FIRM FOUNDATION!
The Antidote
Ephesians 1:18-19
Ephesians 1:15-17
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all
God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I
keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Previously:
1. Faithless age
Pew projects that in 2070, Christians will likely make up less than half the US population.
50 years ago that number was 90%
Isaiah 43:21
21 the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.
2. Information Age
Prevalence of doctrines and different faiths.
3. The Need
Reason 1. It is making its way into the church.
Reason 2. Its In your home.
Ephesians 4
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God………
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and
there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful
scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the
mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
4. The Answer
Ephesians 1:17
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
The Antidote:
CONTEXT:
The city of Ephesus is located in modern day Turkey. hosted around 250,000 residents
Ephesus was known as a city of size, wealth, and power. The major economies of the city were
rooted in trade and idol worship.
The temple of Artemis, located in the heart of the city, was prized as one of the seven wonders
of the ancient world.
The church at Ephesus was established 15-20 years after the death of Jesus Christ.
Paul planted the church. And wrote them letters which are called Ephesians
Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians while he was in prison in Rome.
BOOK BREAKDOWN:
Ephesians chapter 1-3 Paul is presenting the gospel story, and in 4-6 Paul is telling them how
the gospel story informs us on how we should all live out our lives.
Ephesians 1:16-20
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the
knowledge of him, 18 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, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who
believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised
him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
What is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation?:
The “wisdom” is a better understanding of the doctrines of God, and the “revelation” is a clearer
picture of the divine character and will.
We can not understand it on our own.
The strongest eyes are useless when a person is in total darkness. The natural man has no
spiritual sight. His eyes do not perceive Jesus’ power and beauty.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14
12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that
we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words
taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with
Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from
the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are
discerned only through the Spirit.
Satan’s most common attack is the opposite of this by releasing accusation and deception to
confuse our hearts.
Paul added three specific prayers that flow out of encounter:
Ephesians 1:18-19
18 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, 19 and what is the
immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his
great might
The hope to which he has called you. (How the story ends)
The invitation goes out to everyone:
“Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).
The call is the call to faith!
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
(2 Tim. 1:9), God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all
eternity.”
Thus as Christians, we should be filled with hope because we know that God has called us to
salvation. (In the present and eternity)
The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Us as his reward)
It refers to the inheritance that God has in His people. In other words, we are God’s possession,
purchased by the blood of Christ.
Deuteronomy 32:9 says, “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His
inheritance.”
Psalm 33:12 proclaims, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has
chosen for His own inheritance.”
Ephesians 5:27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or
wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
And his incomparably great power for us who believe. (His unmatched power and glory)
Ephesians 1:19-21
“in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ,
when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far
above all rule and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but
also in the one to come.”
What does this help us do?
Endure
The preaching team in Ephesus was legendarily deep. Paul, Apollos, Timothy, and John all
pastored the church in different seasons.
In the end, Jesus pointed out that they lost their first love (Revelation 2:1-7)
If we are looking for a feeling. Or a dream or just an encounter then we won’t be deeply rooted.
The spirit of wisdom and revelation teaches us:
How the story ends
That we are his reward
That our God is omnipotent
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