Hope, Riches, Power

This morning I am reading from Ephesians:

(NIV)Ephesians 1:17-23
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength [20] he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. [22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

I think this sentence is so important: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Three key things we should be praying for each other and ourselves - hope, inheritance and power.

These are related to the eyes of our hearts being opened. I think this relates to real connection in our relationship with Him. Its in this place of real relationship that we discover who He thinks we are, how He thinks about us, and His will for us - this is our hope. We do have purpose and significance. He does want relatationship with us, regardless of our state of mind and heart. He has called us because He wants relationship with us.

The riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, is the church. Imagine that - we are His inheritance! There are great riches in the Body of Christ, in the people around us, and He wants us to discover the riches. His prayer is basically that our hearts might be enlightened to see the riches in those around us. That should be our heart attitude when we meet together, discovering and enjoying the riches hidden in our brothers and sisters.

Finally, His incomparably great power. Incomparable means nothing else is like this power. I know I have seen things and had experiences that nothing else can compare too. His desire is that we all have these types of experiences, and understanding. Nothing and no one is like our God. He wants the world to experience this reality. We need to believe that if this is His desire, then He will deliver experiences that are in line with this desire. He wants us convinced that nothing compares to Him, or too His power!

One could argue that these are Paul's prayers, but we know He wrote these words under the unction of the Holy Spirit, and was expressing the Holy Spirit's heart, and that the inclusion of these in the Holy Epistles means they are for us all, not just the Ephesians.

Lord we pray that we would have enlightened eyes in our hearts to know the hope tonwhoch you have called us, the riches of the Body of Christ and the incomparable power available to us! Amen Lord.