“Making Mention of You in My Prayers…”

by Mitchell Tan
September 12, 2019

LEARNING TO PRAY AS PAUL DID

The apostle Paul was a man of prayer. He is a good example of how we should go about praying. As he wrote to the Ephesian Church, he sought to specially pray for them. How did Paul go about doing this?

1. FINDING REASONS TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you …”
Ephesians 1:15-16

Paul found reasons for giving thanks to the Lord in prayer. He had heard of the Ephesians’ faith and love for all the saints. These were obvious evidence of salvation in Christ. His heart was full of gratitude to God for their faith.

2. LEARNING TO PRAY FOR PEOPLE

“… Making mention of you in my prayers …”
Ephesians 1:16

Paul also prayed for the Ephesian Church. Paul had taken the time to explain what the spiritual blessings that all believers have in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14.) He had written about some deep concepts like predestination and the good pleasure of His will. These truths were not easy to comprehend. They were to be carefully understood. Paul was sizing up the situation concerning the Ephesians and saw the need to pray for them. He prayed for them that they may have understanding concerning these deep truths. He was not taking anything for granted.

3. PRAYING WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD

“… That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation”
Ephesians 1:17

Paul’s prayer was a deep and complete one. His prayer did not just involve the Lord God. It involved the whole Trinity.

A. PRAYING TO GOD THE FATHER

I. THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS

Paul remembered how the Lord God was Father to the Lord Jesus. This was a very special way of addressing God. Paul had the highest regard for Him.

II. THE FATHER OF GLORY

He also saw God as a Father who was full of glory. The Lord’s glory can be seen in His grace given for salvation. The Lord’s grace had been made to abound to us in all wisdom and prudence (Ephesians 1:8). God is indeed full of glory and this glory would be seen further as we understand His salvation. The Father of glory can show us even more glorious things.

B. PRAYING WITH REFERENCE TO THE LORD JESUS

Paul was also deeply conscious of the Lord Jesus as he prayed. He is the channel through whom God does everything. All the blessings that God has given to us are through Christ. It is through Him that we can pray and come into the presence of God. Paul had the Lord Jesus in mind as he prayed. We too should learn to be conscious of the Lord Jesus as we pray

C. PRAYING FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO HELP US COMPREHEND

Paul saw how wisdom and revelation go together. It is through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that people can understand the deep things of God. Paul prayed for understanding so that the Ephesian Church can piece together the many aspects of salvation.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

May we seek to follow after the example of Paul in how he prayed!

1. Let’s learn to find reasons to give thanks to God always in prayer.

2. Let’s take time to pray for the needs of others.

3. Let’s pray for the Spirit of God to help us comprehend His salvation and His spiritual blessings.

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