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Introduction

"PRAY EPHESIANS"    That is what I believe the Lord said to me in October 1996 as we were praying for His will to be done within the A.R.M.(Wales) "Flames of Fire" conference for 1997.     "What all of it? - Yes, all six chapters"    A daunting task but the Lord does not ask the impossible.

I had already been drawn to pray for a Holy Church, but realised that God was laying a blueprint before me.    This book is a description of God's plan and intent for His creation.  

Some chapters are clearly prayer already:  I could hear and echo Paul's prayers, but there is also praise and enthusiasm.    As I got into this mixture of meditation and intercession I caught that enthusiasm and I want the Church to share that.    We regularly pray "Thy will be done, thy Kingdom come" but in this letter to the Ephesians He is actually showing us His will and His Kingdom 

John Stott addressed the book of Ephesians as God's New Society1  and Philip Hacking as the Alternative Community.2

Chapter 1 starts with Paul praising God for spiritual blessings and he gets so excited about the blessings, that he goes on to pray that we understand their meaning.   We have already been given everything, all the implications and consequences can be meditated on and we are left in no doubt that Jesus has the victory over evil and that He wants us to share in it.     All is brought about through His grace, eleven references3.     Do we really deserve all this?   It is nothing to do with merit, He chose us, predestined us for His purposes and it is for His praise and glory................   If I can be a part in that then I am overjoyed................................  "Teach me more Lord".   

The prayer at the end of Chapter 3, has always been a favourite of mine and I have used it often over the years.    When prayers were answered in such numbers at the "Flames of Fire" conference, people were saying, "it was more than they could have imagined", "blessings were more than they  expected................".   I could only answer, "well just look again at Ch.3:14-21 and Praise the Lord."    I can't describe how that prayer was answered for me, except to say that I now know a little more of what it is like in that Holy Place where Christ constantly intercedes for His Church.

He is calling all of us to spend time in His presence, but I must not generalise.    Whatever our work may be in His Kingdom we must not forget that He is more important than our ministry.     For some of us, our calling is to spend more time in His presence to intercede according to His will.    We are  not  free to pray about anything  and everything.    That is in fact often a temptation, a fiery dart, that we must resist.    I still have a lot more to hear and He is not in a hurry................. I still have to pray and meditate on 1:10.

And therein is the Joy.    I've reproduced just a page on each chapter, to encourage you.    Bear with my dots................. they indicate, pauses for breath or reflection, I know that they are not standard punctuation.     Once you get started then God will supply you with thoughts that are right for your situation.    Only now am I turning to commentaries and enjoying other degrees of understanding, but for the purpose of this prayer it isn't essential.     God has not allowed me to miss what He has wanted to say so far.

So as I went to the "Flames of Fire" conference, I saw Ephesians as being about God's Love and Power and His desire for Unity - for us to be in Christ.   

But I urge you to join with me in this vigil of prayer for a Holy Church.    We are preparing for the Bridegroom's coming, the Bride must be ready.   

He will richly bless you as you pray, and through your prayer He will bless the Church.    However well you know Ephesians you will see it differently as it becomes a dialogue between you and the King.     So come before Him in awe and worship and let Him make you Holy.   

Mary Newsom

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Ephesians 5:26-27

1 The Bible Speaks Today series - The Message of Ephesians - John R.W.Stott  1989 IVP
2  Keswick Convention 1994 - The Whole Family of God   OM Publishing
3 Eph 1:2,   1:6,    1:7,    2.5,    2:7,    2:8,    3:2,   3:7,    3:8,    4:7,    6:24

 

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