September 1, 2019
Scripture: Ephesians 6:21-24
I. Our best wishes are for peace for the church.
A. This wish for peace is found in vs. 23: “Peace be to the brothers.” Paul has mentioned peace many times in his letter to the Ephesians. He opened his letter in Eph. 1:2 with a wish for peace. Then he speaks of the Gospel of peace in Ephesians 6:15. But the clearest description of the peace that Paul wishes for the church is in Ephesians 2:14-16. The peace is first between God and people, and the peace is second between people – especially in this context between people of different races. Paul gives us an example of the peace that God had brought between Jewish and Gentile Christians in the person of the Gentile Tychicus mentioned in vs. 21-22.
Who needs prayer for God’s peace this week? __________
II. Our best wishes are for love for the church.
A. Love is very important to Paul (see vs. 23). The word love is used 14 times in his letter to the Ephesians so clearly Paul wants us to know the love that comes from God and the love that we are to spread to other Christians. The Ephesian church was especially good at love. Look back at what Paul writes in Eph. 1:15. He especially prayed for their knowledge of Christ’s love to grow in Eph. 3:17-19. Is there someone in your family or among your church friends who is expressing doubt about God’s love for them? Perhaps you can pray that this Christian will grasp what is written about God’s love for them in Ephesians 1:4-5: “In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
Who needs prayer for God’s love this week? ____________
III. Our best wishes are for faith for the church.
A. Paul expresses these best wishes for the Ephesian church in vs. 23: “love with FAITH, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul writes about faith seven times in the letter to the Ephesians. Biblical faith is two things. It is belief and trust. We believe what the Bible teaches us about God and about ourselves. But without trust, you can’t really say that you have faith. Faith requires both belief in what God says and trust in who God is. Trust is one of the greatest gifts we can give to God. Do you know someone who is low on faith right now? Send your best wishes for this Christian this week through prayer.
Who needs to grow in faith in God this week? __________
IV. Our best wishes are for grace for the church.
A. This wish for grace is found in vs. 24: “Grace be with you all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” Just like the Apostle began his letter to the Ephesians with a wish for grace for them in Eph. 1:2 so he ends his letter with a wish for grace for the church. And he writes about grace 12 times in his letter. Grace is an unearned, undeserved gift. Paul wrote about that grace in Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
Who needs prayer for God’s grace this week? ___________
Application:
Pray that Christians will know God’s peace, God’s love, faith in God, and God’s grace.
Sources:
The letter to the Ephesians
Commentaries on Ephesians by Peter O’Brien, Bryan Chapell, Richard Coekin and R. Kent Hughes.