Examining the book of Ephesians part 5
Introduction
a. Subject
b. Recap. We discussed
- What is a saint
- All our blessing in Christ
- That God has chosen a people unto salvation
- We looked at predestination, election and redemption
- We look at the fact that Christians are sealed
I. Paul’s Prayers for the Ephesians
Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
a. The timing of his prayer
b. When he heard of their faith he prayer
c. We should not just pray for people that are sick, in need, or fallen into sin.
d. Paul prayed for the saints that had faith and were standing strong
2Co 13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
II. Paul’s prayer list for the Ephesians
- That they may have wisdom and knowledge
Eph 1:17 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:
a. Notice spirit here the word ‘spirit’ is lower case instead of a capital. The reason is because the verse is referring to the human spirit not the Holy Spirit (cp Ephes 1:13. 2:18, 22 Eph 4:3)
ESV Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
b. Paul is praying that you spirit will be given wisdom, revelation in the knowledge of Him.
c. Wisdom as we said last week means
1. good sense: the knowledge and experience needed to make sensible decisions and judgments, or the good sense shown by the decisions and judgments made
2. accumulated learning: accumulated knowledge of life or of a particular sphere of activity that has been gained through experience
W.E Vines explains The Greek word translated wisdom means ‘insight into the true nature of things’[2]
d. Revelation
1. information revealed: information that is newly disclosed, especially surprising or valuable information
3. disclosure: the revealing of something previously hidden or secret
The Greek word is ‘apokalupsis’ and means an uncovering.
a. We can have head knowledge without revelation
b. Good example is found in Jesus words to peter
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
However , Jesus was revealed to be the Son of God before that.
(Matthew 8:29 KJV)
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
(Matthew 14:33 KJV)
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
(Matthew 16:16 KJV)
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Revealed as Christ
Mat 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
c. Knowledge of him
d. The Greek word here for knowledge means to fully perceive. Recognise , and discern
e. God wants us to know Him.
f. Believing in God will not bring victory but knowing Him will
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
g. We need to go beyond believing to knowing.
2 Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2. The eyes of you heart be enlightened
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
Eph 1:18 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
a. ‘the eyes of you heart’ is a better translation
b. It is though the hear not our intellect that we understand truth there is a difference between heart and mind
Mat 22:37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
c. Salvation des not come through intellectual acceptance of faith but and understanding and a submissive heart.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The word enlightened means
1. rational: free of ignorance, prejudice, or superstition • an enlightened age
2. well-informed: having a sound and open-minded understanding of all the facts, or based on such an understanding • an enlightened piece of legislation[4]
d. You may know the hope. The word ‘hope’ in the bible is the is the absolute certainty of the future good[5]
e. the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
3. To know the greatness of his power
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Amplified bible Eph 1:19-20 19And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
f. Principality means:
Eph 1:21 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:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
prin·ci·pal·ity (prin′sə pal′ə tē)
1. the rank, dignity, or jurisdiction of a prince
2. the territory ruled by a prince
3. a country with which a prince's title is identified[6]
f. Power here means authority from the Greek word exousia [7]
g. might here comes from the word dunamis[8]
Dunamis or dynamis (Greek δύναμις) is an Ancient Greek word meaning "power", "capability", or "force". It is the root of the English words "dynamic", "dynamite", and "dynamo". The word "dunamis" is sometimes seen untranslated in English texts because of its importance in philosophy. ...[9]
[1]Encarta® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
[2] Vines Complete Expository Dictionary by WE Vine Thomas Nelson Publishers (Page 678)
[3]Encarta® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
[4]Encarta® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
[5] The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Moody Press, (1962) PAGE 1305
[6] http://www.yourdictionary.com/principality
[7] Young’s concordance
[8] ibid
[9] http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1R2GGLL_en-GB&defl=en&q=define:Dunamis&sa=X&ei=6gbpTOj4MoSqhAe6mZWJDQ&ved=0CBYQkAE
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