Ephesians 1:15-18

If you’re anything like me, the morning comes all too suddenly! My alarm clock blares. I hit snooze. Minutes later, I press it again. Then, finally I’m up and awake. I have a lot to do, and I rush to get ready. I debate between spending time with God and doing all the things that are “so important.” I have a decision to make. Will I spend time worshipping the God who created me to worship and treasure Him above all else? Let’s face it. We are in a struggle and if we are not careful, the most needful thing in our lives can become the most neglected thing. Let’s be people who are consumed with worshipping our God!

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: prayers, spirit of wisdom, enlightened, hope, and inheritance.


Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:15-18 (NASB)


15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:


List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).




List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.




When you pray for fellow Christians, how do you usually pray for them? Give some specific examples.




Wednesday:

In verses 15-16, Paul says, “For this reason…I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” What are reasons why Paul is so thankful in his prayers for the Ephesian believers? Why do believe these things we so important to him?


Where is Paul’s focus as he prays? In other words, what is he praying for the Ephesians? Are these the things that you are praying for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, or do you just focus on physical needs? Explain.


Why do you think Paul’s prayer focuses on wisdom, revelation, and knowledge? Explain why these things are so significant and vital to our Christian walk.


Friday:

Compare and contrast Paul’s prayer in this passage with the prayers you normally pray to God. How are they different? What areas of your prayer life need to change in light of this?


CHEW ON THIS:

Paul’s regular prayer for his readers is for spiritual illumination (17), to know God more deeply, and to understand the nature of the Christian hope (18) and the nature of God’s power already at work in Christians (19a). In verse 16, Paul looks back to 1:14, and through it to the whole of 1:3–14. Paul gives thanks for the readers of Roman Asia because of their faith and love. He briefly gives thanks too for what he has heard of their faith and love, indicating that he sees these as fruits of God’s grace. In verses 17-18, we see the content of Paul’s prayer. Paul prays that God would give them spirit of wisdom and revelation. These are two things that we desperately need in our spiritual walk! We need God’s perspective in wisdom and His revelation of truth. Note the purpose of the request is not for special information, but deeper perception and knowledge of God himself (as he is revealed in Christ). This even takes us back to our recent study in James 1:5 – “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”


The prayer in verse 18 is equally a prayer for spiritual understanding: the heart here signifies the mind, will and emotions. The heart is also the center of perception and decision. Our hearts do not need to be merely instructed in theological concepts, but we need the work of the Spirit applying these truths about God so that it our hearts are changed and we are living the God-centered (not self-centered) life. Paul also prays that his readers might be able to know and understand the eternal hope that lies ahead of them in a full sense. If you and I would dwell on the truth that God intends to make us (along with all believers) into a wonderful inheritance for Himself, then that knowledge will transform the way we perceive our existence. It is my prayer that you and I would come to understand this great hope that is wrapped up in our salvation. Rejoice in the hope that is yours in Christ!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 1:13-14

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. Remember that this is an awesome privilege – you and I get to talk to the Creator God of the universe whose love for you endures forever (Ps. 118:1)! After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: gospel, salvation, sealed, Holy Spirit of promise, pledge, and redemption.


Passage for the week: Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

Read Ephesians 1:1-12 again. List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).






List all of the promises of God that you can find in Ephesians 1:1-12.







Who is the “Him” referring to in verse 13?




Wednesday:

What is the message of truth in verse 13?




Who is the One who has sealed your salvation? What does that mean?




Explain how verse 13 can be a source of encouragement to you when you are doubting your salvation.




Friday:


What is the inheritance that God has given us?


Who is God’s special possession?



CHEW ON THIS:

Those who are in Christ, having believed the gospel, have been marked out as God’s people. (See e.g Ezk. 9:4–6 and Rev. 7:1–8 for the idea of God putting his identifying mark on his people.) The seal used to mark them was nothing less than the promised gift of the Spirit. Through this gift of the Spirit, we receive wisdom and illumination to understand the implications of the gospel (1:17–20; cf. 3:5); inner strengthening in the gospel (3:16; cf. 6:17); access to, and the indwelling presence of, God and of Christ (2:18, 22; 3:16–17); inspiration to godly living and thankful worship (4:30; 5:18–20) and help in prayer (6:18). All of these activities are what marks believers as God’s people and are indispensable to our Christian walk. The seal of the Spirit is not some second blessing—the having believed (13b) means ‘when you believed’, (i.e. ‘once you had put your trust in the gospel’). In other passages of Scripture, the Spirit with whom God marks us with his stamp of ownership is also called the ‘pledge’, ‘guarantee’, even ‘first installment’ of our inheritance (cf. Rom. 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5). But the blessings we receive now are just a foreshadowing: according to Paul we still await our inheritance in the final and total redemption of the world by God at the end of time. Ephesians 4:30 re-emphasizes this, reminding us that we are sealed with the Spirit ‘for the day of redemption’ to come. Then God’s purpose, begun in Christ, will be brought to consummation; and seeing it from beginning to end will be reason enough for us to praise Him! This gives us great comfort in knowing that once we put our faith in Christ, He puts His stamp of ownership on us and we are secure in our relationship with Him!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen