Last Sunday we began looking at the first three chapters of Ephesians.   We began with this fellow:  Humpty Dumpty.  I know this is silly  but, let’s say the rhyme together:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses
And all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again!

The reality is that we live in a Humpty Dumpty world.  The world we live in is fallen.  Its definitely cracked.  Despite everything that humankind has tried to - whatever all the kings horses and all the kings men have tried to do - there is no way Humpty is getting put back together again.

Behind all that brokenness is Satan and his minions - a spiritual battle which effects us physically every day of our lives.  The shadow of hell so many people live in - wounded - broken - hopeless - searching - empty - without purpose and meaning their lives.  Marriages are coming apart - people are addicted to just about everything - kids are killing kids.  A reality that we live in with own set of problems.

Ephesians is Paul writing about how to live in a Humpty World.  What we’re coming to here - in Ephesians 1 - starting at verse 15 - is Paul writing about what we need to be praying for as we live in this Humpty Dumpty world.

Ephesians 1 - starting at verse 15:  For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers.

Let’s pause there.  Verses 15 and 16 are Paul’s reason for praying.    Let’s try that together.  “Paul’s reason for praying.”  What moves Paul to prayer for the Ephesians?

Who knows who this is?  Albert Pujols.  Plays 1st base for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pujols is a two-time National League MVP.  The only player in history to hit 30-plus home runs in each of his first eight seasons - has well over 300 for his career.  In 2003 he won his first National League batting title and also led the league in hits, runs scored, and doubles.  Seven times he’s been to the All-Star game - as a player.  He’s won a Golden Glove award.  His list of achievements and awards goes on and on.

On November 13, 1998 Albert made what he calls “The best decision of my life.”  He gave his heart to Jesus Christ and asked Him to become the Lord of his life.  Albert says, “Jesus Christ is my strength.  God has blessed me and I will continue to do my best for Him.  That is more important than anything I could ever do in baseball.”  (1)

Albert and his wife run the Pujols’ Family Foundation who’s purpose is “To live and share our commitment to faith, family and others.”  The foundation pays for annual mission trips to his native Dominican Republic - where Albert grew up in poverty - their foundation pays for mission trips for dentists, pediatricians, optometrists - mission trips that Albert and his family take part in.  They’re there on the mission field.  The list of what they’re involved with in the name of Jesus goes on and on.

Pujols says, “I don’t do this because I want to hear, ‘There goes a good guy.’  I want to help people.  I want to set an example, be obedient to God.”  (2) 

Paul writes - the reason I’m continually giving thanks for you - the reason I’m continually praying for you - the reason is because I’ve heard of your faith and the way you’re loving the saints. 

What do you call a fly with no wings?  A walk.  Faith without works isn’t faith.  Its something else.  But, don’t call it faith. (S3E4) James said, “Faith, if it has no works, is - what?  dead.”  (James 2:17)

We can say all we want about our faith - even delude ourselves about the great depths of our relationship with God - pride ourselves on our intellectual understanding of Christian theology and doctrine - but when our faith hits the asphalt of life - opportunities to genuinely demonstrate God’s love to our siblings in Christ and the world around us - what comes out in our actions demonstrates what’s really going on in our hearts.  Are we together on that? 

The believers in Ephesus - their response to how they’d been amazingly blessed by God - what we looked at last Sunday - their response to God and His gift of salvation - was to believe in Jesus - to receive God’s blessing - by faith.  But their faith didn’t stop there.  What was in their hearts was coming out - demonstrated in the way the loved the brethren and sistren.  Regardless of their circumstances this church was on fire - from the heart - on fire for God.

That’s Paul’s reason for praying - to pray for these believers who were incredibly blessed by God - as we are - who were giving their all for Jesus  -as we desire to do - and yet were getting hammered by the stuff of this Humpty Dumpty world.  To pray for what is most important for God to do in their lives. 

Coming to verses 17 to 23 - Paul gives us three specifics of what he’s praying for these believers.  Three “P’s” of prayer.  Three specific prayer requests.

First - verse 17:  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

First request:  Presence.  Say that with me, “Presence.”  That we would know the presence of God in our lives.  That through whatever were going through God would draw us ever more close to Him.

Paul is writing to believers.  People - like us - that when we come to salvation in Jesus Christ - the Holy Spirit enters within us.  Paul wrote back in verses 13 and 14 about the Holy Spirit sealing us.

But the work of the Holy Spirit doesn’t just end there.  Right?  We can be stubborn prideful people with a penchant for hanging on to sin and resisting the work of the Holy Spirit within us.  Right?  So Paul isn’t praying that somehow we’ll have more of the Spirit within us - but that through the circumstances of our lives the Spirit will continue to transform us - renew us - draw us closer to God.

As people get older they know more stuff.  But just getting older doesn’t make someone wise.  True?  Wisdom isn’t just knowing stuff.  Wisdom is knowledge applied.  True wisdom comes from God.  Wisdom - as Paul writes about it here - wisdom is God to showing us how to do life from His perspective.

Revelation is the Greek word “apokalupsis” - which is where we get the English word - “apocalypse” - the Apocalypse of John - Book of Revelation.  God revealing - taking the cover off the pot of what He’s cooking up for the future - letting us see inside His plans - revealing that to John.  Here - in Ephesians - Paul is writing about God revealing Himself to us.  Giving us a behind the scenes tour of who He is.

Knowledge is “epiginosko.”  There are two words for knowledge in Greek.  One has to do with what we learn by studying.  This word here - “epiginosko” has to do with what we learn by experience.

That’s where Twitter and Facebook and MySpace don’t even come close.  We’re more connected today than ever in history - and yet we’re more cut off because we don’t have community.  Pseudo-community maybe.

Until we actually see a person face to face - we can text all we want - but until we’re actually in their presence - when we see how they breathe and what they smell like - then knowing that person takes on a whole deeper meaning.  God - instead of just texting us about His love - sends Jesus. 

Putting all that together.  Paul is praying that through whatever we’re going through God will take what we know about Him - what He’s revealing to us - and teach us how to walk with Him through the experiences of life - good - bad - ugly - whatever.  That as we walk together through life we will go deeper and deeper in our relationship with Him.  

In praying for each other - what this can look like in our prayers - we might pray something like this:  “God - in this circumstance - in this struggle -  please help so-and-so to know more of who you are.  To know your presence in their life.”  For ourselves we might add:  “God - in this circumstance - this struggle - draw me closer to you.  Help me to know You more deeply.  To know your presence in my life.”

Second Request - verse 18:  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

Second Request:  “Purpose.”  Say that with me, “Purpose.”  That in the midst of what we’re going through we would understand more of God’s purposes.

Two men were walking on the road leading to Emmaus.  As they walked they were talking about what had taken place in Jerusalem - Jesus’ arrest - His trial - His crucifixion.  As they’re discussing all this a third man came up and began walking along with them and joined in the conversation.  Remember this?

The third man - the one who’d joined them - began explaining - began back with Moses and then through prophets - He began explaining to these first two men - how all of what God had been doing through history related to Jesus.  How even the events of Jesus’ death were part of God’s great purposes.

When the two men reached their destination they invited the third man to join them - which He did - joining them for dinner.  When Jesus broke the bread at the meal - when they finally recognized Him - “It’s Jesus.”  He vanished.

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”  (Luke 24:13-35)

That “burning of the heart” is God enlightening the heart - the heart burning with truth - God’s word penetrating to the core of who we are - bringing us knowledge of what God is doing. 

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” - at the core of who you are you’ll understand God’s purposes.  Paul writes that our hearts would be enlightened “so that we will know the hope of His calling.”

God has called us - chosen us - to be recipients of His blessings - to save us - to forgive us - to walk with us through life - never leaving us or abandoning us - to give us “the riches of the glory of His inheritance” - life forever with Him - all of heaven and all the means is what God chooses to give to us.  Not because we deserve it or could ever earn it. 

All of which is part of God’s great purpose of buying back mankind from our sin - His restoration of mankind and creation.  God’s purpose accomplished in Jesus Christ - even through His suffering and death - and resurrection.  Are we together?

Anyone know who this?  I’d be amazed.  This is Horatio Spafford.  Back at the end of the 19th century Horatio Spafford was very financially successful.  He had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan - owning a large  section of downtown Chicago.  Very well off.

In 1871 Horatio Spafford lost his four year only son to scarlet fever.  Shortly afterwards - also in 1871 - the Chicago Fire wiped out his holdings.

Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters he planned a trip to Europe in 1873.  At the last minute due to some unexpected business developments - Horatio sent his wife and daughters on ahead as scheduled on the SS. Ville du Havre - expecting to join them in a few weeks.

On November 22nd the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in twelve minutes.  Several days later the survivors landed at Cardiff, Wales and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone.”

Spafford sailed to Europe to join his wife.  Its probably about the same spot on the Atlantic where his four daughters drowned that Horatio Spafford wrote the words, “When peace like a river attendeth my way.  When sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.”

Verse 2 - of speaks about the worst of what life throws at us - “Tho Satan should buffet - tho trials should come - Let this blest assurance control - that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul.”

Verse 3 - focuses on our sin - all of it being,  “nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.  Praise the Lord O my soul!”

Verse 4 - “and Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll - the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend - even so it is well with my soul.” (3)

Those words were set to music by Philip Bliss and used at the great crusades of Dwight L. Moody - words that have blessed generations because we can relate - in part - to what Spafford was going through.

Have you heard this?  He can’t see the forest because of the… trees.  Whatever the immediate thing we’re facing - the circumstances - the struggles - the whatever - God’s calling - His inheritance - all that is still there.  God’s purpose - His sovereign working of history hasn’t changed.  We need to hang on to the forest.  Hang on to the creator of the forest.

Jesus - facing torture and crucifixion - praying - “Not My will but Yours be done.”  (Luke 22:42)

In praying for each other - what this can look like in our prayers - we might pray something like this:  “God - in this circumstance - in this struggle -  please help so-and-so to see that your purposes never fail.  Help so-and-so to see what you want him to see about what You’re doing.”  For ourselves we might add this, “God - in all this - help me to serve with You - according to what You’re doing.  May Your purposes be accomplished.”

Third Request - verse 19:  And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Third Request:  Power.  Let’s say that together, “Power.”  That we would realize God’ power working in our lives.

There are five words here in verse 19 that we need to grab onto - briefly.

First:  Surpassing - it’s the Greek word we get our word “hyperbole” from.  “I once caught a fish as big as the Titanic.”  Exaggerated beyond reason.

Second word:  Power - the Greek word we get  “dynamite” from.  Huge potential power waiting to be released.

Third word:  Working - the Greek word we get “energy” from.  What happens when the switch is thrown and the potential power makes contact with the light bulb.  Things happen.

Fourth:  Strength - has to do with ability.  No one is stronger or able to keep God from doing what God wills to do.

Last word:  Might - has to do with power under control.  God’s power directed towards a specific purpose.

Putting all that together - look at verse 20:  which He - God - brought about in Christ,

God’s power is way beyond our ability to understand.  Nothing and no one can keep God from doing what God purposes to do.  All that potential power gets released - according to God’s will - His purposes - connects up - the result of which we see in Jesus Christ.

Specifically - going in verse 20 - God’s power released in Jesus Christ -  when He - God - raised Him - Jesus - from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places - the position of power and authority in creation and beyond - far above - no thing - no one even comes close - far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  That’s everything and everyone - now and forever.

Paul writes in Philippians 2:  “For this reason also - Jesus’ birth - life - death - resurrection - For this reason also God highly exalted Him - Jesus - and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2:9-11)

One day - every rational being will physically bow - every tongue will audibly confess - with one voice - in agreement - openly - in acknowledgement - no one is greater than Jesus.  No one deserves greater respect - honor - worship.  He has first place in everything.  The dominion of Jesus is greater.  He is Lord over all of creation.  Jesus is the Savior.  Jesus is the Christ.  Jesus is the Sovereign Lord God - Jehovah Himself.

Why did God do it?  Bottom line:  “To the Glory of God the Father.”  Its God’s power at work.  When creation recognizes Jesus Christ’s Lordship - the great purpose of the Father in sending the Son is realized and God is glorified.

What began in a stable in Bethlehem ends with Jesus exalted.  It all happens according to what God has purposed.  God wills it.  His power accomplishes it.

Still with me?  Verse 22 - look at how Paul applies God’s power to us - verse 22:  And He - God - put all things in subjection under His - Jesus’ - feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church - that us - which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Who’s our head?  Jesus.  Who gets filled?  Us.

All this power of God gets released according to God’s purposes - which - to God’s glory - resurrects and exalts Jesus - so that He is the Head of the church - our Head - from whom we are filled.  What happens in the Head fills the Body with life and direction and meaning and purpose.

Do you see where Paul is going with this?  All of that power of God is applied to our lives - to give us life - real life - to sustain that life today and forever.  It doesn’t matter what the circumstances and the struggles - whatever the crud of this world - that power is already there working in us and through us the moment we come to trust Jesus with our lives.

The prophet Zechariah wrote during a time when God’s people were returning from Exile in Babylon.  Surrounded by enemies - they had the daunting task of rebuilding their lives - rebuilding Jerusalem - and especially rebuilding God’s temple.  A seemingly impossible task.

God speaks to Zechariah these words, “Not by might not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”  (Zechariah 4:6)

As I go through what goes on in life I’ve been trying hang on to that promise.  When I’m facing a week with no clue how everything in front of me is going to happen.  Or, I’ve got stuff going on at home and I feel totally inadequate to do what needs to be done.  Or, I’m looking at ministry and starting to feel like the responsibility for it all rests on me.  When I start feeling overwhelmed.  Or, I’m looking at some area of struggle or growth and asking myself, “How can I possibly overcome this? ”  Ever been there?

I’m trying to learn to trust God with all that.  It’s not me that it’ll make it happen.  Not my power.  Not my might.  It’s got to be God.  Enabled by His Spirit. 

In praying for each other - what this can look like in our prayers - we might pray something like this:  “God please help so-and-so to realize your power in his life.  To trust you.”  For ourselves we might add, “God help me to let go of trying to do this by my power.  To stop doing this like it all depends on me.”

As believers in Jesus we know that we are incredibly blessed by God and our desire is to serve Him - to live for Him - that God would be glorified in us and through us.  Along the way there are circumstances that we can pray specifically for - healing - restoration - renewal - comfort and so on. 

But deeper are these three requests that Paul shares that he’s praying for the Ephesian Christians - that thinking about them - they really go to the basics of what’s behind the other things we pray for each other.  They cut to the bottom line needs that we have in each circumstance of our lives.

While you’re praying this week - think about praying for each other - that we would know God’s presence - His purpose - His power in our lives.

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1. http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/faith.htm
2. USA Today 03.31.09, C
3. Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, Kregal Publications

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.