Love God Greatly - the Importance of Prayer: Approaching the Throne of GraceSample

Kneel Before the Father

Read: Ephesians 3:14–19

SOAP: Ephesians 3:14–16

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person.

Into the text

Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus emphasized that salvation is by faith alone. Paul cared deeply for the church in Ephesus and had previously spent three years there, building the church. Paul expressed his prayers and hopes for the church in Ephesus. Paul’s main prayer was for the believers in Ephesus to grasp the love of Christ. He wanted them to understand the depth and fullness of Christ’s love so they could move forward in faith and be unified with other believers.

As believers in Christ, we share a special relationship with one another. We have unity through our faith in Christ. We are connected to one another and other followers of Christ worldwide. Not only are we made new, whole, and complete through faith in Christ, but we are given a new family in the church.

We are compelled by the love of Christ, love and faith that is shared with other believers. We strengthen one another by sharing the love of Christ in our lives. When we, like the church in Ephesus, can comprehend more fully the love of Christ, we do so together, as a unified body.

When given opportunities to fellowship with believers in ministry, church, and Bible study, are you embracing the opportunity in love? Will you begin to connect and spend more time with believers so you can pour God’s love upon them and allow them to pour His love upon you?

Prayer

Father God, Your love through Your Son Jesus makes us whole, complete, and lacking in nothing. Help me bear long and bear hard with my brothers and sisters in Christ so that we all may remain rooted and grounded in Your love. Help me see fellowship with believers from Your perspective as a bond that will enhance and bring more of Christ’s love into my life. Help me remember that Your love is stronger to unite than anything that threatens to divide. In Jesus’ name, amen.