Ephesians 1: Paul's Prayer

This week we will turn our attention to Paul's Prayer in the second part of chapter one. Last week we studied and talked about what it means to be blessed and how God has blessed us. Start this week by praying and asking the Lord to open up your eyes to His Truth. Grab your observation worksheets and read through chapter one. Now read back through 1:15-23. Our study this week will focus on these verses. As you read mark these words: prayer, what is/what are, knowledge, power, & body.

Get out your journal and make a list of what Paul is praying for the Ephesians.

Now let's dive into it! What is Paul praying for them? My hope is that you see this is not just a prayer, but Paul's hope for their growth as they walked in Jesus!

Paul prayed that they would have a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. Stop and consider what it means to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. What is Paul specifically asking that the Ephesians would have knowledge of? Look for the phrase what to find out. What does the word knowledge mean? Look up the greek definition and write down what you learn in your journal.

First thing Paul prays is that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened, so that they will know what is the hope of His calling. I want you to think about what is the hope of His calling. Think about what we studied and talked about last week. How do they connect to the hope of His calling? Look up the greek definition of the word hope. Write down in your journal what you learn. Now look at these cross references and write down what you learn from each verse about the hope of your calling: Romans 8:28-30, Philippians 1:3-6, Philippians 1:19-21, 2 Timothy 1:9-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Ephesians 4:1&4.

Next, Paul prays that they would know what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.What is the inheritance that Christ has given? How is the inheritance defined? Go back and look at the verses we looked at last week about inheritance.

Finally Paul prays that the Ephesians would know what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Let's look up some greek definitions. Using Blue Letter Bible, look up these words in the greek: power, working, strength, might. Now stop and think about how great God's power is, what does that mean for believers who are sealed in the Spirit?

Now stop. Go back, and read verses 15-23 in context. See if you can't piece it together and make sense of it. Looking forward to our time together this week!