Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 3:
Thanksgiving and Prayer
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
In Paul’s 35 years of ministry, since his
conversion in Damascus, we have recorded in the Holy Bible many of his
epistles, or letters.
Paul’s first journey took place from 33AD
(the year of his conversion), through 46AD, leaving Damascus in 38AD.
Paul’s 2nd journey began in
50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1st and 2nd
Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.
Paul’s 3rd journey began in
55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from
58-60AD. During his 3rd journey Paul wrote 1st and 2nd
Corinthians, and Romans. We have no record of writings from Paul during his
prison time between 58-60AD in Judea.
After his release from Judea, Paul
traveled on his voyage to Rome from 60-61AD, writing Ephesians, Philippians,
Colossians and Philemon, and finding himself in a Roman prison in 63AD.
Released soon after his incarceration,
Paul then writes the epistles Hebrews, 1st Timothy, Titus and his
final letter before his death 2 Timothy, which was written from a Roman prison
he was placed in during 66-68AD.
Though the bible does not tell us when or
how Paul died, it is believed by scholars that he was beheaded in 68AD in May
or June.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Ephesians 1:15-23
For
this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your
love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving
thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I
keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
Father, may give you the {a} Spirit of wisdom and
revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray
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 his holy people, 19 and his
incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the
mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ 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 name that is invoked, 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.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
for the Ephesians
The
message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.
I. FOR
THIS REASON
a. Vs. 13 & 14 “you also were included in
Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy
Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to
the praise of his glory.”
i. The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first
Bible to use chapter patterns.
ii. This is why we need
to ensure we are taking scripture “in context” when reading.
iii. We may need to go
back or read ahead to understand a scriptures meaning.
ILLUSTRATION
1 Kings 3:16-28
Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long
ago my baby was born at home, 18 and three days later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with
us.
19 One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby,
and he died.20 Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of
my bed. She put him in her bed, then she put her dead baby next to me.
21 In the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was
dead. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn’t my son.
22 “No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is
alive!”
“The dead baby is yours,” the first woman yelled. “Mine is alive!”
They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, 23 until finally he said, “Both of you say this live baby is yours. 24 Someone bring me a sword.”
A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, 25 “Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”
- If we
stop here, we chop babies in half when there is a custody battle.
26 “Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I
love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”
The other woman shouted,
“Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”
27 Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Then he pointed to the first woman,
“She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”
b. BECAUSE (for this reason)
i. The reason being
1. You heard the
message of Truth (Gospel of Salvation)
2. You responded
appropriately (believed = trusted in)
3. You therefore
were marked in Him (Holy Spirit)
4. THE deposit
guaranteeing our inheritance
5. THIS IS THE
FAITH PAUL IS SPEAKING OF
ii. For THIS reason
c. Ever since I heard of your
faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all God’s people
i. Daily Faith, day by day
living.
ii. I have never
stopped giving thanks for you
1. Paul says 23
times in this letter!
iii. And remembering
you in my prayers
1. Paul’s
intercessory prayer life was one of his Spiritual Gifts, however, we should all
pray!
2. Remember, why
do we pray?
3. We are
instructed in scripture to pray
a. This is the
manner in which you pray
b. Pray for those
who persecute you
c. Pray in the
Spirit on all occasions
d. Do not be
anxious but with prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to
God
4. Jesus Prayed
regularly
5. Prayer is how
we communicate with God
6. Prayer allows
us to participate in God’s works
7. Prayer gives us
power over evil
8. Prayer is
always available
9. Prayer keeps us
humble before God
10. Prayer is
bringing things to light, situations, needs, and for those who cannot pray for
themselves.
a. God does not
hear the prayers of the unrighteous, unrepentant, sinners, we pray for them.
b. The only prayer
God hears for them is the prayer for Salvation.
II. I KEEP
ASKING GOD TO GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION
a. So you may know
Him better
i. Knowledge of Christ we receive through the Word enables the Holy Spirit
to increase our wisdom and revelation.
b. I pray the eyes
of your heart {having been} enlightened
i. They are in a present state of enlightenment.
ii. So you may know the hope to which He has called you
iii. The riches of His glorious inheritance (in the
Saints!)
1. Saints are God’s inheritance, since we are adopted
in!
iv. And His incomparably great power for us who believe
(put trust in)
1. The power to live a Holy life
c. That power is
the same He exerted raising Christ from the dead
i. And seating Him at His right hand
III. IN THE
HEAVENLY REALMS
a. Far above all
rule and authority
i. Far above power and dominion
ii. Above every name that is invoked
b. Not only in
this present age (dispensation) Church Age
i. But also in the one to come
ii. Now we are in the “Church Age” or the age of
Grace
iii. Next (after Rapture, Tribulation and Judgment) is
the Kingdom Age, or Age of Christ
c. God placed ALL
things under His (Jesus) feet
i. And appointed Him to be head over everything for the church
CONCLUSION – The church, which is his body
The church, His body, which is the fullness of Him
who fills everything in every way
Christ is the absolute, ultimate authority because
of the cross.
The church has its source of life in Him. Sustained
by His power, we are to be the instrument by which He works.
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