Ephesians 1:15-23

15: For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
16: do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
17: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
18: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19: and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
20: which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21: far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22: And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23: which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

*** 

These verses are a prayer Paul said he prayed for the Ephesians continually. They are worth memorizing and praying for yourself and others. Because of their faith and because they were believers in Christ, Paul prayed that the Father would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. He prayed for the eyes of their heart to be enlightened. This spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God and Christ, and the enlightenment of the eyes of the heart that brings a ‘knowing,’ shows how important Paul believed it was for every believer to know and understand who God is and what He has done on our behalf through Jesus Christ.

Paul clearly prayed for this understanding for them and then specifically said what it was he desired for them to come to know and understand—the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power toward believers. This reveals a wisdom and enlightenment that each believer should personally experience regarding this hope, this inheritance, and this great power of the Father.

This power is the same mighty strength which raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the heavenlies—the place which is far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion. It's far above every name for all times. God the Father has also put everything in subjection to Christ—under His feet—and gave Him authority as head over everything pertaining to the church. The church who is the body of the Lord Jesus.

There is no question that Jesus has been raised to this position of great authority, and He is no doubt the ultimate head of the church. The church in whom His life fills all, and the church who is the fullness of Him—the continual revelation of Him and the expression of Him in the earth. I would encourage you to pray this prayer for yourself, your family, and your local family of believers so we all come to a greater understanding of these important truths.


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