“Thanksgiving” is a theme that runs throughout the Bible. In the NASV, some form of the word “thanks” is found 139 times. Being unthankful is a sin. Paul encourages the Christians in his letter to Ephesus to be thankful (Eph. 5:4). In 5:20, Paul says our song service should express our thanksgiving to God and Jesus Christ. Paul also begins his letter of Ephesians with a prayer of thanksgiving for the Christians in Ephesus, which is what I want us to study together.
PAUL’S MOTIVATION FOR PRAYER – 1:15:
“For this reason…” – For what reason? Paul has identified the Christians in Ephesus as “saints” in verse 1, where he says they are “faithful in Christ.” They have been chosen “in Christ” (vs 3). They were offered forgiveness of sins through Christ (1:7) and, after listening to the gospel message (1:13), they obediently believed it. Then, they were given the Holy Spirit as a pledge of their inheritance (1:14). It is because they have been forgiven of their sins and been added to the church of Jesus Christ that Paul gives God thanks for them.
He mentions their faith and their love. Faith in Christ without love for fellow Christians is dead or incomplete; love for the saints without faith in Christ turns the church into just a social club. In 4:2, Paul tells Christians to walk with “all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.” We need to “walk in love, just as Christ loved us” (5:2).
PAUL’S PRAYER OF THANKS – 1:16-19:
The substance of the prayer:
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you:” Calling God the “Father of glory” (the only place God is so called) tells us that it is God who gives glory. God’s glory in the OT was often seen in miracles which He performed. For you and me, that glory is seen in what He does for us, beginning with saving us through the blood of Christ but culminating in taking us to heaven, even when we have not earned that opportunity (cf. 5:25-27).
Here’s what Paul prays that the Father of glory will give to the Christians in Ephesus:“a spirit of wisdom” (cf. 3:3-6) and “and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (cf. 4:15-16).
Paul continues the substance of his prayer in verse 18: “[that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,” The tense of the verb “enlightened” tells us that this enlightenment happened at a specific time in our growth of knowledge. It occurs, of course, when it finally dawns in our minds and hearts that Jesus really is the Son of God and that we ought to put our souls into His hands (cf. 4:17-20).
In the next three phrases, Paul will add some focus or precision to this prayer, and specifically, to the desire for the Ephesians to increase in their knowledge…
“[for] you to know what is the hope of His calling,” Our hope is a conviction that is rooted in God’s faithfulness to His own promises.
“…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance among the saints,” That promised inheritance offered to the Israelites is opened up to both Jews and non-Jews alike.
“…what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” We notice in this phrase, the very next one, and the last several verses (20-23), that there is a piling up of words to express that there is no power like God’s power.
PAUL’S BASIS FOR PRAYER – 1:20-23:
“which He brought about in Christ,” The basis for Paul’s prayer, the hope behind Paul’s prayer is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the death of Christ illustrated the love of God, then the resurrection of Christ illustrates the power of God…
“when He raised Him from the dead” – There is no example of the power of God that is greater than the Father raising the Son from the dead (cf. 2:1-7).
“and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” We live in a physical world but God rules from the spiritual world.
“above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named,” Pagans believed there were powers, the powers of the gods, behind their nations. But there is no power that exceeds the power of Jesus Christ.
“not only in this age but also in the one to come” – Paul simply wants to be as comprehensive as possible. No one and nothing is more powerful than Jesus Christ!
“and He put all things in subjection under His feet” (cf. Matt. 28:18).
“and Him (emphatic) He gave as head over all things to the church,” – To say that Christ is the head of the church is to say that Christ has authority in and over the church but it also says that Christ provides the growth for the church and Christ is the One who holds the entire church together.
“which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” God, through Christ, fills us Christians, the church, with everything we need. The church is Christ in the world: His mouth, His hands, His feet. We wear His name and carry His message. We show Christ to the world. That is how important the church is in God’s plans. Paul began this prayer by saying in 1:15 that his motivation was hearing about the Christians’ faith and love. It is that faith and love that compels Christians to live like Christ, which illustrates the church is the fulness of Christ, so Paul has come full circle back around to praising the church for being the church of Christ.
Let us be thankful for Christ’s church and pray for her (each other) on a regular basis.
Paul Holland