A Note from Michael Gossett
Plugged Into Power
There is a haunting irony in the story of Itasca, Texas. After losing 263 children in a tragic school fire just before World War II, the town rebuilt with fierce resolve and they even installed the most advanced sprinkler system money could buy. But seven years later, during an expansion project, workers discovered the sprinkler system had never been connected to a water source. The structure was sound. The system was in place, but lacked connection to what gave it power.
This story strikes at the heart of many churches and many believers today. We may have the best theological books, the most sophisticated ecclesial structures, robust confessions, and Spirit-filled Connect Groups. We might sing Christ exalting songs and attend biblically faithful churches. And yet, many believers live disconnected lives. Disconnected in the same way that they are detached from the power source that sustains and animates all genuine spiritual life. The Apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison cell, exposes our need to live a life of consistent and faithful prayer. We must plug into the power of God through prayer.
Prayer Aligns Our Purpose with Christ
Ephesians 1:15-23 is Paul’s powerful prayer for the church. What is remarkable is not only what Paul prays, but when and where he prays it. Chained in Rome, uncertain of his own future, Paul’s concern is not for his release but for the Church’s alignment with Christ. “I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers” (v. 16).
Paul knows the church in Ephesus is under spiritual attacks. As Acts 19 tells us, their city is one of occultism, idol worship, and civic hostility to the gospel. In this context, Paul doesn’t merely pray for survival, but rather he prays for strength. His prayers model a theology of purpose! The church exists to display the glory of Christ, not simply to preserve its comfort. He reminds us that true prayer doesn’t begin with a personal wish list but with God’s eternal purposes.
As E.M. Bounds said, “If we really pray, we will become more like God, or else we will quit praying.” Authentic prayer shapes the soul into conformity with Christ. It is not the tool for getting our will done in heaven, but heaven’s tool for getting God’s will done on earth.
Prayer Provides Clarity in Our Calling
Paul takes this even deeper in verse 18, which says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling.” The language of sight is key. Paul mentions a “spirit of wisdom,” “revelation,” and “enlightenment.” These words underscore a desperate need for divine illumination, which the Spirit accomplishes through God’s Word.
This is why we affirm without hesitation that Scripture is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. But equally, we must affirm that unless the Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts, we will remain blind to its truth. This is illumination. This is not a new revelation but rather the Spirit making clear what God has already revealed in His Word. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.”
Martin Luther called this sensus divinitatis, which is a spiritual sense awakened by the Spirit of God to perceive what the carnal man cannot. Charles Spurgeon once said, “I shall not attempt to teach a tiger the doctrine of vegetarianism; but I shall as hopefully attempt that task as I would try to convince an unregenerate man of the truths revealed by God.”
So what does this mean for us? It means that without prayer, even our study of the Bible can become a fruitless academic exercise. Like firefighters struggling through smoke, we may know what needs to be done, but without visibility, we become disoriented. Prayer is the divine fan that clears the air. It lifts the fog so we can see Christ and follow Him rightly. A prayerless life is a sightless life. You may know your calling, but without prayer, you will be unable to walk in it.
Prayer Partners with God’s Power
Paul now leads us to the crescendo of his prayer. Paul writes in verse 19, “What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.” This is not mere poetic exaggeration. Paul roots this power in the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ. He says it’s the very power that raised Jesus from the dead, enthroned Him in heaven, and placed all things under His feet.
In a city steeped in sorcery and emperor worship, Paul reminds the Ephesian believers that Christ reigns supreme above “every ruler and authority, power and dominion” (v. 21). And through prayer, that same power is at work in us.
Think about that. The power that raised the dead, silenced the storms, and conquered sin is not merely accessible but it indwells every believer. Paul does not pray that they would receive more power, but that they would know the power they already have in Christ.
This confronts a grievous error in much modern evangelicalism. There is an assumption that prayer is optional, peripheral, or reserved for emergencies. However, we must understand that prayer is not supplemental to our lives; it is foundational. It is not a fire extinguisher on the wall of our spiritual lives. It is the oxygen tank that we need to breathe from. Spurgeon once wrote, “My own soul’s conviction is that prayer is the grandest power in the entire universe. It has more omnipotent force than electricity, attraction, gravitation.”
It is no wonder that revivals in church history have always begun with prayer. The Great Awakening, led by men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, was soaked in prayer. The Reformation itself was ignited in the prayer closets of men like Martin Luther who said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”
What Now?
What if we were a church where our confidence was not in our strategic planning or budget but on our knees before the throne of grace? What if our staff meetings were preceded by hours of prayer? What if our people prayed with more urgency than they posted on social media? What if our students prayed for revival in their schools with the same intensity they prepare for exams?
Revival is not found in gimmicks or growth strategies. It is birthed in secret, quiet, faithful prayer. The kind that aligns our lives with God’s purpose, clears out our sight with Spirit-filled illumination, and partners us with resurrection power.
Let’s start today.
This Sunday at Green Acres:
“Marks of a True Disciple” – Luke 5:1-11
You are INVITED! This Sunday, we are diving into one of the most powerful moments in the Gospels, when Jesus steps into an ordinary boat and calls an ordinary man into an extraordinary life of discipleship.
If you have ever wondered what it really means to follow Jesus, then you do not want to miss this Sunday in Luke chapter 5! Whether you are new to church or have been attending for years, or you are simply searching for something deeper, then this message is for you. Come be a part of what God is doing in our church family!
Come to worship at Tyler or Flint at 9:30am or 11:00am and Español at 11:00. We also have Connect Groups that are essential for your growth in Christ that meet at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:00am. Come and join us!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett