BE THANKFUL

 

5 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.

 

1.      Paul says, vs 15. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people.  This was the foundation of this prayer.  They had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They were the just who lived by faith.  They trusted in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.  They knew what His broken body and shed blood meant.  They had trust him for their past, present, future, eternal and abundant life.  Their faith was well known and ours should be as well.  If we are being persecuted for being a Christian let’s have plenty of evidence proving it.  Next, they were known for their love for all people.  They showed it not through words but deeds.  They had been healed by God’s love and now were showing it by practical means.  Remember faith is dead without works.  This would be their testimony during the early years of the church.

2.      In vs 16, Paul says, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  Paul reveals the secret of powerful prayers.  Giving thanks.  Remember in everything give thanks.  Prayer destroys selfishness and is the foundation for the intercession that Paul is showing here.   Remember we are celebrating thanksgiving tomorrow which is a time of thankfulness, gratitude and positivity.  A time to celebrate the goodness of God, family and friends.  Paul says, that he remembers them in his prayers.  They are never far from his thoughts.  He wants the best for them.  Prayer is the best thing we can do help others.  When you pray for someone it shows you love, care and support them.

3.      In Vs 17, Paul prays, 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.  Paul is praying to God and our father.  This is who God is.  He wanted the will of the Father to be their aim and goal of their lives.  He wanted them to be like Jesus in this matter.  He wanted them to have the Spirit of wisdom.  The ability to know in a moment of time divine knowledge, understanding and what to do with it.  This is a gift of the Spirit and an imparted attribute of God.  To have revelation, this is a look or glimpse into the supernatural realm.  To see what God sees and knows.  This of course comes through the word, dreams, vision or some other supernatural means.  The motivation is that we would know Jesus better.  The Holy Spirit will always point to Jesus, reveal and glorify Him.  That should be our aim, goal, and plan to know Jesus better and to become more like Him.  To know the grace and knowledge of God. 

4.      Paul then prays in Vs 18, 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 inheritance in his holy people.  He wants them to have their heart enlightened.  This is a metaphor.  Paul knew that where the heart was so was our treasure and direction of our lives.  Our purposes, goals, ambitions, and will.  He prayed that they which know the hope to which they had been called.  That Jesus was Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and the Soon coming King.  He wanted them to know the blessed hope that Jesus was coming back at any time for His church.  Next, the riches of the inheritance they have in Christ.  All the gifts, fruit, armor, weapons, the fivefold ministry, healing health, eternal, and abundant life.  These are given to holy, set apart, righteous, godly and loving people.  The family of God, a chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, one of kind people.  All the benefits of heaven are yours and Paul wanted them to know and realize it.

5.      Paul continues in vs 19, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength.  Paul states there is no power like the power of God.  It is resurrection power and it dwells in us.  You believe you have all the power you need to defeat the world, the flesh and the devil.  That is why these signs follow them who believe.  That is why the apostles and Christians today see signs, wonders and miracles.  Paul calls this the mighty strength.  It is God’s power that brings strength and the ability to all that we need to do.  That is why Paul stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.”  You just need to be connected to the power source.  It is mighty strength that can it defeat anything.  That is done through prayer.  Talk about how that is demonstrated every day in our lives by the appliances, light, heating in our homes.

6.      In vs 20, Paul states, he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.  This prayer is also a statement of theology and truth.  God the Holy Spirit under the direction of the Father raised Jesus up from the dead.  Jesus now occupies a position of authority, power, might and dominion sitting at the right of the Father to judge the quick and dead.  In fact he is now making intercession and praying for us.  He is our advocate.  Satan tries to accuse us and Jesus as our lawyer before the Father refutes what satan says by reminding the Father about is sacrifice of forgiveness and that we belong to Him and are joint heirs of His inheritance. 

7.      In vs 21, Paul prays but also brings out some incredible theology and truth about Jesus Christ.   Jesus is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.  Jesus is above, worldly, satanic and heavenly authority.  No one and nothing has more authority than Jesus.  Remember destroyed the works of the devil, death, hell, and the grave.  His name is above every name.  Satanic, worldly or heavenly.  Every name that is invoked.  Religious, philosopher, gods and demons of this world.  Allah, Shiva, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammad, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Morini etc.  Not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  That means the antichrist, or the false prophet or satan himself.  Remember at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.  Paul says we are on the winning side.

8.      In 22, Paul even gets more excited in this prayer.  And God placed all things under his feet, Jesus is superior to all, no one is greater, more powerful and has more authority than Jesus.  Jesus has been appointed to be head over everything for the church.  This happened because of what Jesus did on the cross.  That is why the song says, “the cross has the final word.”  The church one day will be the final authority.  We are going to reign, and rule with Him.  This is our inheritance.  We will be with Him when He defeats the devil, death, hell and the grave.  This is a prayer but also a statement of truth about who Jesus is and what has happened because of what He has done.

9.      In Vs 23, Paul closes with the purpose of the church and our purpose.  You want to know who and what you are.  23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

We are His body and he is the head.  We are His hands, feet, mouth etc.  We are the fullness of Him.  He dwells in us with all power, authority, night and dominion.  What He did we are call to do.  We are His ambassadors.  In us dwells God Himself.  He fills everything in every way.  This is a mind boggling concept.  God is using us with all His authority, power and anointing.  We hold back the forces of hell, we change our world through prayer, we have the gifts, armor and fruit.  All because of Christ and our acceptance and alliance with Him.  What a prayer I love it and that is my prayer for you today.