Understanding Prayer: Thanksgiving, Petition, and God's Glory

 

Summary

In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul offers a profound prayer for the believers in Ephesus, emphasizing the importance of both thanksgiving and petition in prayer. He begins by expressing gratitude for their faith in Jesus and their love for all the saints, which serve as infallible marks of true Christianity. Paul then transitions to his petition, praying that God would grant them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. This prayer highlights the significance of understanding who God is and the relationship we have with Him through Jesus Christ.

Prayer, as Paul demonstrates, is the highest activity of the human soul, requiring deep concentration and understanding. It is not merely a mechanical repetition of words but a profound engagement with God. Paul emphasizes the importance of pausing to remind ourselves of who God is before we begin to pray. This recollection helps us approach God with the right attitude, recognizing Him as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of Glory.

Paul's prayer is a model for us, showing that true prayer involves a deep awareness of God's nature and His covenant with us through Jesus. By addressing God as the Father of Glory, Paul acknowledges God's ultimate perfection and majesty. This understanding should fill us with both reverence and confidence as we approach Him in prayer. The glory of God is not only His essence but also something He imparts to us through Jesus, transforming us into His image from glory to glory.

Key Takeaways:

- True prayer involves both thanksgiving and petition, reflecting a balanced approach to communicating with God. Thanksgiving acknowledges God's past faithfulness, while petition seeks His continued guidance and revelation. [01:55]

- Prayer is the highest activity of the human soul, requiring deep concentration and understanding. It is not a mechanical repetition of words but a profound engagement with God, demanding our full attention and reverence. [03:35]

- Before praying, it is crucial to pause and remind ourselves of who God is. This recollection helps us approach Him with the right attitude, recognizing Him as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of Glory. [14:20]

- Addressing God as the Father of Glory acknowledges His ultimate perfection and majesty. This understanding should fill us with both reverence and confidence as we approach Him in prayer, knowing that He is both glorious and generous. [30:29]

- The glory of God is not only His essence but also something He imparts to us through Jesus, transforming us into His image from glory to glory. This transformation begins now and will be completed when we stand in His presence. [40:30]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Ephesians 1:15-17
[01:05] - Thanksgiving and Petition in Prayer
[03:01] - The Challenge of Prayer
[04:23] - Speaking to God vs. Speaking to Men
[06:23] - Learning from Paul's Prayer
[08:51] - Praying to God the Father
[12:49] - The Method of Paul's Prayer
[14:20] - The Importance of Recollection
[19:15] - Praying to the God of Our Lord Jesus Christ
[22:36] - The New Covenant in Christ
[26:48] - The God Who Sustained Jesus
[29:24] - Assurance in Prayer
[30:59] - The Father of Glory
[36:10] - The Glorious Father
[40:13] - Expecting Revelation of Glory in Prayer
[41:49] - Conclusion and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 1:15-17

Observation Questions:
1. What are the two main reasons Paul gives thanks for the believers in Ephesus? [02:12]
2. How does Paul describe the nature of prayer in his epistle to the Ephesians? [03:35]
3. What does Paul emphasize as crucial before beginning to pray? [14:20]
4. How does Paul address God in his prayer, and what significance does this have? [30:29]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul consider both thanksgiving and petition essential components of prayer? How do they reflect a balanced approach to communicating with God? [01:55]
2. In what ways does Paul suggest that prayer is the highest activity of the human soul? How does this perspective challenge common views of prayer? [03:35]
3. What does it mean to address God as the "Father of Glory," and how does this understanding impact our approach to prayer? [30:29]
4. How does the concept of God imparting His glory to us through Jesus influence our identity as believers? [40:30]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. How often do you incorporate both thanksgiving and petition in your prayers? What changes can you make to ensure a balanced approach? [01:55]
2. Consider the distractions that often arise during prayer. What practical steps can you take to improve your concentration and engagement with God during prayer? [03:35]
3. Before you pray, how can you remind yourself of who God is and the relationship you have with Him through Jesus? What specific practices can help you pause and recollect? [14:20]
4. How does acknowledging God as the "Father of Glory" change your attitude and confidence in prayer? What specific situations in your life require you to approach God with this understanding? [30:29]
5. In what ways can you seek to experience the transformation from "glory to glory" in your daily life? Identify one area where you desire to see God's glory manifested more fully. [40:30]
6. Think of a recent situation where you felt distant from God. How can the understanding of God as the "Father of Glory" and the "God of our Lord Jesus Christ" bring you closer to Him in future situations? [30:29]
7. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from understanding the depth and richness of prayer as described by Paul. How can you share this insight with them this week? [03:35]

Devotional

Day 1: The Balance of Thanksgiving and Petition
True prayer involves both thanksgiving and petition, reflecting a balanced approach to communicating with God. Thanksgiving acknowledges God's past faithfulness, while petition seeks His continued guidance and revelation. In Ephesians 1, Paul exemplifies this balance by expressing gratitude for the faith and love of the believers in Ephesus before transitioning to his requests for them. This approach not only honors God for what He has already done but also opens our hearts to receive more of His wisdom and revelation. By incorporating both elements into our prayers, we align ourselves with God's will and deepen our relationship with Him. [01:55]

Ephesians 5:20 (ESV): "Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What are three specific things you can thank God for today, and what is one area where you need His guidance or revelation?


Day 2: The Profound Engagement of Prayer
Prayer is the highest activity of the human soul, requiring deep concentration and understanding. It is not a mechanical repetition of words but a profound engagement with God, demanding our full attention and reverence. This engagement involves a conscious effort to connect with God on a deeper level, recognizing His presence and seeking His wisdom. By approaching prayer with this mindset, we open ourselves to a transformative experience that goes beyond mere words, allowing us to encounter God's presence in a meaningful way. [03:35]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: How can you create a quiet space in your day to engage deeply with God in prayer, free from distractions?


Day 3: The Importance of Recollection Before Prayer
Before praying, it is crucial to pause and remind ourselves of who God is. This recollection helps us approach Him with the right attitude, recognizing Him as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of Glory. By taking a moment to reflect on God's nature and His relationship with us, we prepare our hearts to enter His presence with reverence and confidence. This practice not only enhances our prayer life but also strengthens our faith as we acknowledge God's majesty and His covenant with us through Jesus. [14:20]

Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Reflection: Before you pray today, take a moment to reflect on one attribute of God that you find most comforting or awe-inspiring. How does this attribute influence your approach to prayer?


Day 4: Reverence and Confidence in Addressing the Father of Glory
Addressing God as the Father of Glory acknowledges His ultimate perfection and majesty. This understanding should fill us with both reverence and confidence as we approach Him in prayer, knowing that He is both glorious and generous. Recognizing God's glory not only elevates our view of Him but also reassures us of His willingness to share His glory with us through Jesus. This dual awareness of God's majesty and generosity encourages us to approach Him with boldness, trusting in His goodness and grace. [30:29]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to approach God with more confidence, trusting in His generous nature?


Day 5: Transformation Through the Glory of God
The glory of God is not only His essence but also something He imparts to us through Jesus, transforming us into His image from glory to glory. This transformation begins now and will be completed when we stand in His presence. As we grow in our relationship with God, His glory becomes more evident in our lives, shaping us to reflect His character and love. This ongoing process of transformation is a testament to God's work in us, drawing us closer to Him and preparing us for eternity. [40:30]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: In what ways have you seen God's transforming glory at work in your life recently, and how can you actively participate in this transformation process?

Quotes


Prayer is after all the highest activity of the human soul the greatest thing any one of us ever does is to pray and therefore of necessity it is something that should present us with certain difficulties any man who privileged to preach well I'm sure agree with me when I say that preaching is Child's Play when compared with praying. [00:03:36]

The moment you say it you take prayer seriously you begin to find what a tremendous thing it is of course if you just mechanically say your prayers you're not aware of any difficulties at all it's so simple you just repeat the Lord's Prayer and offer up your few petitions and you've prayed you think but my dear friend you haven't started praying. [00:04:55]

The Apostle pauses to remind himself of certain things yes he is writing to these Ephesians and he's been reminding them of the riches of God's grace and he's so glad that they've come into it in whom ye also have received the inheritance after that he believed and so on and he wants to thank God for this and there he is now going to thank God but before he does it he pauses. [00:13:44]

He doesn't get on his knees or stand or whatever it was and begin to speak he stops he pauses he recollects he meditates he talks to himself first he reminds himself of what he's going to do he reminds himself of the one to whom he's going to speak now I say if we only did that truly and did what the Apostle does here I think we'd begin to pray truly. [00:15:01]

The Apostle Paul ader it here quite specifically as you will find everywhere else in this great epistle and in his other Epistles he offers his prayer to God the Father very well then we go on now to a second matter which is this and it is the most important thing here the way in which the Apostle prays to God this is I take it the most vital thing of all. [00:12:27]

The Apostle knows what he's doing he is moved by the spirit and filled with the spirit and he prays like this because well this is how the spirit has taught him to pray very well then what do we see here well the first thing we observe is that the Apostle pauses to remind himself of certain things. [00:13:34]

He prays unto the god of our Lord Jesus Christ that's to whom he's going to to pray now why does he do why does he say that why does he use this term why does he pray why does he thank and offer his petitions to the god of our Lord Jesus Christ why doesn't he just say I'm going to pray and offer up his petition and go away no no he deliberately says I am praying to the god of our Lord Jesus Christ. [00:19:21]

The God Who sustained him and the God who held him The God Who Never forsook him there was a moment when he'd lost his face but he immediately adds into thy hands I commend my spirit the God who raised them from the dead who did forsake Him in hell and leave his soul to see corruption but brought him up again from the dead that's the god to whom I'm praying says Paul the god of our Lord Jesus Christ. [00:26:09]

The father of Glory now my friends let me admit freely that I attempt to expound these two words with fear and trembling who am I to speak on such words I hear the voice coming to me and saying the same thing as it said to Moses at the burning bush take off the shoes from off thy feet for the ground whereon thou standest is Holy Ground father of Glory what's he mean well there is no doubt that it means partly this that God is the source. [00:30:59]

The father of Glory the Glorious father if you like so that it means this that God the Father is not only glorious and the source of all glory and the sumission of all glory in himself he is one who is prepared to manifest that glory and to reveal that glory and to impart That Glory he's a father and a father gives a father generates a father passes on God is not someone who keeps his glory to himself. [00:36:10]

When you and I go in prayer into the presence of God we should go expecting some revelation of the glory we all with open face beholding us in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory the process of our glorification has already started it will eventually be perfect when we shall be glorified Even in our bodies as well as in our spirits. [00:40:13]

Let us never again attempt prayer without reminding ourselves that we are going to speak to the father of Glory we needn't be terrified we go with reverence and godly fear we must because of his glorious character but at the same time we can go with confidence and Assurance because he is the god of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him our father Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name and if we start by realizing that we can't go wrong. [00:41:49]

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Transcript
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