Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 7: Prayer for the Ephesians

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 7:

Prayer for the Ephesians

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 2^nd journey began in 50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.

Paul’s 3^rd journey began in 55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from 58-60AD. During his 3^rd journey Paul wrote 1^st and 2^nd 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, 1^st 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 3:14-21

 For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians

The message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.

Scripture again begins with “Therefore”, which is a reference to the previous verses where Paul explains that God has revealed His plan, to make all people one in Christ, both Jew and Gentile. To God there is no difference. This is accomplished through the mystery which has been revealed, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today, Paul tells the Ephesians of his prayers for them.

    I.      FOR THIS REASON

a.  The reason he is praying

                                                                                  i. Because of unity within the Body of Christ, and equalization of all believer’s

b. I kneel before the Father (greek = patèr)

                                                                                  i. I kneel (lit. I bow my knees)

1. Meaning showing reverence in our hearts to God

2. Some show this outwardly by physically kneeling

3. However, as with all symbolic ordinances, what takes place in the heart far exceeds any outward work or action.

                                                                               ii. The Father (patèr in Greek)

1. Meaning simply Paul is showing his reverence to God the Father

2. Defining Father in the Greek is important because of understanding the next verse!

c. From whom every family (greek = patria / where we get patriarch)

                                                                                  i. From whom (Paul is speaking of the Father in heaven)

                                                                               ii. Every Family (patria in Greek)

1. Where we get the word Patriarch

2. Meaning the male figure (related by birth or covenant) who rules over those who belong to him.

                                                                            iii. In other words, Paul is sating

1. I submit in reverence praying to the Father in heaven

2. Who is the Father of those who belong to Him

3. Praying for you

II.      I PRAY

a. That you (Family – Patria)

                                                                                  i. Speaking specifically of those who belong to the Father in heaven

1. Out of His glorious riches

2. He may strengthen you (those belonging to Him)

a. With power

3. Through His Spirit (the Holy Spirit)

a. In your inner being

b. And I pray

                                                                                  i. That you, being rooted and established in Love

1. In other words, belonging to the Father through Christ Jesus

                                                                               ii. May have power (speaking of the strengthening through the Holy Spirit) together with all the Lord’s Holy People

1. Remember Paul’s words from the last few weeks.

a. No Greeks and Jews

b. No Jew’s and Gentiles

c. No denominations

d. No division

e. No bond or free

2. The Church get’s its POWER through the Holy Spirit when the church (meaning all of God’s Holy People) are TOGETHER!

a. Then we will understand or be able to grasp

c. To grasp how wide, long, high, deep is the love of Christ

                                                                                  i. Platos, mekos, bathos, hoopsos

1. Breadth, length, depth, height

                                                                               ii. LIT Breadth - meaning the scope, compass, scale, degree

                                                                            iii. Length – measured from end to end (also, the distance, span, reach, duration)

                                                                              iv. Depth – measured from top to bottom (also, how profound, deep, wisdom, understanding, intelligence, insight)

                                                                                 v. Height – the size, elevation, stature, the high place, high ground, the peak, zenith, pinnacle

                                                                              vi. .In other words, Paul is saying, “I pray that you who belong to the Father through Christ Jesus, will find strength together in unity from the Holy Spirit and discover the great extent, might, extreme depth and high position of God the Father!”

III.      TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE

a. According to His power that is at work within us

                                                                                  i. The Holy Spirit

b. To Him be glory in the church

                                                                                  i. Him (God the Father whom Paul just described)

                                                                               ii. Be glory in the church

1. The church = those who belong to the Father

2. Who are in UNITY as one people in Christ Jesus

c. And in Christ Jesus throughout all generations

                                                                                  i. And glory in Christ Jesus

                                                                               ii. All generations (dispensations) to come

CONCLUSION – Forever and ever, amen!

           

Paul prays that the body of Christ (believer’s) or “The Church” would be one people in unity with the Holy Spirit, finding strength and understanding of the greatness and unimaginable power of God the Father which can be understood through “unity” of believer’s.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 6: Paul’s Revelation

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 6:

Paul’s Revelation

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 2^nd journey began in 50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.

Paul’s 3^rd journey began in 55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from 58-60AD. During his 3^rd journey Paul wrote 1^st and 2^nd 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, 1^st 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 3:1-13

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. ⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,¹¹ according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ¹³ I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Paul’s Explanation how both the Jew and Gentile are reconciled through Christ

The message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.

Scripture again begins with “Therefore”, which is a reference to the previous verses where Paul explains that there are those who were born Gentile, but were no longer separate from the Lord because of the blood of Christ, and because of Christ, Gentiles are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of the household.

Today, Paul explores God’s plan for the Gentiles.

    I.      THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST

a. Paul, a prisoner of Christ for the sake of Gentiles

                                                                                  i. Remember, Paul wrote this epistle from a prison in Rome.

                                                                               ii. He did not consider himself a prisoner of Nero, rather a prisoner for the sake of Christ.

b. The mystery revealed to Paul through revelation by the Holy Spirit

                                                                                  i. Which was made known to Paul so we would have it in text

c. Which was not made known to other generations

                                                                                  i. However, has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit to Apostles and Prophets

1. Paul was given this revelation first! Galatians 1:11-12

                                                                               ii. What is the mystery? Through the gospel Gentiles are heirs with Israel, members of one body, sharing in the promise of Christ Jesus

II.      GOD CHOSE (CHOOSES) THE LEAST

a. I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people

                                                                                  i. True humility made evident here in scripture

b. God’s Grace was given to me

                                                                                  i. As it is to us all

c. Mission: to preach to the Gentiles the Boundless Riches of Christ

                                                                                  i. The riches are not gold and silver, which is worldly, rather salvation and reconciliation to God through the Cross, which is Spiritual.

                                                                               ii. And to make plain (easy to understand) to everyone (Jew and Gentile) the administration (delivering) of this mystery.

III.      REVELATION THROUGH THE CHURCH

a. God’s intent is that NOW (the church age / age of Grace) through the church, the wisdom of God should be known

                                                                                  i. What mystery? The gospel converts the lost into God’s people

                                                                               ii. Made known to whom?

1. Rulers and Authorities in heavenly realms (righteous angels)

2. Because even the angels had not known of God’s intent from before time to bring man into reconciliation to God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

b. According to God’s eternal purpose (from before the beginning)

                                                                                  i. God formed the plan of salvation of man before time

                                                                               ii. That plan was centered on the Lord Jesus and what He did at the Cross

c. In Christ Jesus our Lord, we may approach God with freedom and confidence

                                                                                  i. Because of the Cross

1. We can have boldness in our approach to God (Hebrews 4:16)

                                                                               ii. The only way we have access to the Throne of God is by and through Jesus Christ and His atoning work at the Cross

CONCLUSION – i ask you therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

           

We close today with Paul asking that we not allow our faith to weaken because he is currently in a Roman prison writing.

“Which is your glory”

In other words, whatever happens to me will be for your good, and for the greater good of proclaiming the gospel.

God is in control, even when others cannot see it.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!