WE NEED THE ENLIGHTENING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO GOD
1. Motivation for this request for spiritual enlightenment --
The Reality of their Spiritual Life = cause for both thanksgiving and pastoral concern
a. "for this reason"
these Gentile believers genuinely possessed the Holy Spirit who had sealed them and been the downpayment for their full inheritance
b. they genuinely lived the spiritual life -- 2 fundamental qualities
1) faith in the Lord Jesus
2) love for all the saints
2. Main Request = the Enlightening Work of the Holy Spirit
a. this gift flows out of the grace of God
b. this gift centers in the work of the Holy Spirit --
"Spirit of wisdom and revelation"
c. this gift operates in the sphere of the full experiential knowledge of God
3. Reason or Basis for the Request
"since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened" -- Perfect tense
It was at salvation that the eyes were opened by God's grace through faith. Now we need these eyes focused by God's grace through faith.
4. Purpose of the Request -- that we would understand:
a. His Goal for us -- the hope of His calling primarily centers on holiness and being completely like the Lord Jesus Christ; includes our resurrection body and full inheritance
b. His Gift for Himself -- "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" -- we are valuable to God
c. His Guarantee for Success = the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe
Conclusion: there is no priority in life that is greater than the priority of coming to know God better.
