Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Knowing Him

I hope you enjoyed reading Ephesians chapter 1 yesterday, cuz I'm certain you ALL DID!

Now, flippity-flip your Bible open back to Ephesians and let's take out some munchies today!

I'm sticking with Chapter 1, but it's the last half and even though I'd like to, we just can't get to the end today. There's TOO much to talk about to cram it into one post.

This portion is Paul telling his readers what he prays for them. It's beautiful and powerful to boot! It's something I have prayed for myself and for others I love.

We're going to focus on some key things that will be certain to empower you and that coming off of what we talked about yesterday, you know, that be BECOME like Christ.

Right out of the hat we read what Paul prays for the Believers. There's an urgency in his voice for them to really "get it!" It's almost like he couldn't describe it well enough so he used as many wonderful words as he could get out!

The first thing he prays for is that God would give the people the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know Him better.

Not so they could know his will. Not so that they could know what ministry to be a part of or if they should start one. Not so that they will have the answers they need for the stubborn child or difficult person. He didn't ask they have wisdom for the church committee or for the planning of the service. He asked that God would give them wisdom and revelation through His Spirit so that they would know Him better.

It's what Jesus said the Spirit would do.

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all t hings and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ...He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" John 14:26, 16:14.

Through the Holy Spirit is where you will be able to know the Lord. Know Him. Not just about Him or about His Word, but really know Him. And it's through wisdom and revelation by the Spirit. It isn't always in black and white pages of the Bible. Anyone can know the words, but it is by His Spirit that the Word becomes Life in us! He speaks to us "...in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (1 Cor. 2:13)

Make this a prayer of your own that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better. Isn't that what we all want? Isn't that what catapults and empowers everything else? Pray this in your life. Surrender to the work of the Spirit so that you may know God better. That is a prayer He will answer quicker than you can pray it!

We'll see tomorrow what else he prayed for. You might find yourself on yo knees prayin' over yo-self!

6 comments:

Jesi said...

This is a great prayer...I pray for so many things that this was a great reminder of the most important thing, knowing Him more.

Anonymous said...

I've spoken this verse so many times in my personal walk with God and given it to the ladies in my Bible study, encouraging them to want to know Him more. That's the key, know Him all the more. We can know His word, and speak it out loud, but unless we are allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the true depth of relationship with God through His word, we are not going to experience His power working in our lives. I also remind myself to love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Because once that is in place, all the steps of obedience fall in to place under the umbrella of His love.
Blessings, Amy in OK

Kim Heinecke said...

As always, this is so true.

Mary Jo said...

Awesome! Thanks for a wonderful lesson today! I'm soakin' it all up!

:)

Shane said...

First of all, thanks for letting me off the hook about not quite reading chapter 1!!! And, yes, all prayers are answered when we know Him better. What a great simple, yet profound prayer... Lord please grant us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in order to know You... to become more like You.

Unknown said...

So funny because I've been praying this week for wisdom to deal with the stubborn child. I'm going to be praying now instead to know Him better. The more I'm like Him, the more capable I'll be to deal with my children.