“Who is this great King?” (Psalm 24:8, 10).

The Psalmist tells us – “He is the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, victorious in battle … The triumphant Lord – He is the great King!” (vs. 8, 10).

When we turn to the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is the great King. Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is strong and mighty. Jesus is victorious in battle. Jesus is the triumphant Lord.

Jesus Christ is the Name which jumps out at us from the first chapter of Ephesians. Everything is centred upon Christ.

* The writer of this letter is Paul. Here’s Paul’s description of himself – “Paul, who by God’s will is an apostle of Christ Jesus” (v. 1).

* Paul is writing to the Church at Ephesus – “God’s people in Ephesus, who are faithful in their life in union with Christ Jesus” (v. 1).

* Why did Paul write this letter? – “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace” (v. 2).

When you know who wrote a letter, who the letter was sent to, and why the letter was written, youi know the most important things about the letter.

Here, in Ephesians, we ask about the writer of the letter, and we hear about Jesus Christ. We ask about the people who received the letter and, again, we hear about Jesus Christ. We ask the question, “Why was the letter written?”, and, once again, we hear about Jesus Christ. We hear about the grace and peace we receive from Him.

* What do we hear about the grace and peace that comes to us through Jesus Christ?

- “Let us praise God for His glorious grace … which He gave to us in such large measure!” (vs. 6-8): PRAISE.

- “I ask that your minds may be opened … ” (vs. 18-20): PRAYER.

Praise and Prayer – This is thewonderful context within which the PREACHING of God’s Word takes place.

- We are called to praise God.

- We are called to pray to God.

* Praise God for “His glorious grace – “the free gift He gave us in His dear Son!” (v. 6).

* Pray that you will enjoy, in ever-increasing fullness, “the wonderful blessings He promises His people – the very great power at work in us who believe” (vs. 18-19).

This is the heart of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. It’s the heart of the Gospel that we preach. It’s the heart of the Gospel for today. As we preach the Gospel, let us join, with Paul, in praying “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” will give to each one of us “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of ” Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Lord and King (vs. 15-17).

Psalm 24:8