Skip to main content

Be Persistent


Discover Hope and Power...




“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. 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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength” Ephesians 1:17-19

The verses found in Ephesians 1:15-23 are so powerful. Paul prays specifically for the believers to see three things: the hope, riches, and power they have in Christ Jesus. First, he prays they would know the hope to which they, the Ephesians, have been called. The circumstances that currently surround them would in the dim light of the eternal hope they possess in Christ. Second, he prays they would know the riches of God’s glorious inheritance. These riches are far greater than mere earthly riches; the riches of His mercy and grace are eternal. Third, Paul prays they would know the power that lives inside them. The same power that raise Jesus from the dead now lives in those who believe.

The same is true for us. As believers our hope is in Christ, not our current circumstances. We’ve also inherited riches: The forgiveness we’ve received and the new life we’ve been given will never be taken back. The gift of His mercy and grace is ours in Christ. Paul describes the power of the Holy Spirit as immeasurable greatness. Because of the Spirit’s immeasurable greatness, we’ve become new creations, filled with hope.

Here are a few things that stood out to me in verses 17-19: “I keep asking” – Paul was persistent in asking God; “glorious Father” – speaks of relationship.” Embrace our true identity in the Father; “so that you may know Him better” – finding a deeper reason to get to know (truly know) Him; and lastly, “His incomparably great power” – we are empowered as we discover the Hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

As Christ Followers, we are beneficiaries of every spiritual blessings as children of the One True God. We have assurance of eternal life; the Holy Spirit resides in us as our guide. As believers, God has called us as His own people.

Write out Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23. And, make these words your own prayer by praying them out loud. 

Here's a Verse Mapping tool to help you get started.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Canva

Created 2 Create Twitter Cover Image Design Canva - One of My Favorite Design Programs and Apps With Canva , you don’t have to be a design pro, it makes designing easy. You can use your own photos or you can you upload images from sites like Unsplash or Pexels  and download them on your computer totally FREE. Canva also offers an app for you phone. Canva lets you Create designs for Web or print: blog graphics, presentations, Facebook & social media covers, flyers, posters, invitations and many more.  The design options are endless, and the site is very user-friendly – you can modify one the their designs or create your own using one of the templates. Unsplash offers professional images that you can modify, edit and use as you desire. Again, totally free! Pexels ’ site is just like Upsplash , these are royalty-free photographs for you to use as you wish. These are some of the designs I created using Canva … Click on l...
7 comments
Read more

All That is Within Me

If you are like me and have an iPhone, you've probably spent the last couple days trying to figure out all the updates. If you have more than one Apple device, such as an iPad, you've spent even more time updating it as well. Or maybe that's on your to-do list for today (or tomorrow). It's not a quick update, it takes a fair amount of time; then once you update, you've got to reset a few things. So, that got me to thinking, have I spent the same amount of time alone with God, reading His Word, reaching out to other believers, or witnessing to the lost? I must confess, my answer would have to be "no." God loves us so much, He rejoices when we call on Him, when we reach out to Him in prayer, and when we meditate on His Word. He's so patient and so full of grace. I keep thinking back to the scripture: Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. All means completely, entirely; for ...
4 comments
Read more

31 Days - Day 21

Today, I'm wondering where the time's going and what will I post?! My brain is on empty. So, what comes to mind at this time is Mandisa's song "Overcomer" which has been playing on the radio a lot lately. Jesus said in John16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Matthew Henry's Commentary on this verse: He comforts them with a promise of peace in him, by virtue of his victory over the world, whatever troubles they might meet with in it ( John 16:33 ): “ These things have I spoken, that in me you might have peace ; and if you have it not in me you will not have it at all, for in the world you shall have tribulation ; you must expect no other, and yet may cheer up yourselves, for I have overcome the world .” Observe: 1. The end Christ aimed at in preaching this farewell sermon to his disciples: That in him they might have peace . He did n...
Post a Comment
Read more