If you are new to this blog, please start with 1 (Intro) and then continue in order.
Faith and Love
15 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, (from Ephesians 1 ESV)
Paul had heard of the Ephesians' faith in Jesus and their love toward all the saints and because of this, he thanks God for them. So first of all, Paul thinks faith in Jesus and love for fellow believers is important and commendable. Secondly, he had heard of their faith and love. It made my wonder, what would people hear about me? If they heard of just two things about me, what would they be? What would people hear about you? Would we be known for our faith in the Lord Jesus and our love toward all the saints, all of them, even the ones we don't like so well?
Paul's Prayer
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, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, (from Eph 1 ESV)
Paul prays for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so the Ephesians would know God. He also prays that they would know their/our hope, their/our rich inheritance, and the incredible power toward us who believe. Do we pray like that? For those kinds of things? Should we?
God and Jesus
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (from Ephesians 1 ESV)
Wow! Look at all that the Father did to/for Jesus:
-worked his great might in Christ vv19-20
-raised him from the dead v20
-seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places v20
-he put all things under his feet v22
-he gave him as head over all things to the church v22
Christ Over All
Did you notice all the phrases that point to Christ being over all?
-Christ is at the right hand of God v20
-far above all
-rule
-authority
-power
-dominion v21
-above every name that is named v21
-not only in this age but also in the one to come v21
-for all time (not only in this age, but also in the one to come) v21
-all things under his feet v22
-head over all things v22
Faith and Love
15 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, (from Ephesians 1 ESV)
Paul had heard of the Ephesians' faith in Jesus and their love toward all the saints and because of this, he thanks God for them. So first of all, Paul thinks faith in Jesus and love for fellow believers is important and commendable. Secondly, he had heard of their faith and love. It made my wonder, what would people hear about me? If they heard of just two things about me, what would they be? What would people hear about you? Would we be known for our faith in the Lord Jesus and our love toward all the saints, all of them, even the ones we don't like so well?
Paul's Prayer
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, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, (from Eph 1 ESV)
Paul prays for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so the Ephesians would know God. He also prays that they would know their/our hope, their/our rich inheritance, and the incredible power toward us who believe. Do we pray like that? For those kinds of things? Should we?
God and Jesus
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (from Ephesians 1 ESV)
Wow! Look at all that the Father did to/for Jesus:
-worked his great might in Christ vv19-20
-raised him from the dead v20
-seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places v20
-he put all things under his feet v22
-he gave him as head over all things to the church v22
Christ Over All
Did you notice all the phrases that point to Christ being over all?
-Christ is at the right hand of God v20
-far above all
-rule
-authority
-power
-dominion v21
-above every name that is named v21
-not only in this age but also in the one to come v21
-for all time (not only in this age, but also in the one to come) v21
-all things under his feet v22
-head over all things v22
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