Exposition of Ephesians 1:15-20
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
18I ask that the eyes of your heartb may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, 20which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
I. Introduction: Paul's Response to the Ephesians' Faith and Love (Verse 15)
Verse 15
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,"
Recognition of Faith - Paul recognizes and celebrates their faith in Jesus Christ.
- Exposition: Paul begins by acknowledging the faith of the Ephesian believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their faith in Christ is foundational to their Christian life and has become well-known, prompting Paul's response.
Recognition of Love - Paul also acknowledges their love for fellow believers, which is a sign of their true faith.
- Exposition: Alongside their faith, Paul highlights their love for all the saints. This love is a practical outworking of their faith, demonstrating the genuine nature of their belief.
II. Paul's Continuous Thanksgiving and Intercession (Verse 16)
Verse 16
"Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;"
Thanksgiving for the Believers : Paul continuously gives thanks to God for the Ephesian believers.
- Exposition: Paul expresses his continual gratitude for the Ephesian Christians. His thanksgiving is unceasing, indicating the depth of his appreciation for their faith and love.
Intercession in Prayer -Paul mentions them in his prayers, showing his commitment to their spiritual growth.
- Exposition: Paul not only thanks God for them but also prays for them regularly. His intercession shows his pastoral care and desire for their spiritual well-being.
III. The Content of Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Enlightenment (Verses 17-19)
Verse 17
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"
- Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation
Source of Wisdom and Revelation - Paul prays to God, the Father of glory, to grant the Ephesians wisdom and revelation.
- Exposition: Paul prays to "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory." This title emphasizes God's majesty and His relationship with Jesus Christ.
Purpose of the Prayer - Paul desires that they receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
- Exposition: Paul asks that God may give the Ephesians the "spirit of wisdom and revelation." This refers to the Holy Spirit's work in providing deeper spiritual insight and understanding.
Goal of the Prayer - The purpose is to deepen their knowledge of God.
- Exposition: The ultimate goal is for them to grow in the "knowledge of Him"—a deeper, more intimate understanding of God.
Verse 18
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"
- Prayer for Enlightened Understanding
Spiritual Illumination - Paul prays for the enlightenment of their understanding.
- Exposition: Paul prays for their inner perception, the "eyes of their understanding," to be enlightened. This spiritual enlightenment is crucial for grasping the truths of God.
Three Key Spiritual Realities
The Hope of His Calling - Paul wants them to understand the hope of God's calling.
- Exposition: Paul desires that they know "the hope of His calling." This hope refers to the confident expectation rooted in God's call and the future fulfillment of His promises.
The Riches of the Glory of His Inheritance - He also prays for their understanding of the glorious inheritance among the saints.
- Exposition: Paul also wants them to comprehend "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." This inheritance can be seen as both the believers as God's inheritance and the blessings they will receive.
The Exceeding Greatness of His Power - Paul prays for their comprehension of God's immense power toward believers.
- Exposition: Paul emphasizes the "exceeding greatness" of God's power available to believers. This power is not ordinary but is mighty and immeasurable.
Verse 19
"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,"
- Magnitude of God's Power
Exceeding Greatness - Paul stresses the extraordinary magnitude of God's power.
- Exposition: The power at work in believers is described as "exceeding greatness," highlighting its vastness and significance.
Directed Towards Believers - This power is specifically directed toward believers.
- Exposition: This power is directed "to us-ward who believe." It is specifically available to those who have faith in Christ.
According to God's Mighty Power - This power is according to God's mighty working.
- Exposition: The power at work in believers is the same power that God used to accomplish His mighty works, especially the resurrection of Christ.
IV. The Demonstration of God's Power in Christ (Verse 20)
Verse 20
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"
Resurrection of Christ - God's power was demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead.
- Exposition: Paul identifies the resurrection of Jesus as the supreme demonstration of God's power. This event is central to the Christian faith and the guarantee of future resurrection for believers.
Exaltation of Christ - Christ was exalted to the highest place of honor and authority.
- Exposition: After His resurrection, Christ was exalted and seated at God's right hand in the heavenly places, symbolizing His authority and divine rule over all creation.
Conclusion: The Centrality of Christ's Resurrection and Exaltation
- Summary: Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-20 is a profound expression of his desire for the Ephesian believers to grow in their spiritual understanding. He begins with thanksgiving, recognizing their faith and love, and then prays for wisdom, revelation, and enlightenment so that they may grasp the hope, riches, and power available to them in Christ. The prayer culminates in the demonstration of God’s power through the resurrection and exaltation of Christ, reinforcing the centrality of Christ in the life of the believer.
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