Ephesians 1:15-23, A Prayer for Spiritual Insight (2)

For what is Paul thankful? “your faith … and your love”

Remember: these are believers in Christ.  Their faith has been made evident by their love for the family of God.  In other words, they have the Holy Spirit, because if you have not the Spirit then you have not Christ (Rom. 8:9).  He dwells in them.  They may, on occasion, grieve or quench the Spirit, they may not always be filled with the Spirit, but the Spirit dwells in them.

What requests does Paul present?

There is one request in this prayer, a request that brings about tremendous results when God answers the request.  Let us take a moment to diagram the prayer.

One request: may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him H One major result: the eyes of your understanding/hearts being enlightened, that you may know … Three results:
H what is the hope of His calling	H what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints	H what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (this power is described in vs19b-23)

 The request is for a “spirit” of wisdom and revelation in knowing God.  I believe the NKJV is correct in using a lower case “s.”  These believers do not need to receive the Holy Spirit.  But they themselves need God’s work in their own “spirit.”  If you remember the promises of the New Covenant this makes sense.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezek. 36:25-27)

It is one thing for God to give us His Spirit, through whom we know all these things God has given to us (1 Cor. 2:12).  We must have the Holy Spirit who knows the things of God (1 Cor. 2:11).  But we must also be equipped to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  In 1 Cor. 2:13 Paul says that he spoke in the wisdom which the Holy Spirit teaches.  Paul knows that those to whom he speaks must have a spirit that can receive the Holy Spirit’s wisdom.  That is why he prays here that God might give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation. 

This is such an important prayer to pray for any believers, but especially those who are young in the Lord.  They don’t know what they don’t know.  They need to have a spirit whereby they receive what the Spirit teaches.  They need to have the light turned on in their hearts.