If Paul Could Pray A Prayer For East 38th Street…
Eph. 3:14-21

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
 

Intro: If Paul were praying for us today, what would he ask for? What goals we he hope for? What attitudes would he request? Would he pray for great numbers? Prosperous programs? Thriving Sunday School? A phenomenal choir? Would he ask for a Christian school? What about better facilities? Just what would he want to see in our lives?

Let us look at what he wanted for those at Ephesus. Are these requests still valid for us today?
 

He would pray…
That you would have strength - vs.16

Plenty strength (riches)
Great strength (might)
Correct strength (Spirit)
On target strength (innerman) With strength we can do whatever He needs us to do with our lives.

He would also pray…
That Christ dwell within us - vs. 17

That we might be…

Full of faith
Well established in our foundation (rooted)
Educated (grounded) in love
Deepened discernment
Comprehending in love
Filled with fullness of God And he would pray…
That Christ bless you - vs. 20 To the utmost (exceeding abundant)
Past our requests (above all that we ask)
Beyond our dreams (above all that we think)
Through Christ (Himself) - 20b Paul would pray…
That Christ be praised by us forever - vs. 21 Christ should be praised
Christ should be praised by us
Christ should be praised forever by us
  We need all that he would pray for at East 38th Street!
 
 

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 022501pm