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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 21st January 2007 AMI KEEP ASKING Pastor Linton SmithMany years ago Elisha and his servant were in a jam. They awoke one morning in a town in Israel to find themselves under siege.. surrounded by enemy horses, chariots and fighting men. The servant was very disturbed: Oh, my lord, what shall we do? Elisha was calm: 2 Kings 6:16.. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And prayed: 2 Kings 6:17.. “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. He saw the spiritual realities. Confidence replaced his fear! 2,000 years ago the believers in Turkey were living in challenging times. The Apostle Paul himself was in prison and knew firsthand the attacks made on believers. It is quite easy to imagine that there were times when believers found themselves in a jam.. not knowing where to turn. The Apostle Paul prayed for them in much the same way as Elisha prayed for his servant. This is what he prayed.. Ephesians 1:17-19.. 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. 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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. He prays that God will enlighten them, will open their spiritual eyes.. to see spiritual realities. This morning.. we will ponder what Paul prays.. see how it applies to us.. and from it.. learn how to pray.. for ourselves.. and for one another. PAUL PRAYS THAT GOD WILL OPEN OUR SPIRITUAL EYES SO THAT WE WILL..
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. The New International Version notes that the phrase, ‘the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” could also be translated as “may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation.” Is Paul praying that God will give us the Holy Spirit.. or a spirit? In other places Paul makes it very clear that we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe. So it seems best to translate it as a spirit.. or as the New Living Translation translates it, “asking God… to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Paul prays like that.. so that we may know God better! Some 30 yrs ago I was startled one Sunday when a lady who had been attending Baptist churches for about 60 yrs asked me, Pastor, what is God like? I was startled then, but I have realized since that there was a time when I also would have asked that question - even though I was a Christian. But one day God opened my eyes to a simple but marvelous truth. God is like Jesus! He opened my eyes to what Jesus says in.. John 14:9.. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. and then to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:6.. God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. What a difference that makes! When God does that for us we read the four gospels in a very different way. We see Jesus in action.. and know that we are seeing God in action. And that leads on to greater trust in God.. greater love for God and a passion to glorify Him!
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.. Paul has no doubts about what that hope is. He writes.. Ephesians 1:4,5.. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Jesus.. we become children of God. We are children of God.. right now.. but there is more to come. Paul writes.. Romans 8:23.. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit.. we have a taste of what is to come.. but we groan.. as we wait eagerly for our adoption.. a future adoption.. and that will mean.. the redemption of our bodies.. the resurrection of our bodies! Then Paul says.. Romans 8:24.. In this hope we were saved. This is our hope.. that is our destiny - to be raised from the dead. Paul was very clear about this when on trial before the Jewish leaders: Acts 23:6.. My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead. Over the years I have been asked many questions about this. We will be raised when Jesus comes again, right? Well what happens when we die? I understand it like this. If I die before Jesus comes again.. my spirit will go to be with Jesus. Paul.. Philippians 1:23.. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far. Then.. when Jesus returns to earth.. my spirit will be re-clothed with a resurrection body. I will be raised! Paul.. Colossians 3:4.. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. And if Jesus returns before I die.. I will be changed - given a spiritual body there and then! What a difference that makes.. when we know that! It takes the fear out of death.. gives assurance.. and peace..
Ephesians 1:18.. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.. He wants us to know the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints. Bible commentaries interpret this in two ways.. Some take it to mean that the saints are God’s inheritance. Others take it to mean the inheritance that God will give to the saints.. the inheritance that we will share with all God’s people. This is my understanding. I like the way the New Living Translation puts it: I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people. Paul has already spoken about our inheritance inEphesians 1:13,14.. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. And Here he prays that God will open our eyes to see how incredibly rich we will be when we receive our inheritance! We will have a radically changed body: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. A body like Jesus' resurrection body: Philippians 3:20,21.. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. And we will be with Jesus.. and with the saints! 2 Corinthians 4:14.. We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. Paul is almost overcome with the thought: Romans 8:18.. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. What a difference that makes. We joyfully anticipate a glorious future.. along with all of God’s people.. a future in which there will be no more death.. or mourning.. or crying our pain. A future in which there will be no sin.. and none of the evil and strife of this life.. but with one heart and soul.. all God’s people will worship and serve God.. joyfully.. together.. and we will be among them!
It all seems a bit too good to be true. But it isn't. Paul goes on.. Ephesians 1:18,19.. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… his incomparably great power for us who believe. He piles up the words for power.. trying to express the inexpressible.. the indescribable power of God. The Revised Standard Version reads like this.. the immeasurable greatness of His power.. the working of His great might.. Then he gives us the supreme proof that God is able to do all this. He raised Jesus from the dead! Ephesians 1:19-21.. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 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. He seated Him at His right hand. He has given Him authority over every power! If God raised Jesus like this, He can certainly raise us also! What a difference it makes when God opens our spiritual eyes to see Jesus risen and reigning! It mean the end of our doubts. An old song puts it like this..
No more we doubt Thee
Glorious Prince of life Paul prays that God will open our spiritual eyes.. so that.. We will know Him better.. We will know our destiny.. We will know how incredibly rich we will be.. And we will know that God has the power to do all this! . Pray like that for yourself.
Pray like that for your children.. for one another..
What a difference it will make.
It will change the way we think.
It will change the way we act.
It will fill our lives with peace.. and hope.. and purpose!
It will make us passionate about our Lord Jesus Christ!
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