Ephesians 1:1-23
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Though the blessings have already been provided, and though we have already been given way more than we can begin to fully utilize, the completed work of the cross will only transform at the level of its revelation. Redemption and all its empowering capabilities will have little effect without the reception and embrace of all Jesus has acquired for us in it. This, though, isn’t something that is accomplished by the setting of the will and mental determination. It is in need of the spirit of wisdom and revelation that comes in humility before its actual purpose. So much more than just personal provision and positioning above our enemies, the greater purpose of our destiny in Him is to be perfected in holiness for the praise of His glory. Songs and inspired words are wonderful tools for exalting and promoting the heart of the Father, but the only way to truly glorify Him as He’s worthy of is with a life that is living this greater purpose. In this activated revelation is participation in Christ’s gathering all things together in Him. How great an opportunity is ours to lose all unproductive self-focus in an identity that places us right in the middle of what He is doing throughout creation. In this revelation will be liberation from all those strongholds of the “now”. With eyes opened wide to our place in Christ, there will be letting go of those other debilitating constraints of earthly perspectives, and bold advances made towards a life of glorifying Him.
The Ephesians 1 prayer is one that we have heard and definitely recited, but this morning, I really saw in verse one that it is written to the church at Ephesus AND TO THE FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS. THAT’S ME!!!!!!!!!!
I went through and studies and highlighted and circled words and phrases in these verses and meditated on what they truly mean to me. So much was provided for in Christ, if we will just hook up with it! This chapter was written for me, and I am holding to its promises and words of encouragement that I found within it this morning.