Young Adults' Group

A Prayer For Our 46th Year Of Ministry

by Pastor Mark
August 30, 2018

Beginning the new year of ministry in prayer

As we enter into another year of ministry, let us do so in the spirit of prayer. What is it that we want to pray for? The Apostle Paul made a special prayer for the Ephesian church. This was a prayer that Pastor Charles taught us at the last Spiritual Retreat. It would be most appropriate for us to offer this prayer. What are some of the things that we should consider?

A prayer of humble adoration

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” (Eph 3:14,15)

Paul was deeply moved to bow before God who is truly great. There is humble adoration for all that He is. His awesomeness is to be praised. He is the Father of the whole family in heaven and earth. Let us come humbly before our God and to give humble adoration.

A prayer for power

“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,” (Eph 3:16)

There is the use of the “hina” to indicate purpose and fulfilment. The purpose of Paul’s prayer was for God to grant power on the basis of the riches of the glory of God. He was to be strengthened with might. The word “might” in Greek is “dunamis”…where you get the English word “dynamic”. The Spirit of God empowered us with dynamism. This strength is the same power that the Lord gave to His disciples as the church began. (Acts 1:8) Let us pray for this power to be given to our inner man.

A prayer for Christ to dwell in our hearts

“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;” (Eph 3:17)

Christ is the main focus of this prayer. The word “dwell” in Greek is “kataoikos” which means to “reside in a house”. Christ seeks to make His habitation with us…to make us His home. We can have fellowship with Christ through faith. We can cultivate a close relationship with Him. Let us pray for Christ to dwell in our hearts.

A prayer to be rooted and grounded in love

“that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” (Eph 3:17)

Two imageries are used here about the love of God. One is having a deep-rooted system in love. With the deep roots, one can continue to grow. Another is having a solid foundation in God’s love. It is to be firmly grounded in love. Let us pray to be rooted and grounded in love.

The prayer for comprehension

“may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;” (Eph 3:18,19)

The love of Christ is something that cannot be fully understood. We can understand it to a certain extent. But the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge and wisdom. It cannot be measured. It is cannot be totally comprehended. Let us stand in awe of the love of Christ.

The prayer to be filled

“that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:19)

Let us pray to ultimately be filled with all the fullness of God. Let us continue to seek the Lord’s filling towards having this fullness…which is virtually incomprehensible. Let us pray to be filled with God Himself as we enter into the 46th year of ministry.

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