Prayer through Ephesians
Today, as the Underground, we come together in prayer and fasting. Every great move of God in the Bible and in history begins with Extraordinary Prayer and Fasting. We will find from the other side of eternity that the most influential people were not, perhaps, Presidents or Prime Ministers, but the people who walked with God through passionate prayer. This guide will lead us in prayer through the book of Ephesians.
Today’s Strategic Scripture Focus: Ephesians
As we begin today, take some time to read through the book of Ephesians in the New Testament. Imagine you are a first-century believer hearing this letter read to you for the first time. What stands out? Consider these phrases below and the shifts that are implied in each chapter.
Ephesians 1: The Church is Made for More
Shift: From More Effort to More Jesus
Ephesians 2: The Church is Made to Be More
Shift: From More Volunteers to More Masterpieces
Ephesians 3: The Church is Made to Love More
Shift: From More Guilt to More Love
Ephesians 4: The Church is Made to Do More
Shift: From More Hierarchy to More Missionaries
Ephesian 5: The Church is Made to Go More
Shift: From More Programs to More Mission Fields
Ephesians 6: The Church is Made to Win More
Shift: From More Strategy to More Surrender
REFLECT AND PRAISE:
Take a moment to reflect on what you have learned about the character and ways of Jesus in the book of Ephesians. Turn those reflections into statements of praise. If you want, you can begin each sentence with…” Lord, I praise you for…”.
Now, we will pray our way through the book of Ephesians!
PRAY:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Ephesians 1:3-6
Pray for a fresh awareness of and appreciation for the wonder of God’s amazing love and redeeming grace.
Ask the Lord, “What blessing do you want to give me?” Listen. Write down what you receive.
Ask the Lord, “What blessing do you want to give my microchurch?” Listen. Write down what you receive.
Ask the Lord, “What blessing do you want to give the KC Underground? Listen. Write down what you receive.
Pray that we will grab hold, by faith and obedience, of every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Pray in agreement with Jesus regarding what you heard.
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
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. I pray also 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 the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:17-19
Pray that we would grow to know Jesus more intimately. Pray that the image of God will be healed in your heart, in the hearts of those in your microchurch, and in the hearts of every missionary in the Underground.
Pray that we would grow to know the certainty and security of our hope.
Pray that we would increasingly rest and rely on God’s power at work within us.
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:22-23)
Pray for the fullness of Jesus to fill everything every way in your microchurch, in your mission context, and in our city.
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.... you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
Praise God for amazing grace and the gift of salvation! Take a minute to remember to rest in that finished work today
Praise God for His presence, power, and provision for us by His Spirit—for His gifts and abilities to every follower of Jesus and to us.
Pray that every missionary in the KC Underground will have growing clarity about their Masterpiece Mission!
Thank God that He designed each of us as a Masterpiece, sent to our mission context to make Jesus’s fullness tangible there. Pray for that to grow in every mission context of the KC Underground.
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
Pray that the Spirit will more deeply root and establish us in love—love for Him with all our being, for our neighbor as ourselves, for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and for those without God and without hope in the world.
Pray that God will stir in us a sense of wonder and awe in tracing out the unreachable boundaries of His love for us in Christ.
Pray that knowledge of Christ’s love will not only fill our minds but fill our hearts and be the deepest motivation for our service and obedience.
Pray that we will live more of life in the Spirit’s power and belief in Jesus rather than human striving and unbelief.
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Pray for all five voices of APEST to grow in synergy and harmony in your microchurch and in the entire KC Underground.
Pray for powerful and effective equipping in our equipping gatherings, personal coaching, and for every microchurch.
Pray that Spirit would build up the KC Underground in spiritual maturity and unity, in active commitment to Christ in daily life, and that we would attain the whole measure of fullness that Jesus has in mind.
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16
Pray that God would make us aware of the present, evil age in which we live that holds great danger for us, that we might hold fast to Him.
Pray that God would help us to be good stewards of our time, taking advantage of those daily opportunities He gives us to serve and honor Him, to live on mission where we live, work, learn, and play.
Pray for the Lord to call more missionaries to the KC Underground! Pray that more missionaries are activated in mission fields all over the city!
PRAY THESE WORDS OVER THE UNDERGROUND:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Pray the following:
Equip us, Lord:
With the belt of truth (v. 14). May your truth rule in our hearts and be in our minds and on our lips today. Help us to speak the truth in love to each other.
With the breastplate of righteousness (v. 14). Apart from You there is no righteousness, but through Jesus we have been “born again” and made righteous in Your sight. May we live rightly with each other. Live as a righteous person.
With feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace (v. 15). May we reflect the Gospel in our words and actions, that through us, with my every encounter, others may be drawn one step closer to You.
With the shield of faith (v.16). May we take You at Your word concerning your character, your ways, and your promises about the present and future. Help us all move from unbelief to belief in Jesus, in every area of life.
With the helmet of salvation (v. 17). Remind us that nothing can separate us from Your love and that we’ve been saved by grace. In Your grace, help me to say “no” to all ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life. (Titus 2:12,13).
And with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (v. 17). May Your Holy Spirit reign in our lives and bring to my mind just the right Bible verses to be in our hearts and on our lips. May we be “filled with the Spirit” and ready with Scripture as You were, Jesus, when the devil tempted You.
Finally, keep us in an attitude of prayer (v. 18). Remind us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions.” Cause us to be alert and always praying for each other; to be joyful, and to give thanks in everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Lord, route the enemy in every mission context of the KC Underground. We know our battle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers. Send every angelic assignment available, and may their work be full and complete.
Finally, pray these words slowly.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Ephesians 3:20-21