Pray for God to illuminate His Word to you. God, excite my heart, enlighten my mind, and show me something new about Your purpose for Your church. Amen.
Read Ephesians 1:15-23
Paul began the book of Ephesians declaring the great Hope and blessings we have through Christ Jesus. He now continues with a prayer for his family in Christ. This prayer is not devoted to material requests, but instead a request for wisdom and revelation—that our eyes may be opened to the blessings we have been given (Eph. 1:3-14) in Christ Jesus as our head (Eph. 1:22).
Read through Ephesians 1:15-23 again. Make note of words and concepts that seem important or stand out to you.
Taking It Personally
Choose one word or concept that stuck out to you and write it on a notecard or as a reminder on your phone, set to pop up on your screen three or more times during the day. Throughout the day, take a moment to stop and dwell on the truth of this word or concept..
Pray for God to illuminate His Word to you. God, excite my heart, enlighten my mind, and show me something new about Your purpose for Your church. Amen.
Today we will look at Ephesians 1:15-17. Read through Ephesians 1:15-23 again and then review the following questions concerning this introductory section to this letter. Write your thoughts in a journal or the space provided.
Reason, Manner, and Object of Paul’s Prayer for Revelation (Eph. 1:15–17)
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Taking It Personally
Paul used the written word to exhort and encourage his Christian family. Consider texting, calling, or sending a handwritten note to one of the people who you wrote down as worthy to receive a prayer of thanksgiving. Share with them how their faith and love has impacted your life. And then, before you send the letter, pray a prayer of thanksgiving for this person.
Pray for God to illuminate His Word to you. God, excite my heart, enlighten my mind, and show me something new about Your purpose for Your church. Amen.
Today we will look in-depth at Ephesians 1:18–20. First, read through Ephesians 1:15-23 again for context.
The Focus on Power in Paul’s Prayer for Revelation (Eph. 1:18–20)
Prayer
Spend some time in prayer, giving praise to God that the “eyes of your heart have been enlightened.” Thank Him for His illumination and promise of resurrection and a future eternal hope with Him. If there are specific areas of your life where you would like these truths to sink deeper, invite the LORD to come into those aspects. Picture yourself laying those areas of your life before the LORD? How does He respond? Pause in His Presence, wait, and listen for what He might speak to you.
Pray for God to illuminate His Word to you. God, excite my heart, enlighten my mind, and show me something new about Your purpose for Your church. Amen.
Today we will look more in-depth at Ephesians 1:21-23. First, read slowly through Ephesians 1:1-23 for context.
Praying to See the Headship of Christ (Eph. 1:21–23)
Pray for God to illuminate His Word to you. God, excite my heart, enlighten my mind, and show me something new about Your purpose for Your church. Amen.
Read through Ephesians 1:15-23 again.
Paul begins with a prayer request that the Ephesians would take ownership of what God has already done on their behalf. By doing this, they would:
1. Experience a spiritual reality through spiritual revelation;
2. See Christ’s resurrection and exaltation as the key to understanding this reality;
3. Recognize the ecclesiology of the church (the theology and nature of the Christian church) is founded on the same power being at work in the church that is at work in Christ Jesus: the Holy Spirit.
In just nine verses, Paul prays a tremendous prayer over the Ephesians. Is there one point listed that needs to become more of a reality and truth in your own life?
Taking It Personally
Adapted from Ephesians: A 12-Week Study © 2016 by Eric C. Redmond. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
