15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:15-20
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
A. The consuming passion of the Apostle Paul: Philippians 3:10
B. The spiritual prayer life of the Apostle Paul
PRAYER PRINCIPLES MODELED BY PAUL
1. Intercessory (others focused)
Eph. 1:16; Rom. 1:9-10; 2 Cor. 1:11; Phil. 1:2-4; Col. 1:3;1 T hess. 1:2; 2 Tim 1:3; Philemon 4; John 17:9, 20
2. Gospel-birthed (new birth)
Eph. 1:15; Eph. 3:14
3. Trinitarian (relationship)
Eph. 1:17; Eph. 3:14-17; Rom. 8:15-17
4. Familial (relationship)
Eph. 1:16-17; Eph. 3:14; Matt. 6:9; Matt. 26:38-39; John 17:1
5. Spiritually oriented (petitions)
Eph. 1:15-20; Eph. 3:14-19
6. Holy Spirit dependent (aided)
Eph. 1:15-17; Eph. 3:14-16