Spirit Of Wisdom & Revelation
Prison Epistles • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
Paul after declaring the great spiritual blessings found in Christ then begins to discuss the faith and love these brethren have.
It’s their faith for God and love for the brethren that prompted Paul’s prayer for them.
It’s in this prayer we see the desire Paul had for the brethren in Ephesus, this desire was that these brethren and us subsequently would have the “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Father” ().
However, what is this and can we have it today.
Thankfully Paul explains what this is and today we will examine that “wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.”
The Hope Of Our Calling
The Hope Of Our Calling
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
Our text:
Our text:
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,
Eph 1:
Hope is only in Christ.
Hope is only in Christ.
This truth is something that these brethren “knew.”
The word “know” here means to “to grasp the meaning of someth., understand recognize, come to know” 1
Hope isn’t found outside of Christ.
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
Hope is in Christ and thus heaven.
Hope is in Christ and thus heaven.
Our hope is not based on the world.
This world is full of sin and heartache.
This world is the kingdom of Satan.
Our hope is based in heaven where our God resides.
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
C
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
Hope is in heaven and thus it is real and living.
Hope is in heaven and thus it is real and living.
Our hope in heaven isn’t based on fairy tales or myths but facts and reason.
That’s why hope, in the Bible, is based on two things “desire” and “expectations.”
“We desire eternal life with God, Christ and the righteous throughout the ages in Heaven, and we expect to receive it.”2
Because our hope is based on desire and expectations from God and His Word it is a real and living thing.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 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,
Col
Summery
Summery
Knowing the hope of our calling is only found in Christ is paramount to hope itself.
There is no hope in heaven without Christ!!!
Our hope is found only in Christ and is real and living because it is based on the truth of God’s Word.
Our calling and election is based on our willingness to get into Christ.
The Riches Of God’s Inheritance
The Riches Of God’s Inheritance
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,
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
Eph 1:16
Our hope needs God’s love.
Our hope needs God’s love.
At first glance it may appear this is talking about “our inheritance” and thus heaven but a closer examination shows this is talking about God’s inheritance.
Notice it says the “riches of his glorious inheritance.
What could God who “needs nothing” possibly inherit?
He inherits our souls when we live for Him.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Summery
Summery
Knowing that God considers us a precious inheritance is required for our real, living, and complete hope.
The more we know how God feels about us the more we hope and live for Him.
The Immeasurable Greatness Of God’s Power
The Immeasurable Greatness Of God’s Power
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,
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
Eph
Our hope needs God’s power.
Our hope needs God’s power.
God’s power is required for hope to be realized.
Without God’s power there is no hope in heaven for we cannot trust in God to deliver.
God is more than powerful enough to deliver on His promise.
God is more than powerful enough to deliver on His promise.
To drive this point home, Paul uses four different Greek words describing God’s power to accomplish His plan.
First word “power” i.e. Greek word “dynamis.”
The idea behind this word is “force or capability.”
God is capable of accomplishing His eternal plan for us.
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Second word “working” i.e. Greek word “energeia.”
The idea behind this word is “operation and action.”
God is actively working on His plan keeping it true to His Word.
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Third word is “great” i.e. Greek word “kratos.”
The idea behind this word is “inherit power” in other words God’s omnipotent power.
God has the capability and activity to keep His plan because He is omnipotent in power.
2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Fourth word is “might” i.e. Greek word “ischys.”
The idea behind this word is “ability to accomplish.”
God literally cannot “not” accomplish His will.
19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
All this reinforces the reality of God and our hope in Him to keep His Word.
God is capable of accomplishing His plan for us and we must understand this.
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
God is actively working to keep His plan for us true to His Word.
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Summery
Summery
Our real, living, and complete hope is assured because of the immeasurable power of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
The BTSOP Alumni Lectureship 2014 Prison Epistles: Chapter One by Daniel Ridinger pg. 10
Ibid