The Chosen One's: Prayer
Sermon Series: The Chosen One's: How Shall We Now Live
Sermon Title: The Chosen One's: Prayer
Sermon Text: Ephesians 1:15-23
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to be diligent to pray for spiritual enlightenment related to heavenly blessings.
Sermon Proposition: There are 3 aspects of Paul's intercessory prayer.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23 (NKJV)
I. The intercession is a prayer for the realization of the provisions of the chosen one's. v.15-18a
A. The chosen one's faith in the Lord. v.15a (Romans 14:9)
B. The chosen one's love for the saints. v.15b (1 John 2:9-11; Philippians 2:2)
C. The chosen one's spirit of wisdom and revelation of Christ. v.16-17a (Ephesians 6:18-20; Ephesians 4:2-5; Romans 5:1-5; Colossians 1:9; Galations 5:5-6)
II. The intercession is a prayer for the realization of the purpose of the chosen one's. v.18
A. The prayer for understanding the Father's hope of calling in Christ. v.18a (Romans 5:2; Colossians 3:4)
§ Strength - Philippians 4:13
§ Love - Romans 5:5
§ Grace - 2 Corinthians 12:9
B. The prayer for understanding the Father's rich inheritance in the saints. v.18b
III. The intercession is a prayer for the realization of the power of the chosen one's. v.19-23
A. The declaration that validates God's power. v.19-21
1. Validation is seen in the raising of Christ. v.19-20
2. Validation is seen in the exaltation of Christ. v.21 (Psalm 110:1; Psalm 8:6)
B. The declaration that visualizes God's power. v.22-23
0. Visualization is seen in Christ's headship over the church. v.22
1. Visualization is seen in Christ's headship through the church. v.23