The Results of "the knowledge of Christ"
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Main Theme
We really want to take a look at the RESULT OF THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM
We really want to take a look at the RESULT OF THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM
Paul said that he prayed and desired that God would give them the “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”.
Introduction
Introduction
Paul thanked God for their Salvation, but he did not stop with that he also prayed for their Understanding.
Paul thanked God for their Salvation, but he did not stop with that he also prayed for their Understanding.
He knew the battle they would face:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Paul had a Parent - Child relationship with these believers - He desired they know more about Jesus
MORE ABOUT JESUS:
More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fulness see,
More of His love who died for me.
More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fulness see,
More of His love who died for me.
More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.
More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.
More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.
There is nothing wrong with praying for health concerns, job situations, financial problems but what about our need to know Jesus Christ better “more about Jesus would I know” More about Jesus I need to know!
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Quote: A glance will save but a gaze will sanctify - Unknown
Illustration: Holding On- Associated Press article 1987
The article tells of a commuter flight from Portland Maine to Boston. The pilot, Henry Dempsey, heard an unusual Noise near the rear of the small aircraft. He turned the controls over to his co-pilot and went back to investigate.
As he reached the tail section, the plane hit an air pocket, and Dempsey was tossed against the rear door. He quickly discovered the source of the mysterious noise. The rear door had not been properly latched prior to takeoff, and it flew open. He was instantly sucked out of the jet.
The co-pilot, seeing the red light that indicated an Open Door, radioed the nearest airport, requesting permission to make an emergency landing. He reported that the pilot had fallen out of the plane, and requested a helicopter search that area of the ocean.
After the plane landed, they found Henry Dempsey holding onto the outdoor ladder of the aircraft. Somehow he had caught the ladder, held on for 10 minutes as the plane flew 200 miles per hour at an altitude of 4000 feet, and then, at Landing, kept his head from hitting the runway. It took airport Personnel several minutes to pry Dempsey's fingers from the ladder.
I think this is what John had in mind when he said “behold the Lamb” - look and don’t take your eyes off of him!
Transition: I want us to take a look at this prayer and notice the results of receiving “the spirit of wisdom”. What is the purpose of “Spiritual Wisdom”? Paul tells us “that ye may know”! That we may know what? That we may know more about Jesus!
Transition: I want us to take a look at this prayer and notice the results of receiving “the spirit of wisdom”. What is the purpose of “Spiritual Wisdom”? Paul tells us “that ye may know”! That we may know what? That we may know more about Jesus!
For when we do we will see:
For when we do we will see:
I. The hope of His calling
I. The hope of His calling
Hope is an interesting word. It means (according to Websters 1828 Dictionary) Confidence in a future even, the highest degree of well founded expectation of good.
A. The previous Absence of Hope
A. The previous Absence of Hope
There is no hope in any calling but that calling from God!
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Do you remember being “without Christ”? Do you remember what that was like to have no hope?
B. The present Abundance of Hope
B. The present Abundance of Hope
Paul desired and prayed that these believers would know Christ better and one of the items he mentioned was the hope we have in the calling of God!
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Hope in His Return
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Illustration: A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, "Eighteen to nothing--we're behind."
"Boy," said the spectator, "I'll bet you're discouraged."
"Why should I be discouraged?" replied the little boy. "We haven't even gotten up to bat yet!"
Source Unknown.
2. Hope in His Revelation
His Word is a source of hope
I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait,
And in his word do I hope.
3. Hope in Raising our Children
Chasten thy son while there is hope,
And let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Although our situation in this world look hopeless and although it seems the deck is stacked against us - Our hope is in Christ. The only place a person can find real hope!
Christian..... what are you facing right now that has your spiritual back against the wall? What are you dealing with that has you without hope?
Not only will we see the Hope of His calling but we will see the glorious riches of his inheritance!
Not only will we see the Hope of His calling but we will see the glorious riches of his inheritance!
II. The riches of His glorious Inheritance
II. The riches of His glorious Inheritance
You see our inheritance is Christ and His inheritance is us!
A. The Vastness of this Inheritance
A. The Vastness of this Inheritance
Think of the millions of people that have been saved down through the ages!
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Think of the millions more that will be saved!
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
I think Paul wanted us to see the vastness of this inheritance so we could see souls when we look at people
B. The Value of this Inheritance
B. The Value of this Inheritance
The only reason you are valuable is because of what happened to you the moment you were redeemed!
Paul wanted them to know the value of this inheritance - maybe this would help us live the Christian life and love our brothers and sisters!
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Not only do we see the hope of his calling and the glory of his inheritance but we can also see the exceeding greatness of His power!
Not only do we see the hope of his calling and the glory of his inheritance but we can also see the exceeding greatness of His power!
III. The exceeding greatness of His power - toward us
III. The exceeding greatness of His power - toward us
A. The Distinction of His Power- "what is the exceeding greatness”
A. The Distinction of His Power- "what is the exceeding greatness”
There is no power like Gods power! Paul said the more that our eyes are opened to Christ the more we will see his “exceeding power”!
Definition: Exceed- to go beyond and to surpass!
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Illustration: Alex and I watching golf and Pat Perez has a car that has 1800 hp! That’s a lot of power!!
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
B. The Direction of His Power - "to us-ward who believe”
B. The Direction of His Power - "to us-ward who believe”
His power is not just present - it is directed to us!
Illustration: On July 16, 1945 When they tested the first Nuclear bomb in the New Mexico desert - it was the most powerful explosion man had ever created the equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT. But all that power was in a sense wasted on a test.
God’s power was toward us!
C. The Display of His Power- “he wrought in Christ”
C. The Display of His Power- “he wrought in Christ”
It is the same power that was on display when God raised Jesus Christ from the dead!
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Wrought- Actively at work
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
You might think that you already knew all of this but the more that you see Jesus the greater your understanding will grow and the greater the significance of these truths will become.
The Hope of his calling
The rich glory of His Inheritance
The exceeding greatness of his power