I'm Praying For You, Pt 2

Ephesians 1:18–19 NASB95

18 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, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

Painter from back in the day, Bob Ross.

To “Get the picture”

Paul begins this blessing prayer with his requests in verses 15-17 about knowing GOD. Those requests are connected with verses 18 and following. The first deal with knowing him, and now Paul expounds with requests that show that an understanding of God’s nature and purposes toward us is the way to that deeper knowledge of him. I want to begin with the purpose of Paul’s prayer in the middle of verse 18 “So that you will know”. This know is different from “knowledge” in verse 17, which is an intimate knowledge. Here it is synonymous for when we say, “You see what I’m sayin?”, “You know what I’m talkin about”, “I get it”, “I get the picture”. Thus Paul’s request is that they “Get the Picture”. “They pickup what GOD is puttin down!!”

Requires a heart with illuminated eyes

Well what does that require Paul? Paul helps us know that he wants depth because he speaks about the heart, which is the center of a person’s being. It is where one’s intellect, decision making, feelings, and moral compass reside. It is invisible, but it is the most vital part of every human being. Because one’s heart governs their lives, Prov 4:23.

Application: If we are going to get the picture, or see what God is saying, our hearts must be engaged!!

As Paul talks about the heart, which is one organ, to describe our inner being. He brings up another organ to describe the heart, the eyes. (It’s very weird to think of a heart having eyes). This is metaphoric to describe the necessary condition of ones heart.

Fact Illustration: If you can see me, the reason why is you have tissue at the back of your eyeball called “retina”, and they are photo-receptors able to process the light, and turn them into electric signals which travel through your optic nerve to your brain. You brain then turns those signals into images!!

Application: If your inner spirit, where your intellect, feelings, and moral compass reside, are not lit, then your spirit is dark and not able to rightly interpret or understand anything spiritual or divine! No wonder why Paul is praying this.

If anyone’s heart isn’t lit, Paul describes the obstruction in 2 Co 4:3-4 “3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Well there are three major pictures if you will that Paul asks GOD to enlighten these saints heart to fully understand.

The Hope Picture

The first is a picture of hope. Hope meaning expectations for the future. But not baseless expectations for the future, these expectations are a product of God’s calling. That being God’s invitation to humanity to come to his table. That calling is upon those who are predestined, according to Ro 8:30, God’s call or invitation to humanity comes from the good news about Jesus preached, 2 Thess 2:14. Thus, there are future expectations that come with the good news. To keep it simple, Paul says in Tit 3:7 there is the hope or future expectation of eternal life. The picture he’s praying they get, is all that consists of the hope to which GOD has called them!

Application: If our hearts eyes get dim, the expectations GOD has given us won’t be clear. But when it’s clear, my spirit gets excited. Because GOD gave us so much to look forward to when he called us!!

The Value Picture

Not only that picture, but he repeats two themes that he has talked about a lot in this passage. His glory and an inheritance. Again, glory here speaks of the splendor and what I like to call “divine drip”. It’s the shine that GOD possesses. And then inheritance again is inherited property. The difference however in how inheritance is used in this verse, verse 11 and 13 say “our” inheritance. But here it says “inheritance”. This picks up from the Law and Psalms, where Deut 32:9 says that the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob is the allotment of his inheritance. And Ps 28:9 “9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.” Common themes in both passages are inheritance and “his people”. Thus when it speaks of His inheritance, it speaking of God’s possession of his people. But what picture does Paul pray for them to get about His inheritance. The WEALTH of his inheritance. In other words, God’s people are of significant value in his eyes. Not because of us, but because of Jesus!!

Application: Oh goodness, if we would remember this passage when life gets us down, and we feel like we are nothing because we’ve been valuing who are based on stupid human standards. Remember GOD does not look at us like humans do. If we are In Christ, you are God’s possession. And nothing that GOD possesses is short of his divine drip!!!!!!

The Power Picture

The third picture Paul wants us to see he uses 4 terms to describe, it’s just that major. This picture is about His power, which is his controlling influence. That power is aligned with his energy or operations, strength which is governing or supremacy, and might is possession of all qualities required to do something. All in all it is about his power. But what about it. Paul says the surpassing greatness, immeasurable, and incomparable power! But look on whose behalf, Paul shifts from just praying about them, and now includes himself when he says the unlimited Power of GOD on behalf of those who are believers.

Reference: Go to Acts 19 and we get a picture of the influences Asia had. Verse 18-19 mention those who practiced magic, and later we find those who believed in pagan gods. Paul wants them to have better understanding of the supremacy of God’s power and not contemplate any other.

Scriptural Example: 2 Ki 6:17. When Aram was trying to start stuff with Israel, Elisha kept revealing Aram’s plans. Sent an army to Elisha by night. His servant cried out scared. Elisha told him, don’t be afraid. Because we have more on our side than they have. Then similar to Paul, Elisha PRAYED in verse 17.

Application: Don’t you want to better understand his power on your behalf. So we can recognize just how much he protects, provides, builds, battles and conquers on our behalf.

Conclusion: My prayer is that we all get the picture. Nothing obstructing our understanding of the hope GOD has given. Understanding the wealth and value GOD has on us as his possession. Fully getting the reality of God’s unlimited power toward us!!