Welcome to week 4 of our series in the book of Ephesians. A letter about What we believe. How we live.

Eph. 1:15-18…

Lord, as we come before you this morning, open the eyes of our hearts and help us to see through Pauls prayer how we can grow in the knowledge of God. Taking another step Lord to being the church you have called us to be: a church that glorifies Jesus. Amen.

I have a card here, from a friend who lives in America. I don’t make a habit of hanging on to these sorts of things, in this case I have. A word in season, led by the Spirit can have a profound impact on someone else. Like this did for me. “Thank you so much my brother for your heart of encouragement and love for everyone that God puts along your path. I thank God for Fairfield Baptist Church”

This card gives me a small glimpse of what it must have been like for the church at Ephesus to receive this encouraging letter, and especially this prayer. A prayer that I’m believing will lift you up, will strengthen and empower this church.  A prayer for you to pray to know more of God in your life.

So far in Vv. 1-14 Paul has laid out what I’ve heard described as, a hymn of praise and it’s easy to see why:

• …³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…
• …⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us…
• …¹² God’s purpose was that we…would bring praise and glory to God.
• …¹⁴ …he has purchased us to be his own people…so we would praise and glorify

When we gather for prayer, we love to begin with praise and worship. Why? Because any prayer worth praying starts with who God is and what Christ has done. After all, what is prayer, without Christ.

So what does Paul do after the hymn of praise in Vv. 1-14? He doesn’t teach a set of action points. He prayed. He prayed! V.17 tells us why: that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

Paul prays because he knows these great spiritual truths about God need to move from the head to the heart! And that takes prayer!

Even though Paul sees a church with strong faith and love, he’s not about to let complacency creep in. He’s praying for more. So he says you guys are “strong in your faith, and your love for God’s people is everywhere…(but) I’m going to keep asking God to take you from the great place you’re in spiritually and make you even stronger”

Is there a more important prayer? The kind of prayer that can lift the entire spiritual life of a church. Like a tide that comes into a harbour and lifts all the boats.

I want to give you four reasons why this is an important prayer and how you can be encouraged in prayer. The first being, you’re…Empowered by Strong Faith. Look at v.15 again…ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus 

In my time in the building industry I saw plenty of examples of good foundations – properly excavated, filled with rock and compacted sand. Done right! Then I saw another kind. Shoddy, haphazard: “throw the concrete in there and with a little faith, she’ll be right” Maybe, except for one very important thing: it’s not faith that makes the foundation strong. It’s the foundation that gives faith its strength. And for Christians that foundation is Jesus – the rock!

Paul saw strong faith in the Ephesians church. Not a side-line, she’ll-be-right faith that dabbles in Christianity. Not faith that James says (1:5-8) is unsettled or unstable. No, strong faith, anchored in Christ.

What did we sing earlier? “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness…Christ alone, cornerstone…”[1]  If that’s more than words for you, that’s strong faith.

Paul hadn’t met everyone personally, yet he felt such a deep spiritual connection to them, he was compelled to pray and intercede for them. Why? Because Paul understood something crucial: faith is personal, but it’s never private. It doesn’t grow in isolation – it’s strengthened through prayer, encouragement, and shared spiritual life. Reinforced by Paul in Eph. 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

I think Paul means three things[2] from v.15: I ask God to give me strong faith, I pray for FBC to be full of strong faith, and I come alongside others, praying with them in person that they too would grow in strong faith.[3]

We won’t know everyone’s situation but we can take Paul’s encouragement and make it an encouragement for someone: “I’ve seen your strong faith, I have not stopped giving thanks to the Lord for you”[4]

Here’s what happens next: strong faith doesn’t sit still; you’re Empowered by Love for the Church

There’s no doubt that the church is called to love those not-yet-saved with the gospel. But Paul’s focus in this text is on our love for one another as a result of our shared faith in Jesus. So when Paul says in v.15 “I’ve heard your love for Gods people is everywhere” he’s saying that’s exactly what Christian love should look like; you’re doing it!

This is so empowering! The Ephesians shared Pauls deep affection for other Christians. See in…

Phil. 1:4 (NIV) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

2 Cor. 11:28 (NIV) I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches

It’s really important we catch the heart of Paul; whose vision was that Christian love isn’t limited to one congregation. Love, prayer and care is stretched across the entire body of Christ. Meaning Christian love isn’t isolated to these walls. It overflows with love for the whole family of God, everywhere.

This is one reasons I serve on the organising team for the Kirikiriroa Prayer Breakfast. Whilst my heart is for Gods mission in our city, if the only outcome was people seeing that the church is strong and unified in love – that would be powerful. It was Jesus himself who said Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (John 13:35)

Of all the things Paul could have encouraged with he starts with faith and love. Why? What was the church doing that made it so important for Paul to mention this? There’s no specific detail, but here’s several clues:

• 2:11-22 shows they were welcoming and inclusive of Christians from all cultures.
  • 2:19 …you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people…
• Sadly, this church would lose its first love for Jesus, but it was – as Rev 2 tells us – a church that worked hard, persevered, endured hardships and didn’t grow weary.
• 4:2-3 says Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
  • Because he’s not correcting them, he’s saying keep growing in these…
• And, they had a culture of building others up
  • 4:29 (talk about) only what is helpful for building others up…

No wonder Paul said “your love is everywhere” What is FBC known for? Love?

When we are empowered by love for the Church, and that love drives us to us our knees in prayer, we are invested in the lives and welfare of other Christians. It forces us to see beyond ourselves.

FBC could be the church that has a love for Gods people everywhere.  You say “I have little to no capacity to give, show, make an effort or build someone else up” I get it! Here’s my encouragement: ask God to fill you up and give you more capacity to love, and watch what happens! Be empowered to love!

Evidently, the Ephesians faith and love stirred something so deep in Paul’s heart he writes in v.16: “I have not stopped thanking God for you…I pray for you constantly…”

Empowered by Persistent Gratitude & Prayer

Persistent gratitude was woven into Pauls life of constant prayer. From v.16 I see two powerful applications. First, a further opportunity to encourage another believer. Take time to meet, to text, or email with these words: “I have not stopped thanking God for you…I pray for you constantly…” How powerful would it be if this kind of encouragement was happening regularly across our church?

As Paul writes in Rom. 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.[5]

Secondly, persistent gratitude and constant prayer does something in us. In fact, it may even impact us more than it impacts others. Why do I believe that? It shifts my focus off self and onto others; it alters my attitude; furthermore, we get the blessing of knowing we’re following the teaching of God’s word. Encourage someone, perhaps this week, and watch what God does, in them and you.

That takes us to Pauls 3^rd reason, you’re Empowered to Grow

If you’ve ever been to a good old Kiwi potluck or a marae meal, you know how it works. You arrive thinking, “I’ll just have a small plate.” Then someone says, “Have you tried Auntie’s roast lamb?” Don’t forget the deep fried scallops, then remember to check out the delicious chocolate mud cake down the end” And before you know it, you’re going back for seconds, maybe thirds – not because you’re greedy, but because the table is loaded, and it would be a shame to miss what’s there.

That’s what it’s like in the Christian life. We miss so much of what God wants to give us. Wanting more of God is one thing, stepping forward, hungry for more is another thing entirely. When we truly begin to grasp all that God has given us in Christ – the banquet of blessings, the hope, the inheritance – we don’t settle for scraps, we hunger for more. Not more stuff, not more hype – but more of him. More of his presence, more of the Spirit’s power in our lives.

This is exactly why Paul prays, constantly: (I’m) 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. Paul writes a similar prayer in Phil. 1:9-11 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing…

Paul is saying: Don’t take a small plate and walk away. Come back. Ask for more. Keep growing in the knowledge of God.

As we listen to Paul’s prayer let’s ask ourselves: how are we situating ourselves to answer this prayer? In other words, number 1:

• Are we bold enough to pray, constantly “God, would you give me spiritual wisdom and insight so that I might grow in knowledge of you?
• Then, #2, what are we doing – or not doing – that allows the Holy Spirit to do his work in us so that we might grow in the knowledge of God.

Let’s be careful to see when Paul says knowledge of God he’s not talking about just facts, head knowledge and listening to more podcasts about God. Neither is growth is about staying static, or maintaining. No he means knowing God as in a devoted, loving and progressively growing relationship. “There’s a difference – J. I. Packer says – between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve him, boldness to share him, and contentment in him.”[6]

There is no more important prayer to pray than to grow in the knowledge of God. And not only pray to grow, but step into growth, which isn’t something we schedule, or wait to do when life is less busy, or the kids are older, or when God gives me a clearer sign! Pauls reasons are clear enough! Folks, we don’t want to miss out on what God is doing now!

So when Paul prays for the Ephesians to grow in the knowledge of God, he means it to be not just information but transformation. Change. Growth. The more you know God, it shows up in your gratitude, your praying, your worship, your giving, and, your love for the church.

Do you know him? Really know him? Paul has laid out this banquet of blessings God has for you, and today God invites you into those benefits and blessings, to know him more. Be empowered to grow!

Pauls final reason is, you’re Empowered by a Revelation of Hope

We’ve arrived at v.18. I want us to see how vital these words are for our Christian walk, today. Today. Yes 1^st century Ephesus didn’t have the technology, social media, or pace of modern life we have, but let’s not think they didn’t face the same core challenges: family issues, moral confusion, church struggles, temptations, work stress, illness. Sound familiar?

When it comes to the Bible, perhaps we’re often left asking God, just tell me what to do? Give me something practical? So Paul says ok, here we go: (V. 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.

“Come on Ross, that’s not practical” Folks, what we need most right now isn’t a 30-minute, 12-step self-help talk. There’s no place we can go to find what our souls need apart from the person of Jesus Christ. ?Todays the day…

Understanding the confident hope Paul prays in v.18 comes from:

• God showing you who he is and what he’s done for you – he’s done that in his word.
• Then, our hearts are “flooded with light” (“enlightened”) It’s like walking into a pitch-black room and suddenly having the lights thrown on. You go from seeing nothing to seeing everything.
  • A complex theological phrase for that moment: “I see him!”

Remember the song “Open the eyes of my heart…I want to see you…” that’s what Paul is praying!

Confident hope is “seeing” what God has done for me and what he has saved me from. Confident hope is knowing Christ is returning and that my future in eternity with him is secured.  Confident hope is living with no guilt in life nor fear in death[7]. That’s what Paul prayed, for the Christians eyes to be opened to.

“Ross, I don’t get it, I’m not hearing God, I don’t feel his love, I’ve got no hope, God’s not interested in me” So where are you looking for hope? Books, movies, food, magazines, Facebook, won’t do it.

Here’s my encouragement: God gets you! He’s always speaking to you! And here’s how much he loves you; he sent his son to die for you[8] – he is absolutely interested in you!

Our world offers no real basis for hope. It didn’t in Paul’s day either. In fact a common epitaph back then read, “I was not, I was, I am not, I don’t care” [9] Hopelessness dominated. Is today really any different?

What is hope apart from Jesus. Where is hope found if not in Jesus? I love how Charles Moule defined hope: “faith standing on tiptoe.”[10] Paul’s prayer is not just some pie-in-the-sky, take a chance on life, wishful thinking. God, in the person of Jesus has provided a bridge between hopelessness and hope.

For you to have this hope means for you to place your faith in Jesus Christ. If you haven’t already, you can walk out of this place today, with 100% degree of certainty that your future is in Gods safe hands.

I’m going to do this: let’s keep getting on our knees friends until you see him and watch what happens! Be empowered by a revelation of hope.

On our way to the recent leaders retreat at Mt Maunganui, we drove past the Port of Tauranga. I looked at those massive ships and thought – how do they stay secure? Not with bailing twine – but with huge chains and ropes, built to withstand pressure and storms, because they want those things well secured, right?! It got me thinking: what, rather who are we tied to spiritually? In Ephesians 1, Paul prays that we’d grow in our knowledge of God, so that – rather than having a flimsy connection that breaks and causes us to drift all over the show – our hope is in him, anchored to him.

I love Heb. 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Pauls prayer in Eph. 1 wasn’t just theory, it came from lived experience. He knew what it meant to be spiritually blind – and then to have his eyes opened by the power of God; didn’t he? So he’s give us this prayer to help us see and love the Jesus he saw and loved. His radical transformation is echoed loudly in the words of the great hymn: “I once was blind but now I see” See!

I see what Christ has done for me, I see what I’m saved from, and I see what I need to do, now. There is a way we want to live life but there’s only one way for us to live: every day glorifying the Lord Jesus. We know God isn’t in the business of making life easy – easy never results in spiritual growth. God is in the business of making souls strong. So for all the personal challenges we might be facing, or to simply make a fresh resolve to grow, be empowered by these four God-inspired verses.

Let’s pray this for ourselves. Let’s pray this for one another. Let’s pray this for the church we love: “God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give us spiritual wisdom and insight so that we might grow in our knowledge of God. We pray that our hearts will be flooded with light so that we can understand the confident hope you have given to those you have called – your holy people, your rich and glorious inheritance.

Is there a more important prayer?!

[1] CCLI # 6158927

[2] Because he saw (at least heard of) these things in the church.

[3] Snodgrass, Klyne. “Bridging Contexts” In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Ephesians. By Klyne Snodgrass, 81-84. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1996.

[4] Snodgrass, 81-84

[5] Eph. 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

[6] 15 Quotes “Knowing God” J.I. Packer (1926 – 2020) • Evangelica Sola

[7] # 3350395

[8] John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:9-11

[9] Snodgrass, Klyne. “Bridging Contexts” In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Ephesians. By Klyne Snodgrass, 82. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1996.

[10] Hope | THE POETRY PLACE