49-08 A Prayer for Understanding, Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
There’s an important day on Tuesday (any guesses?). For some people there is often a flood of emotions surrounding election day. some have anxiety, nervous, fearful, upset/angry, depressed, are at complete peace/confidence (why shouldn’t we be?).
God Appoints Those in Authority
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
“By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
“By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.
“I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight.
“Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have given him also the wild animals of the field to serve him.
“All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.
“It will be, that the nation or the kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine and with pestilence,” declares the Lord, “until I have destroyed it by his hand.
“This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers
And the decision is a command of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind,
And bestows it on whom He wishes
And sets over it the lowliest of men.”
‘This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, inasmuch as none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
“Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar replied, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!
‘The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth
and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt and in whose branches the birds of the sky lodged—
it is you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth.
‘In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him,”
this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.
‘And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.
‘Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.’
“All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.
“Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
“The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’
“While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,
and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’
“Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Somehow in the providence of God He uses means (like our voting) to accomplish, establish His eternal purpose…yet we know it is HIS purpose.
I’ve never been a fan of the mantra “we get the leaders we deserve.” I’m sure we do not deserve any good thing (very definition of mercy). But we can know that Tuesday’s results demonstrate that God is working His purpose among us—we can trust Him whatever happens (b/c He always does what is right).
As we continue to study Ephesians, recall how Paul explains that every believer has received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. There is nothing that God withholds from blessing us with…every one is in your possession. Too many Xns live as though they think there is something important that is missing in their relationship with LJC. Paul is not asking for a great blessing in this prayer we are studying…he’s asking for greater understanding of the blessings we have now.
What do you suppose might happen if you were to gain a fuller, deeper comprehension and appreciation for God has blessed you with? You would be more reverent in your worship, more faithful in your service, see the greater urgency in witnessing, diligently rejoice in the fellowship of the saints, speak often about what God is doing in you…just a few—if we understood our blessings.
The One Addressed
The One Addressed
There is only 1 request in this 1st prayer of Paul’s (2nd in ch 3). It is another long sentence (169 words—vv15-23). Before mentioning the request Paul has commended Xns in Asia Minor for their faith and love. The request vs 17
Paul directs his prayer to “God…glory” The full title of our Savior—LJC (63x NT). Christ Jesus our Lord (7x).
There is a distinction made here b/t Father and Son, yet the 2 are connected in terms of their essential nature (of the same divine essence).
“Father of Glory” AKA “God of glory” (Ps 29:3; Acts 7:2); “Lord of glory” (Num 23:7,8,9,10).
The essence of God’s being (summary of all His attributes) is glory. He is characterized by His glory and the One to whom all glory belongs.
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Notice the specific request: God…may give you…spirit...”
Notice the specific request: God…may give you…spirit...”
Much debate over “spirit” Human or H.S?—It is true wisdom & revelation are given thru the HS. But Paul is not referring to HS here. He is writing to believers who already possess the HS. It would have been improper for Paul to pray that these believers would received something they already possessed (Rom 8:9)
Gk word pneuma—anarthrous it has no definite article before it—as such it is commonly translated as “a spirit” not “the spirit.”
Joseph Robinson says, ‘With the article, very generally, the word indicates the personal Holy Spirit; while without it, some special manifestation or bestowal of the Holy Spirit is signified.’
Does not refer to HS but Paul is not praying for them to be given a human spirit either—they possessed one of those too (1 Cor 2:11).
Gk pneuma—“breath, air” from that the connotation “spirit” but like the Eng. word “spirit” the Gk can & often does refer to a “disposition, influence, frame of mind” 1 Cor 4:21; 2 Tim 1:7
We say today: “He is in high spirits!” Mt 5:3 “poor in spirit” “humility”, spirit of faith 2 Cor 4:13
Paul prays that believers would be given a disposition of wisdom.
In OT wisdom involves practical knowledge, the ability to choose right conduct—in NT involves understanding God’s activity thru Christ and benefits toward believers.
He also includes as part of his prayer—spirit of revelation. Paul is not referring to the special gift of receiving and passing on God’s revealed message but rather the revelation that takes place thru the Spirit. God does not continue to give new revelation—that is complete & canon of Scripture is closed. But God uses HS in all believers to enable them to understand the disclosure of God’s mystery and how they are to live in the light of it.
The greatest need for believers is wisdom to appropriate the spiritual resources that belong to us (Jas 1:5)
So Paul prays that God would give these believers wisdom & revelation in knowledge of Him. This is the specific request. Paul then lists 3 reasons he prays this on behalf of believers in Asia Minor (benefits of answered prayer)
A) Understand God’s Purpose
A) Understand God’s Purpose
vs 18
Now before you can begin to understand God’s purpose there is a necessary prerequisite: “that the eyes of your heart...” the verb “to be enlightened” is in the perfect tense in Gk (indicating something took place in the past and has continuing results.) a better translation “the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know...” The prerequisite to understanding God’s purpose is divine enlightenment…since we born into a condition of darkness, only those whose hearts have been enlightened can understand spiritual truths revealed in Scripture.
but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
The ones Paul is praying for (the ones he writes to) have been saved, their eyes have been opened. Paul mentions the “eyes of the heart”. Paul is not speaking of the physical organ but what was considered to be “the seat of emotions or intellect. it was actually more than where emotions originated. the heart is the center of man’s personality. It encompasses emotions, feelings, will (volition), thoughts and understanding. it is the heart which comes to understand things the brain cannot do. (contrast unbelievers and believers Eph 4:17-18) Paul says their hearts were spiritually enlightened and can indeed understand—specifically, God’s purpose.
“what is the hope of His calling”
In Scripture there are 2 “callings” that are mentioned.
External (General) calling to every man to believe on the LJC. Because of what happens in Gen 3 all men are without excuse and condemned to eternal hell. God graciously calls sinners out of the condition, calling them to faith and repentance. This genuine, sincere offer of salvation is given universally to all, but many will choose to reject it—Matt 22 many are called, few are chosen
Effectual calling (internal—call of regeneration) This is linked with divine election which effects the believer’s salvation
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
This effectual call of God always results in salvation, sanctification (conformed) and glorification—referring to the day we are with Christ and are like Christ. That is God’s purpose for you, this is your eternal destiny b/c you have put your trust in the Lord.
Because of this you have hope. Not a wishful desire but biblical hope is an assurance, certainty that What God has promised He will fulfill (God cannot lie Tit 1:2). And not only this…but God has given the HS as a pledge (vs 14) with a view to the fullness of your redemption—to be like Christ.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
NT calls this the “hope of the gospel” (Col 1:23), “blessed hope” and “hope of eternal life” (Tit 2:13; 3:7) “living hope” (1 Pt 1:3), a “Hope that does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5) hope laid up in heaven (Col 1:5).
Paul prays so that we would understand God’s purpose, Phil 1:6
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells the story of Philip Henry, the father of Matthew Henry the commentator. He and a young lady had fallen in love with each other. She belonged to a “higher” level of society than he did, and although she had become a Christian and therefore regarded such things differently, her parents saw the disparity in social status as an obstacle to the marriage. “This man Philip Henry,” they said, “where has he come from?”
To this question the future Mrs. Henry gave the immortal reply, “I do not know where he has come from, but I know where he is going.” (D. M. Lloyd-Jones, God’s Ultimate Purpose: An Exposition of Ephesians 1:1 to 23 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979), 324.)
The worth of a person is determined not by his or her background (we are all only sinners saved by grace) but by where we are going.
Scripture affirms that we are going into eternity where we will be like LJC. What do should that hope produce in our lives today?
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
righteousness, goodness, peace, love (really the fruit of the HS in us).
You can approach this week with absolute confidence that God is working out His purpose, not only in the world (our nation—election) but also in you as He conforms you into the image of Christ.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.