Watch/Listen
Knowing God Better
Brian Mashburn
February 14, 2016
Audio Player
Knowing God Better
"For this reason..." Paul says.
Twice in the book of Ephesians, he says this. And each time, he follows it by saying that he falls on his knees in prayer for the church. The first time is in Ephesians 1:15.
Why? For what reason is he compelled to pray?
He has a list. It is because God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing! Because he chose you! Because you are holy and blameless in His sight! Because you are adopted as God's children! Because you have redemption and forgiveness for your sins! It is because you are Spirit-containers, marked as God's most treasured possession.
But most of all, it is because God has revealed to you His plan in an effort to enlist you. God wants to bring all things together under Christ... using you to do it.
So - for this reason - Paul prays.
And what does he pray? What could he pray that would embolden us and equip us to play such a significant role in a life-and-death adventure such as this?
He prays "that you may know him better." (Eph 1:17)
He begs God to give you wisdom, to speak to you directly, and to literally open the eyes of your heart, so that your hope is invulnerable and that His power has not only "got your back", but it has already conquered your death with life.
Paul prays for the church with more intensity than you would pray for a son or daughter who is leaving with the military on a high-stakes mission full of good and danger.
Let us, today, understand these reasons, and join Paul in prayer.