The Bride is Blessed with God’s Revelation

1. Read: Ephesians 1:15-19

2. About the Text:

1) The book of Ephesians is about the church, the bride of Christ.

2) All spiritual blessings are in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

3) God’s revelation is for everyone, but only the bride has enlightenment.

4) It takes personal application of God’s revelation to truly understand its power.

5) This means commitment by identifying with Jesus Christ in baptism.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Paul’s relationship with the church.

1) He heard of their faith in the Lord and their love for all the saints.

2) He did not cease to give thanks for them.

3) He prayed for them.

2. Paul’s Prayer

1) The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ would give them a gift.

2) The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus.

a. The early church had miraculous gifts to know God’s revelation.

b. Today, we have the Bible.

c. They received knowledge directly from God.

d. We receive knowledge through study.

e. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

f. God gives us the wisdom and knowledge as we seek to apply what we learn.

g. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

3. The knowledge of Jesus.

1) His ministry, life, death, and resurrection.

2) “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

3) His bride, the church, and God’s eternal purpose.

4) Read Ephesians 3:3-6

4. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.

1) This is application of the knowledge of Jesus to our personal lives.

2) “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

3) Christian living.

4) Read Colossians 3:12-17

5) Knowing how Jesus applies to every situation and circumstance I encounter.

5. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).

1) The world is not going to give you God’s revelation.

2) Only the church is going to do that.

6. God wants us to know Jesus Christ.

1. God has a calling!

1) “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

2) “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

2. The Hope of His Calling

1) God’s calling entails great hope!

2) There is one hope of His calling (Ephesians 4:4).

3) “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

4) “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

5) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

3. God wants us to know His Hope.

1. The inheritance is what the Father gives the Son.

1) What has the Father given the Son? His people.

2) The inheritance among the saints are the saints.

3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).

4) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

2. God wants us to know the inheritance among the saints.

1. God demonstrated His power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1) Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

2) “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power” (1 Corinthians 6:14).

2. God demonstrated His power when Jesus ascended to sit at His right hand.

1) This was first shown in Acts 2 with the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

2) His power is in the gospel today (Romans 1:16-17).

3. Do we trust in the power of God to save us?

4. Do we trust in the power of God to raise us from the dead?

1. The Bride is blessed with God’s Revelation which enlightens her regarding . . .

1) Jesus Christ

2) The Hope of His Calling

3) The Inheritance Among the Saints

4) The Greatness of His Power

2. Invitation

1) Let’s use this knowledge to be faithful.

2) Let’s use this knowledge to evangelize.