119:18) or other spiritual realities (2 Kings 6:17). Paul wrote, I am compelled to preach. What a battle He had in us before we would be won! Habakkuk This hope is of the perfection of all, which we are called to enjoy really, but imperfectly, here. 36.2; 59.3). Nor do we need to pray for power to do Gods will. We need not pray for power to evangelize, to witness the gospel to others. Ephesians 1:18-23The Message. The Old Testament priests were called by God to their special work (Hebrews 5:4; cf. Ive been talking to You. Thats the confidence you should have as you live each day. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. So pray for others and for yourself, that God will enlighten the eyes of your heart through His Word so that you will know what is the hope of His calling. Why is there so little power when God states that He has given us His Divine power? Some are called to the political arena or to end human trafficking. There is nothing more to seek, nothing more to be given or received. I hold not its silver and gold; (1Pe 1:5-note) The idea is that we are being brought through an enemys country under a strong escortas (escort = a person or group of persons accompanying another to give protection ) the women and children from Lucknow, between the double line of English soldiers, till they were safe from the onset of the Sepoys. Megethos is used in Lxx in Ex 15:16 "By the greatness of Thine arm' (Where "His arm" is tantamount to His power. They are also his by conquest. 12)? Philemon One needs to realize that subjective hope is based on objective hope, a hope that looks back to Gods work of redemption in 1:314, especially in 1:910 where Paul relates that all things are going to be headed up in Christ. Ischus is inherent power or force. Esther He also gives us the powerthe enablementto practice the truth (Eph. God may. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Letters: Ephesians 1:18 Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened (Ephes. What a transformation took place in Peters life between the end of the Gospels and the beginning of Acts. B. (Lehman Strauss Commentary Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians- online). GotQuestions.org, Warren Wiersbe sums up Paul's prayer for the saints to know the power they possess - The power of the Holy Spirit, through the resurrected, ascended Christ, is available to all Christiansby faith. It is His capability to function effectively. We need not pray for power to endure suffering. Ischus is used as an attribute of God in the Revelation saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power (dunamis) and riches and wisdom and might (ischus) and honor and glory and blessing." But their willingness to persevere assured victory, for Hannibal could never conquer them. The next time we feel weak, we need to recall this passage to our mind (a present imperative command in Php 4:8-note), not in the sense of "mind over matter" but in the sense that this is what is true about us, a truth that we need to walk in by faith (2Cor 5:7, Col 2:6), even (especially) during those times we feel weak (cp 2Cor 12:9-10-note) or inadequate (2Cor 3:5-6-note, 1Cor 15:10-note). A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. So strong is the gravitation that holds us to earth, so dissipating our cares, so fickle our resolution, that nought but the Divine power and grace can lift us to the level of the Divine life. Kratos is exercised strength whereas ischus refers to great inherent strength. Zechariah 1:19). 3:20). But here, Paul is writing to believers (saints, us who believe, 1:18, 19). ", Ephesians 1:19 (note) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. It sounds idealistic. Is keeping it for me. 13-14) writes, When she was young, Victoria was shielded from the fact that she would be the next ruling monarch of England lest this knowledge spoil her. Gods gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Bend the whole energy of your powers to realize your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time. Has God given this power to the believer according toEphesians 1:1920? Start for FREE. Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural. 21:23; Rev. 7:24; 19:11f, 14; 24:21, 25; 26:11; 27:12; 30:6, 15, 18, 21; 31:18; 32:12, 16, 18, 20, 26, 29ff; 33:28; 34:27; Dan. Ephesians Revival comes when, no longer satisfied to know about a God in history, we meet the conditions of finding Him in living, personal experience. Already we have noted that God made us His heritage that we should be to the praise of His glory (1:11-12). (Jon Courson's Application Commentary). I am in total agreement with you. Exodus (Lehman Strauss Commentary Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians- online), Kenneth Wuest says that dunamis "power in the sense of that which overcomes resistance or effects a change" (In Mark 5:30 literal Greek = Jesus, perceiving in Himself the out from Him power going out) It was some of (Jesus') supernatural power which He felt leaving Him in the accomplishing of the miraculous cure". In the four Gospels, we see Gods power at work in the ministry of Jesus Christ, but in the Book of Acts, we see that same power at work in ordinary men and women, members of the body of Christ. 18:1; 22:15; 29:4, 11; 31:10; 33:16; 38:10; 39:10; 61:2; 65:6; 71:9; 78:61; 102:23; 103:20; 111:6; 118:14; 147:5; Prov. Both views are theologically sound, but the second seems more consistent with Pauls emphasis in Eph 1:11 and Eph 1:14. (Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation). 3:21; Col. 2:12; 2 Thess. It is an expectation or confidence. It is a beautiful picture, the heart being regarded as having eyes looking out toward God and all of the spiritual blessings that have their source and supply in God's Beloved Son. The hope of our calling is the absolute certainty of our heavenly destiny and includes all that awaits the saints at the return of the Lord Jesus and is what Paul referred to by the phrase the "Blessed hope" writing in Titus that the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking (not just any kind of looking but looking anxiously, eagerly, earnestly, expectantly) for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. In Ephesians 1:18 the Greek word forheart is singular so that Paul is praying for each individual person's heart! 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. When an emigrant first receives the title-deeds of the broad lands made over to him in the far West, he has no conception, as he descends the steps of the Government office and passes into the crowd, of all that has been conveyed to him in the schedule of parchment. Is (2076) is the present tense of eimi = to be, and so conveys the idea "what is continually the hope.". Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! Ephesians 1:1920is discussing Pauls earnest desire for the Ephesians to attain knowledge regarding the power of God toward the believer. But wholly lean on Jesus name. 29:1113). Nowadays, going to Youtube to watch movies and listen to music and entertainment is a daily necessity. He bought the world to get you. We need to go back and read the manual carefully, asking God to give us His wisdom and understanding. In them we see the possibilities of humanity, the ideal for man which God had when He created and breathed His blessing .upon him. 2:20). Mark 12:30+ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. What made the difference? I, Paul, am under Gods plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. 8:30), And these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. That sequence is certain! you may know . The idea is that it is the active efficacy of the might that is inherent in God, His indwelling strength. He does everything he can to buy the field in which the treasure is buried. It was Paul who rejoiced in the confident hope that we have in Christ Jesus and he longed that others too would come to a real understanding of the incomparable riches of His grace which is expressed in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus, and so Paul prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which God has called us - the riches of His glorious inheritance in US - His holy, called-out people. Harold Hoehner -In Eph 1:14 Paul wrote that the Christians inheritance is their final redemption from the presence of sin. (NLT - Tyndale House), Phillips: that you may receive that inner illumination of the spirit which will make you realise how great is the hope to which He is calling you - the magnificence and splendour of the inheritance promised to Christians - (Phillips: Touchstone), Wuest: the eyes of your heart being in an enlightened state with a view to your knowing what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,(Eerdmans Publishing- usedby permission), Young's Literal: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, for your knowing what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1 1-2 I, Paul, am under God's plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. Virtually all the authorities agree that "heart" is the correct translation. Ezra Or if you are so afraid of robbers that you cannot really enjoy it? I never heard such a sermon in all my lifeEphesians 1:18. The first dealt with the past, where the hope was produced by the calling of his people to himself. The soul, as is written, The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord (Prov. 1986. Referring to himself as a believer, Paul wrote: "I am [have been] crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. Therefore, whereas the hope that was produced by his calling looked back to the past, his inheritance in the saints will be fully realized in Christs coming to get his saints." We live in a day when denominations, Churches, and religious organizations are running on man-made programs, social agendas, and orders handed down from denominational headquarters. Read the Bible, discover plans, and seek God every day. 4:6; 14:14, Gilbrant on ischus in classical Greek and the Septuagint -Classical Greek - Ischus is common in the most ancient Greek writings, but gradually it diminished in usage (see Moulton-Milligan for the few citations). I make the best my goal; I just love Jesus. Some even think that studying theology is spiritually dangerous. Only when we know who we really are can we live like who we are. THOUGHT - Is my life a living epistle, a vibrant testimony to God's supernatural power? When a person is aware of that call and surrenders to it, he or she starts living out Gods purpose for him or her (seeJeremiah 1:45;Isaiah 49:1;Galatians 1:15). In other words, if we now have come to believe in Christ, we can know that it took nothing less than Gods mighty power to bring us to that point. Such activity is a far cry from what God intended and expects the local Church to be. The literal rendering is "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened." Used by permission of NavPress. Your Holy Spirit lives in me In fact, the Greek word translated church in the New Testament means a called-out assembly. The call to salvation involves conforming us to the image of his Son. His election and call to salvation are part of an eternal plan for us that guarantees our inheritance in heaven: And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:2930). Paul asks that the blessing imparted by God the Father ( Eph 1:3 ) to the Ephesians will be strengthened in them through the message of the gospel ( Eph 1:13 , 17 - 19 ). Sunday I went up to Los Angeles and heard Paul Rader preach. ", It is power. That is what Paul desires for them and for all believers. It is but a step from the bosom of the Father to His right hand. 15:10-note). Living in the light of Your goodness As an introduction to mentioning the many afflictions he had endured for the Lord, Paul commented, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves (2 Cor. Then he adds (Calvins Commentaries [Baker reprint], on Eph. They say, I dont bother with theology. ), How is this resurrection power demonstrated even in this letter? 8:30), the God who predestined you and called you will also glorify you. QUESTION -Do believers really have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:1920)? What does the Bible say about how much power Christians possess? of Since land was divided by lot, probably in the framework of common use of the fields, kleros came to mean a share, land received by lot, plot of land, and finally inheritance. Ephesians 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. 4:1; Song 2:7; 3:5; 5:8; 8:4; Is. Many Old Testament texts speak of Israel as Gods chosen portion or inheritance. The salutation is in Eph 1:2, which is common to all his epistles: and in Eph 1:3, is the thanksgiving to God, as the God and Father of Christ, for spiritual blessings in Christ in general; and then he proceeds to particulars, and begins with election, which is represented as an act of God the Father, as of particular persons, as done in Christ, and from the foundation of the world, the end of which is perfect holiness and love, Eph 1:4, and which is further illustrated under the name of predestination; the blessing which that is an appointment to, is the adoption of children; the moving cause of it, is the good pleasure of the divine will; the instrumental cause, or means, is Christ Jesus; the end with God is for himself, Eph 1:5, and which, in the next verse, is explained of the glory of his grace; to which grace, acceptance with him in Christ is owing; and which is another spiritual blessing, or a branch of election and predestination, Eph 1:6.