EPHESIANS: Hope Glory Power
EPHESIANS Number 15:
Hope Glory Power
Ephesians 1:18–19 (KJV 1900)
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
It is so very important that we realize that our perspective must change. We must cease seeing only with our physical eyes and begin looking with spiritual eyes—the eyes of our hearts. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:16 (KJV 1900). There Paul speaks of two ways of seeing. He says, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.”
Looking with physical eyes, we are prone to judging by appearance. This is true whether we are speaking of other people or of the Lord Jesus Himself. Seeing in this way gives us only the earthly perspective of the flesh. But there is a better way, a higher way, a more excellent way. With the eyes of our understanding enlightened, we can see as God sees. We can view the Lord Jesus and those around us with spiritual eyes, seeing them as He does. This gives us a heavenly godly perspective that results in Love and compassion.
With enlightened eyes we gain a new perspective that makes us mindful of the hope of our calling. This is hope that does not disappoint or as Romans 5:5 (KJV 1900) puts it, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” This once again points us back to the power of Holy Spirit living in us. He pours self-giving agape’ Love all over our hearts. His Love within us confirms that our hope is well founded and that all “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” are ours in Christ Jesus.
This is our calling. We are called as children of the Living God. Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ blessed with every spiritual blessing in Him and seated with Him in the heavenly realm. Notice that “seated” is in the past tense. We are already there. Not physically, but spiritually. This is magnificent, to say the very least, but there is more that comes from spiritual sight.
Too, we are told, we will know “the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe.” I just finished reading a little book entitled, “Unleashing the Power of God in You” written by my friend Jay Lehman. The book provides a wonderful look at the many New Testament passages that speak about power. As I read, I realized that I often fail to truly trust that the power of God is present within me. From my earthly point of view, I am increasingly aware of my frailty and weakness. But scripture paints another picture entirely.
In Hebrews 7:16 we’re told that the Lord Jesus was made a priest forever by the power of an endless, or indestructible, Life. In other words, because He can never die, He will always be our High Priest. This power is the same power about which we read in Romans 1:4 (KJV 1900) the Lord Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The power of the Spirit raised Christ, and Romans 8:11 (KJV 1900) says that “if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
Knowing we carry this power around inside us, we can live boldly, confidently, and without fear.
