INTRODUCTION

1. The Prayer Life of the Lord Jesus

a) Challenging

b) Consistent

c) Courageous

2. The Prayer Life of the Disciples

a) Insipid

b) Inconsistent

c) It became Inspirational years later

 

AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DEEPEN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE

1. Appreciating the Dispensation of Grace

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, Ephesians 3:1-6

a) Grace is to be deeply appreciated

b) It is not to be taken for granted

2. Grace and the revelation of knowledge

a) Knowledge is revealed by God

b) Grace is needed just to obtain knowledge

3. Grace and the revelation of the mystery of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) Revealed by the Spirit of God

b) Knowledge of God’s plans for Gentiles to be included in His salvation plan

 

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GIFT OF GRACE

7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given,

that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery,

which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known

by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:7-13

1. Becoming a minister according to the gift of grace

2, Experiencing the power of the Spirit of God

3. The manifold wisdom of God made known

4. We have the same access to God through faith

 

THE PLACE OF PRAYER

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

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

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

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

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

1. Bowing the knee to God the Father

2. Prayer for all believers

a) To be strengthened with might through the Spirit of God

b) Strengthened in the inner man

c) That Christ the Lord may dwell in the heart through faith

d) To be rooted and grounded in love

e) To know the love of Christ the Lord

f) To be filled with the fulness of God

3. Praying for glory to redound to God

a) That God may work mightily in us

b) That God would do exceedingly abundantly above all we are able to think

c) That we would experience the power of God operating within us

d) That all glory may be given to the LORD God

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To be inspired by Paul’s example of growth in his faith

2. To be instructed further by the Spirit of God

3. To be infused with the Power of the Holy Spirit in our life to the glory of God