Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Cultivating a meaningful prayer life

a. The Lord Jesus as our greatest Example

b. Unfortunately, the Disciples did not come close to having a strong personal prayer life

c. Yet the potential to cultivate a meaningful prayer life is for us all

2. The Apostle Paul

a. He succeeded in cultivating a meaningful prayer life

b. He also found success in life and ministry

3. Reading his prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21

a. To catch glimpse of how he prayed

b. To learn lessons of prayer that we can apply in our own lives

PAUL’S FAITH-FEAR APPROACH IN PRAYER

1. How Paul approached God in prayer

a. In faith

b. In fear and reverence

2. Appreciating his faith-fear approach in prayer

a. Faith expressed

“We have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him”   Ephesians 3:12

b. Fear and reverence expressed

“I bow my knees to the Father”    Ephesians 3:14-15

“That He would grant you”    Ephesians 3:16a
(God’s Sovereign will borne in mind)

c. Faith expressed yet again

“According to the riches of His glory.”   Ephesians 3:16a

i. That God does not merely give out of the riches of His glory

ii. But according to the riches of His glory

3. Both faith in God and fear of God intertwined in prayer

a. Rightly so

b. Beautifully so

PAUL’S INWARD FOCUS IN PRAYER

1. Paul’s first prayer for the Ephesians

a. Focused on wisdom and knowledge  (Ephesians 1:15-23)

b. Not on external well-being or success

2. Paul’s second prayer for the Ephesians  (Ephesians 3:14-21)
(Also focused on the inward man)

a. “To be strengthened with might (power) through His Spirit in the inner man”

i. Strength to face the challenges of life

ii. Strength to overcome sin

b. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”

i. Not a reference to salvation

ii. But For Christ to dwell (a deeper residence and abiding) in the heart   (Ephesians 3:17)

iii. For one to abide in the Lord, His love, His Word   (John 15)

iv. For the heart to be continually cleansed and enlightened

c. “Being rooted and grounded in love”

i. Always drawing from (root imagery) and depending on (ground / foundation imagery) the love of Christ

ii. This enables one to further comprehend the measure and know the love of Christ which passes knowledge

d. “That you may be filled with all the fullness of God”

i. The image of the fullness of God is Christ, the brightness of His glory   (Hebrews 1:3)

ii. This is a petition to be transformed into one more and more like Christ

THE FRUITS OF PRAYER THAT PAUL LOOKED FOR

1. The power of God in one’s life   (Ephesians 3:20)

a. God is able to do in response to Paul’s petitions

i. Exceedingly

ii. Abundantly

iii. Above all that we ask or think

b. According to

i. His power that works within us

ii. His Will

2. The glorifying of God   (Ephesians 3:21)

a. This was Paul’s hope and desire at the end of his prayer

b. That ultimately God will be glorified

i. In and through the Church (believers)

ii. To all generations, forever and ever

ENCOURAGEMENT TO US ALL

1. Learning from the Apostle Paul

a. His faith-fear approach in prayer

b. His inward focus in prayer

c. The fruits of prayer that he looked for

2. Our challenge

a. To learn from the Lord Jesus

b. To learn from successful servants of God like the Apostle Paul

c. To personally cultivate a meaningful prayer life and ministry