Series: Experiencing the Riches of God
A PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING
Ephesians 1:15-23
Ignorance is a terrible thing. It can be very costly......
Paul did not want his readers to be ignorant of who they were in Christ and what God had for them...
1) Prerequisite of our Understanding (1:15)
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
2) Source of our Understanding (1:17)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
3) Means of our Understanding (1:18a)
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;,
PAUL PRAYED THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND...
I. THE HOPE OF GOD’S CALLING (1:18b)
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling
“Hope” (elpis: certain expectation)
(Rom 8:28-30) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
(1 Peter 5:10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
A. The hope of his calling is that we be conformed to the image of his Son that we may obtain his eternal glory.
What believer does not want to be like Jesus, yet how many think this is impossible. We are bound in our lack of understanding which is brought about by wrong thinking and leads to doubt and lives controlled by fleshy bondages.
B. We are what we think, therefore.....
We must no longer think of ourselves as....
Sinners but as Saints (Eph 1:1)
Victims but as Victors
(Rom 8:37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Slaves to Sin but as Slaves to Righteousness
(Rom 6:17-18) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Without Hope but as Full of Hope
(1 Thess 4:13) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope .
II. THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY (1:18c)
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(1 Cor 2:9-12) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen , nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
God has freely given us the Riches of...
A. Positional Inheritance
B. Physical Inheritance
-New Home
-New Bodies
-New Responsibilities
III. THE POWER AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE (1:19-23)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe,
(Eph 3:20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
A. The Source of our Power (1:19b)
according to the working of his mighty power,
B. Proof/Revelation of His Power (1:20)
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
C. Extent of His Power (21-22)
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
D. Fullness of His Power (23)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
(AMP) for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
