During Fall 2017, I taught Calvary Monterey the book of Ephesians. During the series, I also wrote about Ephesians in sixty-plus short, devotionally styled posts. Each Thursday, through 2018, I will release a post. I hope you enjoy. For the entire series, please visit nateholdridge.com/united-for-unity-posts.
“For this reason, because we have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened…” (Ephesians 1:15-18).
When the Syrian army encamped against Elisha’s home, his servant saw them first. Trembling, he ran to Elisha. Elisha exhorted him, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Elisha then prayed for his servant: “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see" (2 Kings 6:16-17). The young man then saw, God having opened his eyes. All around Elisha he saw the mountain full of God’s horses and chariots of fire. His fear evaporated once he saw correctly.
It is this concept Paul carries into this opening prayer in Ephesians. He has already told us we have innumerable blessings from God in Christ. But there is often a disconnect for the believer: we do not see the reality of God’s blessings — His call and riches and power. We often fixate on only what we can see with our physical eye, the material realm, so Paul prays for spiritual sight to be given. He wants revelation, enlightenment. He knows we, like Elisha’s servant, would gain boldness, confidence, and conviction if we could only see more clearly.
So Paul prays for the heart of the church to be consumed with the knowledge of Christ. Jesus told us of four soils, representative of four hearts, only one of them ready for the word. It is with this in mind Paul prays. He attacks the heart with prayer, for he knows it is the eyes of our hearts with need enlightenment.
Dream for a moment: what would you be if you could see God clearly? If you truly believed all His promises to the fullest degree, what level of security, confidence, or conviction would enter into your heart? What kind of love or passion or reprioritization might develop? Pray, like Paul, for the Holy Spirit of wisdom and knowledge to interact with your human Spirit. In another place, Paul told us the Spirit knows the deep things of God and also relays them to us. We, in turn, understand these spiritual truths because he has made us into spiritual people (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Have you ever thought about your need for Spirit initiated heart enlightenment? How might you give Him room to operate in you? He wants to teach you, to open the eyes of your heart, so give the Spirit room to teach you.