1 Corinthians 3:10-15 - According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
3 responses to Paul’s petitions for Christ’s church
I. Understand the Foundation of Paul’s Prayer - 3:14-16a
A. A prayerful apostle during a time of personal suffering
Ephesians 3:14 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…
Ephesians 6:19-20 - …and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
B. Amazed by the nature of the church
“For this reason picks up after the parenthesis of 3:2–13, and begins by repeating the words of verse one. The reason about which Paul speaks is therefore found in chapter 2. Christ makes us spiritually alive in Him (2:5), we are “His workmanship” (v. 10), “no longer strangers and aliens, but … fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household” (v. 19), “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (v. 20), and “are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (v. 22). For this reason, therefore (that our new identity makes us the dwelling place of God), Paul prays for the Ephesians to use the power that their great status in Christ provides. Because God’s power is in those believers, Paul prays that God would enable them to employ the fullness of that power. Because believers are the habitation of the triune, all-powerful God of the universe, Paul prays that their unlimited energy from Him would be manifested.” (John MacArthur, Ephesians, p. 100)
C. Focused on the diversity of the body
Ephesians 3:15 - …from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name…
Matthew 16:18 - I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Acts 1:8 - …but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.
Acts 2:1-4 - When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Acts 2:5-13 - Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”
D. Based on our Father’s endless and glorious resources
Ephesians 3:16 - …that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory…
II. Pursue the Content of Paul’s Prayer – 3:16b-19
A. That we would be strengthened with power
Ephesians 3:16 - …to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…
B. That we would be indwelt by the Savior
Ephesians 3:17a - …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…
Psalm 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:6-7 - This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:18-19 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
C. That our understanding of God’s love would be ever increasing
Ephesians 3:17b-19a - …and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.
D. That we would be filled with the fullness of God
Ephesians 3:19b - …that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
III. Celebrate the Implications of Paul’s Prayer
A. Our God wishes to do more than we can ever imagine
Ephesians 3:20a - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…
B. Our God wants to powerfully work in us
Ephesians 3:20b - …according to the power that works within us…
C. Our God can be glorified by us
Ephesians 3:21a - …to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus…
D. Our God’s work can have generational impact
Ephesians 3:21b - …to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.