There is a temptation for un-schooled guys like me to start to feel incompetent to bring revelation from the word to those around us. These feelings of inferiority have at times shut me down. But as I meditate on this prayer from Paul the apostle, I find great comfort, hope, and confidence.
I read – confess – this, or a variation of it nearly every time I open the Bible for reading or study. Let’s read it now. I suggest, if you are in a context where you can, you read it out loud. (After all, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ, so it couldn’t hurt, right?)
…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 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, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might – Ephesians 1:17-19 NASB20
Before we get to talking about the how, let’s just look at the list of benefits the Lord wants to bring us. Like David said in Psalm 103, let’s “forget not all His benefits.”
The gift of a spirit of Wisdom
The gift of a spirit of Revelation
Heart-eyes opened and enlightened
Experiential knowledge of the hope of God’s call on your life
Experiential knowledge of the riches of the glory of His inheritance in you
Experiential knowledge of the boundless greatness of His power toward you
WOW, that’s some package!
In the first verse, we get the first glimpse of how all this comes. Paul prays that we receive this gift of a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. As we see Jesus more clearly, we can receive this gift. Notice it is a gift, which means we must receive it. Just like salvation, wisdom and revelation are gifts of God. They are not rewards to be earned. They are not even fruit to be gathered. They are gifts of God, given to those who will press in and accept them–take them.
Remember this from James?
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5 NASB20
Wisdom is a gift!
Revelation is a gift!
The second point about this list of benefits is in the last line of our text. “These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.”
All the power of our Father stand behind our ability to receive these gifts.
Here’s where I’m going with this.
Hearing from God is not hard, and not for only the most learned and scholarly among us. Education is a wonderful thing and can be very helpful, but it is not the way to hear and understand God. Wisdom and understanding come by faith. They are gifts that must be received, and they come because of the limitless strength of God’s might is working in every believer.
Any believer, no matter how young in the faith, can walk in a spirit of mind-blowing wisdom and revelation simply by opening himself/herself up to the Word of God and reading with faith.
A note to the seasoned believers out there. Be careful not to tune out what our young brothers and sisters have to share. Two months filled with a spirit of wisdom and revelation can bring light to all of us. Remember, Paul was only a three-year-old Christian when he was sent out as an apostle to the known world.
It’s not about how long you have been a believer.
It’s not about the length of the string of letters at the end of your name.
It’s about receiving by faith from the hand of the Father, and anyone can do it.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice and they know me.” It’s true for me. It’s true for you.
I’ll be back soon.
Blessing,
Ben