And Finally, Pray...

Study of Ephesians

Week 22

Ephesians 6:18-24

Finally, Paul closes out his letter to the young Christians in Ephesus.

He has taught them about who they are in Christ, how to live as Christians and how to operate as a group of believers, the Church.

Paul ends with two primary parts.

The first is interesting. Paul asks for prayer. Yes, Paul asks for these young Christ followers to pray for themselves, for other believers and for himself.

“With all prayer and petition pray (with specific requests) at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition (interceding in prayer) for all God’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 Amplified

How interesting that this request for prayer immediately follows Paul’s admonition to put on the full armor of God. (Last week’s study, Ephesians 6: 10-17) The two go hand in hand.

With this phrase, “in the Spirit”, Paul is not alluding to some mystical power or magical practice as was their old pattern. No, Paul is declaring that all of the armor and all of our prayer needs to intersect with the Almighty God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You see, “pray” in Ephesians 6:18, means to “literally, interact with the Lord by switching human wishes for His wishes as He imparts faith.” (1)  There is no prayer, no exchange, apart from the Holy Spirit. Some say that this is part of the armor of God.

I wonder, however, if it is the armor, (Ephesians 6:10-17) that provides us the power to pray with faith, in a Godly confidence, to war in the heavenlies, and to place undeniable trust in our Savior.

Paul shamelessly encourages them to, in the Spirit, pray for him that he would, “be given in the opening of (his) mouth, to make known (through personal experience) with boldness the mystery of the gospel”. He continues, “for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it, I may speak boldly, as I ought.” Ephesians 6:19-20

Paul’s dependence on the Holy Spirit is evidenced in this passage.

While in prison, having been beaten and chained, there is no record of him asking to be released. There is no record of him begging God to get him out of confinement. Instead, he models for us, the Christ followers, how to, in the midst of our darkest, hardest trials, lean into the Holy Spirit through prayer.

And finally, Paul ends his letter with this.

“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.” Ephesians 6:23-24

Peace, love, faith, grace.  All words with enormous spiritual impact in Christ.

How grateful I am for Paul who, from start to finish, leaves the believer better equipped to journey as followers of Christ.

Thank you for sharing this study of Ephesians with me. It is my hope that we truly know our identity in Christ as Paul has instructed, and that we walk in the fullness of Him.

Footnote:

(1) Ephesians 6:18 Lexicon, Biblehub.com. Accessed May 2022. https://biblehub.com/lexicon/ephesians/6-18.htm