We have looked at Jesus’ High Priestly prayer recorded in John 17. In it, we see how Jesus prays for the Church.

Now, let’s see how the Apostle Paul prays for the Church.

Probably the longest of Paul’s prayers for the church is found in Ephesians 1:15-23. Actually, in the Greek, it is one long sentence.

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.

Today, we examine Paul’s motivation for praying for the Church.

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Eph. 1:15-16)

When Paul says, “for this reason,” he is looking back at all of the spiritual blessings that the Church had received from the Lord. This included their election, predestination, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, understanding, knowledge of the mystery of His will, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and their inheritance.

However, his motivation for praying for them came from two things that he had heard about how they were living. He had heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love toward all the saints.

These two pillars stand side by side in Christ-like living. One cannot claim to have faith in the Lord Jesus and not have love for all saints. And one cannot have genuine love for all saints without having experienced faith in the Lord Jesus.

Notice that Paul did not just say, “because of your faith.” Faith must have an object. Paul is speaking of the kind of faith that is a channel through which Jesus brings us salvation and eternal life. Later he will say, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

The object of our faith must be the Lord Jesus. We are not told to believe in a creed, in the Church, or in Christians. Saving faith is in the risen, exalted Christ at God’s right hand.

Their faith in the Lord Jesus brought the miracle of salvation to their lives. Their love for all the saints demonstrated the transforming reality of their conversion. Here again, faith and love must go hand in hand; genuine faith is always expressed by genuine love.

It is interesting to note that Paul ended his letter with the same emphasis he began it.

Ephesians 6:23 (ESV)
“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”