Awakening to Our Riches in Christ

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1 is a profound invitation to see beyond our surface needs and into the deep riches God has already given us in Christ. Rather than asking for more, Paul’s heart is that we would have the eyes of our hearts opened—to truly see and know what is already ours. This is not just a matter of intellectual understanding, but a deep, inner awakening at the core of our being. The heart, in the biblical sense, is the seat of our will, emotions, and intellect. Paul’s desire is that, at this deepest level, we would perceive the hope, worth, and power that are ours in Jesus.

Hope is not a vague optimism, but a solid anchor for our souls. We are called to eternal life, to resurrection, to a future that is secure in Christ. This hope should shape our prayers, moving us from resignation or mere survival to bold expectation. When we pray from hope, our prayers become strong, confident, and full of anticipation for God’s ongoing work.

Worth is the second treasure Paul wants us to see. The “riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” is not about what we get, but about what God gets—us. We are his inheritance, his joy, his prize. This truth guards us from both self-deprecation and self-aggrandizement. We don’t come to God as groveling beggars or as self-sufficient achievers, but as beloved children, welcomed and valued.

Power is the third reality. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us. This is not a call to muster up our own strength, but to trust and rely on God’s power working through us. When we grasp this, our prayers shift from striving and self-effort to confident dependence on God’s ability to do what we cannot.

Paul’s example also challenges us to be people who build others up, both in our conversations and in our prayers. Thankfulness for others, even those who are difficult to love, transforms our hearts and relationships. As we pray for one another, asking God to open our eyes to these truths, we become a community marked by hope, worth, and power.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s “letdowns” are often his mercy. When our desires are contrary to his will, it is grace when God does not fulfill them. Even Jesus in Gethsemane experienced the Father’s “no,” reminding us that God’s faithfulness is not about always giving us what we want, but about always being true to his promises and character. [01:38]
• 2. The greatest change in our lives comes not from receiving more, but from seeing what we already have in Christ. Paul’s prayer is not for new blessings, but for revelation—an awakening to the hope, worth, and power that are already ours. This shift in perspective transforms how we live and how we pray. [09:06]
• 3. Thankfulness for others, especially those who are hard to love, is a spiritual discipline that changes our hearts. When we bring others before God in gratitude, even those who have wronged us, we align our hearts with God’s love and mercy. This practice builds unity and joy in the community of faith. [13:49]
• 4. Knowing our worth in God protects us from both self-pity and pride. We are not called to grovel in unworthiness, nor to boast in our achievements, but to approach God boldly as his beloved children. Our prayers become confident and honest when rooted in the truth that we are God’s inheritance and delight. [25:06]
• 5. The power at work in us is not our own, but God’s resurrection power. When we try to live the Christian life in our own strength, we end up exhausted and discouraged. But when we trust in God’s power, we are equipped, strengthened, and able to overcome—not by our effort, but by his Spirit. [28:37]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:38] - Wrestling with God’s “Letdowns”
• [05:04] - Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Sight
• [09:06] - The Treasure We Already Have in Christ
• [11:01] - Sharing Good News About Others
• [12:28] - Thanksgiving as the Foundation of Prayer
• [13:49] - Loving Others Through Thankfulness
• [14:49] - Bringing Others’ Stories to God
• [16:00] - Thanking God for the Church Family
• [16:43] - Persistent Prayer for Revelation
• [17:44] - The Hope to Which We Are Called
• [18:28] - How Our Beliefs Shape Our Prayers
• [21:48] - The Riches of God’s Inheritance: Our Worth
• [25:06] - Approaching God with Confidence
• [27:34] - The Incomparably Great Power for Believers
• [28:37] - Trusting God’s Power, Not Our Own
• [30:49] - The Consequences of Missing These Truths
• [32:31] - Which Truth Do You Struggle to Believe?
• [33:22] - Responding to God’s Invitation
• [34:37] - Prayer of Commitment and Closing

Bible Reading

Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV) —
> 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1, what three things does he specifically want believers to know or experience?
2. How does Paul describe the “eyes of your heart” and what does he want to happen to them?
3. What does Paul say about the power that is at work in believers, and how does he connect it to Jesus?
4. In the sermon, what is the difference between praying for “more” and praying for “revelation” of what we already have in Christ? [[09:06]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul focus on believers seeing what they already have in Christ, rather than asking for new blessings? How might this change someone’s perspective on prayer? [[09:06]]
2. The sermon says that hope is not just vague optimism, but a “solid anchor for our souls.” What does it mean for hope to shape our prayers and daily lives? [[17:44]]
3. The “riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” is explained as God’s inheritance being us, not just what we get from God. How does this understanding affect the way we see our worth? [[21:48]]
4. The sermon talks about God’s power at work in us, not our own strength. What are some signs that someone is relying on their own strength instead of God’s power? [[28:37]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon mentions that God’s “letdowns” are often his mercy, and even Jesus experienced the Father’s “no” in Gethsemane. Can you think of a time when God didn’t answer your prayer the way you wanted? Looking back, was there mercy in that “no”? [[01:38]]
2. Paul’s prayer is for revelation, not for more blessings. Are there areas in your life where you are asking God for “more,” but maybe what you need is to see what you already have in Christ? What might change if you prayed for revelation instead? [[09:06]]
3. The sermon challenges us to be thankful for others, even those who are hard to love. Is there someone in your life right now who is difficult to be thankful for? What would it look like to bring them before God in gratitude this week? [[13:49]]
4. Knowing our worth in God protects us from both self-pity and pride. Which of these do you tend to struggle with more—feeling unworthy or feeling self-sufficient? How does knowing you are God’s inheritance help you approach God differently? [[25:06]]
5. The power at work in us is God’s resurrection power, not our own. Are there areas where you feel exhausted or discouraged from trying to live the Christian life in your own strength? What would it look like to trust God’s power instead? [[28:37]]
6. The sermon encourages us to build others up in our conversations and prayers. Can you think of a specific way you can encourage or pray for someone in your church or community this week? [[11:01]]
7. Of the three—hope, worth, and power—which do you find hardest to believe or live out? What is one step you can take this week to ask God to open your eyes in that area? [[32:31]]