Post #102: Paul's Example: Follow Me as I Follow Christ | KJV Right Division (Week 4)

Post 102 · Paul's Prayers – How He Prayed for the Church (Eph 1:17-19)

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe." — Ephesians 1:17-19 (KJV)

Who? Paul praying for Ephesian believers — his prayer reveals what he considered their greatest need: not more gifts or more safety, but more knowledge of God.
Dispensation: Grace Age — Paul's prayers are a model for Grace-Age intercession: he prays for knowledge, not just needs; for spiritual enlightenment, not just physical provision.
Key: Paul's prayer requests: (1) wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, (2) enlightened eyes to see the hope, the inheritance, and the power already theirs.

Paul prays two major prayers in Ephesians: chapter 1:17-23 (knowing our resources in Christ) and chapter 3:14-21 (knowing the love of Christ that passes knowledge). Both prayers are for knowledge — not health, safety, provision, or success, but deeper awareness of what is already true. This is the Grace-Age priority: we already have 'all spiritual blessings in heavenly places' (1:3) — what we need is the eyes to see and the faith to live in what we already possess. The three things Paul prays they would know: (1) the hope of their calling, (2) the riches of their inheritance, (3) the greatness of God's power toward them. These three correspond to past (calling), future (inheritance), and present (power). They already have all three; they need to know it.

Application: Read Ephesians 1:17-23 and 3:14-21. Turn each request into a personal prayer: 'Lord, give ME the spirit of wisdom and revelation in YOUR knowledge. Enlighten the eyes of MY understanding that I may know the hope of MY calling, the riches of YOUR inheritance in ME, and the exceeding greatness of YOUR power working in ME.' Pray this for yourself every day this week. How does this change what you ask God for?

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Prayer: Father of glory, give me wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Open the eyes of my heart to see what I already have in Christ. Let me know the hope, the inheritance, and the power — not as theology to recite but as reality to live. Amen.