Some have learnt the happy art of receiving and utilizing every square inch if we may use the expression of that knowledge of God which has been revealed to them. Having prayed then that God would enlighten the eyes of our hearts, Paul specifies three things that God wants you to know: Paul later (4:4) will talk about the hope of your calling, but here he refers to the hope of His calling. Why does he do that? Song of Solomon The gnawing tooth of decay cannot injure it. | GotQuestions.org, Is there any power in positive thinking? (Believer's Bible Commentary). 2:9). 15-19Thats why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldnt stop thanking God for youevery time I prayed, Id think of you and give thanks. Because of this event, the believer can have assurance that the same powerthe immeasurable power of Godis working on his behalf today and will continue to provide what he needs until he arrives in heaven. The principle is that we should pray for the promises of God to be realized in our hearts (cf 2Pe 1:4) Only the Spirit can reveal spiritual truth. (Lehman Strauss Commentary Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians- online), Kenneth Wuest says that dunamis "power in the sense of that which overcomes resistance or effects a change" (In Mark 5:30 literal Greek = Jesus, perceiving in Himself the out from Him power going out) It was some of (Jesus') supernatural power which He felt leaving Him in the accomplishing of the miraculous cure". (Matthew 13:31-32) He used the mustard seed to teach His disciples an important lesson about faith and victory. God gives usspiritual giftsto aid us in our call to service. B. So strong is the gravitation that holds us to earth, so dissipating our cares, so fickle our resolution, that nought but the Divine power and grace can lift us to the level of the Divine life. Do you hunger and thirst for God as a deer does for the water brooks? In this chapter are contained the inscription of the epistle, the salutation of the persons to whom it is written, the apostle's thanksgiving for blessings received by him, and them; in which the efficient, moving, procuring, and final causes of salvation are taken notice of, and the several parts and branches of it observed; and the whole is concluded with prayers for the Ephesians; in which mention is made of various things to the comfort of the saints, and to the glory of Christ. 2:14+). Someone has so well said, "God was not satisfied in possessing suns and stars; He wanted sons and saints." No spendthrift hand can scatter or over-spend its treasures. God may. As an introduction to mentioning the many afflictions he had endured for the Lord, Paul commented, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves (2 Cor. First, he raised Christ from the dead (v.20). 2:916). It can be used of the power of growth, of the powers of nature, of the power of a drug, of the power of a mans genius. Saving faith is sufficient for trusting Christ and being saved, but such must grow into Sanctifying faith, Serving faith, Standing faith, and Suffering faith. Don't you think it's time that the people of God begin to understand and to exercise Kingdom Authority? KJV The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. David wrote, Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. The average ministry is fueled by the flesh. 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. Greatness (3174) (megethos from megas = strong, great) refers to magnitude (great size or extent), greatness. Paul describes unbelievers as (Eph. Its in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home freesigned, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. get to know the Bible better! ", Toward (1519) (eis) motion toward = marking that which any person or thing inclines toward (in this case genuine belief). However, kleros, which meant originally lot, stresses more the individual piece of land allotted by lot, whereas kleronomia points more to the fact of inheritance with all its connotations already mentioned. Usually ischus denotes power, might, strength, ability. Ancient understanding is often linked to other kinds of power or authority (e.g., dunamis, exousia; cf. 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. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? That ye may know.--The knowledge which St. Paul here desires for the Ephesians, in accordance with the whole tone of this Epistle, is a knowledge of heavenly things, only experienced in part upon earth--with an experience, however, sufficient to be an earnest of the hereafter. . (See note Ephesians 2:10). John MacArthur makes the excellent, Biblically logical point that "Until we comprehend who we truly are in Jesus Christ, it is impossible to live an obedient and fulfilling life. Septuagint Usage -Grundmann (ischu, Kittel, 3:397, note 3) asserts that ischus is the most common word for power in the LXX. It substitutes for 30 Hebrew expressions in the Septuagint where it regularly translates such terms as kach (strength, power, ability), chayil (capacity, power), and az (strength). The surpassing-all-limit power of God can be limited in its working only by the believer's failure to believe. Look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all this land is given to thee! The verb belonging to this is kleroo, to draw lots, apportion by lot (only in Eph 1:11-note, Heb 1:4-note). Kleronomia is the portion or heritage which one receives by virtue of birth or by special gift from someone who has died (Lk 12:13). And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe - Supernatural power for believers to enable them to live in triumph. (cf Dt 32:9+) And thats what we are. 1920).[72]. Bruce adds (p. 271), Paul prays here that his readers may appreciate the value which God places on them, his plan to accomplish his eternal purpose through them as the first fruits of the reconciled universe of the future, in order that their lives may be in keeping with this high calling and that they may accept in grateful humility the grace and glory thus lavished on them., Our future is that throughout eternity we will actually share in Christs glory! When our hearts are set to obey the Lord, He confirms His call in a variety of ways: godly counsel, natural gifting, fruitful results, Scripture, and a sense of rightness that does not conflict with any of the other confirmations. He has just prayed that God would give to them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. On the other hand, in the OT the hope of the righteous is directed toward the eternal God who will protect and ultimately deliver if not now, certainly in the future. Here is how this applies: As a believer, you are always in need of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart to the great truths of the Bible. Maybe we need to go back and read the manual! This was even Paul's desire expressed so powerfully in Philippians writing that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Php 3:10+). 1:18. 10:10): a strong consolation (Heb6:18): a mighty angel (Rev18:21). Further, perfectadverbial participles are usually causal in NT Greek. Psalms God can. 34:8; 1Pe 2:3), smell (Phil. ", Ephesians 1:19 (note) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy. Strength (2904) (kratos) refers to manifested power or power that is put forth in action. 3:17 = so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; Eph. Says a good divine, "It is one of the greatest glories of the Church of Christ, that our mighty Maker, and our Friend, always chooses our inheritance for us." When He was raised from the grave, we were raised from the grave. There are at least six ways that God wants us as believers to know the surpassing greatness of His power toward us: Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Gods Ultimate Purpose [Baker], pp. What prerogatives did David attribute to God (vv. May God not find the whine in us any more, but may He find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings. You have given us freedom, That I'm dressed in Your royalty Throughout Scripture, the word hope always refers to that which is coming, to that which is ahead. What Does Ephesians 1:18 Mean? - Verse of the day Nevertheless, in this verse Paul is referring to the subjective hope. The emigrant at last covers his estate, its mines become exhausted, its forests levelled, its soil impoverished; but when a million years have passed, the nature of God will lie before us as utterly unexplored and unexhausted, as when the first-born son of light commenced like a Columbus in the spiritual realm to explore the contents of the illimitable continent, God. F B Meyer writes about THE SAINTS' INHERITANCE IN GOD (Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 5:5). (Eph 4:1+). Energeia isused only of supernatural power in the NT. Comment: The fact that Paul qualifies this "hope" as "one hope" emphasizes that there is the same ultimate, glorious reality for all of the church, whether Jew or Gentile! Acts 16:14+ A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened (dianoigo) her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. ESV 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. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2007, All Rights Reserved. God is patient with His children, working with us until we see things aright. (Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary). From this Verse - Robert Morgan -The Boxer and the Businessman (From This Verse). Paul writes to the believers at Rome asking "Or do you not know (eido) what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?" The real work of a Church depends upon the power of the Spirit." 1112)? It reflected honour upon God and wrought dismay in the hosts of evil. which is the true and proper fountain of man's salvation. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Others are called to be pastors, teachers, worship leaders, Bible translators, or to a host of other avenues that honor the Lord. I want this day to be as a thousand years for you. Eph 4:4). New Testament scholar F. F. Bruce writes (The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians [Eerdmans], p. 270), That God should set such high value on a community of sinners, rescued from perdition and still bearing too many traces of their former state, might well seem incredible were it not made clear that he sees them in Christ, as from the beginning he chose them in Christ., Why did God do this? These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that (purpose clause- ask "What purpose?") Thats amazing. 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! Pauls request for them to know God was within proper bounds because their hearts had been enlightened (the Greek perfect tense indicates past action with continuing results), as discussed in verses 314, especially Eph 1:79 (previous note from Hoehner's discussion in Bible Knowledge Commentary) (Ed Note: Hoehner goes into greater detail regarding six ways this passage could be taken in hisEphesians: An Exegetical Commentary), Lehman Strauss-The prayer continues: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened (1:18). Comment: Here they would see and they would know beyond a shadow of a doubt about Jesus' authority. Peter saysThink it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you. Rise to the occasion; do the thing. Thank You, Father, in Jesus' name, AMEN. The next time you participate in a group prayer session, speak up with a bold heart and give honor to the almighty God. (play "The Solid Rock"), Latter in Ephesians, Paul reminded the Gentile believers that in Christ they "were called in one hope of your calling (Eph 4:4+). Perhaps you can remember three words to capture this message: resurrection power now. It is the active exercise of supernatural power." Paul previously prays that the Ephesians would understand the hope, or certainty, of their calling and future inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). In summary, because we are in Christ and He is in us, believers possess resurrection (and ascension) power, and Paul's prayer is for the Spirit to shine the light on this incredible, difficult to comprehend truth that we might know it beyond a "shadow of a doubt" and live in the light of this truth. 391-422) argues at length that Paul is referring here to the power of God in raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life when He saved us. WE DON'T JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP, A LITTLE "PUSH" SO TO SPEAK, BUT WE NEED HIS SUPERNATURAL POWER - cf Php 2:13NLT+) overcome our difficulties each day. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, 18 your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians,