Building the Body Through Prayer
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Introduction
Introduction
Body Building 2020
Body Building 2020
What is the Hearer’s problem?
What is the BiblicalSolution?
What do the hearers need to do?
The main reason Paul wrote this important letter?
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
And it order to walk well, the body must be strong!
Main Idea - Prayer Strengthens The Body of Christ!
Main Idea - Prayer Strengthens The Body of Christ!
“There is power in prayer. When men work, they work. But when men pray, God works.” Angus Buchan
And so if we as a church, want to see God work among us. To strengthen us and make us a force for righteousness in this community, WE MUST PRAY! We must be a people of prayer. We must be a church of prayer!
And we are wise to look at how Paul prayed for his friends, the church in Ephesus. In chapter one of Ephesians, we see a powerful, theological, meaningful prayer we can learn much from...
Paul prays for the Ephesians in three specific ways that will help them be strong as a body. And while we don’t have the Apostle praying fervently for us like he did for the Ephesians...
What if we pray for fellow believers - one another the way he prayed for them?
Let’s take a look at the three powerful and strengthening ways of praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ...
1. Pray with Thanksgiving for Other Christians (vs. 15-16)
1. Pray with Thanksgiving for Other Christians (vs. 15-16)
Lead in…Are you thankful for this body of believers? I’ll tell you how you can tell - Do you regularly give thanks to God for the individuals in this body?
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
For what reason? What is the reason that Paul is thankful for the church at Ephesus?
Text -
Because of who they are in Christ...
Verses 3-14 are some of the most powerful and encouraging “identity” verses in the Bible. If you are ever wondering what God says about you, verses 3-14 is where you need to go.
To sum them up, Paul makes sure they understand that they are...
Blessed in Christ
Chosen in Christ to be holy and blameless
Predestined because of Christ
Adopted by God through Christ
Purposed because of Christ
Blessed (again) in the Beloved Christ
Redeemed through the blood of Christ
Forgiven by the rich grace of Christ
Made wise and insightful by Christ
United together in Christ
Received an inheritance though Christ
Not an afterthought, but living out His will in Christ
That the Jews would first bring praise and glory to Christ
So that you, gentiles would hear and believe the gospel of Christ
Sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit - Your guarantee of eternal life!
And “FOR THIS REASON, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your love toward alll the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers...”
Please understand what this means. Paul isn’t writing this church because they are dealing with some sort of theological or moral issue. No, he is writing them to encourage them and strenthen them so that when those theological and moral issues come, they will have the spiritual maturity and fortitude to hand it!
And this is at the heart of his prayer for them. It is through telling them specifically what he is praying for them about, that he gives them an encouraging reminder of who they are in Christ.
Apparently, these truths about the church at Ephesus were not only true positionally, but practically as well!
These truths showed up in their lives.
Paul says that “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints.”
There was some “godly gossip” going around about these folks and Paul picked up on it. He HEARD about them while he was sitting in prison in Rome.
And so he thanked God for them and it motivated him to up his prayer game for them so they would continue to be a powerful, faith-filled witness for Christ.
Imagine the great Apostle Paul sitting in Prison hearing about you. What would he hear about you?
Would he hear that you are faithful?
Would he hear that you have a tremendous love for the saints?
Be the kind of people like those in Ephesus
That your FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS is what you are known for
A person of faith exudes the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
That you LOVE TOWARD ALL THE SAINTS is so evident, that it becomes what you are known for!
Sunday Love - Go out of your way to talk with people, show concern for people...
Don’t be the person sitting around waiting for people to come to you. You go! You love!
Weekly Love - Go out of you way to connect with people.
Text them and let them know you care about and appreciate them.
Open your home! Open your life!
Offer your Stuff, offer your skills (Tim and Alex’s Funrace)
People who practice Sunday Love and Weekly love will make the church stronger.
We should pray for each other that we become stronger and and stronger in these areas...
A Day of Thanks - Take a day out of the week and go through the church directory and by name, thank the Lord for each person listed. Yes, even for those that drive you crazy! Thank God for each and everyone! And over time, see what God does to your heart. I suspect, he will strengthen it! And when He strenthens you, He is strengthening this body!
Review - Prayer Strengthens the Body of Christ
Pray with Thanksgiving for Other Christians
2. Pray for Their Understanding of the Faith (vs. 17-18)
2. Pray for Their Understanding of the Faith (vs. 17-18)
Lead in…I’m not sure about how you pray, but sometimes I get caught up in the “Dear Lord, bless Bob, bless Sue, bless Amy...” And while that prayer for someone is better than no prayer, Paul gives an amazing and meaningful example of how to pray for one another...
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, 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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
eph 1 17-18
Text -
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, 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,
How to pray for someone...
The first thing that strikes me from this passage is the care and reverence that Paul conveys in his prayer to God.
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
He invocs the Trinitarian formula in verse 17 - God, the Father of glory, our Lord Jesus Christ and the (Holy) Spirit of wisdom and revelation...
Remember to whom you are speaking, take a reverent approach
Remember to whom you are speaking, take a reverent approach
Second, Paul’s primary concern is for their spiritual health over their physical health...
When Paul prays for his friends in Ephesus, he prays some very specific and spiritual realities. These are areas we can pray for one another as well. Pray...
That God would give them a Spirit of wisdom - “give insight into he true nature of things
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
That God would give a them knowledge of Him - That they would understand the revelation of God. That they may KNOW HIM!
epignosei - not an abstract knowledge of God, but a personal an intimate knowledge of Him!
Of course, this true and intimate knowledge of God comes only through Jesus Christ.
That God would enlighten their heart - that they would have true spiritual insight into God
That God would help them to realize the hope they truly have...
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
That God would give them a true perspective of richness
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
That God would show them what He is truly capable of
Why do you suppose that Paul would pray for those in Ephesus like this? Why would he pray this specifically?
Because Paul understood what they were up against. He knew the challenge the gospel would bring to their lives and there was no possible way they could handle the rigors of persecution and strife apart from God’s enabling power through His Holy Spirit. So he prayed these five powerful, spiritually focused prayers! This prayer he prays sums up our faith!
“There is power in prayer. When men work, they work. But when men pray, God works.” Angus Buchan
Review -
That they would be spiritually wise
That they would know God through Christ
That they would have spiritual insight
That they would live in light of their hope
That they would understand true richness
How would you like it if you knew someone where praying this way for you? Do you think God is pleased to answer a prayer like this? Do you think you can pray for your brothers and sister in Christ in this way?
How would you like it if you knew someone where praying this way for you? Do you think God is pleased to answer a prayer like this?
We may not be experts in prayer like Paul, but we can learn from him and pray like him. And never forget. The eloquence of the prayer doesn’t matter so much...
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” - Max Lucado
Believers, in order to make our body strong, be absolutley, unequivocally determined to pray for one another! And not just pray, but pray that each other understand the faith we ascribe to!
Application - Pray each one of these 5 ways 5 days a week for each other. Go though the directory and...
Monday - They would be spiritually wise
Tuesday - They would deepen their knowldege of God through Christ
Wednesday - They would have spiritual insight
Thursday - They would live in light of their hope
Friday - They would understand true richness.
As I pray for you all daily by name, I will be praying in this way for you. Watch out friends! God is going to do an amazing work in your life!
Will you join me and pray this way for each other?
Review - Prayer Strengthens the Body of Christ
Pray with Thanksgiving for Other Christians
Pray for Their Understanding of the Faith
3. Pray to the One Who is Able to Strengthen Us All! (vs. 19-23)
3. Pray to the One Who is Able to Strengthen Us All! (vs. 19-23)
Lead in…Have you ever pondered and meditated on the unbridled power of God? There is none greater in strength than our God. Paul knows this and prays that the Ephesians tap into this unlimited and unparalleled power souce. Take a look at his continued prayer...
Text -
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Explanation - Notice the continuation of thought here. Paul prayed that the “eyes” of their heart would be enlightened, that they would understand the hope they have been given, and...
“…what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe...”
Paul wants the Ephesians to understand the power believers have at their desposal. In fact, I think we would all do well to understand this truth!
What kind of power do believers possess? According to Paul this POWER is in verse 19...
Power - (dynamis) is “a spiritually dynamic and living force” for believers! And there are three ways he describes this power with different words...
Working POWER - (energeian, “energetic power,” energy) - God’s power is not passive. It is always at work. It is by His power all things are held together...
Immeasurable POWER (vs. 19a) -
Mighty POWER - (kratous, “power that overcomes resistance,” as in Christ’s miracles) - God’s power is not limited to the nature of this world. His power supersedes this world. It is super-natural.
Strong POWER - (ischyos) Strength which He provides - enabling strength for his followers that only he can provide.
This is the POWER that you have a your disposal if you are in Christ!
Strength -
Paul then mentions in verse 20-23 three manifestations of God’s power which are seen in Christ Himself!
Working POWER (vs. 19b) - energeian “energetic power”
Mighty POWER (vs. 19b) - kratous, “power that overcomes resistance,” as in Christ’s miracles; this wors is used only of God, never of believers
Stong POWER (vs. 19b) - ischyos, “strength which He provides.
An Energetic POWER for Resurection and exaltation (vs. 20) - (energeken)
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
The Highest POWER (vs. 21) -
Head of the Church POWER (22-23) - And the church of Jesus Christ is the body of Christ. He is the head of this body, and according to Paul, Jesus is the fullness of the body because He fills everyone who is in His body. Including you!
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.
For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
Head of the Church POWER (22) -
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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
Eph
And the church of Jesus Christ is the body of Christ. He is the head of this body, and according to Paul, Jesus is the fullness of the body because He fills everyone who is in His body. Including you!
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
d. A Filling POWER (vs. 23) -
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
Fullness - God making His presence felt through His body, the church!
It seems, my dear friends, that there is a great deal of power at our desposal! Yet the church seems so powerless these days. Why doe the Church in America seem so ineffective and weak? So impotent!
He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
David Platt has a good answer...
"The greatest hindrance to the advancement of the gospel may be our attempt to do the work of God apart from the power of God." – David Platt
“You got some power in your corner now
Some heavy ammunition in your camp
You got some punch, pizzazz, yahoo and how
See all you gotta do is rub that lamp.”
Paul prays that the church at Ephesus would tap into the God of the universe who is an inexhaustible resourse of power at our desposal!
Paul, in the opening chapter of this important letter is encouraging these followers of Christ by telling them how he prays for them.
And through this prayer he makes it abundantly clear that there is one who is strong and powerful enough to strengthen them to be the followers of Christ the are called to be.
There is One who can empower them to be what they could never be on there own (note the difference in the Apostles before and after Pentecost). Did you know that this power wasn’t just for the first century church? That this power is available for this church, today?!
Do you believe this to be true? Do you believe that God is able! Powerful! Mighty, Strong? Do you believe that He is capable to make people grow and change?
I do! I’m convinced of it!
If there is one thing we can learn from this prayer is that if Paul prayed these truths for the Ephesian believers, we should be praying them for each other.
Review -
Demonstrate what this kind of prayer would sound like...
Review - Prayer Strengthens the Body of Christ
Pray with Thanksgiving for Other Christians
Pray for Their Understanding of the Faith
Pray to the One Who is Able to Strengthen Us All!
Conclusion
Conclusion
If Allendale Baptist Church is going to grow and thrive, it is not because of gimmicks, manipulation or trickery. It’s not because we will have an amazing worship team with smoke and a light show. It’s not because we will have an amazing preacher in the pulpit or teachers in the classrooms. It won’t be because we have a fantastice Nursery or Children’s ministry, youth program, etcetera
The reason this congregation will be strong and thrive is if each believer in this congregation learns from the apostle’s prayer and begins to pray it for one another in this body.
A body that prays together is strong together.
1. What do these verses teach me about Man and His character?
2. What do these verses teach me about God and his character?
3. Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth he asking me to believe?
4. What do I need to do to obey him?
5. With whom can I share these truths?