Ephesians 1:15-17

Day 9

“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; 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.” Ephesians 1:15-17

Having completed the doxological section of the letter, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…to the praise of His glory,” (Ephesians 1:3-14) Paul turned to the themes of his pastoral prayer for the church. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Some have wondered about this statement in verse 15, “having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints.”  If Paul authored this letter, he would be quite familiar with the church in Ephesus.  Why would Paul need to hear about their faith, if he had resided with them for three years? However, by the time Paul wrote this letter, it had been over 7 years since Paul left Ephesus for Jerusalem.  His arrest in Jerusalem while visiting the temple launched a decade long legal battle which kept Paul isolated from the church around the world.  The Philippian letter describes that church earnestly searching for Paul for an extended period of time.  In addition to the limited access to information about the churches while Paul was in prison, Paul may have addressed this letter to the churches in the region of the city of Ephesus.  If this letter was a circular letter, meaning a letter addressed to multiple churches in Asia Minor, his familiarity with other churches across the region would have been especially limited.  Due to time and familiarity, he could only comment on the word received from his friends concerning these churches.  Likely Paul had received word about the condition of believers throughout the region.  He was encouraged as he heard of their progress in their faith.  He had heard about their love for one another and their faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul did “not cease giving thanks for you.”  Word reached him about the condition of the churches and Paul responded with a continuous offering of thanksgiving to God.  May we also have an attitude of thanksgiving in our prayers for one another.

Prayer for Wisdom and Revelation

Paul’s prayer for the church spans from verses 15 through 19. The prayer is followed by a brief theological treatise which exalts the God who hears and answers prayers. After his brief expression of gratitude to God for the recipients of his letter, Paul began crafting his prayer for them.  The language implies that Paul regularly prayed these types prayers for all of the churches.  Having extensively articulated the depth of the plan of the triune God in salvation in verses 3 through 14, along with his confidence in the love and faith of the church, Paul prayed for their growth.  “Conversion is not the end, but is merely the beginning.  It is only the first step. ... A child’s birth is just the beginning; regeneration and conversion is the spiritual counterpart to a child’s birth…Paul prays that God may give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation.  The significance of this for us is that most of our troubles in the Christian life arise from the fact that our ideas are so centered on us, so subjective.  We start with ourselves and our needs instead of starting with God.  We need forgiveness, and the deliverance from sin in order that we may be happy.  We become obsessed with ourselves and our needs and what can be done for us.  But the Apostle’s approach is entirely different.  Our view of salvation is the particular characteristic of the Apostle’s teaching.  So when he comes to his petition for these Ephesians, it is not so much for their happiness, or their joy, but that they may have the ‘spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.’”  (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, God’s Ultimate Purpose)

Paul’s prayers in his letters to the churches seem quite distinct from the usual prayers offered in modern church circles.  I suspect that even in Paul’s day that the natural inclination was to pray for physical needs or relationship needs, things that are intended to remove unhappiness.  There is an appropriate place in prayer to ask for our basic, physical needs.  Jesus provided the model prayer for us and in it we are instructed to ask God to “give us our daily bread.”  Asking for help with material needs fits within the normal prayer life of the believer.  However, we see in Paul a prayer that is focused in the spiritual realm.  He prayed for the church to have wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of God.  Wisdom, revelation, and knowledge point back to the theological themes of verses 3-14.  There we discover deep and powerful truths about God and His plan of salvation.  We discover the plan of God the Father to make much of His Son by saving us.  That information transforms us.  Growing in our knowledge of the depth of God’s triune plan in salvation along with our destiny with Him forever, alters our choices.  We need to grow in our knowledge.  With the increase in knowledge, we should see wisdom and clarity about God, this world, our choices, our priorities, and glorifying God both now and forever.  Paul longed for the church at Ephesus to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of God.  Knowledge must precede our emotions.  Knowledge must precede our choices.  Knowledge regulates feelings.  Feelings and emotions are great.  God gave us feelings and emotions.  However, Paul’s first request was for the Ephesian mind.  These truths guard the mind and the heart.  Thinking biblically about God and thinking deeply on the things of God transforms the believer.  Spiritual life begins with faith in Christ.  Like a child, growth begins from birth and spiritual food comes to us through the Word of God. I Peter 2:2 says it this way. “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”

Suggested Prayer:  God, grow my knowledge in Your amazing work.  Use Your revelation to bring about maturity in my life.  Grant me wisdom to see the ultimate goal and purpose of my life, with You forever.  Give me a grateful heart today for the way You have provided for me and blessed me.  Thank You for bringing faithful Christians into my life.

Ephesians