Having presented God’s purpose and plan to bless us beyond measure, Paul now prays (1:15-23) that our eyes be opened to see what God has and is doing on our behalf! Otherwise, we have riches beyond measure, but will continue think and live like paupers. Today we will also learn just how great Jesus is, and our vital connection to Him as His “body” on earth.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will 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 surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:18-19
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION:
1. Ephesians 1:1-14 – God’s purpose and plan:
- to provide every spiritual blessing (gift from God) in Christ
- lavish the riches of His grace upon us
- past – predestined; present – redemption & revelation of this mystery; future – Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance
2. Ephesians 1:15-19a – Now Paul offers a prayer for them/us
FOR THIS REASON:
- That is… because of what God has done, is doing and will do in accomplishing His great purpose and plan
- We are in the same place as the Ephesian believers
- What a shame it would be to have such riches and status, but neither know it or appreciate it!
- About the Ephesians:
- Heard about your faith (even though Paul was imprisoned for 4 years since he last saw them)
- Your love for all the saints
- Not critics, watchdogs, or simply self-absorbed
- Fulfilling Jesus’ command to love one another
IN MY PRAYERS:
- Giving thanks for you
- Consider Paul’s prison prayers for his converts
- Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12
- NOT for materials things
- FOR spiritual perception… know, see, understand
- Reflected in their Christian character
- NOT ask God to give them what they did not have, BUT for them to know what they already had!
I AM PRAYING THAT:
- Give you a spirit/mind of:
- Wisdom (sophia) – understanding of the things of God and of eternal worth
- “The eyes of your heart (mind, feelings, will) be enlightened (photizo)” – literally, see the light, or see what has been illuminated
- So you may know (eido – be fully informed, understand, grasp)
- The hope
- And the riches of the glory of His inheritance (that is, thing still to come)
- And the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe – the greatness of His power passes up all other power
- The working of His mighty strength which He demonstrated in raising Jesus from the dead
- To Jews, God’s power was most evident in the Creation and the Exodus
- But for Christians, it is most evident in the resurrection of Jesus!
- After His resurrection, God seated Him at His right hand
- Above all rule and authority – now or ever
- Everything placed under His feet
- Made Him to be the head over everything for the Church
- Which is His body
- His fullness; He fill everything in every way for the church
- Read Wm. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible on Ephesians, pages 93-94
CONCLUSION:
A prayer on our behalf: “Lord God, open our eyes so we may see who You are, who we are, who Your Son is, and what You have done and are doing for us. Father, we look forward to that day when we receive the inheritance You have prepared for us since the foundation of the world. Amen.”
Our image comes from the “Verse of the Day” series by Faithlife Media.