Eph. 1:17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Paul wanted the Ephesians to know what he prayed for them. Perhaps because his prayers are loaded with teaching. And in light of their faith and their love for one another, Paul was overjoyed. He continues to uphold them before the Father asking for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. This wisdom and revelation would mean a total change in world view, and in their everyday living. They would see life through the lens of Christ. What is included in this wisdom and knowledge?
As their eyes are enlightened, they will know the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might, that He worked in Christ when He raise Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. Wow!
First, the hope. As He called us, saving and sanctifying us, He has also given us hope, a hope that is not in something that we can see or touch, but a hope for what is to come. .There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. This hope is Jesus coming back for us and taking us home to heaven with Him. It is a glorious hope!
Secondly, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. This is not an inheritance for us. Instead it means we are God's inheritance. How mind-boggling is that! He certainly has blessed believers in phenomenal ways, ways that are based in His unending grace. Just knowing the truth of this statement should certainly change the way that we think and act.
Thirdly, His power toward us. What power? Resurrection power! In Christ we are resurrected in new life and for new life in Christ. We begin to know and understand His great power in us. II Cor. 12:9 says His power is perfected in weakness because when we are weak, then we are strong. God does not desire us to summon up our strength and resolve, but He does want us to rely on His power working in us. Just think for a moment, God's power and strength vs. our power and strength. It's a no-brainer! Imagine this. He would put His Spirit within us as our power source, our guide, our all in all. No imagining is necessary, it's true! In Eph. 3:20 it says, Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,,, There it is the power at work within us! Because of this power God is able to do things that are without the realm of our thoughts and desires.
No wonder Paul prayed for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Without His granting us the wisdom and knowledge of Christ, the hope, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His power toward us would remain unknowable. So if we desire these blessings, we need to pray, for ourselves and for one another, this same prayer. With enlightened eyes, we can see the spiritual promises. They can have a meaning apart from the words.They can unleash the working of His great power in us.
Father,
This is my prayer as well. Grant me this hope, the understanding of what it means to be your inheritance, and Your power toward me. Help me to live completely in Your grace filled with Your Spirit. I know that my flesh still grabs hold of me so often. Strengthen me so that I can withstand and stand firm in You.
In His name,
Amen
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