In light of Paul’s prayer life in general, we are prepared to look specifically at that for which he prayed (Eph. 1:17-23). Generally speaking, Paul wanted his readers to understand the significance of the truths he expounded in his “song of praise.”
As I read this passage many times during my study of it, the very first thing that struck me was Paul’s “pastor’s heart.” Unlike today, where we see a pastor’s heart defined as being some syrupy sentimentality that often coddles, and even indulges, Christians more than challenging them, the desire of Paul’s heart was to see God’s people grow deeper in doctrine, to understand theological Truth. More than anything else, Paul wanted God’s people to know God—That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (v. 17).
What is the only way we can know God? Many people today profess to “know God” and to “be in touch with God,” but are merely religious, professing something but knowing nothing. As Job asked: “Canst thou by searching find out God?” (Job 11:7). In himself man can never know God. That is exactly what Paul declared to the philosophically‑minded Corinthians: “The world by wisdom [or, philosophy] knew not God” (I Cor. 1:21). All the gospel was to many in Corinth was just another philosophy to debate. But Paul did not come to “philosophize” or “psychologize” as many do today; rather he came to preach the Word of God plainly and boldly (2:1-5).
Likewise, that is what Jesus meant when He said of the people: “They seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand” (Matt. 13:13). Even with the truth right in front of them, they could not see it. So the only way we can know God is by possessing the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and that comes only by saving faith is Jesus Christ.
Not only des the Holy Spirit impart wisdom, which we examined back in verse 8, but He also imparts revelation, which means the uncovering or disclosure of previously hidden things. The most obvious example of this is the disclosure of the “mystery” of our salvation in verses 3‑14. In other words, God has revealed His mysteries through His Spirit and has made them known to us. That is what Paul was praying for.
There are those today who are looking for “new revelation.” But God has already revealed to us all that He is going to reveal in His Word and through His Spirit who energizes that Word. If we would just concentrate on that, we will be so busy studying the depth of it that we will have no time to “seek other revelations.”
The story is told of the famous newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst, who invested a literal fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items that he felt he must own, so he sent his agent abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Hearst’s warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned! Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself a great deal of money and trouble.
That graphically illustrates many Christians today, some of whom resemble the old Gnostics. Gnosticism, which came to full bloom in the 2nd Century and remains today under a new title, The New Age Movement, boasted of a deeper, superior knowledge that only certain people could acquire. Many today seek some supposed “deeper life” or “higher blessing.” Some go so far as to go back to the rituals and ceremonies of the Old Testament, thinking that they hold some deeper significance than the simple truths of the New Testament. But how foolish they are. Like William Randolph Hearst, they are clueless of what they already own. And what is the “catalog” of our treasures? The Word of God. If people will only search that, they will find all the treasures God has given.
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