Tapping Into God's Resources With the Knowledge That Transforms (Ephesians 1:15-19)

If you have a bible, please turn to Ephesians 1.

I'm happy to be sharing with you today, because it’s my happy birthday. Birthdays naturally make me think about my life—where I’ve been and where I’m going. I think about how as a believer, I actually experienced two births (two birthdays): my physical birth into this world and my spiritual rebirth by confession and believing (as we know from Romans 10:9-10).

Having two birthdays helps me understand a short prayer that Apostle Paul wrote down a couple thousand years ago. The prayer was written to me and you, and every believer, for us to read and apply to our lives today. Paul's powerful prayer is in Ephesians 1:15-19. Let’s read and study this prayer. In these verses, Paul reveals three types of knowledge that can change our understanding of what's available to us through our 2nd birthday, our spiritual rebirth.

The Source of True Knowledge

John 10:10 says that we can live a more than abundant life. But to do that, we have to know what makes that abundant life available. To find out what is available to us, we have to know what God has promised us. There’s only one primary source for this information. There’s only one place where we can possibly go to find out what God has made available to us and for us, so that we can live an abundant life. We must go to the Word.

We go to the Word because, (as II Peter 1:3 explains), God's Word contains "all things that pertain unto life and godliness." This means we can go to the Word, read the Word with confidence, learn from it, and know that it provides everything we need, in relation to how we should think, speak, act, and live.

The Prayer for Enlightenment

Let's go to the Word. Let’s look at Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1. And let’s discover what God wants us to know. 

Let’s read Ephesians 1:15-19. It says, "15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 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. 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

Paul is praying for spiritual illumination, mental enlightenment, so that believers can receive "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God." This isn't merely intellectually understanding. Like, “Oh, yeah, I understand. I got it.” No. It’s much more than that. It’s about divine enlightenment, where "the eyes of our understanding [our hearts]" will be flooded richly with spiritual light. That’s really cool. 

My Two Births

As I think about my birthday today, I'm reminded that my physical birth was just the beginning of my story. When I was born on this day, many, many, many years ago, I entered the world as a physical being with certain physical characteristics and abilities, and also limitations.

But when I was born again, and experienced a spiritual rebirth—being "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever" (like I Peter 1:23 says)—I received a new nature, became like a new person, with new potential, and new unlimited resources. Born again believers, can tap into unlimited spiritual truths and resources, to live a more than abundant life. Because that’s what is promised to us in the Word.

Just as my physical birth was only the start of discovering who I would become naturally, my spiritual birth began a lifelong journey of discovering what God has made available to me spiritually. 

Paul is praying to God here in Ephesians 1 to give us something really cool - a special kind of wisdom. Paul wants you to know God in a special way - not just know about Him, but really know Him personally. 

Paul talks about the "eyes of our hearts." This means the part deep inside each of us that truly understands things. Paul is praying that God will turn on a super bright light inside you and me, so that we can see things we couldn't see before (with wisdom and revelation by knowing God.)

When this light comes on, we’ll understand three amazing things:

We’ll understand (1) the hope that God has given us - that's like a special promise, from God, that we can count on. (2) You'll see how rich God's inheritance is. Inheritance is like when someone leaves you a treasure in their will after they die, except God's treasure is for all His people, for us. And it's better than any treasure on earth. And (3) We’ll begin to understand God's power - and this isn't just any power, it's HUGE power. The same incredible strength that God used when He did His mightiest works. It’s the very same power that's works within you, when you believe in Him.

Three Categories of Divine Knowledge

Let’s look again at the three things that Paul mentions in his prayer:

First Thing: The Hope of His Calling

Paul prays that we would know "what is the hope of his calling" (Ephesians 1:18b).

Hope mentioned in the Word here is NOT uncertain wishful thinking, but instead, confident expectation. It relates to something available and definitely coming in the future. For believers, this hope centers on Christ's return, when we will be gathered together, receive new bodies (physically reborn again), and be forever with the Lord.

As I John 3:2 promises, "Beloved, now are we the sons and daughters of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that, when he appears, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is."

While my physical birthday makes me think about the years that have passed, my spiritual birth gives me reason to look forward with anticipation of what is yet to come.

2nd Thing Paul Prays for Is God’s Inheritance in the Saints

The second thing Paul prays for believers to know is "what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18c).

This truth is amazing—we are God's inheritance. The Creator of the universe has claimed us as His treasured possession. He inherited us. As born-again believers, we have God’s gift of holy spirit. God has put an incorruptible seed in us, and we are His beloved and precious (inherited) children forevermore.

This verse is saying that God has this incredibly valuable, amazingly wonderful treasure - and that treasure is actually us, His people, the saints. And at the same time, we get to share in all the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love Him. It's like God is saying, "You are my special treasure, and I have amazing gifts for you."

Colossians 1:27 tells us we have "Christ in us, the hope of glory," while I John 3:2 says that "now, we are the children of God." God values us so deeply that He considers us His inheritance.

Third Thing Paul Prays for Is the Exceeding Greatness of God’s Power

The third thing that Paul prays for us believers to know is "what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephesians 1:19).

The power given to believers is described as having "exceeding, surpassing, and superabundant greatness." Believing is the greatest principle in all of life, and believing is the greatest law in the Word. Believing makes things happen. Believing brings the promises of God into reality. 

This super power (believing) is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. And that power is available to us who manifest it through believing. Jesus promised in John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, She that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall she do also. And greater works than these shall she do, because I go unto my Father."

The Connection Between Birth and Knowledge

Just as a newborn kid gradually discovers and develops physical capabilities, we – as spiritually reborn believers – we must grow in our understanding of what's been made available to us.

When I was born physically, I couldn't immediately walk, talk, or feed myself. Similarly, spiritual growth requires development. The knowledge that Paul prays for isn't automatically operational in our lives—we must grow in the understanding and application of these spiritual realities.

The difference between my physical development and spiritual development is that physical abilities develop naturally with time, while spiritual understanding requires intentional believing and action, like studying the Word, and going to fellowship. 

A Birthday Reflection

Today, as I celebrate another year of physical life, I'm more grateful than ever for the gift of a spiritual life. While my physical birth gave me a temporary existence in this world, my spiritual rebirth has given me an eternal life with God.

Let’s walk with confidence because we know. Our confidence isn't based on feelings or circumstances, but on divine knowledge of what God has made available to us.

My birthday wish is for all of us is to grow in our understanding of these three vital areas of knowledge:

1. The certain hope of Christ's return and our future with Him.

2. Our valued position as God's own inheritance.

3. The exceeding greatness of God's power available to us through believing.

As we understand and apply these truths, we can experience the abundant life Jesus promised—not just on special days like birthdays, but every day of our lives.

I am thankful for the gift of a physical life. I’m even more thankful for the gift of a spiritual life by being born again. Let’s believe God to continue to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation we need in our lives. Let’s enlighten the eyes of our hearts to understand the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of God’s power toward us who believe. Let’s walk with confidence because we know these truths.

Amen?