in Thessalonica at the end of his letter to them with these words, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3).

Paul wanted at all times the ability to speak or declare the Gospel of Christ rightly, so that God the Holy Spirit would do His work of convicting unbelievers of sin, righteousness, and judgement. Paul knew this was important having come out of Judaism knowing the organized structure of the Jews in their religion (as he was before the Damascus road), and that they would never be persuaded by intelligent human speech, but only by the Power of God through declaring the Gospel of Christ rightly as Dr. John Gill declared with these words speaking about the mysteries of the Gospel of Christ, “The mysterious doctrines of it, such as the doctrines of a trinity of persons, of the union of the two natures in Christ, justification by His righteousness, regeneration by His Spirit and grace, the saints’ union to Christ, and communion with Him, the resurrection of the dead, etc. which are called mysteries, because they were hid until revealed; and though revealed, the ‘modus’ and ‘ratio’ of them are not to be accounted for. Now the Apostle’s work was to make known these mysteries, to prove the truth of them from the Word of God, and to defend them against the opposers of them; and that he might be able to do this he entreats the prayers of the saints.”

Paul recognizes that he is the ambassador of Christ or His representative here on the earth as he declared that we all are such when he wrote this to the Corinthian believers, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Therefore, with this truth in Paul’s understanding, he knows that this is the reason for his bonds and that he wants these Ephesian believer’s prayers that he would not become sidetracked by negative human emotions that would cause him to lose sight of his mission, so he wants their prayers for him to speak as he ought or should despite his bonds.

“He was persecuted and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel; though, notwithstanding, he continued in the embassy committed to him by Christ, and persisted in preaching it. Observe, 1. It is no new thing for Christ’s ministers to be in bonds. 2. It is a hard thing for them to speak boldly when that is their case. 3. The best and most eminent ministers have need of, and may receive advantage by, the prayers of good Christians; and therefore should earnestly desire them.” Matthew Henry

“This shows the great humility of the Apostle, and the sense he had of the greatness of the work of the ministry; and that it is the duty of people to pray for their ministers; and that no man is perfect in this life; and that the more superior members need the assistance of the inferior ones; for this request is made by the Apostle not in deceit, or as feigning humility and modesty; but in the sincerity of his heart, and from a real sense of his need of fresh supplies of gifts and grace, to fit him for the work and service of Christ.” Dr. John Gill

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…