The Spirit Of Wisdom And Understanding Series

Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

Ephesians Series

CCCAG January 9th, 2022

Scripture- Ephesians 1:15-23

I've mentioned several times before that I came to faith in Jesus Christ in 1993 in Kenosha WI. Kenosha he has a lot of ties with Zion IL in that it's just right over the border.

I'm not sure how many of you would be familiar with the history of Zion IL but it was formed by a man named John Alexander Dowie who was a faith healer, and many believe a charlatan. However, he initially set up Zion as a Christian city in the late 1800’s. That heritage is seen even today in that the center of town is in the shape of a cross, and you still cannot buy alcohol in any form within the city limits.

In many ways he was one of the predecessors to the modern-day movement that we call the Assemblies of God. He preached about the restoration of the spiritual gifts, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the church today.

He was huge in the idea of revival, and praying for the move of the Holy Spirit to sweep through entire areas and bring sinners to the cross. His heritage is one of exuberant worship with the spiritual gifts on full display in his church.

The church I got saved in was heavily influenced by Dowie’s theology, and most of our pastors had been Assembly of God. However, when the Holy Spirit was talked about, he was relegated to a feeling or force that would cause us to behave in certain ways.

Some people would dance, other would run, some rolled on the floor, some fell over after being prayed for. Speaking in tongues was very common place and in fact you couldn’t be a member of the church if you didn’t have that initial physical evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism.

Then 1995 hit, and the Brownsville Revival swept through the Pentecostal church and the Assemblies of God like a whirlwind. A lot of people got radically saved and came to faith in Jesus, and many people who had been pew warmers for years got called into active service, missions, and pastoral ministry. A lot of good came out of that revival. However, for many- the Holy Spirit again got relegated to a force that made people do weird things, instead of the life changing 3rd person of our triune God that at Salvation is meant to come and live within us, and continually mold us and shape us into the image of Jesus.

That’s going to be what we look at today as we continue our Ephesian’s series- The purpose of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s read this morning’s scripture and then break it down a bit

Eph 1:15-23

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.

NIV

Prayer

A few weeks ago, we spoke about the Holy Spirit being a deposit with us- assuring us of the Father’s love and forgiveness, and HIS ongoing presence within us as we walk through life.

Today we are going to focus a bit more of why God gave us the Spirit, and nail down a bit more specifically what His primary focus and job is.

Because it’s not about rolling on the floor.

It’s not about falling down when prayed for.

It’s not about the Spiritual gifts

It’s not about running, jumping, signing, prophesying, or any outward sign.

For the first 7 years of my walk with God, I was taught and believed that’s what the Holy Spirit’s job was- to give us a huge rush during church services.