“A Prayer for the Church”

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

The story is told of a man who came home one day to find that his wife had hung a plaque on the wall which read, “Prayer changes things”. Within 24 hours the plaque had been removed. She asked her husband, “What's wrong? Don't you like prayer?” He said, “Sure, I like prayer. I don't like change.”

Prayer changes us.
Prayer changes others.
Prayer changes situations.
Prayer changes the church.
Prayer changes the world.

Too many Christians are one-prayer members (as someone has described them) of the church, living off of prayers prayed long ago or a single prayer prayed over and over.
James A. Harnish (Hyde Park Church, Tampa, Florida) Homiletics On-Line

Now personally, I think that prayers which were prayed many years ago never become irrelevant. If God’s answer to the situation has yet to be revealed, continue to pray until either the prayer is answered, or you are lead to pray in a different manner.
If you have a prayer that is especially comforting, such as the LORD’s Prayer, why not pray it continuously.

The words of the prayer aren’t what is important – the fact that we are praying is the critical issue, and as long as we are listening for God’s answer, and not for the answer that we want to hear, we’re on the right track. The changes that prayer accomplishes are just as we read earlier – and no where in that list do we read “Prayer changes God!” It changes us, it changes others, it changes the church, and it changes the things of this world – but it never changes God! Amen?

So for today, I would like to look at this prayer that Paul prayed, to consider what changes he may be looking for, and where the changes might be coming.

V. 16 – His prayer begins with “That out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being...”
This part of the prayer is asking for power in the church, distributed by the Holy Spirit through each and every member of the Body of Christ. And this power comes directly from God - not by earning it, not because we deserve it, not because we are in desperate need of it (even though we are!). The power comes simply because our LORD CAN give it, and He has the greatest desire to do just that! I also find it interesting that even though we are called to have a “servant’s heart”, we are also given great power. But then, maybe that’s not so surprising – have you ever tried being a servant, in a power hungry world, without an inner spiritual power for your own? It’s impossible! The Church is all about power, but certainly not the power that the world is striving for, but a power to follow God’s will. Paul is praying that we will receive that very Divine power, and why?

V. 17a – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
The power is given so our faith will be strong. All too often, Christians think that this “strength” is for our life, our service, our mission, but the truth is that it is given that our faith will be sufficient to invite Christ into our hearts! First strength, then faith, then Christ, that we might be changed!
One of the accusations that have always been leveled at the Church is that only the weak and pitiful need Jesus – that if you’re strong, you can get by very well all by yourself. The truth is that it takes tremendous strength to remain faithful in Christ, especially when the weight of the world is coming against you.
Personally, I believe that it is only the “foolish” who try to do it all on their own (and that comes from first hand knowledge!), and I’m grateful that Christ, and Paul, and all the saints of the Church, keep the Church itself bathed in prayer. And when we do, what comes from it?

V. 17b-18 – “17aThat you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
The power that comes in prayer not only conveys our needs and desires to God, but it returns blessings upon blessings to the prayerful. It is a two way conversation, and the LORD is constantly giving us insight into His glory. Through prayer, we discover over and over again, that the love of Christ is not shallow – that it wider and longer and higher and deeper than we can possibly imagine. It has possibilities that extend far beyond our needs. It has purpose and focus that exceeds our ability to understand. It touches people in ways that astound us. It changes lives completely and wholly.
The love of Christ, through the power of prayer, is displayed in ways that we should never miss, and yet, we still don’t understand that kind of love – we are incapable of understanding that kind of love. Paul wants us to experience God’s love.

V. 19 – “To know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Paul reminds us that we don’t have to understand God’s love to receive it and appreciate it! We simply need to acknowledge it. And we are filled to overflowing with the “fullness of God”. Think for just a minute about what this might mean for us – that we may receive the “fullness of God”! Are we ready for that? Are we prepared to use that? We might be a little hesitant in claiming that degree of divine power, but Paul seems to be saying “We are ready, without a doubt!”
We need to trust that God hasn’t made a mistake in choosing to give His overwhelming strength and love to the likes of us. We need to be ready to boldly accept it, to rejoice in the gift, and to begin to use it and share it and give it away as soon as is humanly possible!
The old saying tells us that “we can’t out give God”! And the more we give His Grace and power and love away, the more He refills us to His fullness. So what does that mean for our lives and the lives of those we know?

V. 20– “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work with us,”
It means that the faithfulness that is reflected in our lives will allow Christ to work such incredible blessings that even the secular world can’t miss them and will be utterly amazed! And it all begins with a humble, but confident prayer.
Remember that Jesus was severally limited by the lack of faith in people. Miracles couldn’t be completed, healings didn’t happen, lives weren’t changed without belief in what Christ could do.
Isn’t it incredible that the One who is able to do “immeasurably more than we could ever ask for, or even imagine asking for”, would be restricted by our simple lack of faith in Him? The extent of Christ’s work in the world is in direct proportion to the power that is at work in each of us. The faith that exists in the Church is the enabling factor for Christ. And that means each of us – our faith – our belief – our Christian boldness – our prayers – are an integral and vital part of Christ’s mission to the world.
We pray for each other, we pray for healing, we pray for ministries, but how often do we pray for the spiritual health of the Church?
How often do we give praises for the blessings that have already come, but forget to pray that God might use us in new and even greater ways?
How often do we pray for those who live and think and believe the same way we do, but seldom, if ever, raise a single word of blessing for those who think differently than we do, who take a stand in direct opposition to our beliefs, who try to shout us down and even persecute us?
Christ is in the “miracle” business, and His glory can only come through the faith that is being lived out in each of us, His Church.

Where do we put our trust and where do we put our faith?
In earthly power?
In worldly prestige?
In money?
In human promises?
In our own pride and arrogance?

The story is told of a Hindu yogi, a mystic who devoted his life to prayer and holy thought. And through his discipline, he was able to do remarkable things, [or so] it was rumored. Finally he decided to let the people see him in action. He announced that he was going to walk on water. He sent out invitations to [hundreds] of the cream of Bombay society, charging them as much as $100 a ticket. And the people came, eager to see a miracle with their own eyes.
They weren't disappointed. The yogi truly looked like a mystical vision. He stood on the side of a five-foot-deep pond, his beard flowing over his chest, his robes flowing to the ground. He lowered his head in silent prayer, then lifted it. He was ready to walk on water. The crowd leaned forward [with great anticipation] as he stepped confidently over the pond.
Then he sank. -Ross and Kathryn Petras,
The 176 Stupidest Things Ever Done (New York: Doubleday, 1996), 115.

The yogi had intended to gain glory for himself, and failed miserably! But when we get out of the way and give all the glory to God in Jesus Christ, nothing is impossible.
V.21 – “To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen and Amen.”

Our prayer for the Church is that our faith will be in Christ, that God’s will be done, and that all glory will come to Him.