A Study in Ephesians:
WHERE TO FIND THE HOPE YOU NEED
Ephesians 1:15-23
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The Ephesians were exhibiting ample amounts of faith and love but were coming up short in hope.
Paul praised the Ephesians for their faith and love but prayed for their hope.
As a believer we need all three Christian virtues. We need faith, hope and love.
The Ephesians had two of these but were evidently weak in hope.
So Paul prayed for them to have hope. As people emerging from a dark life of occult practices, the Ephesians would need to be taught some basic truths and doctrines.
Living under the lies of Satan had kept them in the dark about the truth. Satan kept these people under his power by deceiving them and telling them lies.
Now, Paul knew they needed to be reinforced in the truth.
Satan works in overt ways and covert ways. Overtly, Satan works through witchcraft, séances, Ouija boards, etc.
But covertly Satan works through false doctrine. Since these Christians had come out of lives of Satan’s overt activity, Satan would surely try to continue working their lives covertly, through continuing to try and convince them of his lies.
“The most obvious activity of Prince Lucifer in our present age is that form of activity that can be seen, his overt activity. As a consequence, even the public press is filled with accounts of Satan worship, witchcraft, occult practices, spiritism, pagan religious rites, and many other evidences of Satanism. Millions are addicting themselves to fortune-telling, palmistry, astrology, and tarot cards. From cemetery séances to Ouija board parties, the story of the occult revival continues to grow. These viewable forms of satanic activity are frightening evidence that Prince Lucifer is continuing, even expanding, his work in our “modern” world. There is, however, a form of satanic activity that is more deadly than witchcraft. Serious damage has been done in naïve personalities because of overt spiritualist activity, but far greater havoc has been wrought by another kind of Satanism, the covert production and propagation of false doctrine. The enemy has produced a significant triumph when he can spread in our society a broad set of false views about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, sin, and the purpose of life, and other imperative points of Christian doctrine. For every one person who is subverted by Satan worship, thousands are enmeshed in Satan’s more deadly trap: doctrinal error. People who are otherwise perfectly rational, who would not dream of attending a séance, are, nevertheless, the more thoroughly undermined simply because they believe the wrong thing.” – David Breese, Satan’s Ten Most Believable Lies
Since these Ephesians had come out of a life of Satan’s overt, obvious activity, now Satan would try another tactic with them: the tactic of false doctrine.
Did you know that Satan is a theologian? Satan has a systematic theology that is coherent and convincing.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons…” – 1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)
Paul says that God’s Spirit told him that there was coming a day when people would be led astray from true faith in Christ by spirits who deceive them and convince them to believe “doctrines of demons”.
The word doctrine implies that Satan has a theology and a system of belief that appears logical and true.
However, it’s not true and only appears to be true.
Paul wanted to counter Satan’s lies by teaching these Ephesians the truth of God’s Word.
And he wanted this truth to infuse the Ephesians with a sense of hope.
• HOPE IS NOT FOUND IN SATAN’S LIES BUT IN GOD’S TRUTH!
When we find the truth we find hope. When we stay deceived we have little hope.
Where do we find hope? How does God give us hope? Let’s look at Paul’s prayer and see what it is he prayed for for the Ephesians.
4 Ways God Gives Me Hope:
1. I have hope in knowing God’s Identity. - V. 16-17
“(I)…do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him…” – Ephesians 1:16-17 (NKJV)
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be given “wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of” God.
Paul wanted the Ephesians to accurately know God; to have a correct view of God, of who He is.
One of the ways that Satan had kept these Ephesians from coming to Jesus Christ and being saved was by blinding them to the true nature of God.
It’s what we just talked about. Satan kept these Ephesians in the dark using false doctrine; a false view of God.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience to Christ…” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV)
According to Paul, Satan uses three tools to keep people from having an accurate view of God.
Satan uses “strongholds”, “arguments” and “thoughts”.
“…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” – 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV)
A stronghold means like if I get angry and don’t forgive someone and I let that anger build up and build up and it turns into bitterness. Satan can use my bitterness against me. My bitterness becomes a handle that Satan can grab onto and hold strongly. Thus we have the word “strong hold”.
Arguments is referring to the use of reasoning and logic. And then thoughts. Satan puts thoughts into people’s heads, many of which are not reasonable.
But I want you to notice that the goal is to raise a wall “against the knowledge of God.”
That’s Satan’s goal. To keep that person from an accurate knowledge of God.
And so Paul prayed that they would have wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.
Why is this important?
“Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives. As it would be cruel to an Amazonian tribesman to fly him to London, put him down without explanation in Trafalgar Square and leave him, as one who knew nothing of English or England, to fend for himself, so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” – J.I. Packer, Knowing God
When you begin to really grasp the true nature of God, you begin to experience something Satan doesn’t want you to experience: H.O.P.E. HOPE.
• When you find that God is big enough to handle any problem you face. You feel hope.
• When you find that God is humble enough to come to earth as a man…and die a criminal’s death…you feel hope.
• When you find God is small enough to live in your heart…you feel hope.
• When you learn that God is wise enough to guide your life…you feel hope.
• When you understand that God is gracious enough to forgive you of your sins, no matter what they are…you feel hope.
When you learn who God is you gain hope in your heart and hope is a powerful medicine for what ails the human heart.
So, I have hope in knowing God’s true identity, which Satan wants to keep hidden from me but which I can discover as I study God’s Word and understand who God is.
2. I have hope in my God-given destiny. – V. 18
“…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” – Ephesians 1:18 (NKJV)
Now there are four words in this sentence I want you to notice. Circle the words “calling” and circle the word “riches” and circle the word “inheritance”. Now go back and circle the word “hope”.
Paul is praying for the Ephesian Christians to have hope. But hope in what?
Two things. Their ‘calling’ and their ‘inheritance’.
What ‘calling‘ is Paul referring to here?
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – 1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
The calling is God’s gracious invitation to salvation. The fact that God has chosen us to be saved and to live with Him in heaven.
Hope comes from the fact that I was pursued by God. God decided He wanted me, He wanted you. And so He pursued you and me and came after us to recruit us for salvation.
Therefore my hope is in God’s actions toward me and not my actions toward God.
I have no hope in that, no confidence in my flesh. But I have hope in God and His action of saving me and calling me and loving me.
Hope springs from realizing God is pursuing you to love you and save you.
The inheritance is the fact that you have heaven and rewards waiting on you in the next life.
God has prepared a trust-fund for every one of his children so that we will never be left with nothing.
Now this would have been very important for the Ephesian Christians.
What do you think Satan would have whispered to these people who left the occult and came to Jesus Christ for salvation?
Here’s what Satan probably told them.
“Without me you have no future. You don’t have a destiny. With me I’ll give you a future. I’ll do things for you. Open doors for you. But going over to God will cause every door to slam in your face.”
“The question of divine destiny is an important one for Satan. He has made it a point of his doctrine to deny this. Is there a mighty purpose for which we were created...The Bible teaches a most exalted purpose for which God created man. This purpose is to become like God Himself, to partake in His uncreated and eternal life, and to share with Him the rulership of the universe. ” – David Breese, Satan’s Ten Most Believable Lies
Satan wants Christians to believe that without him they are destitute when the reality is with Christ we are destined.
We have an inheritance stored up for us in heaven.
So what about you? What’s your destiny? How do you feel about your future: destitute or destined?
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Now, Satan also has plans for our lives.
“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Satan hates you and has a destructive plan for your life.” – Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Pastor of Moody Memorial Church, MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH
3. I have hope in Christ’s victory. – V. 19-21
“…and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” – Ephesians 1:19-21 (NKJV)
“In the Old Testament, people measured God’s power by His creation or by His miracle at the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. But today, we measure God’s power by the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. Much more was involved than merely raising Him from the dead, for Christ also ascended to heaven and sat down in the place of authority at the right hand of God. He is not only Savior; He is also Sovereign. No authority or power, human or in the spirit world, is greater than Jesus Christ, the exalted son of God. He is “far above all,” and no future enemy can overcome Him, because He has been exalted “far above all” powers.” – Dr. Warren Weirsbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary
4. I have hope in God’s family. – V. 22-23
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” – Ephesians 1:22-23 (NKJV)
WILL PAUL’S PRAYER BE ANSWERED IN YOUR LIFE AND MY LIFE?
