How to Pray for Others | August 20, 2023

How to Pray for Others | August 20, 2023
Jim Keena | Guest Speaker

WHO:
Ephesians 1:15-16, NIV
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

Belief: Romans 10:9, NIV
“if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Behavior: John 13:35, NIV
“By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

WHAT:
Ephesians 1:17, NIV
“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.”

Ephesians 1:14, The Message
“But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally….”

John 17:3, NIV
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

WHY:
Ephesians 1:18a, NIV
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, in order to know…”

John 12:46, NIV
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ― C.S. Lewis

Hope: Their Certain Future
Ephesians 1:18a, ESV
“that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.”

“All death can now do to Christians is to make their lives infinitely better.” ― Tim Keller

Inheritance: Their Value to God
Ephesians 1:18b, ESV
“…what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…”

Power: The Greatness of God’s Power
Ephesians 1:18-19a, ESV
“…and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…”

Reflection Questions:

What do you recall about Thanksgiving Day when you were a child? What were you thankful for then? What are you grateful for now?
According to Ephesians 1:15-16, what was the Apostle Paul thankful for and why? Name some people you are grateful for. Why are you thankful for them?
In verse 15, what encouraged Paul to pray for the letter’s recipients? What did Paul pray for when he prayed for the believers?
Summarize what Paul prayed for in Ephesians 1:17. Have you ever gone from knowing God intellectually to knowing him experientially? From head knowledge to heart knowledge? If so, share your experience with the group.
According to verses 18-19, Paul prayed the Ephesians would know three things (1) Hope: their certain future, (2) Inheritance: their value to God; (3) Power: the greatness of God’s power toward them. Which of these do you find it easiest to believe? Which do you find more challenging to believe? How would your life be different if you more deeply believed these three truths?

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Notes Page: https://journeyweb.net/sermons/notes/2023.08.20.pdf