“The pulse of one’s faith can be measured by ones prayer life.”  (Jonathan Edwards)

1. Because God is sovereign, Paul offers thanksgiving for God’s intervening, sovereign grace in the lives of Christians (15-16)

2. Because God is sovereign, Paul offers intercession that God’s sovereign, holy purposes in the salvation of his people may be accomplished (17-19a)

More precisely, Paul prays that

1. Christians may know God better.
2. Christians may have the God-given insight to grasp the hope of our calling.
3. Christians may have the God-given insight to grasp the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints.
4. Christians may have the God-given insight to grasp God’s incomparably great power for those of us who believe. 

3. Because God is sovereign, Paul offers a review of God’s most dramatic displays of power (1:19:b-23)

1. The power exerted when Christ was raised from the dead.
2. The power displayed in the exalted Christ.
3. The power exercised by Christ over everything, for the church.