Preaching The Grace Of God From The King James Bible Dispensationally Delivered
Berean Bible Church – Edgewater Florida

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Introduction

The word “my” is used 165 times in the Pauline Epistles.  You may want to do a study sometime on the “my’s” of Paul.  He talks about My Life, My Mind, My Flesh, and of course My Gospel and the one we will look at today… My Prayers.

Prayer can become a real issue with believers.  Most religion, tradition and denominationalism today has a “uniform code of prayer”.  That is, it has become an exercise rather than a relationship.

It is paradoxical ^{seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true} to note that the peace loving religion of Islam, when it is not sawing off the heads of the innocent, has a rigorous prayer schedule in that they MUST pray five times a day.

Again, in the western world things are not much better.  Prayer beads, systematic prayers, prayer wheels, repetitious prayer and the “prayer language” has replaced the personal relationship between mankind and the creator.

It is interesting to note this verse: 

Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Even in more the more conservative circles of “bible believers” you have people praying for protection, transportation, and circumventation of the details of life.

When we turn to Paul however we began to get a different picture, pattern if you will to prayer.  It is to the “my prayers” of Paul then we will turn our attention today keeping in mind several verses.  1 Tim 1:16  / 2 Tim 2:7 

1 Tim 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

2 Tim 2:7  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

We are of course in our study of the book of Ephesians.  And it is here that we find one of Paul’s My Prayers.  There are four passages that use the term “My Prayers”. 

They are:  Rom 1:9 / Eph 1:15  / 2 Tim 1:3 / Phile 1:4

We will look at Ephesians 1:15 and FF and if time permits, the other 3 as well.

Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,  16  Cease not 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 unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,  16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

Paul had only heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Ephesians had a love that extended to All the saints.

The word mention means “recollection”.  A call to remembrance.

RE ^{do again} COLLECT ^{gather together} ION ^{suffix indicating action or condition}

In My Prayers.  The significance here is not in Action ^praying but in the Attitude of prayer in the age of grace – This we will discover as we move on…

17  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: 

Here we begin to see the purpose in prayer is not the obtaining of physical blessings but instruction in spiritual awareness.  Becoming aware of who and what we are “in Christ”.

Remember that verse at Eph. 6:12:

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We wrestle NOT against flesh and blood.  This is a spiritual awareness not to be found in religion, tradition and denominationalism!  This is a holy war but it is NOT against flesh and blood as a number of contemporary religions do!

Eph. 1:17  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: 

THAT indicates PURPOSE.  Paul has a purpose in his prayers and it is a spiritual purpose, it is a prayer for Spiritual awareness.

The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory… This is believer ground.  No lost person can benefit from nor understand the spiritual blessings that belong to those who are In Christ”.  Remember…

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

The spirit of wisdom.  “Spirit here, in this context ^{circumstances in which an event occurs} is a willingness to participate in what God is doing today.  In sharp relief to this would be the spirit of this world and its present course:

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

There are all kinds of spirits we could contrast this to: Meekness, wickedness, righteousness – the point we want to make is that this is something we already have in Christ that we give ourselves to – we become aware of what we have.

Wisdom & Revelation IN the knowledge of him. 

The fruit of this wisdom & revelation IS the knowledge of Him!

Wisdom - The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight. 

We might remember the “wisdom of Solomon” in this context. 1 Ki 3:16 - 1 Ki 3:28

1 Ki 3:28  And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Revelation -  Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized. 

We know something about God and his plans and purposes because of this spirit of wisdom and revelation. 

God has revealed unto us his plans and purposes for the ages!  1 Cor 2:7 

  1 Cor 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  9  But as it is written ^{Isa 64:4}, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1 Cor 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Comparing spiritual things with spiritual things is the starting point of spiritual awareness that allow

Notice the mechanics of divine wisdom and revelation:

we are called to salvation – we choose life or death
we are instantly filled and sealed
we then begin to study the word – again, by choice!
the Holy Spirit then begins this wisdom and revelation cycle
we then get to choose again – to follow or to forsake
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him takes place as we choose rightly.

Question: Does the Holy Spirit reside in the believer?

Question: Does the Holy Spirit Know the will of God?

Question: Has God provided us an objective standard of confirmation of the truth in the word of God rightly divided?

Question: What is the catalyst ^{a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction} that releases this wisdom and revelation residing in us in the form of the Holy Spirit?

It goes all the way back to where we started this message… in the willingness of the believer to participate in becoming spiritually aware of what God is doing today.

It is this spiritual awareness that Paul is praying for the believer to receive in the book of Ephesians.

Back to Ephesians 1

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

The eyes of understanding is again metaphor ^{figure of speech} to help us understand what is going on.  We have spiritual eyes that see spiritual  truth.

THAT again denotes purpose.  This enlightenment produces knowledge – an understanding.

The hope of his calling

In a simple overview it is all we have in Christ now and in the ages to come

The riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Notice we are his inheritance!

He is looking for you and me!

He is looking forward to bestowing unimagined grace and kindness on us!

The exceeding greatness of his power!

Not Just Power!

Not Just Exceeding Power

Not Just Greatness Of Power

But Exceeding Greatness Of Power

To Whom?

To us-ward who belive

According to the Working of His mighty power

Paul is praying for the spiritual awareness of the believer.

He is not praying for circumstances to change.

He is not praying  for physical enrichment.

He is praying for the believer to come to the full understanding of all that he has In Christ.

Finis