
The Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 is a profound invocation for believers to deepen their understanding of their identity, purpose, provision, power, and authority in Christ. This passage offers a rich framework for spiritual growth and empowerment, grounded in the revelation of God's nature and His work in believers' lives.
1. Identity
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:17 emphasizes the importance of believers receiving "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him," which deepens their understanding of their true identity in Christ. This transformation begins with the renewing of the mind, where believers, much like Simba in The Lion King when he sees Mufasa's face in his reflection, are reminded of who they are as they peer into the "perfect law of liberty"—the Word of God (James 1:25). In The Lion King, Simba must remember his true identity as the rightful king after his father's death. Similarly, believers are transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18), reflecting the image of Christ, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).
This image of Christ in believers is encapsulated in the concept of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Paul further emphasizes this truth by asking, "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5). As believers grow in the knowledge of carrying Christ the King, they enjoy an elevated experience in union with Christ in God's glorious presence—His Shekinah. They become walking tabernacles, vessels of divine presence, having their hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22). This purification brings them into a state of true Passover power, symbolizing liberation and protection, as seen in the original Passover in Exodus 12:13, where the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from the destroying angel. Similarly, Isaiah 31:5 speaks of God defending Jerusalem, "Like birds hovering overhead, the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it." This state of protection and victory is echoed in Revelation 12:11, where believers, the overcomers, triumph "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
Jesus died to make us, who were dead in sin, alive in Him with a new identity through His resurrection. He has given us an inheritance and the power to access that inheritance, along with the authority to use that power against any forces that resist us from accessing it. This empowerment enables believers to confidently reclaim their rightful dominion as God's imagers on Earth, living out their divine purpose with boldness and assurance.
2. Purpose
Paul prays that believers might know "the hope of His calling" (Ephesians 1:18). This hope is not just a vague wish but a confident expectation rooted in God's promises and purposes for our lives. Understanding our purpose provides a sense of value, belonging, and a clear duty to fulfill God's will. For those marginalized and desperate, salvation offers dignity and a profound change in status, akin to a spiritual migration from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13). This transformation can be likened to a refugee receiving asylum in a commonwealth country, gaining new citizenship with all its rights, privileges, securities, and services (Philippians 3:20). Similarly, Gentiles were once strangers and foreigners to God's promises but are now integrated into the spiritual commonwealth of God's people (Ephesians 2:12-13), receiving a new identity and purpose.
Being born again by the Spirit of God brings believers into the royal family through Christ's sacrifice, granting them an inalienable status as sons and daughters of the Most High. As members of this royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), believers have a duty to actively participate in the kingdom. This responsibility is analogous to members of the British monarchy, who are expected to carry themselves with dignity, a sense of duty, and military service for the sake of their "subjects." In the Kingdom of God, the greatest is the servant of all (Mark 10:43-45), with Christ as the cornerstone (Isaiah 8:14) or even capstone (Zechariah 4:7) of this inverted hierarchy.
The Church serves as Heaven's embassy on Earth, issuing spiritual IDs, providing spiritual asylum, and nurturing believers in their new identity and responsibilities. This framework encourages believers to be active participants in the Kingdom of God, fostering a sense of community and purpose in their service.
3. Provision
Paul emphasizes "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18), which includes both spiritual and material resources. Philippians 4:19 assures that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, highlighting the abundance available to believers.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus, and by extension upon His church, to preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). This mission emphasizes the priority of providing for the underprivileged, reflecting God's care for our physical needs alongside our spiritual well-being. John's prayer in 3 John 2 underscores the desire for believers to prosper in all things, including good health, affirming the importance of material prosperity as part of God's provision.
In Christ, believers have access to divine wisdom, spiritual gifts, and material blessings necessary for their mission. This provision, which is neither limited nor scarce, reflects God's generous nature and equips believers to fulfill His purposes.
4. Power
Paul prays for believers to understand "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe" (Ephesians 1:19). This power, the same that raised Christ from the dead, is available to believers through the Holy Spirit, enabling them to fulfill their God-given roles with supernatural strength. This power is given to believers specifically to access the abundant resources available to them in Christ, as outlined in the previous section. It empowers believers to utilize divine wisdom, spiritual gifts, and material provisions effectively in their ministry and daily lives.
Paul's reference to pressing forward in Philippians (Philippians 3:11) highlights his anticipation of attaining the resurrection from the dead, not just as a future hope but as a present pursuit of experiencing the power of the resurrection in daily life. This aligns with the hope expressed by Job, who anticipated seeing his Redeemer and the reality of resurrection (Job 19:25-27). Romans 8:11 speaks of the Spirit's quickening power in our mortal bodies, offering a foretaste of future resurrection and divine healing.
James describes this operative power in James 5:16, emphasizing the effectiveness of the righteous person's prayer. This power, rooted in the believers' identity as the righteousness of God in Christ, enables them to fulfill their purpose through prayer and obedience to God's Word, as taught by the Holy Spirit. This aligns with the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:10, which calls for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Peter also affirms this in 2 Peter 1:3-4, describing believers as "partakers of the divine nature," kept by the power of God through faith (1 Peter 1:5). This divine nature empowers believers to live victoriously in this life while anticipating the fullness of resurrection life.
5. Authority
Finally, Paul speaks of the authority given to Christ, which is also extended to believers as His body (Ephesians 1:22-23). This authority empowers believers to exercise the power they have received to access and utilize the resources available in Christ. Grounded in their new identity as children of God—holy, blameless, and sanctified—believers are entrusted with the authority to act on God's behalf.
This authority allows believers to confidently access the divine wisdom, spiritual gifts, and material blessings discussed in section three. It enables them to operate in the fullness of their calling, whether in ministry, personal life, or in service to others. Additionally, this authority is crucial for believers to effectively resist the devil and spiritual forces of evil. As Peter exhorts in 1 Peter 5:8-9, believers are to be sober and vigilant, resisting the devil, firm in their faith. Similarly, Paul in Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that they wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and spiritual forces of wickedness. The authority given by Christ empowers believers to stand firm against these forces, ensuring that God's will is done on earth through His Church.
By exercising this authority, believers fulfill their role as ambassadors of Christ, advancing God's kingdom on earth. Armed with this new identity and empowered by the Holy Spirit, believers are called to co-labor with Christ, serving as ambassadors of His kingdom. This dynamic relationship reflects the true fear of the Lord, blending intimacy and reverence as believers serve both as children and servants in God's kingdom.
Conclusion
Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 offers a powerful framework for believers to understand and embrace their identity, purpose, provision, power, and authority in Christ. By praying this prayer for themselves and others, believers invite God to reveal His love, grace, and power in their lives, equipping them to fulfill their calling and reflect God's glory in every aspect of their lives.
The Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 is a profound invocation for believers to deepen their understanding of their identity, purpose, provision, power, and authority in Christ. This passage offers a rich framework for spiritual growth and empowerment, grounded in the revelation of God's nature and His work in believers' lives.