Our Text is taken from Ephesians 1:15-23
Why the Knowledge of God is so important in Christian life today? Because there are too many knowledge of God based on feelings or experience and hearing on others testimonies. We need to know God who God is and experienced Him personally ourselves.
We need to know not only what privileges we have and what God has done for us. We can live in the experience of the breakthrough in His Power, Revelation, faith, life, workings of God.
Paul specific requested in Prayer for the Ephesian church for Spiritual Wisdom and Revelation so that they might know Him and the Enlightened Understanding so they may know His Hope, His Riches, His Power and Grace.
Paul emphasis is on spiritual perception and real Christian character. He does not ask God to give them what they do not have but rather prayed that God will revealed to them what they already had. Paul prayed the requests “prayer for enlightenment”
1) Enlightenment comes form the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Isaiah 11:2, John 14:25-26). The Holy Spirit reveals the truth in His Word then gives us the wisdom to understand and apply it. He also gives us the power to practice the truth.
The Spirit of Wisdom: He gives us the spirit of 'sophia' to us. God gives you wisdom to help you make good decisions and help others. With this spirit we can make right good and profitable decisions. A Spirit of Wisdom will keep you out of debt. You will be wise about your finances. It will keep your home together. It will help you to choose the right mate and will never be involved in a divorce.
The Spirit of Revelation: Greek is “apocalupsis – “Apocalpyse” means “the unveiling” or uncovering. For everything about God cannot be explain and understand by the human mind. So God unveils the purpose and meaning of God for us and we see it with our eyes and feed it with our souls, hear it with our ears and understand it with the power of the Spirit.
2) Enlightenment comes to the heart of the believer. “Eyes of your heart being enlightened.”
To see with the eyes of the soul – that is what the painter does, architect and engineer does. Our eyes must be filled with light. (2 Corinthians 4:6) The Holy Spirit will enlighten our inward souls the things of God and take them to reveal to us. Our spiritual eyes will be opened to see – Psalms 119:18 David says,“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Word.” Jeremiah 33:3 says,“Call unto Me …and I will answer and show you great and might thing that thou knoweth not."
Our eyes must be opened to see spiritual realities:
a. That we might know God
Paul know the knowledge of God was life itself – John. 17:3; Phil 3:10) and that is spiritual maturity. This is to know Him experientialy. The Holy Spirit will lead us into experiential knowledge of God. Our faith is something real and experiential. “O taste and see that the Lord is good …Psalms 34:8” One has to try Him for himself whether He is good.
J.I. Packer in his book “Knowing God” makes three distinct points on knowing God:
1. Knowing God is a matter of personal dealing as in all direct acquaintance with personal beings. It is a matter of dealing with Him as He opens up to you. Knowing about Him is no test of one’s knowledge of Him.
2. Knowing God is a matter of personal involvement in mind, will, and feeling. To know another person, you have to commit yourself to his company and interests and be ready to identity yourself with his concerns.
3. Knowing God is a matter of grace. It is a relationship in which the initiative throughout is with God, not us. We do not make friends with God; God makes friends with us. Ask God to grant us Wisdom and Revelation so that we may have an experiential knowledge God Himself.
b. That we might know God’s calling – All of us have a holy calling (2 Tim. 1:9). And we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light and “called to glory” – 2 Peter 1:3 This calling have a hope. Some callings offer no hope but the calling of God in Christ assures us of a delightful future.
c. That we might know His Hope and Riches: -
The Believers Hope. What is it? The Believers Riches:-
• Present Salvation - Romans 8:24 * Unsearchable riches of Christ
• Resurrection - I Cor. 15:19-22 * Riches of Wisdom and Knowledge
• Hope of the Gospel – Col 1:22,23 * Riches in Christ – Phil 4:19
• Hope of Eternal Life – Titus 1:2
• Hope for faith - Hebrews. 11:1
• Hope to be like Him – I John 3:2,3
d. That we might know His Power of His Resurrection. – Ephesians 1:19
Paul uses four words for “power” –
• dunamis – Gods power and ability eg. His Eternal energy
• energeia – authority delegated, right to act
• kratos – strength
• ischus – ability or force (personal)
The Word is used 100 times in Greek in Acts 1:8 It denotes “being able”, or having the capacity to control another or situation. In this verse Paul speaks of God’s power toward us who believe. The highest act of His power on our behalf is the resurrection of Christ - (Ephesians 1:20-22; Rom 1:4) Easter is at the corner.
The power of salvation and power for Christian living is included. Why we need God’s Power? - Ephesians 6:11-12 speaks of "God’s Armor."
How does Gods power apply to us? Vs. 22,23 It tell us that power is invested in the Church. Power comes form the Church itself. That is the Source, since Jesus is the Head and we are His body.
Paul wanted us to understand the tremendous power available to us from God. This is the power of God not only raised Jesus from the dead, but also elevated Him to a place of honor and authority at the Father’s right hand. Which we as the Church were seated with Him in the heavenlies realm to rule His Kingdom.
There is Power is in His Name. The Name of Jesus has Power. What kind of power is resident in His name see Acts 4:12
Bring yourself to Jesus and lay yourself at His feet. Look upward in faith and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Let the Holy Spirit illuminate your soul and fill you with light so that you can see with the eyes of your heart.
Let God take the veil away from our hearts. He will take the scales away from our eyes, and we will find that holy rest and peace in Jesus. Let us ask for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.
Let the Power of God and His anointing comes upon us so great that we can release it out to change lives and touch others for Christ. May the Gracious Lord Bless All of You Saints of Grace!
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