Paul’s Illuminating Prayer for the Saints Ephesians 1:15-23

After the grand Apostle Paul conveyed to these saints the awesome salvation that they possessed, he prayed for their spiritual illumination of their great salvation.  He wanted the saints to really understand what they possessed in Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:15-23 may be outlined as follows:  I. The Believers’ Great Calling of God – Ephesians 1:15-18; II. The Great Power of God that Believers Possess – Ephesians 1:19-23.

1. The Believers’ Great Calling of God – Ephesians 1:15-18

There are two prayers for saints recorded in Ephesians; one is in Ephesians 3:14-19 and the other one is found in our text – Ephesians 1:15-23.  From the very first time that Paul heard of their faith and love (v. 15), he prayed for them unceasingly (v. 16).  His concern was that they might actually understand all that was theirs.  Although they possessed it all at the moment of salvation, apparently, they did not fully understand the consummate potential of their inheritance.

Brothers and Sisters, we possess a wealth of blessings in Jesus Christ.  These believers needed the “spirit of wisdom and revelation” imparted to them to understand the full import of their inheritance (v. 17).  As a result of the Holy spirit’s granting the “spirit of wisdom and revelation” (v. 17), the believers’ understanding is enlightened (v. 18).  Paul wanted or desired that these believers might “know what is the hope of His calling” (v. 18).  God had called these saints to Himself.  In fact, all who ever came to Him in faith have been called first by Him.  Paul also desired that these believers would know by experience “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (v.18).  The more God’s people are enlightened by the Spirit, the more they come to understand all they possess in Christ.  Our inheritance is beyond our finite comprehension!

1. The Great Power of God that Believers Possess – Ephesians 1:19-23

Paul continued to pray in verse 19 that the believers would know: “what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe.”  Paul desired that they might know God’s power by experiencing its workings.  After praying that the believers might experience an outgrowth of God’s power, Paul pointed to the power that raised Christ from the dead.

Proof that the Father accepted the finished work of His Son is to be found in His raising Him from the dead.  Also, after Christ was raised from the dead, He was seated “at His (God’s) own right Hand in the heavenly places” with exalted power (vv. 20-21).  Because of Christ’s finished work and its acceptance by the Father, Christ became the “Head over all things to the church.”  The church is the body of Christ that began after the death, resurrection and exaltation of Christ (vv. 22-23).