Prayers for the church

Years ago I read a book by John Stott called "God's New Society". It is a book based on Paul's letter to the Ephesians in the New Testament. I almost visited the city of Ephesus when I was in Istanbul in November of 2011. I just ran out of time. It would have been great to see the historic site and imagine what it must have been like when Paul founded the church there. My scripture reading this week took me through the Book of Ephesians once again. I was struck by the way Paul prayed for the Christians there. Here is perhaps two of the most famous prayers he recorded in this letter:

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:15-23)

The three things Paul prayed for the Ephesians in this prayer are:

• that they may know God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the (Holy) Spirit better (verse 17) - to know the triune God personally and deeply (not just to know about him)
• that they may know the hope (of his glorious inheritance in his holy people - or the church) (verse 18) - God is more hopeful about the church than we are; the church is the bride of Christ!
• that they may know his incomparably great power (verse 19), which was the same power which raised Jesus from the dead (verse 20) - God is in charge! "...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18)

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every 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 Lord’s holy people, 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. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

This prayer speaks of the sources of power for God's church:

• the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ is to be found through faith (verses 16-17) - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
• the power must be rooted and established in love, which is to grasp (a deep understanding and motivated by) the deep deep love of Christ (verses 17-18) - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
• the power of love surpasses knowledge; the measure of our love is how much we are filled by God's love (verse 19) - We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1). And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)

So next time I am to pray for the church I should remember these two great prayers. This is the heart of Paul to a church he so loved. This is the heart of God for the church he loved and sent his son to die in order to redeem her for himself. Look at the church (with all the blemishes) the way God looks at her - full of faith, hope and love - the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).