Ephesians 1:15-23

[Shield]

Shield> Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Shield> Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Shield> Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Shield> for this reason....
Shield> and so that....
Shield> those are two important transitions....
Shield> they qualify the sentence...
Shield> and provide clarity and focus...
Shield> for example....
Shield> Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Shield> Ephesians 1:14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory.
Shield> and then the apostle says....
Shield> for this reason....
Shield> what came before provides the rationale for what he is about to say....
Shield> he gives thanks for them....
Shield> and indeed prays for them....
Shield> and this is his prayer....
Shield> Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Shield> wisdom
Shield> insight
Shield> seems to me that this is furthur clarified in the gospels....
Shield> when Jesus promised the disciples that he would send another Paraclete...or Comforter...the Holy Spirit...
Shield> who would help them recall all they had learned
Shield> in fact God has also provided us with Bible...
Shield> the holy Scripture
Shield> inspired by the Holy Spirit
Shield> :)
Shield> all of this so we may know him better
Shield> lets think about this for a moment
Shield> how may we know God?
Shield> not just know about him..
Shield> but know him....
Shield> Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Shield> any thoughts?
seekHim> Yes, I have a thought.
Shield> sure
encourager> by reading his word we may know him
Shield> indeed encourager
seekHim> We can know God as a friend. Yes, by reading his word, and by spending time in prayer.
Shield> ok lets see how that looks in real life....
@gara> perhaps by trusting as a small child trusts their parent-for God is our Father and creator
Ms_ezra> may i add a thought?
Shield> sure
Shield> please do
Ms_ezra> I think there is importance in the words wisdom and revelation...
Shield> ok
encourager> yes
Shield> i agree
Ms_ezra> we may know the bible but the importance is on the wisdom of the facts in the bible and what that reveals to us
Shield> yes indeed
Shield> another word for wisdom could be insight
Ms_ezra> there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom
Shield> the bible is Gods special revelation to us
@gara> amen Ms_ezra
encourager> i also think it means to trust him
encourager> to know him is to trust him
Shield> lets see how the next verse might help with this thought...
Shield> Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Shield> eyes of our hearts:)
Shield> that we may know the hope to which he has called us
encourager> awesome!
Shield> they principle of interpretation to remember here is that it all falls in context
Shield> it all relates together
Shield> and it all build to a crescendo
Shield> builds
Shield> there is an expectancy in this prayer
Shield> Paul is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and with specific focus in mind.,,...
Shield> Ephesians 1:19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
Shield> Ephesians 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
Shield> key words....
Shield> believe
Shield> its a funny thing about the Christian faith....
Shield> the Christian faith is based on substantive eye witness accounts....
Shield> yet there is no question that it requires faith
Shield> faith in Jesus Christ....
Shield> that he is who he says he is
Shield> that he lived a sinless life after having been born of the virgin Mary
Shield> that he died a vicarious death
Shield> that he was raised again bodily
Shield> and ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of the Father
Shield> and that he will come again
Shield> SOON
Shield> make no mistake
@gara> thank you Jesus.
Shield> Jesus is coming back
Shield> Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Shield> and each one of us....
Shield> will bow before him
Shield> whether we have confessed him as Lord or not
Shield> we will bow:)
Shield> because he is God:)
Shield> i don't know about you....
Shield> but this sobers me
Shield> and gives me pause
Shield> because it reminds me that this is serious business
@gara> amen
Shield> my recommendation for all of us is that we examine our own hearts
Shield> and allow the Lord to draw us to Himself
Shield> Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
Shield> Ephesians 1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Shield> Jesus Christ is God
Shield> and Lord
Shield> lets bow our hearts before him now
Shield> Our Father we are humbled yet again
Shield> and ever so grateful for your Holy Word
Shield> may the words of our mouths...
Shield> and the meditations of our hearts....
Shield> be acceptable in your holy sight
Shield> and may we take seriously....
Shield> the clear claims of Jesus Christ
Shield> so that we may have wisdom
Shield> and revelation
Shield> that is from the Bible
Shield> your special revelation to us
Shield> bless each person here tonite
Shield> comfort them even now
Shield> if any of them is troubled....
Shield> may they feel your presence
Shield> and sense your abiding love....
Shield> and if anyone here or who may read this log does not yet confess faith in you....
Shield> may they be encouraged to seriously consider the claims of Jesus Christ
Shield> we worship you dear God
Shield> let us glorify him now
Shield> \o/
Ms_ezra> Amen
seekHim> Amen
Shield> worship him dear ones
@gara> Thank you Lord
Shield> lift up your hearts to the Holy One the Lord of Hosts
Shield> speak praises to him and honor his holy name!
Shield> And you shall call his name Jesus, Prince of Peace,
Shield> Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Holy One, Lamb of God,
Shield> Prince of Life, Lord God Almighty, Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Shield> Root of David, Author and Finisher of Our Faith
Shield> Advocate, Lord of All, Son of God, the I Am
Shield> God Bless all and thanks for coming:)