Ephesians 1:15-23

A1 Scripture

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which 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 principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23, NKJV)

A2 Outline: Paul's Prayer

B1 Cause

C1 Heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus

C2 Their love for all the people of God

B2 Effect

C1 Unceasing thanks

C3 Unceasing prayer

D1 That God the Father

E1 God of our Lord Jesus

E2 Father of glory

D2 Would

E1 Give to them

F1 The spirit of wisdom

G1 Wisdom is thinking God’s way which results in acting God’s way.

G2 Ask: James 1:5 CSB - Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

G3 Fools hate wisdom. They like their own better: Proverbs 1:7 NRSV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

G4 Wisdom is important in many ways: Proverbs 19:8 NKJV - He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.

G5 If you want to know how great His wisdom is, look at the stunning designs in creation.

F2 The spirit of revelation. Some things He reveals to us

G1 Truth

G2 Our condition

G3 Convicts us of sin

G4 Encourages us

G5 Helps us to understand the Bible

G6 His great love for us

G7 Answers to prayer

G8 Wisdom for handling a situation we face

F3 Knowledge of Him

G1 The longer you know someone, the better you know them.

G2 Knowing God is reading, studying the Bible, praying, fellowship with other believers, and time.

E2 Cause understanding be enlightened

E3 May know the hope of His calling

E4 What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

E5 What is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe

F1 His power

G1 Mighty

G2 Showed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ

G3 Showed by sitting Jesus Christ at His right hand in the heavenly places (heaven)

H1 Far above all

I1 Principality

I2 Power

I3 Might

I4 Dominion

I5 Every day that is named

J1 In this age

J2 And in the age to come

H2 All things under His feet (Jesus is Lord of all)

H3 Head over all things to the Church (congregation)

I1 Which is His body

I2 The fullness of Him who fills all in all

F2 (...towards us who believe)

B3 Applications

C1 Remember to pray

C2 Remember to be thankful

C3 Remember to increase in knowledge—Bible knowledge

C4 Rest in unfathomable strength and grace