ENLIGHTEN THE EYES OF YOUR HEART

Ephesians 1:15-23 / Keywords 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,

 

1:15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 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. 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 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. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 

1. The Ephesians were exemplary in their faith in Christ and love for all Christians. So, Paul was very thankful for them. When he prayed for them, he asked God to give them the spirit of revelation and wisdom to know him better. Ephesus was an international city with marble streets, the ancient wonder of the Temple of Artemis, and a social influence on par with Rome. The Ephesians knew the world well. And, they needed to know God more. The work of the Holy Spirit is to transform any kind of person to know God more. We need wisdom and revelation to be free of our cultural mindsets, fixed generational ideas, and blind spots to really know Christ and become like him.

 

2. The second thing Paul prayed for was that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened to know the hope Christ Jesus gives. What we see in our hearts determines our hope and destiny. We can have real hope, because God raised Christ from the dead in power and seated him at His right hand with all authority. And we know He will raise us, too. We, his holy people, will inherit his kingdom. He bestows on us his incomparably great power. Moreover, God put everything under Jesus’ feet, including the church, which is Christ’s body.

 

Prayer Lord, grant me the Holy Spirit so that I may know you better and have real hope in you.

One Word Enlighten the eyes of my heart