Ephesians 1:15-23

Faith Focus

Greetings friends,

I ask that as we begin our spiritual journey together we begin to take some time daily (if you are not already) to read the Scripture and pray. I thought it would be beneficial for us to focus on the same passage of Scripture for the week. This week, we will focus on Sunday’s text, Ephesians 1:15-23. If you were not in present on Sunday and have not yet watched it, I encourage you to do so. The opening call to worship was taken from Ephesians 1:3-14. The book of Ephesians is a letter that was written by Paul to the church at Ephesus, which was made up of Jews and Gentiles. Many scholars believe Paul was imprisoned when he wrote this letter.  Notice that although Paul was in prison, he still lived in hope and faith, and his focus was on others knowing the Gospel message.

Format (this is a repeat from last week, and will be consistently present for anyone new and as a reminder for all):

Find a quiet place and time to focus on the Word, and to hear from God through it. It doesn’t have to be long, for some it will be longer than others. I encourage you, if possible, to do this practice in the morning. You will then find that God brings it to your mind throughout your day.

For greater impact I encourage you to get some paper and a pen and journal daily what thoughts and impressions God brings to mind. Write out also your own thoughts and your own prayers, making sure to leave space within your time for God’s response. Listen intently, and notice what rises up within you- what you are thinking, feeling, memories that arise and ideas that spring up. It may be something God would want you to address within yourself and/or with others. It may be something God is inspiring you to begin or end. God’s possibilities are infinite! After time, it is often beneficial to go back and read what you have written, and notice how God has been moving in your life (and praise God for it!).

Begin with prayer, quieting yourself within and opening up to hearing what God would like to reveal to you. Praise God for who he is, for loving you, being with you, and more. Then ask God to speak to you; to open your heart and mind to hear his message. (if you are journaling, you could write out the prayer)

Read the Scripture passage over twice; once as a read through, and the second time slowly, meditatively. Notice what God illuminates for you. Notice what words or ideas are “jumping off the page at you,” impacting you from the Scripture. Ask God why that is being highlighted for you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking you to say, do, change, pray about, etc.? What is the application for my life today? **Most importantly- what am I going to do about it? (If you are journaling you could write it all out, which reinforces it in a greater way)

I have put together some daily questions based upon the Scripture. You may use those, but also feel free to deviate away from it if God is leading you there. They are simply offered to prompt contemplation with God. There is much more in this passage, feel free to delve in more!

At the end of your time pray again. I recommend praying throughout, but the ending prayer would include praise, thanking God for revelation, and asking for the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal, bringing to mind God’s will. Ask God for the courage, empowerment, and opportunity to do what you have determined God is asking you to do.

Ephesians 1:3-14 (used in our Call to Worship):

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD:

Monday: In vs. 15-16 Paul notes how he had heard about the congregation’s faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all of God’s people. This congregation was mixed between those who had earlier been considered included and excluded, the Jews and Gentiles. Jews would have been raised to believe that they were the only chosen ones of God. The church also contained Gentiles, those who were not Jews and were therefore disdained. With such a diverse group of people it is exciting and surprising that they had love for “all God’s people.” Consider the role that faith would have had in changing the congregation’s attitudes, beliefs, and actions toward one another. How do you believe faith made the change? Do you believe God wants the love they are sharing to be contained with just “God’s people”? Why do you think that only “God’s people” are mentioned? Imagine what their love looked like- how would you describe it? What could be some practical examples of our personal faith working itself out in acts of love? Are there people that God has brought to mind of whom you may need to grow in your love? Ask God to show you how to grow in love and empower you to do so.

Tuesday: How and why do you think Paul would have heard about their faith and love? Do you think others would be able to identify, witness, or hear about your faith in Jesus and love for others? What does it look like? How is your faith expressed? With whom is your love directed? Do you believe your personal faith in the Lord Jesus brings encouragement to others? If not, ask God how you can grow in that. If so, rejoice and thank God, and pray for the people that are being encouraged. Paul said he has not stopped giving thanks for the church at Ephesus and that he remembers them in his prayers. So often we focus our prayers on those who are in trouble, those who need help. It is a wonderful reminder for us to remember those in our prayers who are also doing well. Take some time and lift up people and give thanks!

Wednesday: Translating Paul’s prayer for us, Paul is asking that God give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know God better. He prayed for the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened. Why do you think the eyes of our heart are darkened and unseeing in the first place? Paul is wanting us to have this revelation, not for us to know more about God, though that is important, but to know God personally; that we would have a deeper relationship with God. What are some ways that you could grow in your relationship with God? Ask God to reveal to you what practices you might participate in, or perhaps something you need to set aside, or perhaps a change in the measure of your time and focus.

Thursday: v. 15 begins with “for this reason.” Go back and read verses 3-14, the verses that were used for our Call to Worship. What are these verses describing and how does that effect your understanding of the verses that follow (15-23)? Paul prays that the Ephesians would know, to fully understand and internalize, three things (vs. 18-19): 1. The hope to which we have been called  2. The riches of his glorious inheritance that God has in his saints (in Scripture, all believers are considered saints!)  3. The present power of God that is available to believers. How would you define all three of those in a believer’s life, and specifically in your life? These are all gifts given to us by God, available to us now. How would you describe each of these? What do they feel like and act like? How are they lived in interactions with others?

Friday: Paul wanted to express that believers are already gifted God’s power and he prayed that the eyes of our hearts would be opened to be able to understand it and live into it. The focus on power was so important that he used four nearly synonymous Greek words to express God’s comprehensive power. Power (dunamis– where we get the word dynamite!) means capability or potential. Working (energeian) means active or effective power. Mighty (or “might,” kratous) means a force that overcomes resistance. Strength (ischuos) refers to inherent, vital force and is often used to describe muscular abilities. Why do you think Paul believed the power of God within us was so important? How would you define what that power looks like? Do you have an abundance of God’s power flowing freely in your life? Why or why not? Why do you think God gave us his power? Ask God to show you what areas of your life that perhaps need more of God’s power. What would need to change for you to live in this power? In what ways can our church live into this power? What would it look like if our church was filled and active with God’s power?

Saturday: Paul wrote about the riches of God’s glorious inheritance that God has in his saints. We have an inheritance, as children of God who call him ‘Abba.’ We are also heirs, royalty in God’s kingdom (see Romans 8:17). How does recognizing that God is our Father, our Divine Parent, and that God is Almighty King influence the way you view God? How does it influence the way you see yourself? How does it influence the way you pray? If you are struggling with any part of this Christian identity ask God to reveal to you the truth, his truth. Ask God to reveal to you what may be darkening your view or understanding. Is there an event, relationship, or circumstance that taught you to believe something other than the truth of who you are in Christ? Ask God for revelation and healing. Be open to the love and blessings that God wants to shower upon you! Remember who you are!