Ephesians- Chapter 1- Lesson 9- Things Paul Prayed For

Verse 15
I) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
A) After the Ephesians heard the gospel they believed
B) After they believed they had a love for all saints, not just those at Ephesus
C) After they believed they were sealed
D) After Paul heard about their conversion, that conversion which changed their attitude toward God’s people, he gave thanks; this should be our response to hearing of others salvation.
E) Beware of those who claim to be Christian but have no love for other Christians.
Verse 16
I) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers
A) Cease not- the persistence, continuance of giving thanks
B) Making mention of you- his giving of thanks was personal
C) In my prayers- how his thankfulness was expressed
Verse 17
I) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ
A) The God of- Philippians 2: 5-11 though equal with God submitted and took the lower position
1) Therefore God highly exalted him (as man) and (as man) gave him a name above every name, even angelic.
B) Acts 2:22 As God he had all power and created all things, as man he did all things by faith in the Father’s power.
1) If the Son lived his life in obedience, submission and faith if the Father: how should we live our lives? John 16: 23-28; Philippians 4:13
II) The Father of glory- referring to a quality, not heaven.
A) He is the origin of all that calls for praise
B) Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of he is the origin of their glory.
1) 1 Corinthians 15: 40-41 states that there is a glory of the material and animal kingdom, yet all find the origin in the mind of God, he is the Father of it.
III) May give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
A) This spirit is not something to be obtain by merit.  It is a gift of grace.
1) We are to study to show ourselves approved, according to 2 Timothy 2: 15.
2) We are to ask for wisdom, according to James 1: 5.
3) We must put in the Word of God, if He is to open it to us.
B) Wisdom- see verse 8- 2A.
C) Revelation- The act of disclosing or discovering to others what was before unknown to them; appropriately, the disclosure or communication of truth to men by God himself, or by his authorized agents, the prophets and apostles.
D) In the knowledge of him- The root of this word means; to make a thing the subject of observation, thus to arrive at knowing by observation.  As we consider the things revealed by the Word we are commanded to study, God guides us by his Spirit (which bears witness with our spirit, the new man) to know and understand the greatness of the one under consideration, Him (Jesus).  See John 16:13.