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"That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."

Text: Ephesians 3:16

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND PRAYER OF PAUL

It is interesting to make a comparison between the two prayers that Paul offered and recorded in Ephesians.

First Prayer – Ephesians 1:17-19

1. For the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to be given in order to understand spiritual truths (Ephesians 1:17)

2. For enlightenment to occur with the opening of eyes of wisdom(Ephesians 1:18)

3. That there may deep appreciation of what it means to be so blessed by God(Ephesians 1:18)

a) Knowledge of the Hope of God’s Calling (Ephesians 1:18)

b) Knowledge of the riches of divine inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:18)

c) Knowledge of the power of God at work in the lives of believers (Ephesians 1:19)

Second Prayer – Ephesians 3:16-20

1. Strengthened with might in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16)

2. To be rooted and grounded in Christ (Ephesians 3:17)

3. To be able to comprehend the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18-19)

4. To be filled with the Fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)

5. Full confidence that God is more than able to grant these requests (Ephesians 3:20)

NO PRESUMPTION IN PAUL’S APPROACH IN PRAYER

Paul had absolute confidence in approaching God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was through the redemption of Christ that he was able to have this access to God. Nevertheless, in the opening words of prayer, Paul only said, “That He would grant you… ” The construction of the sentence (where the subjunctive mood is employed) shows us the following mindset of the apostle Paul.

1. He recognized the sovereign right of God to answer and grant a petition.

2. He left the results undetermined in the good hands of God.

3, He may have offered up deep and profound requests but the answer was not contingent upon how he prayed, but on God’s sovereign will and purpose.