1: 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.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

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. Because – Because you were the first to put your hope in Christ Faith – believe, trust, persuaded into action. Love - properly, love which centers in moral preference. Divine love as in God’s love and as in the type of love God prefers Prayer literally means an exchange of wishes, switching our human wishes for the Lords

God Lord Jesus Christ Father Spirit 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. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Wisdom – the affection for wisdom, clarity (ha Matt) This knowledge is available to us, but it is made known to us from God’s Holy Spirit Revelation – Apocalypse – The uncovering. Paul’s prayer is that the knowledge of God would be uncovered by the very Spirit of God within us to have clarity of knowledge of who God is. – “Get over yourself” - get past yourself to allow God’s Spirit to teach you!

God Lord Jesus Christ Father Spirit 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. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. So that Know him better - "knowledge gained through first-hand relationship" – properly, "contact- knowledge" first-hand, experiential knowing. So that Know the hope – to see with physical eyes, as it naturally bridges to the metaphorical sense: perceiving ("mentally seeing"). This is akin to the expressions: "I see what You mean"; "I see what you are saying."

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. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Pray : Again, exchange my wishes for God In order – Ultimately Paul wants this to penetrate into the Ephesians very being! Through their Eyes and Heart! Hope - Expectation of what is sure. – Of the calling: Divine calling to something. Jesus called out to the disciples – Come Hope in What? - Riches of Glorious inheritance: – Riches – abundance – from poly think many – Glory – Honor, renown, glory, splendor, infinite intrinsic worth (not extrinsic) internal worth, heavy weighty, value – Inheritance – your share as an heir

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. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. With God’s Holy: Think with in terms of not beside, but a part of. Belief is based on what God has done, the might of God = our belief accordingly

That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Power is on displayed in raising Jesus from the Dead and not just returning life to something that was void of it, but placing him then in the place not only outside death, but outside the reality of this world. This world is above (FAR ABOVE) Rule: formal kings Authority: outside of rule as a privilege Power : those with the ability, physical or otherwise Dominion: political in power over a region Names: character or person – ever being named Now, past or future

That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. All this is under Jesus feet - authority Jesus is instead the head – or the cornerstone Those in the church are in his body – totality Fullness, all things, in all, filling - just to be sure you understand everything!!

18:19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 18:24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.

19:1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.

Belief x Hope = Power (Inheritance) Belief = Contact Knowledge x Revelation x Identification

Belief is – being convinced to the point of it making a difference in your day to day life. Paul wants our belief/faith to be formed by the uncovering of the Holy Spirit so that what we see and feel shapes us. We are informed by: -Contact Knowledge What God’s Spirit Uncovers -Our decision to act on and identify with this knowledge and revelation SO THAT…

Know the HOPE which you were called God Raised Jesus from the dead, to be sure, but that is not yet the full measure of God’s power or of their hope. - Verhey & Harvard p 59

Belief x Hope = Power (Inheritance) Belief = Contact Knowledge x Revelation x Identification

God’s Power Was demonstrated in and through Jesus and manifested by the Holy Spirit Has no room for false humility as it isn’t yours. (see above) Is evidenced in our lives when we kneel or stand our ground in dependency. (you can’t overstep or under step) Is under Christ’s authority (Christ is the head, the church is his body) Human Power Makes Authoritative claims without proof or evidence but based on entitlement Confuses self-interest with God’s cause Tyrannical oppression of the poor Rhetoric that nurtures enmity and denies humanity of enemies Confidence that self, national or even God’s causes can be secured by violence.

Do you believe this? God Raised Jesus from the dead, to be sure, but that is not yet the full measure of God’s power or of their hope. - Verhey & Harvard p 59

Do you have FAITH? Do you have HOPE in an inheritance with God’s saints? Is it all about being saved from Hell? HOPE Do you have HOPE? Do you have FAITH & HOPE? Does God have the power to Recreate, Redeem, Restore, Renew?

If it were true that Faith x Hope were demonstrated as Power in the life of a believer, would your life be different ?