Praying for Wealth (Part 1)
There are times in our lives when things aren’t going our way. It feels like we are swimming against the tide. Then someone comes along, and even the smallest of gestures, like a smile or kind deed, can change the tide. When this happens, we feel a deep sense of gratitude. That’s how Paul felt for these Ephesians, and what he does to express his gratitude is incredible. It’s a blueprint for how we should pray for others - he prays for a wealth we can scarcely comprehend.
Scripture
Ephesians 1:15-18a ESV For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
Bible Study Questions
Living in the Spirit of Christ
In the first verse of this morning’s message, we read the reason why Paul is so grateful for the Ephesians. When you read the reason for it, does it remind you of another important part of scripture?
Ephesians 1:15 ESV For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
Matthew 22:34-40 ESV But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
The man of prayer
When we read Paul’s response in gratitude, it brings our attention to a characteristic of the apostle that we don’t often consider - his prayer life. Where else can you think of Paul expressing his immense prayer life?
Ephesians 1:16 ESV I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Acts 9:11 ESV And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying,
How to pray
You can imagine that Paul was very grateful for the Ephesians, after all he had been through. What’s remarkable is the way he prays for them… He prays for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Can you think of another time in the Bible when there is a prayer for wisdom?
Ephesians 1:117 ESV that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
1 Kings 3:9 ESV Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
Head matter verse hear matters
When you compare the two prayers, you can see the difference between the two. Solomon prayed for a wisdom of the world - a mind matter. Paul is praying for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God - a heart matter. How does the difference play out between the two types of wisdom prayers?
Ephesians 1:117 ESV that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
1 Kings 3:9 ESV Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
1 Kings 11:9 ESV And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice
Romans 10:9 ESV because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
The Spirit of wisdom and revelation
What does it mean for us to have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him?
Ephesians 1:117 ESV that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Acts 17:27 ESV that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
The eyes of our hearts, enlightened
What do you think Paul means when he asks for the Ephesians’ hearts to be enlightened?
Ephesians 1:18 ESV having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
Acts 26:15-18 ESV And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
So we can believe
When we read the Bible and hear of God’s redemptive plan, we can comprehend it from a mind perspective. But often, it is hard to grasp the love He has for us. Why do you think this is?
Ephesians 1:18 ESV having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,
Romans 7:23 ESV but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Romans 5:8 ESV but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.