Prayer Guide: Ephesians 2

By Daniel Henderson

Based on the 4/4 pattern of the model prayer found in Matthew 6. For a full description of the 4/4/ prayer pattern, click here.

Theme: One in Christ

^{EPHESIANS 2:11-22}

¹¹Therefore remember that at one time You Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹²remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷And he came and preached peace to You who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹So then You are no longer strangers and aliens, but You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²²In him You also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

REVERENCE

(“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name . . .”)

God’s praiseworthy attributes displayed in this text:

He transforms our identity (vv. 11-12)
He gives us real hope (v.12)
Christ’s sacrifice/shed blood brings real reconciliation (v. 13)
Christ brings real peace and abolishes division (v. 14)
Christ creates “oneness” out of human differences and division (v. 15)
Christ reconciles relationships and destroys hostility (v. 16)
Christ produces lasting peace between us as we draw near to him (v. 17)
He gives all believers access to the abundance of His Spirit (v. 18)
He transforms our enmity to make us “fellow citizens, saints and members” of His family (v. 19)
He gives us a solid foundation of truth for our thoughts and lives, with Jesus as our Cornerstone – (v. 20)
He unites and builds us so that we might reflect His holiness in this world (v. 21)
He is our source of growth so that the presence of the Spirit will be evident in and through His church (v. 22)

Possible Prayer Prompts:

I praise You Lord that even though I used to be known as _______________________ I am now a new creature in Christ.
Thank You that my hopelessness has been turned to hope because You are…
I praise You that You have brought reconciliation to be by …
I praise You that Your peace has changed…
I praise you that I am now one with _______________ because of the cross …
I praise You that You delivered me from the hostility of …
I praise You that as we draw near to You in the midst of ________________, You provide real peace.
I praise You that we have access to Your Spirit who is ________________.
I praise You that we are “fellow citizens, saints and members” of Your family, especially when the world tells us…
Thank You Lord Jesus that You are the Cornerstone, especially when…
I praise You that the beauty of Your holiness and the power of Your Spirit is greater than…

RESPONSE

(“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”)

I confess that I need Christ to bring real peace to my heart and abolish the division I feel about___________. I surrender my feelings of hopelessness about ______________ and embrace You as the only hope of this world.
I surrender all doubts, lies and false narratives to You (as the source of truth and the Cornerstone of my life). Especially my thoughts about…
Because Your Spirit is __________________ I surrender my…

REQUESTS

(“Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”)

Give me grace today to stop seeing myself as _______________________ and to embrace my identity in Christ.
As I live in a hopeless and Godless world, help me minister the peace of Christ, especially as I…
Lord I pray that you will bring ____________________ (name of the lost or backslidden) near to you by the power of the cross.
Lord Jesus, by Your power I ask You to bring reconciliation to…
I pray that _____________________________ (names) would experience real “oneness” by the power of Christ.
I pray for Your church that Your peace would abolish the division that exists over…
Help __________________ (name) to draw near to You today so that they may know Your peace.
Because Your Spirit is ___________________________, I pray that You will …
Give us grace to truly live as “fellow citizens, saints and members” of Your family, especially when…
I pray for _______________________ to have the strength to stand on truth, and trust You as their Cornerstone as they …
I pray Your holiness will prevail and Your Spirit will be evident in and through me today as…
I pray Your holiness will prevail and Your Spirit will be evident in and through Your church so that …

READINESS

(“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.)

As we go into a world of division and hostility, empower us that Your peace will triumph over…
As the world seeks to divide us over _________________________, thank you that in Christ we can live with one heart, one voice and one purpose.
Even though the world tells us that we are ________________________, empower us to live as “fellow citizens, saints and members” of Your family.
As we journey in a society that believes __________________________, let us stand on the foundation of Your truth.
- Antiphonal Response: Jesus is our Cornerstone!