ephesians 1:18 the message

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Spiritual Life, Character of God, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. The possessive pronoun shows that it is Gods inheritance.Because of His choosing, redeeming, adopting, and sealing us, we are his possession. 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. The effectual call is given by God only to the elect. We must live as saints, Gods holy ones, separate from this evil world. observe fully, consider attentively denotes action of mind apprehending certain facts about a thing) wonderful (amazing, astounding, marvelous, extraordinary or even difficult - things beyond human capability) things from Thy law. COMMENT - Note how Paul associates our New Creation in Christ (2Co 5:17+) with the creation of the heavens and the earth. Paul wrote, I am compelled to preach. 1:18; Eph. The succession of ideas follows the order of conversion--first, "calling;" then acceptance to "inheritance;" lastly, "inward working of divine power" in the accepted. The soul, as is written, The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord (Prov. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. . These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might- Paul piles one word upon another in this incredible description. Spirit, soul, and body must be freely yielded to the great Husbandman. Observe, Those who have their eyes opened, and have some understanding in the things of God, have need to be more and more enlightened, and to . (Ephesians- Life In The Heights), THOUGHT - Remember that believers are called to be imitators of Jesus (1Cor 11:1+, cf 1Jn 2:6+, 1Pe 2:21+) and in that light we need to recall that during Jesus' earthly ministry, He lived out His life in the power of the Holy Spirit. NET and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. Amen, Paxson -How seldom we think of what we are to God! THOUGHT - Why do we doubt God's power to deliver us out of our "little Red Sea" experiences? 1920).[72]. Freedom, You have given us freedom 1:4). 6:10-13). That men might know the measure of Gods power. It refers to a degree which exceeds extraordinary and thus excels. Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. (Meyer, F B: Our Daily Homily). When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others. This marvelous faculty of spiritual sight is lacking in the unregenerated man. Literally eido/oida refers to perception by sight (perceive, see) as in Mt 2:2+"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? Now we are drowning in a sea of false religions and New Age philosophies. Believers already have that power. He does not tell us, but other words in this letter, in the other great prayer which it contains, may help us to supply the missing words. It is only as God's Spirit illuminates our mind that we actually can truly know the spiritual truth He wants us to know. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Finding Christ is like emerging from the cave into the light. This deep, interior "cardiac" enlightenment is clearly the result of the work of the Holy Spirit Who leads the believer to know (eido) intuitively all that God has made available to him in Christ (cf Jesus' promise to the disciples - Jn 16:13, cp 1Jn 2:20, 28+, 1Cor 2:10-13, 15-16+), and in essence to come to understand what it means to be "in Christ" or "in Him". The verb form, , makes the power obvious, for it means primarily to grasp, seize, or capture (Matt 9:25 = Mark 5:41; Matt 14:3 = Mark 6:17; Matt 26:48, 50, 55 = Mark 14:44, 46, 49; Rev 20:2). Man can supply the energy, enterprise and enthusiasm for things human. Obadiah his incomparably great power for us who believe. Sometimes familiarly with the glorious superlatives of our heavenly calling, and the eternal hope of glory that is set before us, causes our eyes to become dimmed and our hearts to become complacent. One needs to realize that subjective hope is based on objective hope, a hope that looks back to Gods work of redemption in 1:314, especially in 1:910 where Paul relates that all things are going to be headed up in Christ. Paul applies this truth that we are God's inheritance in his letter to the Corinthians writing Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? This same power resides in believers because we are in Christ and He is in us. We do not ask for it we were born into its blessed privilege. They remain in bondage, depressed, and discouraged because they dont see the big picture of eternity. The Church as Christ's Body and the Christian as a member of that Body are the manifestation of God's glory on earth to-day, feeble and inadequate as it is. By Gods great mercy we have been begotten again (1Pet 1:3-note). Amos But there's no hidden message in the National Research Council's verdict on such techniques. Kneeling in the back seat, Fuller gave his life to Christ in prayer. Psalms 119:130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. First, he raised Christ from the dead (v.20). 18:1; Rev. But Ephesians emphasizes God's inheritance in the saints. COMMENT - This context refers to the spiritual powers of the heavenly beings. MacArthur makes an interesting assessment commenting that "One cause of immaturity in the church at Corinth was reliance on feelings above knowledge. Yes, there are dark spiritual powers at work behind the problems Paul discusses in Ephesiansanger, stealing, bitterness, slander, sexual immorality, greed, deception, and so on. Photizo - 11v -Lk. Dunamis does not refer to explosive power, as if the gospel will blow men to bits but as discussed above, it refers to intrinsic power. We may not be able to conquer Satan all at once, but he cannot conquer us at all. In the NT klesis is used metaphorically of an invitation to enter the kingdom of God by grace through faith. (Eph 1:18ESV) Notice how this rendering places the emphasis on God as the One Who "inherits"! Copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. 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. That we might look beyond appearances, to see the church as God doesa people transformed to display His glory, unspeakably precious to Him (Ep 1:18). 1:9; 1 Co. 4:5; Eph. A. There's more than enough power to break the hold of all sinful habits; more than enough to give deliverance from temptation; more than enough to enable the believer to live above circumstances. 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 is why Paul prayed for the eyes of their hearts to really understand these truths. spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." His power provides the way of escape from every temptation that we face (1 Cor. Some of the fairest hopes that ever blessed human vision; the most delightful friendships; the most perfect dreams of delight, have faded and withered before our eyes. 1 Timothy 1 Peter 4:11 (note) Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. We are mean enough to wish to make all we can of God, and to give Him as little as possible of ourselves. When an emigrant first receives the title-deeds of the broad lands made over to him in the far West, he has no conception, as he descends the steps of the Government office and passes into the crowd, of all that has been conveyed to him in the schedule of parchment. The first phrase of verse 18 is literally, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened. I understand it to be explaining in more specific detail Pauls words in verse 17, that God would give us a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the true knowledge of Him. To know these spiritual truths, God must open our eyes. -- Maclaren, Alexander Maclaren - It is 'exceeding.' Colossians 1:29+ For this purpose (WHAT PURPOSE? Not even Satan has the power to do that. (Eph 2:12+). 6:10; Col. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2 Peter 2:11 (note) whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (1Th 2:10-11) so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. As for the worldling, God gives him anything, but for the Christian, God selects the best portion, and chooses his inheritance for him. This is also apparent when 1Samuel 2:12 says that Elis sons were wicked men who did not know Yahweh. We might expect Paul to pray for enlightened minds rather than hearts, but thats because we associate the word heart with emotions rather than with thought. He has just prayed that God would give to them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The KJV has a unique and memorable way of translating this verse And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power", Paxson - God would then tell us that in this wonder-working power is all that is needed for the commencement, continuance and consummation of our salvation: that it is all-sufficient for every demand made upon the saint in appropriating his wealth, in walking worthily of his high calling, and in wrestling victoriously against Satanic powers. you may know . Is it not in the resurrection of those who were dead in trespasses and sins from their spiritual stupor and separation from God, releasing them from the shackles of sin and subservience to Satan and setting them free in Christ? He prays that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightened, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 1:18. The giant trees are cut down; and their roots burnt out, or extracted by a team of horses. Living on the inside (You set us free) GotQuestions.org, Warren Wiersbe sums up Paul's prayer for the saints to know the power they possess - The power of the Holy Spirit, through the resurrected, ascended Christ, is available to all Christiansby faith. That's what Paul is praying for here. 2123). But in order that you may know (eido) that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins-- He said to the paralytic--I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home. But even though he has reached it, several years must pass before he can understand its value, or compel it to minister, with all its products, to his need. 3 John 34:8; 1Pe 2:3), smell (Phil. Hence, the translation takes the participle to form a part of the basis for the prayer. In verse 18 he prays that we will comprehend those great truths, which he summarizes in the phrase, the hope of His calling.. Open the compasses of your faith to measure this measureless abyss; and then marvel at the power which bore your Lord across it, and know that that same power is towards you, if you believe, waiting to do as much for you in your daily experience if you will but let it have its blessed way. Seated with Him. Titus Live today in anticipation of Christs imminent return. And many a life that might grow rich in its heritage of God is dwindled and marred, because it sets a limitation on God's heritage of itself. 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." Dr. Hammond thinks it was written about the year 58, and Dr. Lightfoot places it in 59, and the fifth year of Nero. (Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith), John MacArthur - MAINTAINING A CLEAR PERSPECTIVE. money, possessions, or abundance, richness, valuable bestowment. Ephesians 1:7,11 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; , Ephesians 3:8,16 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; . It is these riches that we must seek, enjoy, and use to glorify their sourceour heavenly Father.Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. 4:15). The gospel itself is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. He had mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life; thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained election. They use laser beams to read songs encoded on the disk. 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). In Philippians 3:21 Paul states that the Lord Jesus Christ "will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the (supernatural) exertion (energeia) of the power that He has (KJV - according to the working whereby He is able = dunamai in present tense = continuously able) even to subject all things to Himself (Php 3:21+), The surpassing power which God's Spirit uses in continually energizing our supernatural life (Php 2:13-note), in ministering to our spiritual needs, is in accordance with, commensurate with His infinite, immeasurable divine energy. 13:3; Ezra 9:8; Barn. 4:13). 15:10-note). For long days he travels, towards his inheritance and presently pitches his flimsy shanty upon its borders. The power that EVERY believer in Christ has access to every day of their life until they see Jesus face to face! (Ephesians 1:15-23 Possessing the Possessions in Christ). 2:14+). 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. So here he takes view #2, but in the following note below he takes view #1! 3:1. Its in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Ischus is used of the ability of human beings in Mark 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.' The church, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, is similarly called: You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10). Gods gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). 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. 4:18; 2Co 2:14), and touch (Acts 17:27). Hope in Scripture is the absolute certainty of future good. Genesis Eph. This is simply remarkable! 5:19 = making melody with your heart to the Lord; Eph. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? 1:19; Eph. Hosea It is from from which we get theocracy, the rule of God; autocracy, absolute rule; democracy, the rule of the people; and plutocracy, the rule of the wealthy. Im convinced the single greatest problem carnal Christians have is that they dont know the hope of His calling. The answer, according to one of the apostle Pauls prayers, is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If God can raise Jesus from the dead, God can provide all that is promised to the believer. 79)? 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. So Paul asks God to enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we will know what is the hope of His calling and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. The world gets in the way, sin does its dirty deed, and carnality and strife and bitterness can rule.

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