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"To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Text: Ephesians 3:19

GREAT GOALS IN PRAYER

If we examine Paul’s prayer in close detail, we will find that he prayed with certain goals in mind. Let us do a quick review of these goals.

1. To be strengthened with might (Ephesians 3:16)

2. To have Christ dwell in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17)

3. To comprehend with all the saints (Ephesians 3:18)

4. To know the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:19)

5. To be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)

The grammatical construction of all these sentences suggests that Paul had definite goals in mind. His prayer was not aimless or cast in general mundane words.

A QUICK EXAMINATION AS TO THE WAY WE PRAY

What a wonderful intercessory prayer Paul offered. We are deeply challenged to examine the way we pray.

1. Do we have goals in mind when we pray?

2. What kind of goals do we have when we pray?

3. How deep are our thoughts in prayer?

MATCHING PRAYER AND MINISTRY

Paul did not merely pray. He also sought to match his life with his prayer. In the epistle to the Colossians, commonly called the Twin Epistle to Ephesians, Paul wrote,

Of which I became a minister according to the
stewardship from God which was given to me for
you, to fulfill the word of God.
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching
every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
To this end I also labour, striving according to His working
which works in me mightily.
COLOSSIANS 1:25, 28-29

1. Prayer must be offered.

2. Working to fulfill the word of God must also be done.