THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW
The Riches of God’s Grace • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Riches of God's Grace
Eph.1:15-23
Introduction: Up to this point in the book of Ephesians, Paul was praising the Lord. In a long sentence that begins in verse 3 and ends in verse 14, Paul elevates the heights of God's glory and majesty.
In this great song of praise, Paul describes in detail the incredible riches we possess in Jesus.
He also tells us all that God has done for us to bring us to Christ and ensure our eternal salvation.
After telling these Christians much of what God had done for them and how spiritually rich they were, Paul tells them how he feels about them. He wants them to know that they are not only in the mind of the Lord, but they are in the mind and heart of the great apostle.
When Paul begins to speak from his heart to God's people, his first words are "for this reason."
This phrase lets us know that Paul wants to help them understand the things he has already told them about.
He is saying, "In light of all the blessings that flow from God to the saints of God, I want you to know that I am praying for you that you will understand all that has been given to you in Jesus Christ."
Paul knows he gave them a lot to think about.
Paul shared some profound truths with these people. They heard things that some of the greatest minds in history had trouble understanding. They have heard truths that are surprising and difficult to understand.
Paul wants them to know that he understands.
In verse 18, Paul tells them that he is writing "that you may know"
..." I want to use this phrase as the title of my message today.
Paul wants these believers to know that they are complete in Jesus.
He wants them to avoid Satan's traps,
He wants them to avoid think that we are missing something.
(Ill. The serpent in the Garden of Eden, Gen.3)
Ah, you have Jesus, but that is not enough, you need to seek some extra and deeper knowledge to make you more spiritual.
Some resorted to human philosophy
Others added legalism, believing that the observance of rules and the extreme denial of legitimate human needs would make them complete,
Some seek some mystical experience to complete their spiritual journey.
Beloved, none of these things can give us more than we already possess in Jesus Christ!
Paul writes to the Ephesians to let them know that they do not need to waste time looking for other things that will make them complete.
If they are truly in Jesus Christ, they will be perfectly complete forever.
We may not like to admit it, but the truth is that we are always looking for more. We pray for grace, strength, light, peace, and love, when all of these things have already been provided to us in great abundance.
We have been promised sufficient grace, 2 Corinthians 12:9.
We are told that we can do all things through Christ, who is our strength, Phil. 4:13.
We have all the light we need in the Word of God; we just need to follow it.
We have been given peace that surpasses all understanding, Phil. 4:7; John 14:27.
We receive an ocean of love in our hearts; we just need to let it flow from us to others, Rom. 5:5.
What we really need is to understand what has already been given to us in Jesus.
What we need is to understand what we have in Him and how to appropriate these things in our lives.
This is what Paul talks about in these verses.
His prayer for the saints is that they understand who they are and what they have in Jesus Christ.
Notice the requests Paul makes in these verses.
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.
Paul wanted the Christians in Ephesus to understand the great riches they had in Christ. Paul knew about their faith and love, and because of that he was happy.
Note: The Christian life has two dimensions: faith towards God and love towards men, and you cannot separate the two.
But Paul knew that faith and love were just the beginning.
The Ephesians needed to know much more. Let's read Paul's prayer:
Ephesians 1:17–18 (NIV84)
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,
Notice the requests Paul makes…
A. v. 17 - That We Might Understand The Mysteries Of God—
A. v. 17 - That We Might Understand The Mysteries Of God—
First of all, we need to understand that enlightenment comes from the Holy Spirit. He is the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation" (Isaiah 11:2; John 14:25-26; 16:12-14).
With his natural mind, man cannot understand the things of God.
He needs the Spirit to enlighten him (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). The Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth of the Word and then gives us the wisdom to understand and apply it.
He also gives us the power—the empowerment—to practice the truth (Ephesians 3:14-21).
What the people of God need can only come to us from the hand of God.
That is why Paul prayed that God would give them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
• When Paul prays that they would receive “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” in verse 17, he was praying that they would have a complete understanding of their position and possessions in Christ Jesus that is the “revelation” part.
He is asking God to open their spiritual eyes and let them grasp the reality of all that Jesus has done for them in salvation.
When he mentions “wisdom” he is talking about using that revealed knowledge to live for the Lord.
The word “spirit” has the idea of an “attitude or a humble, teachable spirit.”
In other words, Paul is praying that they will be open to hearing the things God is trying to teach them.
He prays that they will have a teachable spirit and be willing to learn.
We need to pray this prayer for ourselves on a daily basis.
We need to ask the Lord to help us keep a humble spirit and an open mind so that He can teach us His truth.
Far too often, we base what we believe on what we have been taught, or on tradition, and not on the clear Word of God.
We should ask the Lord to reveal His truth to us, and we should be willing to accept it when He does.
We must be careful not to resist the things God wants us to learn about Him and His Word.
A teachable spirit would help us to grow in grace.
• In verse 18, Paul prays that “the eyes of” their “heart” might be “enlightened”.
The word "heart refers to - “understanding” - “the mind as the place where we think, understand and feel”.
It is the same idea we have when we refer to “the heart”.
We talk about something being on “our heart”. Or we talk about “getting our hearts right with God.”
When we use this language, we are talking about how we feel and what we think.
Paul wants us to move beyond just feeling and thinking; he wants us to come to a place of understanding.
So, he prays that God will turn the light on in our minds so that we will comprehend the deep truths of God.
That is why Paul prays that they might be “enlightened”.
Paul does not want the people of God to operate solely on feelings and emotions.
He wants us to live our lives based on the truth of God’s Word.
That is why Col. 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom …”
When our hearts and minds are controlled by the Word of God under the direction of the Spirit of God, He enables us to understand the deep things of God and how they relate to everyday life.
When that happens, the Bible and the truths it contains become intensely practical in our daily lives.
This truth is seen in the episode with the two disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus the day He rose from the dead, Luke 24:13–35.
Their hearts burned in them as He talked with them, v. 32, but they did not see Him until their eyes were opened, v. 31.
The same is true with us. There are some truths that we will hear, but we will never believe them or understand them until the Spirit of God gives us the ability to grasp them.
So, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will always guide us to the truth. That is one of the things He was sent here to do, John 16:13.
• As Paul prays for these believers, he prays first that they might comprehend the deep mysteries of God that are revealed in His eternal plans.
He wants them to be able to comprehend the mysteries of election, predestination, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, our inheritance in Jesus, and the sealing work of the Holy Spirit.
The very things we have been preaching about in verses 3–14.
These great truths summarize God’s mysterious plan for the ages, and they cannot be understood apart from the aid of the Spirit of God.
If you ever grasp these deep truths, it will be because the Spirit of God enlightens you and enables you to understand them.
If He doesn’t, they will remain a mystery to your mind.
Paul wants them to understand the spiritual mysteries of God’s plan. He mentions two parts of that plan in verse 18.
He wants them to understand “the hope of His calling”
—This refers to the earthly and eternal destiny of the believer.
Rom. 8:29. God’s plan for us is that we are to “conformed to the image of His Son”,
(Ephesians 4:13) God’s plan for us is that we “all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
When you grasp this truth it will change your life.
You will see every blessing and every disruption in the light of God working in your life to make you more like Jesus.
That is what He is up to and He will do what it takes to make it happen!
He also wants them to understand “the riches of the glory of His inheritance”
—Paul wants believers to know that there are even better things waiting on us down the road.
We are the heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus, Rom. 8:17.
As a result, we are the beneficiaries of God’s best blessings in this life.
We are also the heirs of a heavenly home someday, where we will spend eternity with the God Who loved us, and saved us for His Own glory.
It takes the Spirit of God revealing eternal truth to us for us to understand all that we have in Jesus.
I can only comprehend a small portion at this point in my Christian walk.
As I pray and study the Word of God, the Spirit of God will reveal even more of God’s truth to me.
• So, Paul prays that we will understand the mysteries of God. That should be our prayer as well.
next we read v.19-20
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,
The second prayer request is:
B. v. 19–20 That We Might Understand The Might of God
B. v. 19–20 That We Might Understand The Might of God
—Next Paul prays that they might comprehend the greatness of God’s power working in their lives.
In these verses, Paul uses four different words to describe the awesome power of God.
Power—This is the word “dunamis”. This is the word which gives us our English words “dynamite and dynamo”. It refers to “inherent power residing in a thing by virtue of its very nature”.
Paul tells us that this power is “exceeding great”.
This means that it is more power than we will ever need, or could ever want.
This power is given to “us who believe”.
This is power that only the child of God has. The lost person cannot know this power, but it is given to us in great abundance when we come to Jesus.
Working—This is the word “energia”. It refers to “energy”. It speaks of the energizing power of the Holy Spirit within us that enables us to live for Jesus day by day.
As the Lord works within us, He gives us the energy to live for the Lord.
Mighty—This is the word “ischus”. It speaks of “ability, force and strength”. The power of God within our lives gives us supernatural spiritual ability, force and strength.
God enables us to do things that would be impossible for the natural man.
Power—This is the word “kratos”. It speaks of “dominion, or great power and strength”.
The Spirit of God gives us the ability to have dominion over our lives.
We have the power to live for God.
Why is this important?
It is important because we are always asking the Lord for strength and power.
But, did you notice that Paul did not pray that they would be given power?
Why not? He knew that they already had all the power they would ever need.
They just didn’t realize it.
Neither do we! We pray for strength all the time. We pray for power to witness, when we already possess a Gospel that is the power of God, Rom. 1:16.
We pray for strength to endure sufferings, when God has already promised us all the power we need, 2 Cor. 4:7.
We pray for power to do the will of God, when that power has already been given to us, Phil. 2:13.
All I am trying to tell you in that all the power we need was given to us when we were saved by the grace of God, Acts 1:8.
The power to serve God and see Him do great things in us and trough us is already in us, it just needs to be exercised, Eph. 3:20.
An illustration of this awesome power is given in verse 20.
The same power that invaded the tomb of Jesus, raised Him from the dead and carried Him home to Heaven, is the power that is at work in our lives.
That’s right, death conquering; life-changing, resurrection power is at work in our lives all the time.
Our need is not for more power; our need is for wisdom concerning how to use that power for the glory the glory of God.
Our prayer should be that God will help us to tap into that power minute by minute.
The same power that brought Jesus back from the dead will bring our bodies out of the grave someday.
The same power that took Jesus home to Heaven will take us home to Heaven some day.
What we need to grasp is that the awesome power of God is ours right now.
We need to understand that, “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,” Phil. 2:13.
Paul prays that we will understand the mighty power of God that is at work within us. That should be our prayer as well.
Next we read…
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.
third request is:
C. v. 21–23 That We Might Understand The Majesty Of Christ
C. v. 21–23 That We Might Understand The Majesty Of Christ
—Paul’s third request for the Ephesians is for God to give them a better understanding of the Person of the Lord.
If they can grasp His plan and His power, understanding Who He is will help them weather anything life can bring their way.
Once, when Timothy was overwhelmed and discouraged by those who were against him, Paul gave Timothy a recipe for joyous living in the face of difficulty, Ill. 2 Tim. 2:8–10.
When we understand that Jesus understands us because He became a man, He was crucified and rose from the dead. Now He is seated at the right hand of power in glory, where He ever lives to intercede for us, Heb. 7:25.
Paul is trying to get all believers to see that our focus needs to be on Jesus Christ alone.
When we have a proper perspective of Who Jesus is, our problems in all the areas of our life become less important as He becomes all important.
You see, the Lord we serve is not some poor, pitiful fellow Who was crucified and lost His life.
Our Lord came out of that tomb in which they placed Him, v. 20. Now He is seated at His Father’s right hand in Heaven.
He is exalted “far above” all the powers of this earthly world, or even the spiritual world, v. 21.
Paul is telling us, by the words he uses, that Jesus is vastly superior to all earthly rulers. He is also reminding us that Jesus is superior to Satan and all His demonic forces.
Everything in the physical realm and in the eternal spiritual realm bows before Him in humble submission.
In this exalted position, everything is placed beneath His feet. Like a conquering general, our Lord stands in victory with His foot on foot on the neck of all human and spiritual power.
He is The Lord, and He is Lord of all. In fact, He has been given perfect and absolute Lordship over all things and all being, Phil. 2:9–11.
Then, in verses 21–22, Paul tells us that Jesus is both the “head” and the “fullness” of the church.
He is our authority. He issues our marching orders. We are to bow to His will in all things as we serve Him in this world. He is the
Head of the church! He does not give His authority to a man, to a board, or to an influential family.
He and He alone is to be praised, worshiped and exalted. (Ill. Col. 1:15–20.) He is to honored and He is to be the centerpiece of everything we do!
Not only is He our “head”, He is also our “fullness”.
That is, he is in such an intimate relationship with His people that He fills His body.
He is in us, through His Spirit, and we enjoy perfect intimacy with Hi.
Christ is so united with His church, that He is incomplete until His church is complete.
When the body is fully formed, Christ will be fully formed in us.
In the meantime, we are to move through this world honoring Him, worshiping Him, loving Him, serving Him and telling a lost world about Him.
We are His arms, His legs, His hands, His mouth; we are His body in the world today. Everywhere we go, Jesus is seen.
In every word we speak, Jesus is heard. In every life we touch, Jesus is felt.
Our duty it to walk in Him and allow Him to live through us, so that we can show Him off to a world that needs Him until He comes.
When we understand Who Jesus is, we are brought into a position of worship.
When we understand who we are in Him, it should cause us to praise His name for the grace He has demonstrated to us.
Conclusion
Paul prayed that we might come to understand the Plan of God, the Power of God and the Person of God. He wants us to comprehend the Mysteries of the Lord; the Might of the Lord; and the Majesty of the Lord. It is His will that we all come to that knowledge.
I know that we are all in different places in our journey with the Lord. Let me speak to you where you are for a moment.
Some here have never been saved by God’s grace. What you need to know is that Jesus died to pay for sin and He rose again to offer eternal life to all who would believe on Him. I invite you to come to the Lord today.
Some are saved, but do not yet have a good grasp of the things we have been talking about. You need to come before the Lord today and ask Him to open your spiritual eyes. Ask Him to give you understanding concerning the deep things of God. He will hear that prayer and He will answer it.
Others are beginning to get an idea of Who He is and who you are in Him. You should mark you off a place down here to praise and worship Him for His glory. If He has allowed you to get a glimpse of the power of His grace in your life, you should praise Him for that and you should ask Him to reveal even more of His truth to your heart.
If the Lord has spoken to you through these verses, do as He is telling you to do today.