Dear Christian friends:

God wants us to pray for ourselves, and most people do that. We know our needs and troubles and so we remember to pray for ourselves. But do we remember to pray for other people? God also wants us to pray for one another: Husband pray for wife, wife for husband, one church member for another, people praying for the pastor.

Many times St. Paul asked the people to remember him and his work in their prayers, "Pray that I may speak it boldly, as it is my duty to speak;" he told the people. So I hope also you, my sheep, will not forget me, your shepherd, when you pray at home.

But here in our lesson we find Paul offering a prayer for the people. We see:

It will be good for you to see how a pastor prays. So let us attend to this text and consider A Pastor's Prayer For His People.

At the church in Ephesus they were having a lot of trouble. Only a few members. Most people in the City were enemies of Jesus and mocked and persecuted the Christians because they did not join in their sins and false worship of idols.

Paul himself was writing the letter to them from a prison in Rome. He did nothing wrong or against the laws of Rome, but because he preached Jesus Christ he was put in prison.

So he writes I don't want you to give up because of your troubles or my troubles. If we suffer troubles because of our faith in Jesus that is our glory and praise. That's good, not bad. Therefore in this trouble I will not give up my faith in Jesus and I don't want you to give up your faith either. I am glad if I can suffer prison, for Jesus' sake. I am ready to die for his sake. He tells us why in verses 7-9 of this chapter. Paul explains to the people God's wonderful grace to him in letting him become a preacher of the cross.

Before he was named Saul enemy of God. But with mercy and kindness God called him from his wicked way and offered him peace and forgiveness of sins. Changed his name from Saul to Paul. Then Paul was very happy and thankful to God. He can't forget such wonderful love and kindness as God showed to him. So he is glad to suffer for Jesus' sake now. In troubles, persecution and mockery he does not become tired or fed up or give up. He says I knell and pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from Him the whole family, the church, in heaven and earth is named.

So in trouble he prays to the Father of Jesus for his people. He does not become tired or give up. What does he pray? He prays that the members become more strong by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit backing Jesus may live in their hearts so that they be established strongly in love. Not wavering but established strong is love. Like Jesus not hating enemies or anyone. Love and try to win the enemies and people. Not worrying about themselves. Talk like Jesus, do like Jesus, live like Jesus. Die like Jesus witnessing and teaching like Jesus. (to the woman at Jacob's well) Forgive like Jesus, work like Jesus, love God like Jesus.

He prays also that they will know how wonderful and large Jesus' church really is, verse 18. The width and length and depth and height. Too often we think the church is only our small group here, a few and we compare it with many who do not belong and don't believe and we feel to give up. But here Paul says the church is very wide, very long, very high and very deep.

What does he mean? The Church is in heaven and on the earth. The Church is people who have died in faith in Jesus like Vera. Psalm 116:13, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Lyle, Stan and others, many many millions since Adam and Eve who died with faith in God's mercy in Jesus. They are the church above, the church victorious, the church glorious.

We on earth who believe in Jesus are the church militant still fighting sin and temptation. But even on earth we belong to a large group of people of every nation.

Preacher Paul prays that his people may understand how wonderful and large and great Jesus' church is. They should not only think of their small group at Ephesus.

So your pastor today prays for you, too that you will not be narrow minded or small or cheap in your thinking about Jesus' church. His church is not only Prince of Peace, also Bread of Life, Jehovah Christ, Zion Faith. People in all churches who believe and trust and love the Triune God.

In all churches and places where His Word is read and preached and taught there you will find His Church and some believers. They added together make a large and wonderful body. This church is not the work of man but of God. So Paul in closing his prayer gives all praise and glory to God the Father who he says does much more very much more than we ask or think he can. See what he did with Vera, Saul, Lyle and Salvner among us.

Lets not become tired or feel to give up our faith and work even if there is much trouble and problems. Let us like Paul kneel before our heavenly Father and ask for more faith and love and that He show us His large and wonderful church in heaven above and on earth below.

Let us not be bitter or complain but like Paul give praise and glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This was Pastor Paul's prayer for his people. I want you to know that it is also my prayer for you.

Amen.