Ephesians 1 verse 15-20
Ephesians 1:15-20 The prayer for knowledge and power
15 Paul who is writing to them from prison has heard the good news of their abiding faith in the Lord Jesus, and not only that but also their love that abounds towards all the saints of God. Love begins and ends with God and it comes from our relationship with Him. It follows that if we love God we will love those who serve Him too. As our love for God increases it follows that our love for others will grow stronger and stronger also. 1st John 4:7 Beloved let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. True Christianity brings forth love towards our fellow man, especially those who are of like faith with us. We don’t need to go about being critical of others or correcting or putting others down, we are to uplift and encourage others and think of others more than ourself.
16 Paul keeps them in prayer and continual thanks to God for them. We are to do the same for those who are of the household of faith. If we are praying for each other we will care more and more for each other. If we are critical of each other then we are not spending time in prayer for each other.
17 Paul prays to God the Father who is the Father of Jesus as well as all of us. Again calling Him Father shows our sonship and His ownership over us. He is our Father and we are His sons. John 20:17 The words of Jesus confirm this. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit of promise and His desire is to fill us with wisdom and to reveal the truth of Gods word unto us. He is our teacher who reveals truth unto us. The word tells us if we lack wisdom to ask of God and He will give it to us. We need to pray for God to fill us with wisdom, just as Paul is praying for others here. As a Christian we must pray in order to receive, for without prayer our faith will never grow and we will be stagnant in our walk with God. We also need to hold each other up in prayer that we might all grow together in our faith. If we ask of God in faith we receive according to our faith. Without asking we do ourself a disservice. Yes we have the Holy Spirit but we need to ask for more to be given us, often we have not because we ask not.
18 Paul asks God to open the eyes of their understanding that they might understand more and see more clearly in the spiritual. That we might know what is the hope of His calling for the saints. Ephesians 1:12 That we would live our lives for Him and be who He called us to be. C We inherit the right to be called the sons of God for He purposed it in Himself before the worlds were made. He proclaims us to be His for He is our Father and we are His inheritance as He is ours, that we might be one with Him and one with His son and one with the Holy Spirit.
19 We have no power of ourselves it is God’s power working through us on our behalf. This gives us the power to be bold to speak the word with confidence. It also gives us the power to rise above every adversity and to be victorious here in this life.
20 That same power which raised Jesus from the dead is the power we have working for us on our behalf. The power of God also enthroned Jesus beside the Father and gave Him authority over the nations. We through this same power are positionaly seated with God in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
21 Philippians 2:9-11 God has exalted Jesus far above every principality and power that exists or has ever existed, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord over all, whether in Heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth. Whatever is to come in the future will bow down to the authority of Jesus Christ.
22 There is nothing that is not under His feet, which means He is supreme over all. Revelation 1:8; 18 He has the keys of Hell and of death. He is the Almighty. Matthew 28:18 Jesus has been given all power in Heaven and in earth. v. 19-20 This is why we can preach, teach, baptize and fulfill the great commission which He has commanded us to do, because He is with us in carrying out His ministry.
23 Romans 12:5 We are all members of one another, we are part of the same body of Christ. 1st Corinthians 12:12-14 We are united by one Spirit who indwells all believers, whether Jew or Gentile. Jesus is the head over the church, we serve at His discretion.