In the remaining verses of Paul’s prayer report, Ephesians 1:20-23, Paul expands on the third topic of insight he hopes that the Holy Spirit will bring to believers: the enormity of God’s power, which He exercises on their behalf. He begins by pointing to two salvation history events as the premiere illustrations of God’s power: (1) the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; (2) the exaltation of Jesus to the throne of the cosmos (Ephesians 1:20).

How is God’s power expressed through the resurrection of Jesus? Ephesians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Philippians 3:8-11; Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3.

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The resurrection of Jesus is a non-negotiable belief of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 15:17). It is because Christ is risen that faithful believers await the grand, future resurrection to eternal life at the time of Christ’s return (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). It is because Christ is risen that we can look to Him today for all the blessings of the gospel, including the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The imagery, that God “seated Him [Christ] at His right hand” (Ephesians 1:20, NKJV), is drawn from Psalm 110:1, the most frequently cited passage in the New Testament (all of the passages just cited seem to draw on it). The exaltation of Christ has a high profile in Ephesians. Believers are “seated with … him [Christ Jesus] in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6, ESV). In addition, Paul refers to the ascent of Christ as a prelude to Christ’s filling all things and giving gifts to His church (see Ephesians 4:8-11).

In Ephesians 4:8-11, Paul warns us away from adopting a merely static image of Christ on the Father’s throne, presenting rather “the dynamic NT picture of the exalted Christ going forth by His Spirit in all the world, conquering and to conquer.” — F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1984), p. 133. So Paul portrays the exaltation/coronation of Christ not simply as an illustration of the divine power offered to believers, but as the source of that power.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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“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” (Ephesians 1:16-17, ESV).

In reporting his prayers, Paul records one central request that he places before the throne of God. He has already noted that the Holy Spirit has come into believers’ lives at the time of their conversion (Ephesians 1:13-14). Now Paul prays for a fresh blessing of the Spirit to give needed spiritual insight focused on a deepened understanding of Jesus (“in the knowledge of him,” Ephesians 1:17).

Paul prays that the Holy Spirit will bring special insight to believers on what three topics? See Ephesians 1:17-19.

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When Paul prays for insight for them about “the hope to which he has called you” (Ephesians 1:18, ESV), he prays that they will be alert to the past actions God has already taken for their salvation (Ephesians 1:3-9, Ephesians 1:11-13) and to the glorious future He has planned for them (Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 1:14).

When he prays for insight into “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18, NKJV), he is recalling the Old Testament idea of believers as God’s inheritance (Deuteronomy 9:29, Deuteronomy 32:9, Zechariah 2:12, compare Ephesians 1:11). He wishes them to know that they not only possess an inheritance from God, but that they are God’s inheritance, and Paul wants them to understand their value to God.

When Paul prays for spiritual insight about “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:19, NKJV), he imagines the Holy Spirit bringing fresh understanding of the immensity of God’s power and actualizing it in their experience.

In all these prayers, Paul wants these people to experience for themselves what they have been given in Jesus.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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The book of Ephesians does show us “How to Follow Jesus in Trying Times”: 
Hymn 623 – I Will Follow Thee, My Saviour so that our actions will always speak louder than our words.
There are hymns that return many times throughout this weeks’ lesson studies.

Paul’s prayer times reflect his own growing in
Hymn 489 – At First I Prayed for Light and the 
Hymn 284 – For You I Am Praying. At times Paul asked 
Open Mine Eyes That I May See – Hymn 326, and always ended with grateful thanks: 
Hymn 276 – Thanks To God and Hymn 599 – Now Thank We All Our God.

This was all followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: 
Hymn 266 – Spirit of God, 
Hymn 260 – Hover O’er Me Holy Spirit, with reminders for us in 
Hymn 269 – Come, Holy Spirit and 
Hymn 589 – Holy Spirit, Gracious Guest.

Tuesday says “It is because Christ Is Risen that we can look to Him today for all the blessings of the gospel….”: 
Hymn 166 – Christ The Lord Is Risen Today followed by “the exaltation of Jesus to the throne”: 
Hymn 408 – Lord, Enthroned In Heavenly Splendor” all because of 
When Christ Was Lifted From The Earth – Hymn 585. Heaven rang with the angels singing 
Holy, Holy, Is What the Angels Sing – Hymn 425 and no doubt they are still amazed and sing to this day. Ahhhhh, how 
Worthy, Worthy Is The Lamb – Hymn 246 (Friday).

With “Christ Above All Powers” (Wednesday) Ephesians 1:21 states 
There’s No Other Name Like Jesus – Hymn 253 and 
To The Name That Brings Salvation – Hymn 646.

Thursday instructs that the only spiritual name and power is from Heaven: 
Hymn 229 – All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name.

Just as the Holy Spirit was sent to Jesus’ disciples and followers about 2000 years ago, we are still to ask 
Come, Holy Spirit – Hymn 269 today.

The last Bible text we read (on Friday) is so amazingly put to music in Handel’s “Messiah” in the last piece (No. 53) named
“Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain”.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought : Prayers of praise and thanksgiving are essential in the Christian life. We need to experience the power of Christ in the life so we can live our lives freely in Him.
July 15, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 1:15-23. 3:14-21.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does it mean that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think? Do you see that power in your life? If not, why not?
3. Personal Application: Why is it important always to thank God in prayer for what you have to be thankful for? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Why doesn’t your church open during the week for the community and members to meet for prayer and study of the word, and not just on Saturday morning?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 1:17-19.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What three topics does Paul pray that the Holy Spirit will bring special insight to believers?
3. Personal Application: How can you better experience the exceeding greatness of His power toward you? What does this mean in daily life? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why, if Jesus is Lord of all things, and demons are subject unto Him, are the evil forces and authorities still seem to have rule over us and the earth?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 1:21, 2:2, 6:12.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why is Paul so interested in the evil, spiritual powers?
3. Personal Application: What are some present day manifestations of these evil forces, and how can we make sure we are not caught up in any of them? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “To what extent are you living under the authority of the fallen powers? How do you know which power you are living under?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 1:22,23.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What benefits does Christ provide for His church as His exalted position and rule over all things in heaven and earth?
3. Personal Application: What has been your own experience with the power of prayer? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Motivated by news that believers in Ephesus are thriving in faith toward Jesus and in love toward each other (perhaps news shared by Tychicus, Ephesians 6:21-22), Paul reports to them how he prays for them.

Compare Paul’s two prayer reports in Ephesians — Ephesians 1:15-23 and Ephesians 3:14-21. What themes do the two reports share?

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Sometimes our default tone in prayer can be doleful, mourning over this challenge or that problem. Paul’s prayer reports in Ephesians suggest that thanksgiving is the native language of prayer. We gather up the blessings of God and thank Him for them. We seek to perceive God at work in difficult circumstances and praise Him for His transforming presence in our lives. Celebrating the grace and power of the exalted Jesus (Ephesians 1:20-23), we thank Him for blessing those in our circle of influence. Here is Paul’s transforming secret for prayer: prayer is the key of praise and thanksgiving.

Paul also said that he does “not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16, NKJV; see also Philippians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

What does it really mean to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? It cannot mean that we are always kneeling before God in prayer. It does mean that, blessed by God’s Spirit, we move through life with hearts open to the presence and power of God, seeking cues for thanksgiving to Him. It means a readiness to process the issues of life in the presence of God, to seek divine counsel as we experience the twists and turns that life brings. It means living not in estrangement from God but in engagement with Him, ever open to divine leading.

We too often view prayer as a nicety, an add-on to discipleship that is to be exercised when convenient. Paul illustrates a different view. Paul takes seriously the task of praying for the believers in Ephesus, doing so both by giving thanks for them (Ephesians 1:16; compare Ephesians 1:3-14) and by interceding for them (Ephesians 1:17-23; compare Ephesians 3:14-21). For him, prayer is a central, or even the central, task of Christian faith. These verses provide a moving call to prayer, an invitation for each of us to consider our own “prayer ministry” in the light of Paul’s dedication to it.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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