“Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT)
”So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24 NKJV)
Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to flood our imaginations with light as we invest time in once again reading Paul’s prayer for the believers in Ephesus…
…“Because of this, since I first heard about your strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your tender love toward all his devoted ones, my heart is always full and overflowing with thanks to God for you as I constantly remember you in my prayers. I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling —that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming!” And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it!” (Ephesians 1:16-23 TPT)
Step 1: Probe the prayer under the light of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 21 -23 speak to the current position of Jesus from which he administers this power…
…“And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming!” And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it!”
Oh my goodness. When I began to get a hold of what Paul was praying my complete outlook on life began to change. Let’s start with the end in mind. Verse 23 ends by describing a transfer of power on this earth from Jesus to me (and all believers – “his church”). I truly do need divine wisdom and revelation to fully grab onto what Paul is saying.
When Jesus came to earth, he set aside the innate use of his deity, became a man, and lived a sinless life by way of complete dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit. As a man, he completed the work of redemption and then returned to his rightful place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Now that he has been raised from the dead by the resurrection power of the Spirit, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, he has reclaimed his position and power. From his exalted heavenly position of authority he is empowering his church to rule and reign on his behalf.
I am Jesus’ representative to everyone that I meet. I carry the privilege and responsibility to be a “witness.” I have been given the power and authority to make an eternal difference in the lives of those around me…
…”But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 AMP)
…”These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” (Mark 16:17-18 NLT)
…“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12 NLT)
…”And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)
What a powerful prayer! I have been given the…
…Spirit of wisdom;
…Spirit of revelation;
…illuminated imagination;
…revelation of hope;
…glorious inheritance;
…immeasurable greatness of God’s power;
…divine authority.
I can’t think of any need or want that is beyond the scope of what I already possess in Christ.
What great and precious promises have been shared in…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 433: Praying With Paul – Ephesians 1:15-23 Part 7