A Spirit of Understanding
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A Spirit of Understanding
A Spirit of Understanding
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:
Introduction
Introduction
We discovered that we were “born rich” when we trusted Christ.
But this is not enough, for we must grow in our understanding of our riches if we are ever going to use them to the glory of God. Too many Christians have never “read the bankbook” to find out the vast spiritual wealth that God has put to their account through Jesus Christ.
We discovered that we were “born rich” when we trusted Christ. But this is not enough, for we must grow in our understanding of our riches if we are ever going to use them to the glory of God. Too many Christians have never “read the bankbook” to find out the vast spiritual wealth that God has put to their account through Jesus Christ. They are like the late newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst, who invested a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items that he felt he must own, so he sent his agent abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Hearst’s warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned! Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself a great deal of money and trouble. Paul desired the Ephesian Christians to understand what great wealth they had in Christ. Paul knew of their faith and love, and in this he rejoiced. The Christian life has two dimensions: faith toward God and love toward 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. This is why he prayed for them, and for us.
They are like the late newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst, who invested a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items that he felt he must own, so he sent his agent abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Hearst’s warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned! Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself a great deal of money and trouble.
Paul desired the Ephesian Christians to understand what great wealth they had in Christ. Paul knew of their faith and love, and in this he rejoiced. The Christian life has two dimensions: faith toward God and love toward 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. This is why he prayed for them, and for us.
Before we study Paul’s four requests in this “prayer for enlightenment,” we must notice two facts.
Before we study Paul’s four requests in this “prayer for enlightenment,” we must notice two facts.
Enlightenment comes from the Holy Spirit. He is the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (; ; ).
With his natural mind, man cannot understand the things of God.
He needs the Spirit to enlighten him (). The Holy Spirit reveals truth to us from the Word, and then gives us the wisdom to understand and apply it.
Literally this verse reads, “The eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” We think of the heart as the emotional part of man, but in the Bible, the heart means the inner man, and includes the emotions, the mind, and the will. The inner man, the heart, has spiritual faculties that
I A Spirit of Knowing(1:17)
I A Spirit of Knowing(1:17)
parallel the physical senses. The inner man can see (; ), hear (; ), taste (; ), smell (; ), and touch (). This is what Jesus meant when He said of the people, “They seeing see not, and hearing they hear not” (). The inability to see and understand spiritual things is not the fault of the intelligence but of the heart. The eyes of the heart must be opened by the Spirit of God.
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:
This, of course, is the highest knowledge possible. The atheist claims there is no God for us to know, and the agnostic states that if there is a God we cannot know Him.
parallel the physical senses. The inner man can see (; ), hear (; ), taste (; ), smell (; ), and touch (). This is what Jesus meant when He said of the people, “They seeing see not, and hearing they hear not” (). The inability to see and understand spiritual things is not the fault of the intelligence but of the heart. The eyes of the heart must be opened by the Spirit of God.
But Paul has met God in the person of Jesus Christ, and he knows that a man really cannot understand much of anything else without a knowledge of God.
This, of course, is the highest knowledge possible. The atheist claims there is no God for us to know, and the agnostic states that if there is a God we cannot know Him. But Paul has met God in the person of Jesus Christ, and he knows that a man really cannot understand much of anything else without a knowledge of God. This willful ignorance of God led mankind into corruption and condemnation. In ., Paul described the stages in man’s devolution: from willful ignorance of God to idolatry (substituting a lie for the truth) to immorality and indecency. Where does it begin? It begins with an unwillingness to know God as Creator, Sustainer, Governor, Savior, and Judge. The believer must grow in his knowledge of God. To know God personally is salvation (). To know Him increasingly is sanctification (). To know Him perfectly is glorification (). Since we are made in the image of God (), the better we know God, the better we know ourselves and each other. It is not enough to know God only as Savior. We must get to know Him as Father, Friend, Guide, and the better we know Him, the more satisfying our spiritual lives will be. A believer said to me one day after a Bible lesson, “I’m sure glad I came! You gave me two good verses to use on my wicked neighbor!” Surely there are times when we use God’s Word as a sword to defeat the enemy, but that is not the primary purpose behind the writing of the Bible. As the familiar hymn puts it, Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord. My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
This willful ignorance of God led mankind into corruption and condemnation.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
In ., Paul described the stages in man’s devolution: from willful ignorance of God to idolatry (substituting a lie for the truth) to immorality and indecency. Where does it begin? It begins with an unwillingness to know God as Creator, Sustainer, Governor, Savior, and Judge.
The believer must grow in his knowledge of God. To know God personally is salvation ().
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
In ., Paul described the stages in man’s devolution: from willful ignorance of God to idolatry (substituting a lie for the truth) to immorality and indecency. Where does it begin? It begins with an unwillingness to know God as Creator, Sustainer, Governor, Savior, and Judge. The believer must grow in his knowledge of God. To know God personally is salvation (). To know Him increasingly is sanctification (). To know Him perfectly is glorification (). Since we are made in the image of God (), the better we know God, the better we know ourselves and each other. It is not enough to know God only as Savior. We must get to know Him as Father, Friend, Guide, and the better we know Him, the more satisfying our spiritual lives will be. A believer said to me one day after a Bible lesson, “I’m sure glad I came! You gave me two good verses to use on my wicked neighbor!” Surely there are times when we use God’s Word as a sword to defeat the enemy, but that is not the primary purpose behind the writing of the Bible. As the familiar hymn puts it, Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord. My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
To know Him increasingly is sanctification ().
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
To know Him perfectly is glorification ().
Since we are made in the image of God (), the better we know God, the better we know ourselves and each other.
II A Spirit to Know God’s Calling (1:18)
II A Spirit to Know God’s Calling (1:18)
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
illustration of calling -
The word called is an important word in the Christian’s vocabulary.
The word church is a combination of two Greek words that mean “called out.”
Paul never tired of testifying that God called him “by his grace” (), and he reminded Timothy that the believer has a “holy calling” ().
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 tim 1.
We have been “called out of darkness into his marvelous light” (), and have even been “called to glory” ().
God calls us by His grace and not because of any merit that we may possess.
landscaping. Two expensive cars stood in the driveway, and through the picture window, the men saw their prospect, lounging in an easy chair and watching TV. The deacon turned to his pastor and said, “What kind of good news do we have for him?” How prone we are to confuse prices and values. Ephesus was a wealthy city. It boasted the temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Today, Ephesus is an archeologist’s paradise, but all of its wealth and splendor are gone. But the Christians who once lived there are today in heaven, enjoying the glory of God! The hope that belongs to our calling should be a dynamic force in our lives, encouraging us to be pure (), obedient (), and faithful (). The fact that we shall one day see Christ and be like Him should motivate us to live like Christ today.
Paul wanted us to understand the hope that is ours because of this calling ().
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Some callings offer no hope, but the calling we have in Christ assures us of a delightful future.
Keep in mind that the word hope in the Bible does not mean “I hope so,” like a child hoping for a doll or a bike at Christmas.
Hope - the word carries with it “assurance for the future.”
The believer’s hope is, of course, the return of Jesus Christ for His church (; ).
When we were lost, we were “without hope” ( NIV), but in Jesus Christ, we have a “living hope” ( NIV) that encourages us day by day.
Dr. Kenneth Chafin, a well-known Baptist author, tells about the pastor and deacon who were visiting prospective members and drove up to a beautiful suburban home surrounded by a velvet lawn and gorgeous landscaping. Two expensive cars stood in the driveway, and through the picture window, the men saw their prospect, lounging in an easy chair and watching TV. The deacon turned to his pastor and said, “What kind of good news do we have for him?” How prone we are to confuse prices and values.
Ephesus was a wealthy city. It boasted the temple of Diana, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Today, Ephesus is an archeologist’s paradise, but all of its wealth and splendor are gone.
But the Christians who once lived there are today in heaven, enjoying the glory of God!
The hope that belongs to our calling should be a dynamic force in our lives, encouraging us to be pure (), obedient (), and faithful ().
The fact that we shall one day see Christ and be like Him should motivate us to live like Christ today.
Illustration - of calling
III A Spirit to Know God’s Riches (1:18)
III A Spirit to Know God’s Riches (1:18)
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
This phrase does not refer to our inheritance in Christ (), but His inheritance in us.
3. That We Might Know God’s Riches (1:18b) This phrase does not refer to our inheritance in Christ (), but His inheritance in us. This is an amazing truth—that God should look on us as a part of His great wealth! Just as a man’s wealth brings glory to his name, so God will get glory from the church because of what He has invested in us. When Jesus Christ returns, we shall be “to the praise of the glory of his grace” (). God deals with us on the basis of our future, not our past. He said to cowardly Gideon, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” (). Jesus said to Andrew’s brother, “Thou art Simon … thou shalt be called Cephas [a stone]” (). Gideon did become a mighty man of valor, and Simon did become Peter, a rock. We Christians live in the future tense, our lives controlled by what we shall be when Christ returns. Because we are God’s inheritance, we live to please and glorify Him. This truth suggests to us that Christ will not enter into His promised glory until the church is there to share it with Him. He prayed for this before He died, and this prayer will be answered (). Christ will be glorified in us (), and we will be glorified in Him (). Knowing this should lead the believer into a life of dedication and devotion to the Lord.
This is an amazing truth—that God should look on us as a part of His great wealth!
Just as a man’s wealth brings glory to his name, so God will get glory from the church because of what He has invested in us.
When Jesus Christ returns, we shall be “to the praise of the glory of his grace” ().
God deals with us on the basis of our future, not our past.
He said to cowardly Gideon, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor” ().
Jesus said to Andrew’s brother, “Thou art Simon … thou shalt be called Cephas [a stone]” ().
Gideon did become a mighty man of valor, and Simon did become Peter, a rock.
We Christians live in the future tense, our lives controlled by what we shall be when Christ returns.
Because we are God’s inheritance, we live to please and glorify Him.
This truth suggests to us that Christ will not enter into His promised glory until the church is there to share it with Him. He prayed for this before He died, and this prayer will be answered ().
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
j
Christ will be glorified in us (), and we will be glorified in Him (). Knowing this should lead the believer into a life of dedication and devotion to the Lord.
We are looked at on the basis of what we will be not who we are presently ......
4. That We Might Know God’s Power (1:19–23) By making us His inheritance, God has shown His love. By promising us a wonderful future, He has encouraged our hope. Paul offered something to challenge our faith: “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” (). So tremendous is this truth that Paul enlisted many different words from the Greek vocabulary to get his point across: dunamis—“power” as in dynamo and dynamite; energeia—“working” as in energy; kratos—“mighty”; ischus—“power.” can be translated, “What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the might of His strength.” He is talking about divine, dynamic, eternal energy, available to us! After all, what good is it to have wealth if you are too weak to use it? Or if you are so afraid of robbers that you cannot really enjoy it? John D. Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. It is said that for many years, he lived on crackers and milk because of stomach troubles caused by worrying about his wealth. He rarely had a good night’s sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. Wealthy—but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man. We Christians need power for several reasons. To begin with, by nature we are too weak to appreciate and appropriate this wealth, and to use it as it should be used. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
IV The Spirit to Know God’s Power (1:19–23)
IV The Spirit to Know God’s Power (1:19–23)
4. That We Might Know God’s Power (1:19–23) By making us His inheritance, God has shown His love. By promising us a wonderful future, He has encouraged our hope. Paul offered something to challenge our faith: “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” (). So tremendous is this truth that Paul enlisted many different words from the Greek vocabulary to get his point across: dunamis—“power” as in dynamo and dynamite; energeia—“working” as in energy; kratos—“mighty”; ischus—“power.” can be translated, “What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the might of His strength.” He is talking about divine, dynamic, eternal energy, available to us! After all, what good is it to have wealth if you are too weak to use it? Or if you are so afraid of robbers that you cannot really enjoy it? John D. Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. It is said that for many years, he lived on crackers and milk because of stomach troubles caused by worrying about his wealth. He rarely had a good night’s sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. Wealthy—but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man. We Christians need power for several reasons. To begin with, by nature we are too weak to appreciate and appropriate this wealth, and to use it as it should be used. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 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, 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, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
eph 1
By making us His inheritance, God has shown His love.
By promising us a wonderful future, He has encouraged our hope.
Paul offered something to challenge our faith: “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” ().
dunamis—“power” as in dynamo and dynamite
He is talking about divine, dynamic, eternal energy, available to us!
After all, what good is it to have wealth if you are too weak to use it?
kratos—“mighty”;
Or if you are so afraid of robbers that you cannot really enjoy it?
ischus—“power.” can be translated, “What is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the operation of the might of His strength.” He is talking about divine, dynamic, eternal energy, available to us! After all, what good is it to have wealth if you are too weak to use it? Or if you are so afraid of robbers that you cannot really enjoy it? John D. Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. It is said that for many years, he lived on crackers and milk because of stomach troubles caused by worrying about his wealth. He rarely had a good night’s sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. Wealthy—but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man. We Christians need power for several reasons. To begin with, by nature we are too weak to appreciate and appropriate this wealth, and to use it as it should be used. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
John D. Rockefeller was the world’s first billionaire. It is said that for many years, he lived on crackers and milk because of stomach troubles caused by worrying about his wealth.
He rarely had a good night’s sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door.
Mr Lasco’s house -
Wealthy—but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man.
To turn this vast spiritual wealth over to a mere human being, living by human wisdom and strength, would be like handing an atomic bomb to a two-year-old.
Yellow highlight | Page: 46
God’s power enables us to use God’s wealth.
But there is a second reason why we need God’s power.
There are enemies who want to rob us of our wealth (; ).
weak” (). To turn this vast spiritual wealth over to a mere human being, living by human wisdom and strength, would be like handing an atomic bomb to a two-year-old. God’s power enables us to use God’s wealth. But there is a second reason why we need God’s power. There are enemies who want to rob us of our wealth (; ). We could never defeat these spiritual foes in our own power, but we can through the Spirit’s power. Paul wanted us to know the greatness of God’s power so that we would not fail to use our wealth, and so that the enemy would not deprive us of our wealth. The power is seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament people measured God’s power by His creation () or by His miracle at the exodus of Israel from Egypt (). But today, we measure God’s power by the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. Much more was involved than merely raising Him from the dead, for Christ also ascended to heaven and sat down in the place of authority at the right hand of God. He is not only Savior; He is also Sovereign (). No authority or power, human or in the spirit world, is greater than that of Jesus Christ, the exalted Son of God. He is “far above all,” and no future enemy can overcome Him, because He has been exalted “far above all” powers. But how does this apply to you and me today? In , Paul explained the practical application. Because we are believers, we are in the church, which is Christ’s body—and He is the Head. This means that there is a living connection between you and Christ. Physically speaking, the head controls the body and keeps the body functioning properly. Injure certain parts of the brain and you handicap or paralyze corresponding parts of the body. Christ is our spiritual Head. Through the Spirit, we are united to Him as the members of His body. This means that we share His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. (Paul will amplify this later.) We too are seated in the heavenlies (), and all things are under our feet. No wonder Paul wants us to know “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward”! Apart from this power, we cannot draw on our great wealth in Christ. I recall going to the hospital with one of our church members to try to get her husband to sign a paper that would authorize her to draw on his private checking account so she could pay his bills. The man was so weak he could not sign the paper. She finally had to get witnesses to verify his “X” on the document. His weakness nearly deprived her of his wealth. The power of the Holy Spirit, through the resurrected, ascended Christ, is available to all Christians—by faith. His power is to “us-ward who believe” (). It is grace that supplies the wealth, but it is faith that lays hold of the wealth. We are saved “by grace, through faith” (), and we live “by grace,” through faith (). In the four gospels, we see God’s power at work in the…
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
We could never defeat these spiritual foes in our own power, but we can through the Spirit’s power.
We could never defeat these spiritual foes in our own power, but we can through the Spirit’s power. Paul wanted us to know the greatness of God’s power so that we would not fail to use our wealth, and so that the enemy would not deprive us of our wealth. The power is seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament people measured God’s power by His creation () or by His miracle at the exodus of Israel from Egypt (). But today, we measure God’s power by the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. Much more was involved than merely raising Him from the dead, for Christ also ascended to heaven and sat down in the place of authority at the right hand of God. He is not only Savior; He is also Sovereign (). No authority or power, human or in the spirit world, is greater than that of Jesus Christ, the exalted Son of God. He is “far above all,” and no future enemy can overcome Him, because He has been exalted “far above all” powers. But how does this apply to you and me today? In , Paul explained the practical application. Because we are believers, we are in the church, which is Christ’s body—and He is the Head. This means that there is a living connection between you and Christ. Physically speaking, the head controls the body and keeps the body functioning properly. Injure certain parts of the brain and you handicap or paralyze corresponding parts of the body. Christ is our spiritual Head. Through the Spirit, we are united to Him as the members of His body. This means that we share His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. (Paul will amplify this later.) We too are seated in the heavenlies (), and all things are under our feet. No wonder Paul wants us to know “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward”! Apart from this power, we cannot draw on our great wealth in Christ. I recall going to the hospital with one of our church members to try to get her husband to sign a paper that would authorize her to draw on his private checking account so she could pay his bills. The man was so weak he could not sign the paper. She finally had to get witnesses to verify his “X” on the document. His weakness nearly deprived her of his wealth. The power of the Holy Spirit, through the resurrected, ascended Christ, is available to all Christians—by faith. His power is to “us-ward who believe” (). It is grace that supplies the wealth, but it is faith that lays hold of the wealth. We are saved “by grace, through faith” (), and we live “by grace,” through faith (). In the four gospels, we see God’s power at work in the…
Paul wanted us to know the greatness of God’s power so that we would not fail to use our wealth, and so that the enemy would not deprive us of our wealth.
The power is seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But today, we measure God’s power by the miracle of Christ’s resurrection. Much more was involved than merely raising Him from the dead, for Christ also ascended to heaven and sat down in the place of authority at the right hand of God. He is not only Savior; He is also Sovereign ().
No authority or power, human or in the spirit world, is greater than that of Jesus Christ, the exalted Son of God. He is “far above all,” and no future enemy can overcome Him, because He has been exalted “far above all” powers.
But how does this apply to you and me today? In ,
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
eph 1.22
Paul explained the practical application. Because we are believers, we are in the church, which is Christ’s body—and He is the Head.
Paul explained the practical application. Because we are believers, we are in the church, which is Christ’s body—and He is the Head. This means that there is a living connection between you and Christ. Physically speaking, the head controls the body and keeps the body functioning properly. Injure certain parts of the brain and you handicap or paralyze corresponding parts of the body. Christ is our spiritual Head. Through the Spirit, we are united to Him as the members of His body. This means that we share His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. (Paul will amplify this later.) We too are seated in the heavenlies (), and all things are under our feet. No wonder Paul wants us to know “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward”! Apart from this power, we cannot draw on our great wealth in Christ. I recall going to the hospital with one of our church members to try to get her husband to sign a paper that would authorize her to draw on his private checking account so she could pay his bills. The man was so weak he could not sign the paper. She finally had to get witnesses to verify his “X” on the document. His weakness nearly deprived her of his wealth. The power of the Holy Spirit, through the resurrected, ascended Christ, is available to all Christians—by faith. His power is to “us-ward who believe” (). It is grace that supplies the wealth, but it is faith that lays hold of the wealth. We are saved “by grace, through faith” (), and we live “by grace,” through faith (). In the four gospels, we see God’s power at work in the…
This means that there is a living connection between you and Christ. Physically speaking, the head controls the body and keeps the body functioning properly.
Injure certain parts of the brain and you handicap or paralyze corresponding parts of the body. Christ is our spiritual Head. Through the Spirit, we are united to Him as the members of His body.
No wonder Paul wants us to know “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward”!
Apart from this power, we cannot draw on our great wealth in Christ.The power of the Holy Spirit, through the resurrected, ascended Christ, is available to all Christians—by faith. His power is to “us-ward who believe” (). It is grace that supplies the wealth, but it is faith that lays hold of the wealth. We are saved “by grace, through faith” (), and we live “by grace,” through faith (). In the four gospels, we see God’s power at work in the…
What Am I asking you to Know?
Do you Know Christ and His calling?