Westminster Presbyterian Church Belconnen Westminster Presbyterian Church Belconnen

This is the second sermon in our series on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. This sermon, which examines Ephesians 1:15-23, was delivered at WPC Belconnen’s Sunday morning service on July 25. After Paul has praised God for all of the blessings He has poured out on us through Jesus in verses 3-14, he now prays to God. This passage records Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church. He prays that God would enlighted the ‘eyes of the Ephesians’ hearts’, so that they would understand:
1. The hope to which God has called them
2. The glorious inheritance He has prepared for them; and
3. The amazing power at work in them.

Probably the greatest highlight of the prophet Elijah's ministry was his challenge with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, recorded in 1 Kings 18. While the people of Israel watched on, the prophets of Baal called on their god to send down fire from heaven. Baal failed to show up, but when Elijah then prayed to the God of Israel, Yahweh sent down fire from heaven which consumed the sacrifice, the altar and the water in the trench surrounding it. The people of Israel saw this mighty divine display, fell on their faces, and cried out, ‘The LORD, he is God! The LORD, He is God!’ God had shown up. He was vindicated before the northern Kingdom of Israel. No doubt Elijah thought this was a turning point in Israel. But Ahab failed to turn back to God and his wife, the queen Jezebel vowed revenge on Elijah. And our reading, 1 Kings 19, records Elijah's escape from Jezebel into the desert and his lapse into despair, when he prayed that God would take his life. And yet, in 1 Kings 19, we see how God gently and lovingly cared for Elijah while he went through the valley of depression and suffering – before reassuring him and restoring him to ministry. This chapter reminds us of God’s amazing grace and love for us today too.