Ephesians part 2 -ENLIGHTENED VISION

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened

Text: Ephesians 1:15-23

One day I was showing up to a work site and

Valve ....

I think this is a great visual of how many of us live our christian life like this …

Quick overview context.

I went in to the context a little more last week but let me give you the breath again.

Pauls letter to the Epheisians. is reminded us WHO WE ARE,

WHAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST…

AND HOW WE ACCESS THAT?

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 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, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

One Paul is praying for others… in prayer life goes from only praying about yourself and pray for others...

drop a name in your heart....

List of names....

What do people hear about our faith?

What do the experience of our love?

This is a prayer...

I want you to KNOW GOD INTIMATELY AND THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO IN CHRIST!

Give you the Spirit of WISDOM and REVELATION OF HIM.

There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing him.

We can know about someone without knowing them right?

I can know about Ed Shereen, doesnt meant I know him.

I can know about prime minister Justin Trudea doesnt mean i am in relationship with him in anyway.

Or the latest celebrity was Born this date, this place, …

The way Paul speaks here is that we would know GOD … relationally. Not about.

one of the most sobering verses in the bible is from Jesus

Matthew 7:21-23

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

here is the God news… We can know God. We do that through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We can know God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, three distinct expressions

Water - ice, liquid, steam.

One in essence three in person.

To be in a good relationship with Brit I need to grow in both what I know about her, and knowing her.

same with God.

We learn about him, and we get to know him...

The getting to know him comes through the power and relation of the Holy Spirit.

t, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Whats Paul talking about the spirit of Wisdom and Revelation of Him?

The Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 (NIV): "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord."

John 14:26 (NIV): "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

They Holy Spirit makes us wiser, and brings Revelation of who CHRIST is, therefore knowing about him more, but more then that … KNOWING HIM MORE.

If you are trying to follow God and live a christian life without the HOLY SPIRIT my friend you are missing out.

You are a car without gas in it.... kinda of just rolling around, having to get out and push it up hills, or tow it around...

Picture a sail boat without any Wind.

Seek the holy spirit in everyday life not just on a Sunday...

The way we know Christ and dont just know about him is through the power of the Holy Spirit revealing this to us.

CALLED TO HOPE

“that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you”

Are you hopeful?

IN CHRIST WE ARE CALLED TO .. which is invited to… HAVING HOPE!

List hopeful things...

INHERITANCE

riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

11 In him we have also received an inheritance

Immeasurable power of God

how powerful is God?

ABOVE ALL RULE, AUTHORITY, POWER AND DOMINION

Philippians 2:9-11

Scripture:

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

. Colossians 2:15

Scripture:

"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

The devil only has the power that we give him access to have...

THE BODY - HIS FULLNESS.

Today, practically I want us to think and act upon...

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!

Could it be that we are looking for TREASURES, that we already have in GOD, yet we are just not aware of it?

blessed us with every spiritual blessing

WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST.

PAUL PRAYS WE WOULD KNOW

That we are to not just settle to know about God but hunger to know him!

How much HOPE we have access too!

How much inhertiance we are a part of!

How much rule and authority Jesus has therefore we have in CHRIST.

How powerful God is!

and how much we need and have access to The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation,

Holy spirit