“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 1:17-18 (ASV)
I remember, when I was in my younger years, that I tried to read the Bible. I started in Genesis and never made it much past creation. I was an avid reader and could not understand why it was so difficult to make sense of the Bible. I recognized that there was a language written within the book that I could not understand or comprehend. I tried multiple time to read it, but always ended up just looking at the pictures that my little zippered Bible had inside. It was a precious gift that I treasured and hoped that someday I would be able to make sense of.
When I gave my life to Jesus I started to read the Bible in Matthew. The parables and stories were easier to read. This was the story of Jesus and those who followed Him, something that I could associate with. It was written by His followers, His Disciples, those who loved and traveled with Him – I felt a connection. Unfortunately, the Old Testament still didn’t make any sense and the New Testament, although easier to read, was still a story, not a living testimony.
One day, after almost a year of prayer, I was baptized with the Holy Spirit. Things changed. Words I had read before, in both the New and Old Testaments came to life. They were real and living and life changing. I could feel the scriptures, I could see the stories being told, I became a part of the living Word of God. It was as real as any person. It was more than I could have ever imagined. It was living truth.
In Ephesians 1:17 Paul is praying that God would give the listener, us, the “Spirit of Wisdom” – a wisdom and understanding that can only be felt through the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. He wanted them to feel the personal relationship with Jesus that makes all of the Word a reality to the believer.
The word “Spirit” is also described as the “Breath” or “Wind” of God. His Breath speaks deep into our souls of the truth, holiness and power that is birthed inside of us when we receive His Holy Spirit. We read and hear His spoken word and apply the wisdom we received to every circumstance we encounter (John 16:13).
Paul also prayed for the Revelation of the knowledge of Christ. That all of the saints would speak the word in one accord, not in conflict or divisions of opinion of what it means (1 Corinthians 1:9-10). He prayed that they would share the message of love, joy, and a setting apart from the ways of the world. God’s word, read through the eyes of the spirit filled saint, has a new life, a new drive, and it births a desire to share the message.
Paul prayed that through the Spirit of Wisdom and the Revelation of Knowledge that we would be enlightened to the truth of the gospel. He prayed that we would be enlightened to God’s true Spirit, felt in the intimate times of prayer and worship. He prayed that we would be able to hear the very voice of God in times of meditation, so that we would know what God’s hope is in each of us. Paul prayed that we would be enlightened to the calling God has placed upon our lives (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
Paul had first-hand knowledge of the voice of God and how it changes the heart of man. Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, when he thought he knew what was right and truth based upon a knowledge passed down from generations to generation. But the voice of God cut through him like a knife and performed an intimate miracle (Acts 26:14-15). It was a miracle that made Paul the most powerful apostle of all time. Paul knew the impact of the words he spoke (Ephesians 1: 17-18) and what it would mean to those who listened and received with an earnest heart. Paul knew the inheritance that would lie ahead for each and every one who received his prayer and gathered it to their soul.
Lord, as I received your Holy Spirit and believed in the call that you placed on my life, I pray that others will receive the same gift, with humbleness and grace. Help them to understand that they cannot receive the fullness of your glory if they do not have the intimate relationship with You that can only be received through the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Lord, I pray that every saint will take that next step toward You, with a heart of desire to know You more. Until that day of prayer, they will only know the shadow of You, they will only know the story of You. After they have prayed through to the Holy Ghost, they will know the true heart and soul of You; the intimate tender relationship of You.
**A Journey Through Ephesians – Chapter 1, Part 10.
Written by Linda J. Humes
9-22-14
Linda J. Humes 