¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 

The Heart’s Condition – Thankful, Humble, Confident

¹⁶ I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 

I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, ¹⁹ and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge,so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Heart’s Petition – Power & Love

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The Heart’s Expectation – God is Able, God is Powerful, God is Good

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

1. Follows The Will of Christ

2 you have heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that he gave to me for you? 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

2. Preaches the Message of Christ

7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.

3. Knows The Grace Of Christ

8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

4. Proclaims the Good News of Christ

10 This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens. 11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. Encourages The Church of Christ

12 In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. 13 So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.

6. Accesses The Throne of Christ

Ephesians 2:11–22 (CSB) – Unity in Christ

11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Who We Were Without Christ

13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father.

What Christ Has Done For Us

19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

What We Are Called To Be

Ephesians 1:15–23 – The Christian Calling “Prayer For The Saints”

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your FAITH in the Lord Jesus and your LOVE toward all the saints,

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

EVIDENCE OF GOD’S                        FOR HIS PEOPLE

(1)                        in the Lord Jesus – 

(2)                          toward all the saints –

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,

that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,

PROVISION OF GOD’S                                     FOR HIS PEOPLE

To Know                                – 

To Know                                     

19… according to the working of his great might

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

DEMONSTRATION OF GODS                             FOR HIS PEOPLE – 19… according to the working of his great might

Christ’s                                 – he raised him from the dead

Christ’s                                 – seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places

Christ’s                                  – 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion

Christ’s                                   – and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come

Christ’s                               – 22 And he put all things under his feet

Ephesians 1:11–14  – The Christian Calling “Praise the Spirit

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, 

having been predestined according to the purpose of him 

who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

13 In him you also, 

when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, 

were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

v.11-12 = GOD’S PROMISE TO THE HEBREWS – In him we

v.13-14 =  GOD’S GIFT TO THE GENTILES – In him you also

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

THE SPIRIT HAS TOLD US THE GOOD NEWS – when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, 

The Spirit Reveals The Truth of the Gospel to Us –

We Hear & Believe in The Gospel – 

THE SPIRIT SEALS US FOR GOD’S GLORY – were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

The Spirit Reveals Who Our Owner is – 

The Spirit is Our Guarantee of Greater Things – 

The Spirit brings God’s Glory through our lives – 

THE SPIRIT HAS GIVEN US AN INHERITANCE – In him we have obtained an inheritance,

Ephesians 1:7–10

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

• We Have ___________ In Jesus

• We Have A _________ In Jesus

• We Have ________ & ________ In Jesus

• We Have __________ In Jesus

Ephesians 1:3–6 “Praise God The Father”

• Praise God! –

• He                       Us –

• He                      Us – 

o   He Chose                    – 

o   He Chose Us                                              – 

o   He Chose Us                                                            – 

• That we should be                      – set apart from the world

• That we should be                           – pure, without spot or blemish

• He                            Us –

o   According To                                        – 

o   For His                           & Grace – 

o   For Our                                       – 

The Christian Calling

Ephesians 1:1-2 – Introduction

Ephesians 1:1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.

Ephesus

– A Large City

– Centrally located in Asia Minor.

– Major Attraction – Temple of Artemis / Diana

– Paul’s primary church planting head quarters during his 3rd missionary journey (Church Plants: Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colossae, & Herapolis.)

Paul

– At the end of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey Paul preached in the synagogue at Ephesus & then left Priscilla & Aquila behind to further the gospel in his absence.

– Paul’s 3rd missionary journey (Acts 18-19). Awakening occurs in Ephesus.

an apostle of Christ Jesus –

1) The term Apostle was used only for those who saw Christ in his physical form during his earthly ministry. (Paul saw Jesus on the Road to Damascus)

2) The term Apostle was used only for those who were seen as messengers of the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ

by God’s will –

at Ephesus – This Letter Is For THE LOCAL CHURCH

To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus – This Letter Is For THE WHOLE CHURCH

Ephesians 1:2

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A THEOLOGICAL STATEMENT –

A POWERFUL STATEMENT –