A Church Worth Thanking God For. (Ephesians 1: 15-23)

This Podcast is part of a 10-year project to complete an in-depth, daily study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes: A Church Worth Thanking God For. (Ephesians 1: 15-23)

When Paul reaches verse 15 of Ephesians 1, something beautiful happens. He pauses. He reflects. And he gives thanks. 

He gives thanks, not for buildings, not for finance, not for programmes, and not for influence. He gives thanks for people — for their faith in Christ and their love for all God’s people. These two qualities, Paul says, are the unmistakable marks of a true church. Not cleverness. Not the charisma of the leader. Not size. Not even success.... But faith and love.

Faith in the Lord Jesus — a deep, living trust.

And Love for God’s people, a practical, sacrificial affection.

Because Paul knows something we often forget. That you cannot love Christ without loving people, you cannot love people without being involved with them. You cannot grow in faith without other Christian believers.

Transcript

A Church Worth Thanking God For. (Ephesians 1: 15-23)

My Authorised Transcript. 

A Church Worth Thanking God For

When Paul reaches verse 15 of Ephesians 1, something beautiful happens. He pauses. He reflects. And he gives thanks.

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

(Ephesians 1: 16-23)

He gives thanks, not for buildings, not for finance, not for programmes, and not for influence.

He gives thanks for people — for their faith in Christ and their love for all God’s people.

These two qualities, Paul says, are the unmistakable marks of a true church. Not cleverness. Not the charisma of the leader. Not size. Not even success.

But faith and love.

Faith in the Lord Jesus — a deep, living trust. And Love for God’s people, a practical, sacrificial affection.

Because Paul knows something we often forget. That you cannot love Christ without loving people. You cannot love people without being involved with them. You cannot grow in faith without community.

Christian love is not sentimental. It is relational. It is embodied. It is lived out in the messy, beautiful reality of life together.

This is why Paul begins with thanksgiving — because the Ephesian church is living out the very heart of the gospel.

“Ever Since I Heard…” — A Curious Phrase

But then Paul says something surprising:

“Ever since I heard about your faith…” That’s a rather curious phrase

Now wait a moment. Paul planted this church. He lived in Ephesus for three years. He preached, taught, discipled, and shepherded these believers. He knew many of them personally.  So why does he say he “heard” about their faith?

Bible commentators suggest two reasons.

Reason 1 — The Church Had Exploded in Size.

The church in Ephesus had grown dramatically since Paul left. Historians estimate that within the first decade, the Christian community in Ephesus may have reached 20,000 believers.

Think about that.

Twenty thousand people, meeting in homes, gathering and worshipping in open spaces, sharing meals, praying together, caring for the poor, living out the gospel in a pagan city.

Paul knew the original core, but he didn’t know the thousands who had come to Christ since then.

So, when he says, “Ever since I heard about your faith,” he is acknowledging that the church has grown far beyond his personal knowledge.

Faith that is real becomes faith that is heard about. Genuine love becomes love that is talked about, and a church alive in Christ cannot stay hidden.

Reason 2 — Their Reputation Had Spread.

Their faith and love had become known throughout the region.

People were talking about the Ephesian church. Not because of controversy. Not because of a scandal, but because of faith and love.

Paul says:

“…your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people.”

Notice the word all.

Not “some of God’s people.” Not “the easy ones.” Not “the ones who agree with you.” Not “the ones who behave well.”

All God’s people.

And here’s where Paul gently presses on our hearts that loving all God’s people is a challenge God gives us as Christians.

How are you doing with loving all God’s people?

Most of us, if we’re honest, might say: “Well, I can love most of God’s people… except maybe one or two difficult characters.” We all have those people, the ones who test our patience, stretch our grace, and expose our weaknesses.

But Paul says the true church is marked by love for all God’s people. Not because they are easy to love. Not because they always behave well. Not because they never frustrate us.

But because Christ loves them, and we love Christ.

You cannot love Christ and refuse to love the people He died for.

But Paul also knows that this is impossible in our own strength. So, he leads us to the next verse, the verse that tells us how we can love all God’s people.

But before we go there, let’s sit with this truth:

Faith in Christ and love for all God’s people are the two signs of a living church.

A church without faith is a club. A church without love is a performance. A church without both is a contradiction of what a church should be…. But a church with faith and love is a church worth thanking God for….

Paul’s Prayer Begins — A Shift from Thanksgiving to Intercession

After giving thanks, Paul moves into prayer. Not a prayer for comfort. Not a prayer for protection. Not a prayer for success.

He prays for something deeper, something foundational — something every believer needs: Wisdom and revelation: Insight and Understanding.

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

(Ephesians1: 17-23)

That is, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Paul knows that it is possible to be saved and yet not see clearly.

It is possible to be forgiven and yet not grasp the depth of grace.

It is possible to be adopted and yet not understand the Father’s heart.

It is possible to be sealed with the Spirit and yet not walk in the Spirit’s power.

So, Paul prays that God would open their eye and that they would see what is already theirs in Christ.

This is the heart of the passage. This is the core of Paul’s prayer, and this is where we will go today.

In the next movement of this episode, Paul will pray that the Ephesian believers — and we — would receive:

• the Spirit of wisdom
• the Spirit of revelation
• the eyes of our hearts enlightened
• a deeper grasp of hope
• a clearer understanding of our inheritance
• a fuller awareness of God’s power

This is not something theoretical. This is not abstract…. This is transformation.

This is a spiritual vision. This is the Spirit taking the truths of God and making them alive in our hearts…. And it all begins with faith and love — the two signs of a church worth thanking God for.

Paul’s Unceasing Prayer.

The King James Version famously talks about him, “praying without ceasing.” But Paul is not saying he prayed every minute of every day. He is not describing a constant, uninterrupted stream of prayer.

What he means is this:

He had set times of prayer, and whenever he came before God, the Ephesian believers were on his heart.

He remembered them, he carried them, he thanked God for them and he interceded for them.

This is a beautiful picture of pastoral love,  a shepherd who continues to pray for his flock long after he has left them.

And now Paul begins to tell them what he has been praying for, and Paul’s first request is for revelation, Not More Information. 

Paul writes:

“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ… may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation…” (Ephesians 1:17)

Notice what Paul does not pray for.

He does not pray that they will gain more knowledge. They already have knowledge. They have heard the gospel, they have been taught the Scriptures and they know the truth.

Paul prays for something deeper: Revelation. 

Knowledge is information.

Revelation is illumination.

Knowledge fills the mind.

Revelation opens the heart.

Knowledge is what you learn.

Revelation is what God shows you.

Paul is praying that the truths they already know would become truths they truly see. This is the difference between reading a map and standing on the mountain. It is the difference between hearing a description and witnessing the sunrise. It is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

This is why Paul prays for the Spirit of wisdom because wisdom is not simply knowing facts; it is understanding what those facts mean and how they apply to real life.

Many Christians know a great deal about the Bible but still lack wisdom. They know the words but not the ways of God. Paul is praying that the Spirit would bridge that gap and that knowledge would become wisdom, and wisdom would become understanding.

This is the heart of spiritual maturity.

The Eyes of the Heart — A Beautiful Metaphor

Paul continues:“…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” (v 18)

This is one of the most beautiful phrases in the New Testament. The “heart” in Scripture is not the place of emotion alone. It is the centre of your being — your mind, your will, your desires, your affections and your imagination.

Paul is praying that the eyes of that inner self would be opened because you can have physical sight and still be spiritually blind. You can read Scripture and still not see its glory. You can hear truth and still not grasp its meaning. You can learn doctrine and still not feel its weight.

So, Paul prays:

 “Lord, open their eyes. Let them see what is already theirs. Let them understand what You have done. Let them grasp the riches of Your grace.”

This is a prayer every believer should pray daily. 

Three Things Paul Wants Every Christian to Understand.

There are three things Paul wants every Christian to understand and Paul now lists the three great truths that he longs for every believer to grasp.

These are not new truths. They are truths we already know, but often do not understand.

1. The Hope of His Calling.

Paul prays that we would know: “…the hope to which He has called you…”

When we hear the word hope, we think of uncertainty: We say thing like; 

“I hope it doesn’t rain.”

“I hope the train is on time.”

“I hope this works out.”

But biblical hope is not wishful thinking, it is a confident expectation. It is the certainty of what God has promised. It is the assurance of what will come and it is the anchor of the soul.

Paul wants believers to understand the natural consequences of their calling. You have been called into a relationship with the living God. You have been called into His family. You have been called into His future and this hope is not fragile, it is not uncertain and it is not dependent on your performance…. It is rooted in God’s eternal purpose.

Paul wants us to see it, feel it, and live in the light of it.

2. The Riches of His Glorious Inheritance in the Saints.

This phrase is astonishing. Paul does not say: “the inheritance you will receive.” He says: “…the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people.” This means that you are God’s inheritance. You are His treasure, you are His delight, you are His joy and you are His possession.

We usually think of inheritance as what we get from God. But Paul says is God sees you as His inheritance…. This is mind‑stretching. It means your life matters. It means your faith matters. It means your obedience matters, and it means your presence matters.

Because you are precious to God. You are valuable to God, and you are His joy.

Parents and grandparents understand this. We look at our children and see our future in them. We see our legacy and our joy. Paul is saying God looks at you that way. He takes an ordinary life, your life and He cleanses it, redeems it, fills it with His Spirit, and makes it a blessing to Him and to the world…. This is God’s inheritance in us.

3. The Incomparable Greatness of His Power Toward Us.

Paul will expand this in the next section, but he introduces it here: 

“…that you may know… His incomparably great power for us who believe.”

This is not theoretical power and not symbolic power…. This is resurrection power. Ascension power. Enthronement power. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you.

Paul wants believers to understand that the Christian life is not lived by human strength but by divine power. We do not overcome sin by willpower. We do not endure suffering by grit. We do not love difficult people by effort; we do not grow in holiness by discipline alone…. We live by the power of God.

And Paul prays that we would see it, know it, and walk in it.

Growing in Knowledge and Grace — A Lifelong Journey.

Paul’s prayer is simple but profound.

That we would know God better. Not just know about Him. Not just know His doctrines. Not just know His commands. but know Him.

The Christian life is a relationship, a friendship and a daily walk. And like any relationship, it must grow. A friendship that does not deepen will eventually fade. A marriage that does not grow will eventually weaken. A faith that does not mature will eventually stagnate.

Paul is praying that our relationship with God would grow deeper, richer, closer, more intimate day by day and that he says is the heart of spiritual maturity.

Paul is praying that we would realise the power of God available to us, not theoretically, not theologically, but experientially.

Many Christians believe God is powerful and they believe He created the world. They may even believe He parted the Red Sea and He spoke galaxies into existence. But that is not Paul’s point.

Paul is not talking about the power of creation. He is talking about the power of resurrection, and he is praying that we would understand that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power at work in us.

This is dynamis he uses the Greek word from which we get “dynamite.”

A dynamic, explosive, unstoppable, all‑prevailing power and Paul piles up words to make the point: 

Incomparable, mighty, great, powerful….

He is stretching language to its limits  to describe something beyond human comprehension. And then he gives us the supreme illustration.

The Greatest Display of Power in the Universe.

Paul writes: “…that power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead…” (v 20)

When Paul wants to illustrate God’s power, he does not point to the creation of the world. He does not point to the sun, moon, and stars. He does not point to the oceans or the mountains…. He points to the resurrection of Jesus.

Because raising Christ from the dead was not simply reviving a body. It was reversing the curse, and it was defeating sin. It was conquering death, it was overthrowing hell and it was inaugurating a new creation.

The resurrection is the greatest display of power the universe has ever seen. 

People boast about the power of machines, the horsepower of their Ferrari, the thrust of a Saturn V rocket, or the energy of nuclear fusion. But none of these compare to the power that raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to the highest place.

This is the power Paul wants us to understand. This is the power available to us. This is the power at work in the believer.

Paul continues: “… God not only raised Christ, He exalted Him and He seated Him at His right hand”.

The place of honour, the place of authority, the place of sovereignty and He placed all things under His feet.

This echoes Psalm 8: “You have put all things under His feet.”

Christ is above: every ruler, every authority, every power, every dominion every spiritual force. Every earthly kingdom, every name in this age and every name in the age to come.

There is no throne above His throne. There is no name above His name and there is no power above His power.

And here is Paul’s breathtaking point: If God can raise Christ, He can raise you….

If God can seat Christ in heavenly places, He can seat you there too.

If God can exalt Christ above all things, He can lift you above your circumstances.

That is not wishful thinking…. This is your inheritance.

Access to the Throne Room — A Privilege We Forget.

Paul is saying that because Christ is exalted, you now have access to the throne room of God. You have access to His ear, His heart and you have access to His power.

But like electricity, power does not flow without a circuit. The power is there but you must “throw the switch.”

You must pray.

You must ask.

You must seek.

You must draw near.

God does not pour His power into us so that it can sit unused. He pours His power into us so that it can flow through us, into the world.

This is why Paul prays for revelation and insight because many Christians do not know what they already have.

The Body of Christ — God’s Plan for the World.

Paul then introduces one of the most profound ideas in all of his writings: “…the church, which is His body…”  (v 1:22–23)

This is not a metaphor, this is a mystery…. The church is the body of Christ.

We are His hands — to do His work.

We are His feet — to go where He sends us.

We are His voice —to speak His words.

We are His presence — in the world.

This means that God’s plan for the world is in the hands of the church.

Not governments, not institutions, not empires, not movements… The church.

God has chosen to work through His people. Christ is counting on us to carry His message, to show His love, and to reveal His power.And this is not a burden, it is a privilege. It is also our calling and our identity.

Knowing vs. Understanding — The Great Divide.

Paul knows that many believers know these truths but do not understand them.

They know they are saved — but not what salvation means.

They know they are forgiven — but not how forgiven they are.

They know they are sealed — but not how secure they are.

They know they have power — but not how to access it.

They know they are the body of Christ — but not what that implies.

Paul is praying that we would move from knowledge to understanding,

And from information to revelation. From head to heart.

Because understanding changes everything.

Illustration:

It’s about searching for what You already have

William Randolph Hearst, the famous newspaper tycoon, spent a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day he found a description of a rare piece he desperately wanted. He sent his agent across the globe to find it, no matter the cost. 

Months later the agent returned and said: “I found it but you already own it. It’s in your warehouse.” Hearst had spent time, money, and effort searching for something he already possessed.

Many Christians are like that. They search for power they already have.

They search for the blessing they already possess.

They search for identity they already hold.

They search for purpose they already carry.

Paul is saying: You already have it. You just need to understand it.

“Open My Eyes” — The Prayer That Changes Everything.

Paul ends this section with a final call to prayer. Because he knows true revelation comes through the Spirit.

The psalmist prayed: 

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.”

(Psalm 119:18)

This should be our prayer every time we open Scripture: 

“Lord, open my eyes. Help me see. Help me understand. Help me grasp what is already mine.”

No one gains spiritual wisdom on their own. We need a teachable spirit and we need humility. And we need Holy Spirit. And when we ask, God answers.

A Story — The Ethiopian Child and the Cup of Milk.

A first‑aid worker serving during the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s once gave a starving child a full cup of supplement drink. The child took a sip then stared at it and handed it back.

He had grown up in a home where food was scarce. When milk was given, it was always half a cup and always shared. He knew what milk was, but he did not understand that he could drink it freely.

Finally, he asked: “How much can I drink?” 

The nurse replied: “All of it. And there is more if you need it.”

Some Christians are like that child. They know God is good. They know God is gracious. They know God is powerful, but they do not understand that they can drink deeply.

They sip when they feast. They taste when they can be filled. They hold back when God says, “There is more.”

Hear me well: There is more of God to know than you have ever imagined. Beloved, drink all of it.

OUTRO

As we close today’s episode, let me draw you back to the centre of Paul’s prayer….

That you and I would not simply know the truths of God, but truly see them.

That the eyes of our hearts would be opened.

That revelation would rise above information.

That wisdom would grow deeper than knowledge.

That understanding would shape the way we live, love, and walk with Christ.

Paul prayed that we would grasp the hope of God’s calling, the riches of God’s inheritance and the power of God at work in us

And all of this is already ours in Christ. You don’t need to strive for it. You don’t need to earn it, and you don’t need to search the world for it….

You already have it — and the Spirit longs to help you understand it.

So, as you go into this week, may your prayer echo the psalmist:

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.”

Ask Him to open your eyes. Ask Him to deepen your understanding. Ask Him to help you see what is already yours in Christ…. Because there is more of God to know than you have ever imagined.

Beloved — drink all of it.

And next time, we will return and step into one of the most famous passages in the whole New Testament — Ephesians 2:1–10 — where Paul takes us from death to life,

From wrath to mercy,

From works to grace and shows us what it really means to be saved by grace through faith….

You won’t want to miss it.

Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you, may He open the eyes of your heart, and may you walk in the fullness of His wisdom,

His power, and His love.