Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-19 "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 the hope of his calling is, 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."

Reflection:

"Hold fast to the profession of your faith without wavering, for God is faithful to keep His promise." The Bible also tells us faith without works is dead and to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul; love our neighbor as ourselves. The common denominator in our text for today is faith and love. Faith and love are the building blocks of our spiritual journey. Today, let us examine a heartfelt prayer from the Apostle Paul writing to the church in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:15-19), where he reveals three critical elements of prayer:

1. Why should we pray

2. When should we pray

3. What should we pray for?

Unwavering Faith

As I meditated on our text, my mind returned to when I was on a bustling college campus. I am a typical college student, navigating through lectures, exams, and the occasional social event. One day, as I walked between classes with some friends, two gentlemen crossed our paths and began to share the gospel of Jesus.

As these two young men shared the gospel, I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. At last, the message that I heard as a young girl resonated with me, touching a chord deep within my heart. The words of love, forgiveness, and redemption caused me to repent for my sins. That day, my life changed forever as I experienced Jesus's love for me. Being filled with gratitude, I embraced sharing the gospel with others. Instead of keeping this revelation to myself, I started small, organizing prayer groups and discussions within my community. My enthusiasm and sincerity attracted like-minded individuals, and soon, a community of believers began to form. I share my story because it relates to how the Apostle Paul felt when he heard the news about the church at Ephesus. I can always hear my grandmother giving thanks to God as she heard about my faith in Jesus and my love for the people of God.

My passion didn't stop at the campus gates. I embarked on a journey to share the message of hope and faith wherever I go. My story leads us to our first point. The Apostle Paul gives us a clue as to why we should pray in verse 15. He said, "After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints," The Apostle Paul prayed because he had heard of their unwavering faith and love. He was so excited that this news caused him to express his joy in a letter to the Ephesians and thank God in his prayer time. What is your Why? How do we respond to the news we hear? Do we thank God for transforming others through our witness? When should we pray?

A Heart Overflowing with Gratitude

In verse 16, he states, "I never stop giving thanks for you in my prayers." When did the Apostle Paul pray? He prayed immediately and continuously in response to what he heard. Paul had a constant flow of thanksgiving and appreciation for the faith and love of the believers. Without hesitation, Paul offers up a prayer of gratitude. Paul extends the example of Jesus praying for us throughout His ministry. Praying with a grateful heart is a powerful reminder of how gratitude can transform our spiritual journey.

Paul's prayer

In this passage, we can examine Paul's prayer in detail. In verse 17, Paul asks God to grant four spiritual gifts to enable us to understand the hope of our calling. He says, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." The Apostle Paul understands the importance of spiritual gifts and prays for our spiritual understanding to be enlightened to grasp the hope of our divine calling. This prayer invites us to explore the purpose and significance of our spiritual journey, aligning our lives with God's plan.

Paul also encourages believers to comprehend "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." Our inheritance is not material wealth but a treasure trove of spiritual abundance, a divine legacy awaiting those who walk in faith and love.

Finally, Paul prays that God's power will work mightily in the lives of those who believe. When we put God first, we recognize that God is our source of strength when facing life's challenges. Remember, we have the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives for His glory.

Knowing the word of God

Knowing what to pray is simply knowing the word of God and applying it to your life. Praying the Word of God is the key to receiving answers to your prayers. So, let us be encouraged to embrace our inheritance and draw strength from God's power as we walk in faith and love.

In conclusion, the words of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians are still relevant for the church in Ephesians and believers today. "God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, he shall reap." if we sow to the flesh, corruption will follow, but sowing to the Spirit yields life everlasting.

If we continue to sow the seed of faith in our prayer life, we shall reap the harvest in due season if we do not faint. May Paul's prayer help you and me to persevere in our faith journey and trust in the promises of God.

Go!

Jesus said, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.

They shall take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and recover. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Teach Us Your Ways

Father, teach us your ways as you change our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. We desire to do your will.

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