Giving
Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we continue our series based on the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians The theme is “Making a New World”.
Today we are talking about Improving Your Praying.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Ephesians 1:18-19 AMP
18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),
19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength
Scripture Reading
Introduction
If you wanted to learn the game of golf, you would seek out a golf pro.
You would not want to teach yourself or seek out an amateur.
Likewise, if you want to learn how to be more effective in your prayer life, you want to seek out instructions one who is proficient in the practice of praying.
One such person was the apostle Paul.
Fortunately, many of Paul’s prayers are recorded for us.
By studying them we can learn how to pray more effectively.
Let’s look at Paul’s prayers for the believers in and around Ephesus to see what we can learn.
- To be effective in prayer you need to know God’s personality.
Conversations are enhanced by knowing well the person with who you converse.
If you know something of the other person’s temperament and personality, the conversation is more stimulating.
The same is true with God.
To pray more effectively, you must learn more about the Lord.
- You need to know the name of God.
Throughout the Scriptures God hs disclosed His nature by the use of numerous names.
Paul gave several names of God as he prayed, “Lord Jesus,” “God,” “Lord Jesus Christ,” “Father of Glory.”
Each one of these names described some aspect of God’s character.
You would not want to talk with someone without knowing their name.
Getting the name of a person is the first step in speaking with them.
B. You also need to know the nature of God.
Just like knowing God’s name you must know God’s nature, for His names disclose His divine nature.
When you pray, you speak to the unique creator, sustainer, and ruler of history.
To pray is to talk with the unique God.
Furthermore, God’s names disclose His human nature.
God became human at Bethlehem.
When you talk God, you are speaking wit someone who knows human nature.
Hebrews 4:15 AMP
15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.
2. To be effective in prayer you need to know God’s purpose.
Conversation is enhanced when you know something of the other person’s purpose and goals in life.
When you learn about God’s purposes, your prayer life will improve.
Ephesians 1:18 AMP
18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),
- God’s purpose is to reunite the whole creation.
Ephesians 1:9-10 AMP
9 He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,
10 with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth.
If you talk to God, you must keep God’s purpose uppermost in mind.
B. God’s purpose is to use believers to accomplish His purpose.
The church is the body of Christ through whom God brings about His purpose.
Whenever you talk to God, you should have a thorough awareness that you will be used to accomplish His purpose.
3. To be effective in prayer you need to know God’s provisions.
Paul prayed that believers “may know… the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints” in Ephesians 1:18.
- The church is God’s special possession called into being by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Paul prayed that believers may appreciate the church as God’s special possession purchased with the blood of His Son.
B. The church is to show God’s glory.
Believers have been selected by God to show His glory.
They belong to a new kingdom, and their behaviour is to match the kingdom principles.
4. To be effective in prayer you need to know God’s power.
Paul prayed that believers may comprehend “what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength” in Ephesians 1:19.
The power of God is expressed in four different word dunamis (power), energy (working), kratos (strength), and inches (might).
- Believers need to see what God has done.
How great is the power of God!
You only have to look at the resurrection of Christ to know the measure of God’s might.
Ephesians 1:20-21 AMP
20 which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.
God raised Jesus from the dead.
That act took a powerful person.
Whenever we talk with God, we need to be aware of how powerful He is.
B. Believers need to appropriate God’s power.
When believers pray, they can depend on God’s power.
We need to seek daily this inexhaustible source of strength.
Conclusion.
Paul was a professional when it came to praying.
Read his prayer and learn to pray more effectively.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
Giving
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2021 IS A YEAR OF REFORMATION
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