What God Wants You To Know

Ephesians 1:15-19

 

Paul is currently in prison in Rome awaiting the verdict of what will be his eventual release. During this time he writes a few letters; one of which is to the church in Ephesus.

 

Paul planted the church in Ephesus during his second missionary journey (A.D. 51-52) (Acts 18:19). On his third missionary journey (A.D. 54-56), Paul spent two to three years teaching in the city. Paul would help grow and nurture these believers, but then eventually he departed.

 

About a decade later (A.D. 62), Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians after receiving such a good report about them.

 

In chapter 1, Paul begins this letter by praising God. He informs the believers of who we are in Christ and the blessings we have because of Christ.

 

Ephesians 1:3

“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

 

Paul would then talk about:

-        The blessings we have in God the Father

-        The blessings we have in God the Son

-        The blessings we have in God the Holy Spirit

 

This is where we pick up in verse 15.

 

v15 - “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints…”

 

Paul commends the Ephesian christians for their “faith” in Christ and their “love” for one another.

 

In the same way, I pray that people will recognize us for our faith and our love. My hope is that people would see in us a genuine faith in Christ and an authentic love for one another.

 

 

v16-17 - “16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him…”

 

Paul was excited to hear this report. For this reason, he continually prays for them.

 

Paul's prayer is that God would give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

 

●      Wisdom (Sophia) = Insight that cannot be obtained naturally.

●      Revelation (Apokalypsis) = Something that was hidden and is now suddenly made visible

 

Why is he praying this prayer? So that, in the way NIV puts it, they would know God better (NIV). These are believers that Paul is talking to. Yet, his prayer for them is that they would know God better!

 

At times, we may think we fully know God. We may think we have God figured out. Paul tells us that there is even MORE for us to “know” concerning God.

 

This should be our prayer. That God would give us spiritual wisdom and revelation so that we can know Jesus better!

 

Our faith begins and ends with Jesus!

 

It’s amazing to know that there is more to know, more to see, more to understand, more to grasp concerning Jesus. In order for us to have a better understanding, we need God to pull back the curtain so that we can see Jesus more clearly.

 

Truth remains hidden until God chooses to reveal them to us. This is why Paul prays and asks God to give it to them.

 

 

v18 - “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened”

 

When God gives us spiritual wisdom and revelation, He gives us spiritual eyes to see what God wants us to see. Our natural eyes are not enough for us to perceive what Paul wants us to understand here. As believers, we need spiritual eyes to see what God wants us to see. So, what is it that God wants us to see?

 

What is it that God wants us to know?

 

18 “...that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…”

1. The Hope of “His Calling”
   
   V18 - “...that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you…”
   
   Hope (Elpis) = Favorable and confident expectation concerning the future; confident assurance.
   
   Paul here is praying that they would be confident of their assurance in God’s calling. In other words, he is praying that they would be sure of their salvation. That they would not second guess their future in Christ; but that they would be confident in it.
   
   The purpose for hope of the future is to transform how we live in the present.
   
   When I am sure of my future, it gives purpose for today. It compels us, as Ephesians 4:1 says, to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
   
   Are you sure of your salvation?
   Are you walking in a manner worthy of God’s calling?
   
   
   
2. The Riches of “His Inheritance”
   
   v18 - ”what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”
   
   As I read this, I began to look at it from different angles. I wrestled with this question: Is this referring to (a) the inheritance God has in us, or (b) the inheritance we have in Him?
   
   This reference could be either to the riches we have in God, or the amazing truth that God regards His people as His treasured possession.
   
   Is it our treasure in God or is it God’s treasure in us? What I’ve come to realize is that it is BOTH! It is two sides to the same coin.
   
   (a) - We are treasured by God as His special possession. You and I are special to God!
   
   (b) - There are riches we have in Christ that are worth far more than anything we give up in this world to follow Jesus.
   
   This would have struck some of the believers who left behind all of the magic arts they divulged in, burning all of their books, documents, necklaces, etc in the sight of everyone as a sign they were following Christ (Acts 19:18-20).
   
   They gave up their income and all their entire livelihood was based upon. Yet, Paul wants them to know that what they gave up pales in comparison to the riches they had in Christ.
   
   As Philippians 3:13 says, we too must “forget what lies behind” and “reach forward” to what lies ahead. Let us not give any value to our old way of living.
   
   Instead, let us reach forward to the future inheritance we have in Christ!!
   
   1 Peter 1:3-5
   “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
   
   God is protecting your inheritance in heaven, awaiting the day that you will retrieve it.
   
   
   
3. The Greatness of “His Power”
   
   v19 - “...and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…”
   
   Power today is measured by money, position, status, control, strength, etc. That is how power is measured in the natural. The problem is that at any time, any of these can be gone at any moment.
   
   That is not how power is measured in God’s kingdom. Instead, power is measured by the resurrection, the ascension, and the lordship of Jesus Christ. Verse 19 tells that this power is “immeasurable,” or “not able to be measured.” There is no number system, or scale, or anything that can measure the power of God.
   
   And “this” is the power that is made available to us as believers. It is an enabling power.
   
   It is His power that enables us to:

○      To be saved (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18)

○      To be used by God (2 Cor. 4:7)

○      Be strong in times of weakness (Rom. 3:16)

○      Have hope in times of doubt (Rom. 15:13)

○      To persevere through suffering (2 Cor. 1:9)

○      To be patient in joy through trial (Col. 1:11)
To do what God has called us to do (2 Thess. 1:11)

 

Let us allow God to enable us to do what He has called us to do.

Takeaways:

 

1. Walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling
   
   Ephesians 4:1
   “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…”
   
   If anyone had the right to say this, it was Paul. He was in prison because he was consumed by living in a way that would be worthy enough to hear God say to him one day, “well done.”
   
   The purpose for hope of our future is to transform how we live in the present.
   
   We must ask ourselves, “Is the way that I am living for Jesus now worthy in the way God has called me to live for Him?” Saying it another way, “Is God pleased with the way I am living for Him?”
   
   By keeping our eyes on our future hope of eternal salvation, it allows us to re-examine our lives in proper perspective. That one day, I will be completely saved!
   
   Let us allow the perspective of our future hope to affect the way we live our lives today.
   
   
   
2. Follow Jesus and don't look back
   
   Let us not only keep our eyes on the future prize, let us “reach out” for it!
   
   If we know what we are running to, we have no need to question what left behind to chase it.
   
   The riches we have in Christ Jesus are far greater than anything we left behind in order to follow Him.
   
   The prize we are racing for is far worth it!!
   
   Therefore, don’t look back. As Paul says in Philippians 3:7-8,
   
   “7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”
   
   Paul knew what he was leaving behind. It was like “trash!” This is because he knew what he was gaining in Christ was worth far more than anything he would lose in this life.
   
   Let us consider the things that once were “as loss,” in comparison to what we will gain in Christ!
   
   
   
3. Allow God’s power to enable you
   
   Allow God to work in you to do what He has called you to do.
   
   Matthew 28:18-20
   “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
   
   Jesus told His disciples that “all authority and power” had been given to Him. Then He told them that He would be “with” them. In other words, they would have access to God’s power at all times.
   
   In the same way, we also have access to this power as Christ lives in us (Col. 1:27). This enabling power will help us to do all that God has called us to do.
   
   Trust in the power of God that Christ has made available for you.