“…That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and REVELATION in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17
Dear Ones:
How does one climb higher in the Christian faith? We know that the foundational principle which governs our lives is that of FAITH in God. It is out of this God-given faith, that the Lord is ever seeking to increase the “measure” of our knowing God, the experience of communion with Him, ever-increasing and deepening. But how does He do this, and what is it that we must do in obedience to Christ, for this to occur?
With regard to Paul’s first great prayer for the believers in Ephesus, he writes it down for them not only to understand that he is praying in a certain way for them, but to give them specific direction in their prayer life, so that Christ may be truly formed in them. What does he pray for them? He is prays for the Almighty God, the same God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He would GIVE to them the Spirit of God in a specific manner, giving them wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Why does he do this? Essential to faith, and its growth, is the magnitude of the true VISION of Christ. The more the Spirit of God reveals to the hearts of the Ephesians the great truths of Christ, and those revealed in their covenant relationship with Him, the more they will be able to appropriate Him by faith…thus, their growing faith will grasp more and more of Him. So then, the first thing is specific prayer for the Spirit of God to reveal Christ to the hearts and minds of believers. Practically speaking, how does this work out in a life of the believer?
Before Paul wrote down this prayer for the Ephesians to read, meditate upon, and use, he laid out before them the great truths of union with Christ, and the extent, greatness, and completeness of His work of redemption. He speaks to them of the blessings in Christ, one’s position in Christ, and God’s eternal purposes of us being in Christ. He then takes these great truths, and uses them to pray precisely, believing in the Spirit of God to use the truths and make them a dominant, and life-changing reality in the life. It is specifically in a life of personal worship of God in Christ, praying for, and believing the Spirit of God for “the wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” that the vision of Him becomes greater and greater. Hence, faith begins to grow, for the vision of Christ begins to eclipse all lesser things.
Dear Father, give us this day this blessed “Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.” Though we have the Spirit by which we truly live, we need His blessed work to reveal the things of Christ to our hearts. Please increase our vision of Him according to the truth. Grant that this vision of Him will result in greater faith, a faith that rises above all obstacles, and enables us to climb higher in our experience of Him every day, for Your glory and honor. We praise and thank You in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad