Prayers for the Church Universal

The whole epistle to the Ephesian church is awesome, but these words from Apostle Paul particularly struck me the other day and continue to echo in my mind and heart.  I don't think I have the gift of intercession, but I do want to pray these words for my local church body and for the church at large.  They are altogether glorious and _much_ more important than what we perceive to be urgent!  I am sure Paul knew many Christians suffering from thorns in this present age (indeed, we know Paul himself had them), but the same practical apostle who would ask for a cloak from Timothy thousands of miles away, does not mention that he prays for sickness, family problems, eradication of idols, moral restoration in the Roman empire, etc.  Instead he prays like this:

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Eph. 1:15-19).

And later in the epistle:

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:14-19).

'These are beautiful words,' you might think, 'But are they more important than couples going through divorces, rampant sexual immorality, and heart attacks?'

I assure you, twenty-first century reader, they are.  I tried to put Paul's prayer from Ch.1 in a form I would write down in my prayer request journal.  These are his requests:

• That our Heavenly Father will give us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation, which comes from personally knowing Him (1:17)
• That the eyes of our hearts may be opened to understand (1:18)
• the hope that we have in being the called of God ( " )
• the glory that we have in being the heirs of God ( " )
• the great power that we derive from trusting in God (1:19)

Oh, indeed these things are far worth more asking for than any other earthly comfort, removal of thorns, ethical revival, or ministry success we could ask for...  Not because those things are not used by God to bring about His glory, but because those things in themselves will ultimately pass away.  Those things in themselves are earthly treasures in earthen vessels.  But knowing just a bit more of the infinite God... That is the real treasure that will not pass away.  And this real treasure will help us accomplish all that God requires of us in this present age, whether it be a thriving, happy family, a society that upholds His truth, or a church overflowing with genuine believers.  I think about the Lord's words to Martha who was distracted with much service... "[Oh] Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Lk 10).

Again in Ch.3, Paul prays

• That God may strengthen us with power of the Holy Spirit in the inner man
• That Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith (Note that Paul is speaking to those who are already-believing.  I don't believe he speaks of the faith that which refers to a person's initial trust in Christ to save him/her.  Instead, he asks Christ to continually dwell in the hearts of those who have already trusted Christ for salvation.  It is indeed necessary for daily living; As David prayed, "Do not cast me away from your presence, do not remove your Holy Spirit from me.")
• That we will be rooted and grounded in God's great love and understand its greatness as a church, that we too may be like Him ("be filled up to all the fullness of God", 3:19)

To what end?  In order that God may be glorified in granting us these things (3:16)!

Personally I have found that understanding the great love of God is crucial for my day-to-day joy, love for God, and even fulfilling my ministry.  The success of my work and the amount of service is not the ultimate; knowing God, dwelling in His love, giving Him my heart, and being in love with Him... that is the ultimate, isn't it?  As a preacher says, "God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him."  Then my service for Him will naturally flow out of my passion for Him.  I think about the season when my husband and I were dating; we were so passionately in love with one another and couldn't wait to do something, or give something as a token of our love (not that such a glow has been permanently extinguished in our relationship; I wouldn't want David to bring a charge against me for leaving my first passion for him, and same truth applies to God, who is my spiritual husband).

I hope you pray these things as well, for yourself and for the church.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen" (3:20-21).