Ephesians - Part 3

    This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 28th June 2026, by Lasya. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.  

In the opening chapter of Ephesians, Paul celebrates the incredible blessings believers have received in Christ—we have been chosen, predestined, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, all to the praise of God's glory. Having established these wonderful truths, Paul transitions into a heartfelt prayer.

Surprisingly, he isn't praying because the Ephesian believers are struggling. He is praying because they are thriving.

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." (Ephesians 1:16)

His prayer reveals God's deepest desire for every believer. More than success, comfort, or even effective ministry, God wants us to know Him.

1. A Prayer to Know God Better

Paul prays that God would give believers "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better" (Ephesians 1:17).

This is the heartbeat of the Christian life.

Jesus echoed the same desire in His prayer:

"I have made you known to them... that the love you have for me may be in them." (John 17:26)

Likewise, Paul wrote in Philippians,

"I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8)

Christian maturity is not measured primarily by knowledge, achievements, or ministry accomplishments—it is measured by growing intimacy with Christ.

Wisdom and Revelation

Notice that Paul asks for both wisdom and revelation.

We can faithfully read the Scriptures, but true understanding comes as God opens our hearts. We can desire to obey Him, but we need His wisdom to know how.

Knowing God requires both diligent pursuit and divine illumination.

Peter encourages believers to "make every effort" to grow in faith and godliness (2 Peter 1:5–8), yet that effort must always be accompanied by dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Like any healthy friendship or marriage, intimacy grows through intentional time together. Our relationship with God is no different.

2. Eyes That See Beyond the Natural

Paul continues:

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:18)

Imagine someone born blind suddenly receiving sight. No description of colour could compare with actually seeing a sunrise, a rainbow, or the face of a loved one.

Spiritually, many people live with closed eyes.

God's Word can seem ordinary until the Holy Spirit opens our hearts.

Paul says enlightened hearts allow us to see three incredible realities.

The Hope of God's Calling

Our world often struggles with hopelessness. Many pursue temporary freedom while feeling uncertain about the future.

Yet God's calling is rooted in hope.

Even in exile, God declared through Jeremiah:

"For I know the plans I have for you... plans to give you hope and a future."

Romans 8 reminds us that our present suffering cannot compare with the glory awaiting God's children.

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking—it is confident expectation based on God's promises.

God's Treasured Inheritance

Paul speaks of "the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people."

Remarkably, this is not describing our inheritance.

It is describing God's inheritance.

We are His treasured possession.

Like the merchant who sold everything to obtain the pearl of great price, God delights in His people.

When we begin seeing fellow believers through God's eyes instead of our own, criticism gives way to compassion, and love replaces judgment.

Perhaps this is why the Ephesian church was later warned about losing its first love. Love for Christ naturally overflows into love for His people.

God's Incomparable Power

Paul's third focus prepares us for what comes next—God's immeasurable power at work in every believer.

This is not ordinary strength.

It is resurrection power.

3. The Power Above Every Power

Paul reminds us that the same power that raised Christ from the dead now works in us.

Jesus is seated:

• Far above every ruler
• Every authority
• Every power
• Every dominion
• Every name that can ever be named

Nothing—whether earthly, spiritual, technological, or future—surpasses Christ's authority.

Then Paul makes an astonishing statement.

Everything is placed under Christ's feet.

The Church is His body.

This means the Church is not a powerless institution struggling to survive. It is the visible expression of Christ's reign on earth.

As Eugene Peterson paraphrases,

"The church is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church."

God intends His wisdom to be displayed through His people.

That should completely transform how we view the Church.

4. The Beautiful Path of Grace

At this point someone might object:

"That's true of Jesus—but what about me? I've failed too many times."

Paul answers by reminding us where every believer began.

Stage One: Dead in Sin

Before Christ, we were spiritually dead.

We followed the ways of the world and lived according to our own sinful desires.

Whether our sins looked rebellious or respectable, we were equally separated from God.

No one could rescue themselves.

Stage Two: But God...

Then come two of the most beautiful words in Scripture:

But God.

Because of His great love and rich mercy, God made us alive with Christ.

Not because we deserved it.

Not because we earned it.

Simply because He loved us.

The gospel does not merely make bad people good.

It makes dead people alive.

That is grace.

Stage Three: Raised With Christ

Grace doesn't stop at forgiveness.

God raises believers with Christ and seats them with Him in the heavenly realms.

Why?

So that throughout eternity His grace would be displayed through transformed lives.

We become living evidence of His kindness.

Salvation is entirely God's gift.

Our role is simply faith.

There is no room for boasting.

Stage Four: Created for Good Works

Finally, Paul writes:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..."

Notice the order.

Grace comes first.

Good works follow.

We do not work to earn God's acceptance.

We work because we have already received it.

Our obedience becomes the natural expression of our new identity in Christ.

Living It Out

Paul's prayer invites us to ask some important questions:

• Am I praying that others would know God more deeply?
• Am I intentionally pursuing a closer relationship with Christ?
• Do I truly live with the hope of God's calling?
• Can I see God's people as His treasured inheritance?
• Do I believe Christ's power is greater than every challenge I face?
• Am I living as someone transformed by grace?

The Christian life is not simply about knowing more information.

It is about having our eyes opened to see who God is, who we are in Christ, and the incredible grace that has changed everything.

May our prayer echo Paul's:

"Lord, open the eyes of our hearts, that we may know You better."

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.