Whatever Thou dost get out of us, Thou must first put in. (2Pe 1:2-4-notes 2Peter 1:2; 1:3; 1:4). And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. If we are to ever see revival (ED: PERSONAL OR CORPORATE!) 2 Corinthians 4:6+ For God, Who said, Light shall shine out of darkness, (Ge 1:2-3-commentary) is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Paul does not pray, Lord, give them power. He prays, Lord, help their spiritual eyes see, and appropriate the power they already have resident within. The incomprehensible, dynamic power of the resurrected Christ is already in us. In His devotional on Dt 32:9 Spurgeon asks "How are they his? That we might know God better (Ep 1:17). After this time, Jesus rose from the dead, the miracle of miracles. Don't miss out on this "once in a lifetime" opportunity! It gives off light, but it doesnt strike anything in particular. That is why one cannot receive the full impact of the meaning of the Word of God except as the Holy Spirit illuminates his mind to understand it. We have been called, chosen, justified, and glorified for we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and are become his chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. This expectation of seeing Jesus, our "Blessed Hope" [see below] and being like Him is entertained equally by both Jewish and Gentile believers. He wants you to know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power toward you. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; He let us in on that mystery. We live in a day when denominations, Churches, and religious organizations are running on man-made programs, social agendas, and orders handed down from denominational headquarters. CD players dont have needles, he said, laughing. For fifteen years the Romans defended their homeland against the brilliant Carthaginianand could never drive him out. 14:13, 17; 24:18; Deut. Even the best Christians need to be prayed for: and while we hear of the welfare of Christian friends, we should pray for them. We must live as saints, Gods holy ones, separate from this evil world. THOUGHT - Why do we doubt God's power to deliver us out of our "little Red Sea" experiences? Hope for believers is not the worlds wishful thinking, but the absolute certainty that God will make true what he has promised. Wiersbe draws a fitting application of Paul's great prayer for our great need - "The greatest power shortage today is not in our generators or our gas tanks. It is a free gift, and yet we have a right to it. What (5101) (tis) is singular in contrast to the next clause regarding "riches" which is introduced with "what are" which is plural. Never apologize for your inner eyes! The Message Compact Bible--soft leather-look, black, The Message//REMIX 2.0, Purple Swirl - Imperfectly Imprinted Bibles, The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, amethyst gem, The Message of Hope: Discover Meaning and Purpose for Your Life - eBook. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Incorruptible! What a blessing to be quickened together with Christ! Strengthened with might in the inner man (Eph3:16): with all might (Col. 1:11). THOUGHT -Is your heart tender to the Word of God? If that has happened to you, confess it immediately and turn from it. As you pray and study Gods Word, He transforms and renews your mind (Rom. Hope (1680) (elpis) (See also study on Believer's Blessed Hope) expresses a desire of some good with the expectation of obtaining it. It is simply providing hope and certainty for the believer, who has assurance because of the power that raised Jesus from the dead. 9:23; 10:12; 15:10, 13; 16:19; 20:5; 23:10; 27:5; 32:17; 49:16; 51:15, 53; Lam. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, In referring to those who believe Paul goes beyond the initial act of faith in God for salvation and speaks of a continuing and growing faith. The resurrection power that raised up the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the power that works in every single believer. This effect in context undoubtedly refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who illuminates spiritual truth to the hearts of believers (See Illumination of the Bible). - Now, I want to ask you a question: Are you sitting in this auditorium, this morning, or are you sitting in heavenly places? Isaiah 46:911is the cornerstone passage that removes all doubt aboutGods sovereignty. Nick "watch out for Adam" - The Young and the Restless - Soaps.com's I pray that you may know the surpassing greatness of [Gods] power toward us who believe (Eph. 20:27) (Deut. For example, Deuteronomy 32:9 says, For the Lords portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance. Psalm 33:12 proclaims, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. (See, also, Deut. Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the privilege of being His child. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. By his own sovereign choice. 2:1416). (6000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths). Perhaps he perceived a power shortage in the Ephesians saints! properly transcendent and immeasurable, and passes thought and desire and knowledge. You have given us freedom, my chains are gone We belong to Somebody. The gospel is dynamic, Gods dynamic, and so is powerful in the transformation of human lives. Is not this the secret of any grace or wealth there is in Christian lives? THOUGHT - Believers in Christ are privileged to worship the Truth personified and consummated in Christ Jesus! What Does Ephesians 1:18 Mean? - Verse of the day Our Lord never dictated to His Father, and we are not here to dictate to God; we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Nahum 1:18). From a shorter form of kaleo; an invitation. In 1:18-19, he elaborates on what that means, namely, that God wants us to know three essentials about our salvation that will give us assurance about our high calling as Gods people. And not just for the time being, but forever. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle. And what is he attempting to describe? If anyone should instill hope and bring out the best in others, it should be the Christian. 5:13. It takes far more faith to encounter and endure the battles of the Christian life than it did to trust Christ and be born again. God intends that His work be accomplished by His power. COMMENT - This context refers to the spiritual powers of the heavenly beings. But the antidote to these dangers is not to remain ignorant. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Kardia in Ephesians - Eph. Gods mighty power has granted us all that we need for life and godliness, so that we can escape the corruption that is in the world by lust (2 Pet. (Ibid). He thinks of us as His inheritance. Thus, Love the Lord thy God with all thy strength (Mk 12:30): according to the working of his mighty power (Eph. This power is one of three aspects of the mighty salvation God won for believers in Christ: 1. the hope to which God has called them, Ezekiel In short, Paul prays for our position in Christ to become our practice in Christ. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! The ESV also picks up the perfecttense rendering it "having the eyes of your hearts enlightened," which also describes a past completed action. In sum, for believerseido/oida suggests Spirit given fullness of knowledge, absolute knowledge (that which is without a doubt), rather than a progress in knowledge (cp ginosko) a distinction illustrated in the following passages. The good news is that God's Word does promise riches to the believer. energy) of the might (kratous, power that overcomes resistance, as in Christs miracles; this word is used only of God, never of believers) of Gods inherent strength (ischyos) which He provides (cf. Deuteronomy As saints, were Gods inheritance, His treasure, His prize! (ED: AKA AS NOT "ABIDING IN CHRIST!" It is utterly impossible to put the fullness of divine reality in human language, to compress the infinite into what is finite. Because God's resurrection power continues to work in us, it helps us (ED: MORE ACCURATELY IT ENABLES US! (Jon Courson's Application Commentary). Conversely, revival cannot come if we are far removed from God. "For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God." Judges (see note). And I see my past has been redeemed This is the same mighty power (NLT - Tyndale House), Phillips: and how tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God. ", It is power. (Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation). Eido was found in the Greek secular writings to describe a theory or hypothesis which had been confirmed. And the measure of the power that is to us what who believe is that mighty power which entered into Jesus Christ and resurrected him from the dead. Not unto us, not unto us, but unto Thee, O Christ of God, be the glory! Zina21 March 3, 2023, 9:29pm 10. They sigh at the foot of cliffs they cannot scale. What a battle He had in us before we would be won! It is the active exercise of supernatural power." Believe (4100) (pisteuo) refers not just to an intellectual assent to the truths of the gospel but to a saving belief that effects the heart, resulting in a transformed, supernaturally directed conduct based on the truth believed. (Bible Knowledge Background Commentary). Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. God gives usspiritual giftsto aid us in our call to service. (NLT - Tyndale House), Phillips: that you may receive that inner illumination of the spirit which will make you realise how great is the hope to which He is calling you - the magnificence and splendour of the inheritance promised to Christians - (Phillips: Touchstone), Wuest: the eyes of your heart being in an enlightened state with a view to your knowing what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,(Eerdmans Publishing- usedby permission), Young's Literal: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. 1986. 1 Kings But this is as impossible to our unaided energy, as for the swallow to follow the majestic flight of the golden eagle, soaring sunward. Mark Ephesians 1:18-19 Commentary | Precept Austin Proud member WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS: tis o ploutos tes doxes tes kleronomias autou en tois hagiois: There are two ways to interpret "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (1) The saints are His inheritance He considers a treasure of incomparable worth! Why? Used from Homer on it meant originally the fragment of stone or piece of wood which was used as a lot. Do you think your faith will bring you riches? He bought the world to get the treasure. (Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary), Energeia - 7v -Eph. Pray Ephesians 1:17-19 (and other Pauline prayers). 1:3), you are less likely to succumb to temptation. In Ephesians 1:18 the Greek word forheart is singular so that Paul is praying for each individual person's heart! Saints (40) (hagios) describes men and women who have been set apart from the world by the sanctifying work of the Spirit for a specific purpose determined by God before the foundation of the world (see notes Ephesians 2:10). The inner man, the heart, has spiritual faculties that parallel the physical senses. Thus as 1 John 3:2-3 puts it, Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! He argues (p. 391) that Pauls object in this section is to give the saints assurance and certainty in their faith. Take every opportunity in this long, long day youre in to thank the Father for the opportunity to store up treasure which will make you rich for eternity. He, she, it, they, them, same. Revelation 5:12 (note) saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. He desires that they be aware of the spiritual dimension. Hope gives us the assurance that we are going toward something better than this present life. (cf Ps 42:1, Mt 5:6+, 1Pe 2:2+). F B Meyer (takes view #1) here sees Paul as referring to believers as God's inheritance! Rather, as Paul will go on to say, we were dead in our sins, but God raised us up. This is the miraculous power each believer has experienced at the moment of salvation and surely there is no greater manifestation of God's power than this. Ischus - 10 times in the NT translated: might, 5; power, 1; strength, 4. Love will only give itself to love. Don't you think it's time all Heaven broke loose? The heart was the seat of understanding. We are not in heaven yet; but we are as safe as if we were. The NTs concept of hope is built on the OT and has the elements of expectation, a trust in God, and the patient waiting for Gods outworking of his plan. THAT THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED. Adrian Rogers on Heaven Will Break Loose! Listen to his arguments here. The gold and the silver and all the universes are His. Is she supposed to do something about this? Also the verb ischuooIt is good for nothing (Mt. ESV and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. Jon Courson - Throughout Scripture, the word hope always refers to that which is coming, to that which is ahead. That which is dynamic is characterized by energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to that which is static. The young man then begins to study that nation and enrolls in a missions-focused school. Malachi An almost identical prayer is recorded by Clement of Rome(written between 75-110 AD, cf to Ephesians 60-62 AD) asking God to open the eyes of our heart to know you. (Also a good prayer!). Zondervan, Click to read more about your inheritance in Spurgeon's Sermon A Wise Desire, A Day's Journey: 365 Daily Meditations from the Word, Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith, Risen: 50 Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything, Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings, Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. THOUGHT - God's great doctrine of our calling should cause all the "called of Jesus Christ" to exclaim "Glory! After the service, he drove to nearby Hollywood and stopped his car in the shade of a eucalyptus tree in Franklin Park. --M R De Haan II (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Later in the letter (chaps. Into the city enters nothing that defiles, or works abomination, or makes a lie. Therefore, has the meaning of strength, might, dominion, mastery.(Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary), Kratos - 12v -Lk. Thus, His possession is located in the saints. Glory (1391) (doxa) in this context seems to refer to the splendour, brightness or the brightness, shining or radiance. When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others. They say, I dont bother with theology. Thayer summarizes kleronomia as (1) an inheritance, property received (or to be received) by inheritance, or (2) what is given to one as a possession. Start for FREE. Reaffirm your love for Him, and express your willingness to be changed by His Spirit in any way He sees fit. Huperballo is used only 5x in the NT but 3 are in Ephesians. How much divine energy is at my disposal? Its certainly not because of the power of the believer, but the power of God. Paul would have us appreciate our dignity. Too many people are trusting Christ for the power to save their souls and not trusting Him for the power to live day by day. This day is as a thousand years because in your day of difficulty and dilemma, pressure and pain, sadness and sorrow, you have the unique opportunity to share the fellowship of the Lords suffering and to pray for others in a way you never would have been able to otherwise. This seems to be a confirmation, but she continues to ask the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5). (Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary). Calling here refers to Gods effectual callingthe calling that redeems the soul. Power for You-Today! 3:7; Eph. None of us has to live a defeated life. One day a man is walking through a field. (Hurley, V. Speaker's Sourcebook of New Illustrations Dallas: Word Publishers). Our society has been enamored with the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, especially since the influx of Eastern thought into the West during the 1960s. his incomparably great power for us who believe. I hold fast to the opinion that our God is ever trying to reveal Himself to us. Sometimes the passing enticements of this world seek to blind our eyes to the riches of the glorious inheritance that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Extract each minute. Here is the reason why God is so little to us. Encourages my soul. And they became thine in fact, when thou wast born at the foot of the cross. He wishes this knowledge of God would impact the minds and hearts of every child of God. How does the Spirit enlighten you? Some are called to the political arena or to end human trafficking. (1Pe 1:3-5-See notes 1 Peter 1:3; 1:4; 1:5), Comment: Our "living hope" guarantees our inheritance, our protection until the revelation of our the final aspect of our salvation - glorification - when Christ returns "in the last time", Hoehner explains the relation of hope and calling -The genitive that follows (, calling) could be a genitive of source, hope has its origin in his call or more likely a subjective genitive hope produced by his calling (cf. For example, a young man may begin to have a burden for a particular foreign nation and its people. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might- Paul piles one word upon another in this incredible description. She discusses her burden with her pastor and her spiritual mentor. So the kindred adjective . 34:8; 1Pe 2:3), smell (Phil. So that Paul portrays the heart as having eyes to see and by seeing to gain knowledge. THOUGHT There will never be a day when God's power is not sufficient to accomplish what God purposes in us and through us to the praise of His glory (what He does in and through us will be seen by others who give Him praise and glory because they realize that it is a supernatural not natural work!) If one had learnt a swifter art of appropriating the wealth that lay open to his hand, he would be actually, though perhaps not potentially, richer than his neighbour. If not, why not? Nevertheless, the distinctions in these words is somewhat difficult to appreciate and convey in the form of a simple definition. (Click to read more about your inheritance in Spurgeon's Sermon A Wise Desire based on Ps 47:4). So that (1519) (eis) conveys the primary idea of motion into any place or thing figuratively as here speaks of the purpose for the Ephesian saints having been enlightened. He will put into thee the grace that thou shalt give back to Him in fruit. 15:13). But, as we do with so many owners manuals, we read it superficially or hardly at all and then wonder why the Christian life isnt working the way its supposed to! (Commentary on the New Testament:), Warren Wiersbe - First, enlightenment comes from the Holy Spirit. They dont know the reality of heaven. Mark 12:30+ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Commentators tell us that they can distinguish differences of meaning between the words, in that the first of them is the more active and outward, and the last of them is the more inward. The occasion of it was the foresight the apostle had of false teachers that would spring up in this church, after his death, and spread their pernicious doctrines, and draw away disciples after them, and do great mischief in the church; wherefore the design of this epistle is to establish the saints in the doctrines of the Gospel, that so they might not be carried away with the errors of the wicked: the subject matter of it is most excellent; it treats of the most sublime doctrines of grace, of divine predestination, and eternal election, of redemption by Christ, and of peace and pardon by his blood, of conversion by the power of efficacious grace, and of salvation by the free grace of God, in opposition to works: it also very largely treats of the nature and usefulness of the Gospel ministry, and of gifts qualifying for it, and of the several duties of religion incumbent on Christians; and the method which is used is exceeding apt and beautiful, for the apostle first begins with the doctrines of the Gospel, which he distinctly handles and explains, and then proceeds to enforce the duties belonging to men, both as men and Christians.