Ephesians 1:15-18 Divine understanding and the secrets of God

Ephesians 1:15-18

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 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, 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.

Background

In order for the believer to succeed and fulfill his life call, he must first be able to see himself at the end point. God shows the believer his end point when he seeks Him and meditates on His word. When he is ready, the Spirit opens his eyes to see what the Spirit is seeing. The Spirit imparts understanding and secrets of future events so that he can see dangers and hidden opportunities and bears fruit in all his endeavors. Therefore, Paul urges believers to seek God with their heart, and the Spirit will impart the much needed wisdom and revelation to achieve and live life without limits.

Observation

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.

Paul having understood that the key to believers possessing their inheritance lies in the Holy Spirit, earnestly prayed for them that they may receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the key to providing believers with divine wisdom and revelation in order to succeed. Wisdom supplies the capacity to understand and function accordingly to bring about success. Revelation on the other hand refers to the secrets of God concerning the future. God say in Amos 3:7, that although He being sovereign will not do anything without first revealing to His prophets. “The Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” can also be translated as “The Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the truth of Christ“. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation begins to operate in a person whose mind is saturated with the truth of Christ. Hence, it is absolutely important that every believer meditate on God’s word daily without fail. Without which the Spirit will not be able to impart wisdom and insights for successful living. God gIves Prophet Jeremiah wisdom and revelation to buy land at a time when Israel is about to fall into the hands of Babylon (see Jeremiah 32). At a time when nobody wI’ll dare to purchase land, God gIves Jeremiah a vision of a prospering Israel in a not so distant future.

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

Paul continues to elaborate on the outcome of one whose mind is saturated with God’s truth:

a.    “Eyes of your hearts enlightened” refers to the ability to perceive things and circumstances as Christ perceives them. It also talks about the regeneration of the heart in turning away from the pleasures of darkness to the ways of righteousness; and in turning from earthly riches to what is of true and enduring value in heaven. In having the eyes of his heart enlightened, the believer begins to perceive his life priorities and direction with clarity; of what is true value and what is not. What seem to be glamorous and attractive to the world become tasteless to the one whose heart is enlightened.

b.    “That you may know what is the hope to which he has called you” refers particularly to the glory that Christ receives on His day of resurrection, which God will bestow on those who are worthy. This glory is derived from the believer’s maturity in living out the virtues of Christ. The believer having seen himself at the end point being glorified like Christ, begins to consume him in all that he does and hopes for on a daily basis. Hence, it is Paul’s earnest prayer that believers begin to see their own call and be consumed by it.

c.    “… what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” refers to all the blessings and treasures that are found in God’s kingdom: the peace and joy, the heavenly wealth and glory, the royalty and authority over creation. Believers whose hearts are enlightened will place greater value on the riches in heaven than those on earth.

Truth

1.    One can never reach a place of high calling by focusing on his basic needs of career, finance and relationships etc. But when one starts from the highest place of God’s kingdom, he begins to conquer the lower plains and everything will be taken care of. A believer whose eyes of the heart are enlightened will see the hope of fulfilling God’s call for his life and trusting God to provide all that he needs. Practical wisdom calls for one to focus first on the basic needs, while working himself upward towards “Self Actualization” in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Contrary to this belief, many successful people, while in the thick of their struggles, begins with a vision at the top of the hierarchy believing that all will fall into place. If every believer would seek to fulfill God’s vision for him above all other priorities, a life without limits will be ours. 

2.    The Spirit of wisdom and revelation operates best in a mind that is saturated with God’s truth. Before a believer can receive the wisdom of the Spirit in a consistent manner, his mind must be filled with the word and truths of God. Therefore, it is paramount that every believer meditates on God’s word daily even though they may not feel enlightened every time. Certain parts of the bible especially God’s promises of blessings and healing are easier to comprehend. Hence, many believers prefer to dwell on these parts as they seemed more practical or edifying. Certain parts that pertain to God’s wisdom and life principles that require more effort to grasp are deemed as dry and irrelevant. It is precisely the parts that more difficult to digest that give the most benefit. Nevertheless, as believers persevere in the word, they will in due time hear the Spirit’s voice and increase in wisdom and revelations.

Application

1.    Consider how you would see yourself at your end point. If you have no idea, perhaps it is time to seek God for His vision for you. You could also ask God to make that vision clearer as well as the phases leading to the end point.

2.    Do you find yourself picking and choosing parts of the bible to read according to the time of need? Reading through the Bible systematically saturates our mind with the full range of God’s truths that allows the Spirit to readily impart His wisdom and insights for abundant living.

Dear Lord, show me in greater clarity the hope and glory that You have prepared for me. Show me the various phases so that I can prepare myself for them. As I meditate on Your word, impart to me Your wisdom and revelations so that I may prosper in everything that I do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.