Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1:15-21
This is one of two prayers that Paul has prayed for the Ephesians. And you have to marvel at the directness of his prayer requests. He doesn’t beat around the bush here. But instead, goes right after what these early church believers had need of. Paul looks past at what is only the physical, and focuses in on what the spiritual need is first. Oh how we love to pray for people’s physical needs first, all the while their soul is being condemned to hell. Think about it. I know of someone who is dear to me, being ruined by alcohol abuse, the body is showing the signs of its devasting effects. And all I’m concerned with as I pray for him or her, Oh God, help them not to drink anymore, look at their health , how it is being torn down by it! God help him not to drink anymore. So now, my dear and close friend or relative becomes a sober sinner, instead of a drunken sinner. Do you follow what I am saying? His or her real need is salvation. But instead, we are just praying for the symptoms, and its effects. So often we are praying for the external need rather than what the hearts most deepest spiritual need is.
Your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints—Love for other believers is evidence of a changed life. That is now putting others first. This is what Paul first commends them for.
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—One of the most important things anyone can possess is the true knowledge of God. There is no equal. There is so much false concepts about God out there, you cannot know the truth about God unless an overwhelming conviction comes over you because you have sinned against this holy God. This is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). God has revealed Himself, and it is only by revelation that you can really know God, and it is only through the Holy Spirit who opens up your heart to the revelation that you can really only begin to comprehend God. No human, in their intellectual quest come to an understanding of God. It takes revelation by the Spirit of God. No man can come to the Father except the Spirit draw him. The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit, neither can he know them, they are spiritually discerned. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.(1 Corinthians 2:9-10) The wisdom that saves which man’s wisdom can’t know, is revealed to us by God, through the Holy Spirit, and that by revelation, inspiration, and illumination in the Word of God. So Paul is praying that God might reveal Himself to them by the Holy Spirit the only help, and the only hope, man has of ever knowing the One true God.
The hope of your calling—If we would only realize what hope there is for those who have been called of God. You would never ever have a problem with grief over the passing of a loved one. We have such concepts of death that lament the death of a child, or persons who we claim, “have died so young!” ‘ They’ve had their whole lives ahead of them!’ The obvious reason is that they are going to miss them. If you only knew what was the hope of your calling. If you only knew what God has in store for His children. If you only knew the glory that awaits us as children of God. You see, it would correct the false attitude that we have towards the world and the temporary things that this world has to offer. “God, enlighten them as to the hope of their calling, let them know O’ God, what You have in store for them is far greater, far richer of an inheritance, then any earthly gain. So that they will wait with eager anticipation, what is in store for them in Your heavenly kingdom.”
Beloved friend, The Lord says,” When we end things here, it is all yours!” The hope of your calling, the glorious riches of God’s eternal kingdom. When I realize what God has in store for me, for you too! It gives us strength and courage for all that we need to continue on in our ministry for Jesus Christ. Isn’t there someone today in your life, who could need this kind of hope? This kind of prayer?
May the Lord bless your walk with Him.
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