Title: “Hope, Riches, Power”
Text: Ephesians 1.15-23
Intro: The great burden of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers is that they would not be blind to the spiritual glory and riches that make up the inheritance the Father has given to His children in Christ. Paul prays that the “eyes of your hearts may be enlightened” and that the Father of glory would grant a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Because of the darkness of his heart, the natural man is tragically blind to the glories and beauties of knowing God. Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Paul, of course, is praying, not for unbelievers, but for believers (members of God’s own family). But doesn’t this show us that we, who have been born of the Spirit into God’s family and through the Spirit-given faith in Christ, are in need of ongoing illumination from God? We need this illumination so we might see with growing clarity the wealth of our inheritance in knowing God. What must the Spirit open our eyes increasingly to see?
