Message for Sunday 28 July 2024
How can we pray?
Ephesians Chapter 3, verses 14-21
St Paul’s letter to the church members in Ephesus
First, what can we learn about prayer from The Lord’s Prayer?,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
Main components of the prayer are:
An address or direct acknowledgement of God, Petitions for God’s Kingdom, Daily Provision, Forgiveness (ourselves and others), Avoidance of temptation, and Praise to God.
Before we go on to look at Paul’s advice in more detail, let’s hear from our pastor, Michael Mayer, or at least my summary of what Michael gave me as his sermon for today.
Prayer is an invitation, a privilege and a joy. God says you can talk to me, and I am listening.
God invites us to share our thoughts, our hearts (emotions), and our faith.
But we find it hard just to talk to God.
Why? Are we too busy, do we lack faith, do we think it won’t make any difference, or do we think we are just talking to ourselves?
Or are we uncomfortable taking time to talk to someone about personal matters?
What are we going to pray for?
‘Ask and you will receive’
Sounds generous. So, we pray for things (food, money housing, education, employment). We pray for success, safety, peace, and health. We pray for deeper desires, fulfillment, obedience, to do good.
We pray for others. Our families, those more distant who we are concerned about, and people all over the world. We pray for peace, justice and wisdom.
And what else? We thank God for all his gifts. And for listening to us.
But it now gets tricky.
‘Your will be done, God’
Does God want what I want? This is an opportunity for self-reflection. Go through the list of things you are talking to God about and check them against what you know Jesus would be wanting for you. And if that is not clear ask in your prayer for guidance.
There is no perfect prayer, so don’t be discouraged!
So, what does St Paul tell us in his letter to the Ephesians?
But first,
Where is Ephesus?
On the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea (now in Turkey).
What was Ephesus?
Ephesus was a city in Ancient Greece built in the 10th century BC. The city came under control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC. The city was famous for the nearby Temple of Artemis and its many monumental buildings including the Library of Celsus and a theatre capable of holding 24,000 spectators. Ephesus was a recipient city of one of the St Paul’s epistles. Today, the ruins of Ephesus are a favourite international and local tourist attraction. In 2015, the ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site (from Wikipedia).
What did Paul say?
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
So, what advice does Paul offer?
Prayer as a response to God’s glory: “For this reason I kneel before the Father” (v. 14). Paul says prayer is an act of reverence and humility. It acknowledges God’s supreme position and our dependence on Him. Do we pray with this attitude?
Prayer for others – strength through the Holy Spirit: Paul prays that the believers may be “strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (v. 16). He prays that they grow stronger in faith and character. Do we pray for others like this?
Prayer for Deep Understanding of God’s Love: Paul prays that the Ephesians, having been established as a result of God’s love, will have the power to “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know love surpasses knowledge” (v. 18). Do we ask for this for ourselves and for others in our prayers?
Prayer for Personal and Communal Transformation: Paul prays that the Ephesians “may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (v. 19). Do we ask for the people we pray for be filled to the brim with God’s love, presence and awareness?
Prayer as an Expression of God’s Power: Paul concludes with praising God for His ability to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (v. 20). In our prayers do we acknowledge God’s limitless power and capacity to exceed our expectations?
In summary, Ephesians 3:14-21 teaches that prayer is a profound, multifaceted practice that should include seeking spiritual strength, deeper understanding of God’s love, transformative growth, and acknowledging God’s power.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for your servant, Paul, and the advice about prayer he gave the early Christians and for us now. Amen.