Ephesians - Food for the soul… Postcards at front €1 each or €3 for set of 5 LPO Summer 2009 Pete Phillips St John's College Durham

Thursday Morning Prayerfulness Ephesians 3 (3:14-21)

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3: For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  Response to all that God has done  Ephesians Church(es) in Chapter 1  Saving Grace in Chapter 2  Breaking down hostility in Chapter 2  Fellow-citizens with God’s people  Members of God’s household 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name and I pray…

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:1-14  Saving grace has a mission ...and consequences ...a mystery now specially revealed ...Paul a servant of this mystery ...God's intent to make known ...don't be discouraged because of my sufferings for you... 1 For this reason, I, Paul, prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you gentiles – if indeed you have heard of the administration of God's grace given to me for you…

Prayerfulness... and suffering...for you? Ephesians 3 (3:14-21)

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  I kneel – normal to stand to pray  Emotive force of kneeling  Father – family in heaven and earth  Prayer as a family experience  Solitude is a misunderstanding  Christ in your hearts – only here! 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name and I pray…

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  I kneel – normal to stand to pray  Emotive force of kneeling  Father – family in heaven and earth  Prayer as a family experience  Solitude in prayer is a human misunderstanding 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name and I pray…

Prayerfulness... and suffering...for you? Ephesians 3 (3:14-21)

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  Wealth, glory and power  Grace has a mission & conseqs  Grace also has an equipping  Inner strengthening...  Picture – sustenance, light, Bible, bread of life, timer and knife – reminders of mortality. …that he might grant you according to the wealth of his glory with power to be strengthened through the spirit into the inner person so that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts...

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  Imagery from building/gardening – strengthened, dwelling, rooted, established, strengthened  Establish the structure in order to see the wonders of God  Establish inner strength through Spirit... …that he might grant you according to the wealth of his glory with power to be strengthened through the spirit into the inner person so that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts...

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  Prayerfulness is about inner strengthening – building inner resources, rootedness, solidity  Prayerfulness allows us to grasp divine realities and wonders  Prayerfulness is the resourcing for knowing God …that he might grant you according to the wealth of his glory with power to be strengthened through the spirit into the inner person so that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts...

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  Power from love-rootedness  Power and love go hand in hand  Power to grasp love  Power to know love  Power not for itself but for love  so that filled to the fulness of God 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name and I pray…

Prayerfulness: Ephesians 3:14-21  Note the sense of fulness, complete  Indwelling  Multi-dimensional love  Surpasses knowledge  Fulness of God  Immeasurably more ask or imagine 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name and I pray…

Simple Prayerfulness Ephesians 3 (3:14-21)

Ephesians - Food for the soul… Postcards at front €1 each or €3 for set of 5 LPO Summer 2009 Pete Phillips St John's College Durham