Have you taken my suggestion of reading the book of Ephesians? I hope so, and now, I will encourage you to read it again.
There is so much spiritual gold to be found in this book. Personally, I have read the verses I’m going to share with you this morning thousands of times. Each time, they become more real and my understanding of God’s love and provision grows deeper.
I have to stop for a moment on something I just said. Provision. Pro – vision. To look ahead and supply what is needed. From the beginning of time, God looked ahead, saw what we need and provided it.
Don’t just read over these verses. Read them slowly, phrase by phrase, and let the Holy Spirit make them real to your heart.
“Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
There are so many nuggets in those few verses. God doesn’t want us to miss a thing.
- Spiritual wisdom and insight is needed so we can grow in our knowledge of God
- With that knowledge our hearts will be flooded with hope, confident hope
- (This next one really took me a while to comprehend.) WE are God’s rich and glorious inheritance. An inheritance is something we receive when someone dies. It something of value. When Christ died, He gave the Father an inheritance – He gave the Father us! Let that sink in.
- When we understand that, we will also begin to understand the power of God that is working for us. It’s the same power that He demonstrated when He raised Christ from the dead.
- And finally, God put all things under Christ’s authority for our benefit. We, the church, are Christ’s body and as such we are full and complete in Him.
All I can say now is go back and “Read It Again”. God bless you!