A Study of Ephesians

The Relationship of God and His Saints

Many folks who read this lesson from the blog or email will miss a great deal of context simply because time does not allow me to fill in a lot of the material I will be discussing during our class. If you have questions please let me know I will be glad to answer you via email. Jesse

Ephesians 1:15-23

Lesson #3

Goal of the Lesson:

• To provide us with the knowledge of God's desire to grow in the knowledge of Him.

• To provide us with the truth that we belong to Christ, in that we are His Inheritance.

• To provide us with the knowledge of God's power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is the same power that God exercises through the Holy Spirit to all believers in Jesus Christ.

• To present Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church, which is His Body on earth.

Some things to remember from last week: Ephesians 1:13-14;17 and 2 Peter 3:18

• We are sealed by the Holy Spiritually

• We are blessed with all or every spiritual blessing in Christ

• The blessings are supernatural therefore we cannot see them with our physical eyes.

• The more we grow in the grace and knowledge of God the more we understand these amazing blessings.

The Body of Christ is the Church, It is made up of house churches, small groups, local churches and the universal church. The exception to this are the para-church organizations that assist the church of Jesus Christ is some way. These are denominational headquarters and various teaching ministries throughout the world.

The local church normally has a pastor, although there are some who depend on itinerant preachers that have a circuit of churches they visit throughout the year. Some churches have more than one pastor for the various functions required of larger churches. No matter the size or the method, every pastor is required to pray as the apostle prays here for the Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:15-16

The pastors responsibility to pray for the his congregation is a daily responsibility to assist the members in steadfastness and faith. The accountable pastor will continue to pray for the saints he has charge over even if he is not present with them.

What he hears by way of the news that travels to him should spur him on to fervent prayer, unceasing thanks and praise and unceasing remembrance to God. Then he should be specific in the follow attributes for these saints.

There are at least seven areas of prayer that the pastor must be involved in to see his congregation grow and these follow.

• For the Spirit of Wisdom; in Christ – verse 17

• Revelation in the knowledge; in Christ – verse 17

• The eyes of ones heart (understanding) opened; in Christ 18

• To know the hope of God's calling them; in Christ – verse 18

• To know that we are Christ's inheritance – verse 18

• To know the Power of God that we have; in Christ – verse 19-23

  a. exceeding great power

  • b. His mighty power that raise Christ up from the dead

  • c. a working power that is active today and seated in heaven

  • d. a working power that is manifested in the church today through His saints.

  • e. a power that is far above the principalities and dominions of Satan

  • f. a power that is subject to Christ, He is head over all as He fills all in all.

This prayer opens the doors of heaven for every church to be a powerful light to the world around it. While the prayer focuses on the pastoral watchcare over his flock it is still the responsibility of every believer in Christ to grow in grace and truth. Ephesians 1:18.