Pauline Prayer
A. Prayer One
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. — Ephesians 1:18–20
Paul a man familiar with the realm of the spirit, prayed that every believer will be awaken to spiritual realities.
The most striking thing for me in that verse is that our ignorance does not in any way stop spiritual realities from existing.
Just the same way a man who is asleep on the earthly realm, him being asleep does not in any way suspense the forces of nature around him.
If there were to be an earthquake he won’t be spared from the effect.
Paul therefore prayed we become awaken to three important spiritual realities
- The hope of his calling which gives our soul an anchor.
- The riches of the glory of his saint helps us not to short-change ourselves in away. It reassures us that we are the Kings kid and that all things are ours.
- The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe gives us the victory and boldness we need to rule as kings and priest.
How sweet !
B. Prayer Two
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. — Ephesians. 3:16– 19
We can see the journey in Christ does not end at being born again. He brought us out, so that He may bring us in.
Bring us in, into what?
The riches of his glory ! A glory with a love geometry.
Contrary to most popular believe, God’s love has its boundaries.
For Freedom without boundary is bondage !
However, this boundaries is not a simple spiritual arithmetic rather a differentiating calculus.
It will take a deliberate action of walking with the Holy Ghost one day at a time to complete the entire curriculum.
Let’s take a look at the different stages in this curriculum
- First the apostle prays that grace [ Grace here meant an inherent ability that causes its possessor to effect a change.] will be made available to the inner man.
This grace helps us effect the changes in our every day lives. We become more discipline, hardworking (making honest living), and productive.
I assure you brethren, This grace is pulled in whenever we stir our gift in faith by praying in the Holy Ghost.
- Next he prays that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.
That is to say, the doctrine of righteousness has been fully grasped by ones heart.
Doctrine of righteous is a knowing that causes the possessor to become one with the fact that no other sacrifice can be made except that which Jesus Christ made.
This forms a solid foundation which allows us to leave the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ and press on towards perfection.
- Next Paul prays for us to be rooted and grounded in love.
The very pillars on which whatever works we build will rest on.
What a great gain it will be, if after our actions are tried by fire. Both we and our works remains.
Hence, the need for us to be rooted and grounded in love. For love cannot be cast to hell.
Love supersedes hell in all forms !
- Finally, the graduating class is to be able to comprehend Christ love with all the saint.
What a place to be. A place where we finally come into His rest. God’s rest is a state of being filled with all the fullness of God.
Hallelujah !!
C. Prayer Three
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. — Colossians 1:9–10
There is a knowing of God that every believers needs beyond the saving knowledge.
God desire that we might possess comforting knowledge, strengthening knowledge, edifying knowledge, sanctifying knowledge, directing knowledge, etc; so that we may bring forth fruit in every good work.
Notice Paul’s construction “ filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ” .
That tells you knowledge is in varying degree and needs to be apply at the right time for it to work.
Most times, when we apply what we have learnt and do not get result. we are quick to conclude its not the will of God. The poem that say “God moves in a mysterious way” quickly resonate with us. But that’s not true.
Zoe always work!
David a man of like passion also once thought this way ( mysterious way ), when he tries to bring in God’s ark and there was a breach.
However, he was apt to set his course aright. He showed us what the right response should be in such moment. The bible say when he saw how God bless Obed-edom, he search the scriptures. Then he said
“ For because you did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. ”— 1 Chronicles 15:13
Oh how I love those words “ for that we sought him not after the due order ” .
There is a knowledge that causes one to do, but there is another that causes one to do it more excellently after the due order !!
Notice David had to seek for that knowledge. Most times, we think God’s dealing with us is unique, which to some extent its true.
But that does not mean God have various version of the truth.
The knowledge and wisdom Moses possess to path the sea, is the same knowledge and wisdom Elijah and Elisha displayed.
But we see their personality gave expression to it in different ways.
The unique mindset can be a stumbling block if used in the wrong context. As Jesus our Lord pointed out.
“Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” — Matthew 22:29
Keep in mind he was talking to the Jews at that time which one would have thought had spiritual knowledge. Paul even boldly said the oracle of God was committed to them.
That should tell us there is seeking to be done for most subject in Zion !
While we pray to be filled, we must display our faith in searching the scripture for God’s due order. Let’s learn from Paul. Listen to what he said
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” — Philippians 3:13
Paul and his companion didn’t cease to pray that the grace (increased ability) would be made available.
We also should not cease to pray and as well take actions to study the scriptures.
