For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that 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 rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
– Ephesians 1:15–23
Ephesians 1:15–23. This is one of the prayers that Paul prays specifically for the church in his letters. And I’m just going to read through it. And as I read through it, just pray specifically for you.
God’s grace is on display to His people through Jesus Christ.
I just want to pray Ephesians 1:15–23 over you right now. “For this reason,” the Bible says, “Because I’ve heard of your faith in the Lord, Jesus, and your love toward all the saints.” Oh God, I praise you for the faith in the Lord, Jesus that you have given to those who are listening right now. God, I pray that if there’s anyone listening right now who has not placed their faith in Jesus to save them from their sins and reconcile them to yourself, god, I pray that today would be the day when you give them new life through faith in Jesus.
The Reality of God’s Grace in Our Lives
God, realizing most people who are praying through this podcast have placed their faith in you, I just praise you for how you have made that faith a reality in their hearts. And the love you have given them for you and your church, and then pray that that would grow continually. Love for you and love for your church, for all the saints.
I give thanks to you, oh God, for your grace and those or listening right now in so many different ways. I just think about all the evidence of your grace and their lives. The way you have saved them, the way you have led them, the way you’ve guided them, the way you’ve sustained them, the way you have helped them. God, I praise you for your grace in them.
And I pray, oh God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, that you may give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in and the knowledge of you. God, I pray for your wisdom from your spirit in everyone listening right now. And for revelation and the knowledge of you, I pray that you would help them to grow in the knowledge of who you are, having the eyes of their hearts enlightened, that they may know what is the hope to which you have called them.
Ephesians 1:15–23 Praises God’s Immeasurable Love
God, may they know the hope they have in you in a deeper way today than they ever have before. And tomorrow and the next day, they would grow and their knowledge of the hope to which you have called them. What are the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of your power toward us who believe. God, may it be so.
May they know the riches of your glorious inheritance, the immeasurable greatness of your power toward them on their behalf. May they know in a fresh way today that, because you are for them, nothing can stand against them. According to the working of your great might, that you worked in Christ when you raised him from the dead and seated him at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and above every name that is named not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
Oh God, may my brothers and sisters in Christ see Jesus in a fresh way, today. Raised from the dead seated at your right hand in the heavenly places, far above everyone, everything, every name, not only now, but for all of eternity. And as they see you today, may they realize that you have put all things under his feet, given him as head over all things to the church, to us, that Jesus lives in us. That Jesus lives in them. That his life is their life. Oh, that his joy is their joy. That his strength is their strength. I pray for my brothers and sisters. May they know the life and joy and hope and strength of Jesus living in them.
The Fullness of Life with God in Ephesians 1:15–23
I think about Hudson Taylor. Just saying, “Oh, the joy of Jesus living in me.” God, I pray that over every single person right now who has trusted in you, that they would know the joy of Jesus living in them. The life of Jesus, the love of Jesus, the hope of Jesus, the beauty of Jesus, living in them.
As we are your body, the fullness of you who fill all and all. Oh God, fill them up today with the fullness of your spirit. Your power, your love, your wisdom, and all of your fullness. Dwell in them today that they might know you. Walk with you, love you, enjoy you in deeper measure, with every passing day.
God, I pray Ephesians 1:15–23 over every single person listening right now. May these words be a reality in their lives. I pray this in Jesus’ name.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
