Ephesians 1:15-23
When I was a young adult, about 20 years, I was part of a youth/young adults group at the church I was going to. One day one of our youth leaders had a bright idea. We would all climb Mt Beerwah, in the Glasshouse Mountains. He told us the sunrise from the top was spectacular, so we needed to climb up in the early hours of the morning, before it got light. Then wed get there in time for the sunrise, and wed climb back down in daylight. So we set off very early in the morning for Mt Beerwah and started climbing.
Now I dont know how many of you have climbed Mt Beerway, but I suppose some of you have and most of us would know it is not a gently undulating mountain. It is, well, more vertical than horizontal! It is 555 metres high (1820 on the old scale) so it is a decent height, at least for this part of the world.
But we were climbing at night. That meant we couldnt see how high we were as we were climbing. All I could see as I climbed was the few metres in front of me that my torch illuminated. As far as I was concerned, all that mattered to me was the few metres of track or at times rock face that I could see in front of me.
It was only when we came down during the daylight that we realised what was there as we had been climbing up. I still remember going down the same path I had come up during the night and getting vertigo from the sudden drop to the side of the path! The view was amazing but that drop was amazing too! But during the night, although the view was there, the drop was there, I didnt see it. Because I didnt see it, I didnt know it was there. And because I didnt know it was there, I didnt get vertigo. And I realised why the youth leader had got us to climb it at night. There is no way I would have climbed that thing if I had been able to see the drop next to the path!
Coming down we had a realisation of what was really there. We saw what at night was unseen. During the night, only the track straight in front was visible. But that track was only a tiny part of the picture. The bigger picture - though unseen - was there.
Our Christian life is often like that. Over the last few weeks we have talked about our inheritance in Christ. We have talked about our spiritual blessings. We have talked about how wonderful they are. But we dont always see them. We dont always realise they are there. Or we know they are there mentally. When I climbed Mt Beerwah I knew it was a mountain. Id seen it before, even flown over it. But when I was climbing up it, because I couldnt see that, those facts didnt mean much to me at the time. So too, it is often like this in our Christian life.
We just look at the track in front of us. That is, our lives here, the trials, the steep bits, the rocks along the road. We look at the problems money problems, job security, relationships, bad health etc. We look to things we strive for money, house, job satisfaction, getting ahead in life. But this is just the track in front of us, all we can see in the darkness.
In our real lives it is like climbing Mt Beerwah in the dark. It is not yet daytime so it is hard to see around us, to see spiritual reality. To see our spiritual blessings, our inheritance in Christ. We know they are there, but they dont seem as real or as relevant as the track in front of us, which we can see.
But one day, the sun will come up, and we will see the whole picture. But until then, what do we do? How do we keep our eyes focused on the spiritual realities? On our inheritance of spiritual blessings, that are better, greater, than the track in front?
We know they are there, but because we cant see them, they dont seem as real or as relevant as our earthly cares and desires.
The only way is through a revelation. An enlightenment.
In Ephesians 1.3-14, Paul told us our spiritual blessings. We know that in our heads. But now in verses 15-23 Paul prays. He prays we may have a revelation of those spiritual blessings. So we dont just know it in our heads, but that we see it, we realise it.
Lets read the passage, looking at that prayer and the words revelation and enlightenment.
EPH 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Lets have a look at this prayer. This is a prayer of thanksgiving and a prayer for revelation of our inheritance our spiritual blessings in Christ.
When we pray, how do we pray? What do we pray for? Too often we pray with just the track in front in mind. And we need to do that at times - but in measure. We often forget the bigger world out there. But this is a big picture prayer. A prayer that starts with thanks.
Vs 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you.
Paul was thankful for the Ephesians. So thankful in fact, that he couldnt stop thanking God for them. But why? What was there to be thankful about?
vs 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints
For this reason refers back to what was said before. That is, spiritual blessings, our inheritance. He then prays, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus. Paul rejoices - because they believe! They have faith! Because of that, they are included, they share the inheritance of spiritual blessings! And this faith is real it produces something, which is love for all the saints.
So Paul has something to be thankful about. The Ephesians who he had worked with for 3 years - they believed! They shared in the inheritance! They shared in spiritual blessings! For those of us who have witnessed to someone, it is truly exciting when they believe! When they come to share in what we have!
So Paul rejoices. But he is also a realist. He understands that it is not always easy to appreciate our inheritance. So he prays that they may truly understand. In the midst of the problems and issues of life.
Let us look at what he prays for:
vs 17 he prays that the Father would give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
vs 18 he prays that the eyes of our heard are enlightened.
The word revelation in vs 17 is the Greek word αποκαλυψις apokalupsis. It is the same word used as the title for the book of Revelation. It means an uncovering, but is specially used for that which God reveals. How do we attain knowledge? How do we know thingss? Through observation, research etc. We look for the information. But αποκαλυψις apokalupsis was used of God revealing. That is, it is Gods action. Thats why Paul prays for it. In verses 3-14, Paul has told us about it. So we know from hearing. And God can use that to help us come to a point of believing. But to really understand, really see, God needs to reveal.
In veres 18, Paul prays, that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. Enlightened what an interesting word! Enlightened it sounds like a big word. But it just means to have the light shed on something. Its a bit like climbing Mt Beerwah at night. You cant see at night. But when the sun comes up, Mt Beerwah and everything around is enlightened. We can now see.
And thats what it means here. It means that God would enable us to see. Naturally, we see with our eyes. This passage uses the word eyes. But not our natural eyes, but rather, the eyes of our heart. In order that we would see, in the eyes of our heart, to see what is around us. So that we can see what is actually there.
So we have these words revelation, enlightened. They speak to us of Gods action, in showing us, revealing to us, shedding the light on what is really there. And what is really there? We have seen it already in the verses before which we have been going through these last few weeks. Our inheritance in Christ. Spiritual blessings.
But Paul wants us to really understand what there is to see, and he asks God specifically what it is he wants God to reveal to us! Lets have a look.
There are three things that Paul prays that we would know
Vs 18-19a:
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know
1. the hope to which he has called you,
2. the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
3. and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Lets have a look at each one.
1st The hope to which He has called us.
Paul has already spoken about this. And we looked at it when I preached on it a few weeks ago when we looked at verses 3-10. Remember? We are:
1. Chosen to be blameless in His sight. Vs 4.
2. Adopted as His children. Vs 5.
3. Redeemed, forgiven our sins. Vs 7.
4. The mystery of Gods will revealed to us that all things on heaven and earth will be under Christ - and we will share in that eternally! Vss 9-10.
We studied that a few weeks ago. Some have even revised it in your home groups. Im guessing you are all familiar with it by now. But do we know it?
We certainly know it intelectually and that is good. But can we see it? Do we really see it with the eyes of our heart? If not, we should join with Paul in praying for that. That God would reveal to the eyes of our heart, the hope to which He has called us. An eternal hope. To be blameless in His sight. To be His children forever. Redeemed, forgiven of our sins. And to enjoy this forever.
2nd The riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.
Last week we looked at our inheritance. A much better inheritance than the newspaper empire Lachlan Murdoch will inherit or the hotel empire Paris Hilton might inherit. But do we really see that? Or do we still really want the earthly type of inheritance? What do we spend our time seeking? Thinking about? The pleasures of this earth? Or our inheritance with Him?
Sure, like going up Mt Beerwah, it is nice to have a smooth path to walk up. The things of this world do effect us - finances, health, relationships. And Paul talks about our earthly relationships later on in Ephesians. But all that is dwarfed by spiritual realities. By our glorious inheritance. Last week I spoke about our spiritual inheritance. Hopefully, we understood it. Hopefully, we desired it, we appreciated it. But do we really know it? Do we really see it with the eyes of our heart? If not, we need to join with Paul in praying and asking God that He would reveal it to us. That He would shed light on it, so we can see it is as real as the physical world around us. And like the view from Mt Beerwah, realise it is much more glorious, magnificent and wonderful that the things of this earthly world.
3rd His incomparably great power for us who believe.
So Paul prays that the Ephesians would know the hope to which they are called. That they would know the inheritance that is theirs. But how will it come about? Who guarantees it? Who will make it happen? Paul prays that the Ephesians would know would see in the eyes of their heart - the incomparably great power of God which is for us who believe! Some versions say, His immeasurably great power. Power without measure! Have you ever seen something that is powerful? A powerful car? A jumbo jet taking off? To understand power, often it helps to understand what that power can do. So Paul now spends the rest of our passage today 4 verses - giving examples of what that power has done. Paul lists two things that the power of God, Gods mighty strength, has done.
Firstly, in verse 20, we read that that power raised Christ from the dead. Have you stopped and contemplated what it would take to raise someone from the dead? Think of who we think are powerful today. Bill Gates, Rupert Mudoch. Kevin Rudd, Barack Obama. But as powerful as they are, they have no control over their death. Think of powerful organisations. Microsoft, Coca Cola. Powerful, but they cant control death. Think of powerful nations. Today we have rivalry between the United States, Russia and China to see who is the most powerful. But one day all their presidents will die. Reagan, Brezhnev, Stalin, Mao Zedung previous leaders of these nations - all now dead. Such is the common lot of all people. Death.
But Jesus had a power that could raise Him from the dead! And that same power is for us! Now isnt that incredible? And not only was Jesus raised from the dead, but as Paul continues:
20b and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
God didnt just raise Jesus from the dead, amazing as that is, but seated Him at His right hand, over everything!!! The words that are used here are superlative on superlative. Rule, authority, power, dominion. These words are synonyms. With them, Paul is pushing human language as far as he can in trying to describe the indescribable the indescribable power of God.
Jesus is over all. Jesus Christ. The Son of God. God Himself. The second member of the Trinity. Jesus is over all, not just now in the present age, but also in the age to come the future. Think of power today. I am student of history. 2 millenia ago, the Roman Empire was the powerful nation on earth. It is now gone. Nothing remains but some ruins and some history. Its leaders - Julius Ceasar, Augustus, Nero and others, are dead and buried. More recently, think of the Soviet Union. I, like many of you, grew up in fear of it. It is now gone. Its founders and most of its leaders Lenin, Stalin, Brezhnev are now dead and buried. Todays powers, will one day no longer be. But Jesus is over all, both now, and forever.
What a power is this! Paul prays that we may understand this power. This power that is for us who believe! Now thats amazing. At the end of the passage, Paul reinforces that it is for us.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church
This is the first mention of church in Ephesians. Paul will expound on the church later in the book. What is the church? It is those called out. It is the believing ones and that is us, if we believe. That includes us at Gympie Baptist Church. Jesus
- most powerful figure in history is head over everything. And He is for the church, for us.
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
The church is His body, the body of Christ. And we will discuss this further as we progress through Ephesians. And we will see what it is to be part of the church, part of the body of Christ.
So lets recap. This passage is a prayer. Previously in Ephesians there had been a discussion of spiritual blessings, which is our inheritance. Now Paul prays. Not for material things. Not about concerns of this world or success in this world. But he prays that we might really understand what we already have in Christ. That God would reveal to us, and shed light on:
1. the hope to which he has called you,
2. the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
3. and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
There is only so much we can study these things. And it is necessary to study them. There is only so much we can listen, receive teaching on these things, although of course it is is necessary to do. In fact, Paul is teaching us through the letter.
But we also need to pray. When you pray, what do you pray for? It is not wrong to pray for things we need in this life, but is that all you pray for?
If you dont know Christ, if you havent confessed your wrongdoings to God, and asked Jesus to save you, pray that you may know Him and receive these spiritual blessings.
But if you do know Christ, do you pray for a greater knowledge of these things? For a greater understanding of what you already have in Christ? A greater understanding of your inheritance? Of the hope you are called to? Of His amazing, unfathomable power?
So that, as it says in verse 17, so that you may know Him better.
I will pray now, using this passage. Make it your prayer. And dont just leave it here. We always need to know God better and better. Pray this prayer often, not necessarily using these exact words, but these ideas.
Heavenly Father, I ask that You, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, You, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know You better. I pray also that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which You have called us, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of Your mighty strength, which You exerted in Christ when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And You placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for us - the church, and we are His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.
