Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
A great prayer to pray for your students, your own family, coworkers, other believers, or anyone else you relate to.
Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom
Verses 15-23 are one sentence in the Greek.
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,
Paul had spent some time in Ephesus a few years earlier, but he would not have known the newer believers or others who may have read his letter.
Paul made similar statements to other churches.
Colossians 1:4 NLT
4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,
2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
Paul’s description of the Ephesians:
The Ephesians had faith in the Lord Jesus – a right vertical relationship.
The Ephesians had a love for God’s people everywhere – a right horizontal relationship.
- A proper relationship with God should lead to a proper relationship with other Christians.
Matthew 22:37-39 NLT
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Galatians 5:6 NLT
6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Remember – Faith and love come from God.
Ephesians 6:23 NLT
23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness.
1 John 4:7 NLT
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
… And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…
- Faith and love come from God.
Paul’s prayer:
16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,
- Paul begins his prayer giving thanks to God.
Because of the Ephesians’ faith and love, Paul continues to give thanks for them.
17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul’s request.
to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
Praying for spiritual wisdom and insight.
To know God personally, not just to know about Him intellectually.
We can know God.
John 14:7 NLT
7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
1 John 2:3 NLT
3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.
To know God we must know His Word.
- Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know God personally and intimately. Paul wanted them to have the spiritual understanding to grasp the full significance of all that God had done for them.
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have a spiritually enlightened mind.
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to understand the confident hope God has given to those he called.
The assurance of eternal life.
- Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the hope he gives to those he has called.
his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Understand that we are a part of God’s family. We belong to God.
Romans 8:17 NLT
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to understand God’s great power.
God’s power for us who believe him.
The power of God’s Spirit at work in and through His people.
This is not our power, rather it is the power at work in us.
- Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the incredible greatness of the power of God’s Spirit at work in and through His people.
This mighty power:
This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
23 And the church is his (Christ’s) body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
This mighty power:
Power over death.
Jesus’ power and authority transcend all rival powers, in this world and in the world to come.
The church is made full and complete by Christ.
