But his marvelous prayer teaches us how we are to pray for one another. We can't pray like that ourselves - except by imitation of the Apostle's prayer. Paul uses such enthusiastic theological and spiritual language, you're almost overwhelmed. So I've decided to include them both in a two-part lesson. He concludes the prayer at the end of chapter 3 and caps it off with a wonderful doxology.Īs I was trying to prepare a list of the great prayers of theīible, first one then the other of these prayers was on the list, He begins a prayer in chapter 1, then leaves it in praise of Christ. As you read Ephesians, he seems like he goes from prayer to praise and back again. Paul offers two intercessory prayers for the Ephesian believers in this amazing letter, though he was accustomed to ask God for extravagant blessings in other letters (Philippians 1:9 4:19 Colossians 1:9-14 1 Thessalonians 3:12 2 Thessalonians 1:3 cf. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.Ģ0Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.ġ4For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Rembrandt (and Workshop?), "Apostle Paul" (1657), Oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 40.9" x 51.6".ġ5For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. In this 1657 painting, Rembrandt pictures St.
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