Salvation Summaries

If you are like me, you have been a Christian for some time, but lack confidence in how to pray and what to pray for (and even who to pray to).  You have observed how others have prayed, and attempted to mimic their prayers to some extent, but would rather not do this (for who knows if they are praying correctly?).  You may have even read a book or two on prayer, but didn’t learn as much as you had hoped to, and later forgot what little you did learn.  What you really want, and need, are some foundational guidelines you can use to help you pray for yourself or others, and alone or in a group.

If this describes you, then I have some good news to share.  The purpose of this post, and  others I plan to write, is to offer guidelines, phrases and terms you can use to improve your prayer life. I am confident that after you read this short series of posts on prayer, you will be able to pray more easily and effectively. So, let’s get started.

In this post, I will analyze the first of Paul’s two prayers in Ephesians, which are in 1:15-19a, and 3:14-21.

Prayer: Ephesians 1:15-19a

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I 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.  I 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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Audience

Paul wrote this book to believers (to the “faithful saints”) in Ephesus.

Context/Occasion (why did he pray)

The verses immediately prior to Paul’s prayer, or those in 1:3-14, show us why Paul wanted to pray for them, and they also indicate what he might want to pray about.

In these verses, Paul details the many blessings the believers have received from God (God has chosen them, redeemed them, forgiven them, revealed His mystery to them, given them an inheritance, and sealed them with the promised Holy Spirit).  He then reminds them of how they became believers (when they “heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed”).

Because of everything God has done for these believers (given them every blessing in Christ, including eternal life), Paul is overwhelmed with gratitude to God for them.  They have received far more than anything the world could offer – more than fame and wealth – and it was all because of God’s grace.  Thus, out of his thankfulness for what God has done for them and their status (gift, honor) as believers (as evidenced by their faith in the Lord Jesus and love for other believers), Paul offers a prayer for them.

I think it’s important to note that many believers today do not seem to share that same level of excitement of and thankfulness for new believers the way that Paul did, and as such, likely seldom pray in this manner for them.  Why?  I think there are several reasons.  One is that many people who claim to be a Christian may well not be, and if that’s true, they do not have the Holy Spirit within them that might prompt them to pray for other believers like Paul did.  Second, if these people view themselves as a Christian but had no notable change in their way of life, then it’s really not a big deal to become one, and thus why go out of your way to pray with thanksgiving and joy over those who are like you.   Another reason is potential ignorance on the part of new Christians.  Yes, they have received all of these many blessings from God, but they’ve not grown enough in their understanding to be aware of this.  Once they fully understand all of the spiritual changes that have taken place in them on account of God’s grace and because of their faith in Jesus (sins forgiven, born again, a new creation, assurance of eternal life, etc.), they are more likely to have greater joy over other believers.

Who did he pray to (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, God)

God the Father

Descriptive terms

In the opening part of Paul’s letters, he uses the phrase “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” or “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In this prayer, Paul describes God the Father as “glorious” using the NIV; the NAS, ESV and KJV use the phrase “Father of glory.”

The Cambridge dictionary gives several definitions of glory, with the most relevant being praise, admiration and thanks, especially as given to God.

According to Strong’s concordance, glory (1391) refers to God’s infinite (without limits), inherent (a natural and permanent quality), intrinsic (an important and basic characteristic), worth (the importance or usefulness of) in general, but his majesty (admiration and respect for size, power, beauty, etc) in particular.

In my daily devotional “100 Names of God,” Hode is a name for His majesty.   This devotional well summarizes what God’s majesty means:

“To acknowledge God’s majesty is to give Him the worship and affection He is due simply because He is God. In His very nature He owns the right to be exalted and worshiped. He is due this right, not because of anything He’s done for us, but because He is worthy of praise simply because He is God.  His nature is majestic, transcendent, rich and powerful.” Because of his majestic nature, “anyone who stands before Him must pay tribute and worship.”

How did he pray (form, emotion, frequency)

The verses do not say if Paul raised his hands, bowed down or closed his eyes in prayer, but it is clear that he constantly prayed for the Ephesian believers with thanksgiving and  requests. Thus, it appears that Paul may have prayed the same prayer, or a similar one, over and over for them.

Order/format of his prayer

After a brief acknowledgement of who God is (the glorious Father) – in part due to what God has done for them – Paul then makes several requests.

Main issues he prayed about

1. That they may know God better (via God giving them a spirit of wisdom and revelation)
2. That they may know the “hope” to which God has called them, or the inheritance they will receive as believers
3. That they may know the power of God that is available to them as believers.

The first request – to know God better – is not too surprising given how much Paul had said earlier in the chapter on how much and in what ways God has richly blessed them.  Who would not want to know more about the One who did all of this?  In fact, that really should be the primary aim of every believer today.

The second request, which is essentially assurance of eternal life, is another thing believers should think about, for this gives them great joy knowing their salvation is secure, and that heaven awaits them.

The third request is something we should dwell on more and is one attribute of God, His power.  God’s power is more than sufficient to take us to heaven, and to help us in our time of need.

I found it interesting that half of the book of Ephesians, or chapters 4-6, are devoted to how Christians should live, yet Paul did not make any requests in his prayer for God to help them in this area (however, Paul did pray for this in Colossians 1:10).

How he ended his prayer

Paul ended his prayer with a request rather than an acknowledgement.  He did not conclude it the way we often do today, which is “in Jesus name, Amen.”

Guidelines on how to pray

• If you are not sure who to pray to – God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father, etc. – you can do what Paul did in his prayer and pray to God the Father.

• Paul started his prayer with an acknowledgement of who God is…our glorious Father. Glory in the Greek can refer to God’s majesty, and that’s how Paul used it.  Majesty is one attribute of God.  As such, you can mention one of God’s attributes when you begin your prayer to Him.  It would be appropriate to quote a Bible verse that mentions God’s majesty or glory.  Two examples are:
  • Psalm 8:9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
  • Psalm 96:6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

• If you are praying for another believer or group of believers, show God gratitude on what He has done for them.  Start your prayer with joy and thankfulness over these believers, and then move on to your requests.

• In this particular prayer of Paul’s – and indeed in most of the prayers in the New Testament – the focus was on their spiritual growth.  I believe most prayers today are likely filled with requests for physical (illness, suffering, pain), emotional (worry, anxiety) and/or financial needs, with limited requests for one’s spiritual needs and condition. If a person’s spiritual condition is truly more important than all of their other needs, it should be a regular part of our prayers.

Sample Prayer

God our Father,

We praise, admire and thank you because of your glory and majesty.  You are worthy to be exalted and worshiped. Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all of the earth!

Thank you for how richly you have blessed (insert name or names of people you are praying for). Thank you for forgiving them of their sins and giving them your Holy Spirit when they believed in the gospel of salvation and completely trusted in Jesus, their Lord, to save them.  We ask that you help them to know you better by giving them wisdom and spiritual insight.  Give them great joy over the assurance of their salvation and the rich inheritance they will receive in heaven.  Help them to more clearly see your great power in bringing everything under the name and authority of Jesus Christ, and in saving them.