Ephesians # 5 Eph 1-18b thru 1-20a

   All right we’re going to continue on the book of Ephesians. Last week we were on (EPH 1:18) so let’s pick up from there.

   I. EPH 1:18 This is still part of Paul’s prayer that he started in V 17.

         A. When Paul says, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.”

               1. Most other translations render it, “The eyes of your Heart being enlightened.”

                     a. Your heart is your spirit.

               2. In Paul’s prayer here, he’s expounding upon what he just said in (V 17).

                     a. (EPH 1:17) Says, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”

                           i. He’s expounding upon the phrase, “about revelation in the knowledge of him.”

                     b. So in (V 18) he’s saying, “Revelation is your Heart being enlightened.”

                           i. Revelation comes from your spirit and not from your head.

                           ii. Once you receive that revelation in your spirit, eventually your head will pick it up.

         B. The next thing that Paul said is, “That you may know.”

               1. Paul is praying that we would receive revelation and that we would be enlightened, so that we would know something.

                     a. There’s 3 things that he list here that he wants us to know.

                     b. The 1st 2 are found in (V 18) and the 3rd is found in (Vs 19-23).

               2. 1st he says, “That ye may know what is the hope of his calling.”

                     a. The NIV says, “That you may know the hope to which he has called you.”

                           i. The believers greatest hope is their call to salvation.

                           ii. When the word “Hope” is used in the Word of God when referring to the believers, it means “Expectation.”

                           iii. It also has to do with a knowing what we will receive in the future.

                     b. We know that we have Salvation and the victory that goes along with it, but we wait patiently with expectation for heaven.

               3. The 2nd thing that Paul prayed was that we know “What the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”

                     a. This is talking about God’s promises, right here and now.

                     b. We see that word “Glory” written here and we think this means, “When we get to heaven.”

                           i. We’ve been traditionally brain washed, when we think that “Glory” always refers to “When we get to Heaven.”

                           ii. This V is in the present tense.

                           iii. (Philippians 4:19) Says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

                           iv. Right now, here on Earth, God will supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory.”

                     c. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to receive His riches in Glory.

                           i. God’s Word and His promises are for us now.

               4. The 3rd thing that Paul wanted us to know is found in V 19 and 20. (Read) EPH 1:19-20

                     a. Paul prayed that we would know “What is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe.”

                     b. In (V 19) there are 4 different Greek words that are many times translated “Power.”

                           i. In other words, it says this, (Ephesians 1:19) “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis) to us-ward who believe, according to the working (energeia) of his mighty (kratos) power (ischus).”

                           ii. Now your probably asking, “Well, what does all that mean?”

   II. There was a day when God’s Power was truly revealed on this Earth.

         A. During this time God’s Ability, His Strength, His Might, and His Power was released.

               1. More power was displayed that 1 day than ever before, and that was when Jesus was raised from the dead.

                     a. In (Psalm 8:3) We’re told that the moon and the stars were the work of thy fingers.

                           i. In (Hebrews 1:10) we’re told that created the Earth with His hands.

               2. But in (ISA 53) which is really the redemptive chapter, in the very 1st V of that Chapter He starts off with, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”

                     a. It took more of God’s power to redeem us, then it took to create the Heavens and the Earth.

                           i. Your arm has more power in it than your hand or fingers.

                           ii. These 2 Vs (Eph 1:19-20) tell us that when it comes to conquering the Devil, sin, and sickness, that God had to use His whole arm.

                           iii. When did that happen? When God raised Jesus from the dead.

                     b. Paul said, “The exceeding greatness of his power was revealed to us-ward who believe.”

                           i. How was it revealed to us?

                           ii. Through Jesus being raised from the dead, and you and I were also raised for the dead.

                           iii. Satan, every demon and every fallen angel tried to keep Him in the grave, but nothing keep Him down, nothing could hold Him back.

                           iv. The very power of God was at work raising Jesus from the dead and with Him you and I.

Ephesians #5 Eph1:18b – 1:20.docx

3/14/96 Thurs.