Enlightened Hearts

Introduction

Ephesians 1:15–19 ESV

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 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, 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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

One of my favorite historical figures of all time is Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was a relatively young president.

He oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal.

He championed the preservation of our National Parks.

He once was shot in the middle of one of his speeches, coughed a little blood, and finished the speech before being seen by doctors.

After his presidential terms, he actually took an excursion to to South America, where he mapped the most dangerous and unseen routes of the Amazon River.

I could tell you a lot about Theodore Roosevelt, but you know one things that I could never tell you. That I have met him.

I know a lot ABOUT Theodore Roosevelt, but no amount of knowledge can make up for the fact that I do not KNOW Theodore Roosevelt.

The greatest and more terrible deficit in all of the world is the gulf between those who know about God and those who know God.

Unfortunately, we have people in churches all over the South and all over our nation who have memorized their Bibles, been involved in Bible study, and could teach their own Bible study, but they have never met Jesus.

A thriving relationship with God will see an increase in the gifts that God gives His children: faith, hope, and love.

Explanation

Ephesians 1:15 “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,”

When Paul says something like, “for this reason,” or “therefore,” you always want to find out what he is referencing. In seminary, our professors would often say, “you want to know what the therefore is therefore.”

The reason for Paul’s thankfulness is their

Faith in Jesus Christ.

Love for the saints.

It wasn’t that the church had grown. It wasn’t because they had the biggest building. It wasn’t because they were doing the most. Paul was thankful for their faith in Christ and their love for the saints.

Paul was thankful for the evidence of people’s relationships with Jesus.

Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,”

I hear a lot of disparaging talk about the church at large. We have a wonderful local church here at MHBC.

I went back last week to a baby shower at my home church, Progress Baptist Church. It wasn’t the biggest church. As a matter of fact, it was one of the smallest in Pike County. It wasn’t the building that I wanted to see… it was the people.

What are five things that you can give thanks for MHBC this week?

Maybe I am partial, but I believe that we must uplift the church. We don’t turn a blind eye to the moments where the church has missed the mark or its leaders abusive, but I daresay most Bible believing churches are full of God fearing, Christ honoring people who love Jesus.

Charles Spurgeon // “If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the fearest place on earth to us.”

May we also be more apt to point out someone’s faith and love than their failures. The knee-jerk reaction of most people is to point out the flaws. May we point to their love.

Ephesians 1:17 “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,”

Paul prays that God would give us a spirit of wisdom in light of our relationship with Jesus. Discernment and Knowledge of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and revelation.

Inspiration vs. Illumination

1. The inspiration of Scripture is the act of the Holy Spirit inspiring the words of the Bible in the Biblical authors.

2. When Moses and Samuel and David and Matthew and Luke and Paul wrote the Bible, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

3. The Holy Spirit is no less active when we read the word of God.

4. The Holy Spirit inspired the Biblical authors, but he illuminates the Biblical readers.

5. People can read the Bible their whole lives, but unless the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and revelation, then we will not be able to truly understand the truth of the Bible.

The ultimate revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Once you encounter Him, everything else changes forever.

Ephesians 1:18-19 “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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might”

Paul explains a little more deeply what he means by “revelation at the knowledge of Him.”

Your heart must be enlightened, meaning, “your heart must be able to see.”

When our hearts are enlightened, we see three things more clearly.

Our hearts see the great hope what God has called us.

Believer, you have an eternal hope.

God is going to see you through your trials, temptations, hurts, and pain, and one day, He will make an end to all of it.

Our hearts see the riches of his glorious inheritance to the saints.

A heart that sees God’s riches in full has a great centeredness.

J. I. Packer says that those who know God have four characteristics: a great energy for God, great thoughts for God, great boldness for God, and great contentment in God. Can you say that you have these characteristics in your life?

Our hearts see the immeasurable greatness of his power towards believers.

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

Knowing about God is like looking at Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon on your phone.

Knowing God is standing on the boat in front of Niagara Falls or on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Application

We love our church - the people.

We pray that our hearts would see and feel the hope of eternity.

We pray that the Holy Spirit would open your heart. “Spirit, help me.”

We have hope in the gospel.

Invitation

You can have life more abundantly in Christ because of the gospel. Give your life to Jesus.

Return to Him and experience eternal life.

Join and love the local church.