March 10, 2002

Ephesians 1:15-23

v. 17 - a prayer for knowledge

I John 2:20 “ye have received an unction from the Holy One

and ye know all things”

Unction - an anointing -

Knowledge is an essential factor for promoting growth in grace,

he does not pray for holiness, but for knowledge, because he

knows that it is only through the fuller knowledge of God,

imparted by the Divine Spirit, that holiness can be promoted.

He prays for the Colossians that they may be “filled with the

knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom & spiritual understanding”

Col. 1:9

and that “love may abound in knowledge & all judgment”

Phil 1:9

V. 18 - The connection between heart & intellect

Matt. 13:13-15

The Bible speaks of: “applying our hearts unto wisdom”

Ps. 90:12

It has bee said “the head is the dupe of the heart” -

dupe - one that is easily fooled, stupid bird,

easily tricked.

Those that stand for nothing will fall for anything.

The Scripture is very emphatic in making the connection

between knowledge & holiness.

“having the understanding darkened”

"The entrance of thy words giveth light" - Ps. 119:130

* Purity of heart gives insight.

* Purity of heart rather than accuracy of thought is the

order of the kingdom.

This is why so many pseudo- intellectuals & spin doctors

of the day are out in left field.

Amazed at the brazenness & defiance spewed out by such

in open defiance of the revelation of God.

They cannot think purely, therefore they think not clearly!

Romans 1:16-32

Matt. 18:5-6 Bibles in library under lock & key -

Easter displays of bunnies & plastic eggs

Take an athletic man, the most perfect specimen of athletic

training, bone, flesh & sinew, if that is all, he is but 1/3 if a

man and useless to society. Send him to the schools & cram

his mind full, he is but 2/3 of a man, and dangerous as well

as useless. Put Christ in his heart, to control & urge his

purpose & you have an ideal man, 3/3 or a total man.

Psalm 2:1- 4 of Jesus

John 7:17a,b

How often do we find in human life that interest, vanity, fear,

and party spirit determine the conclusions of the intellect. Our

opinions often depend upon our lives quite as much as

our lives depend upon our opinions.

It is God who gives insight! I John 5:20

Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the

kingdom of God! John 3:3

It is God who giveth the light of the knowledge of the

glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus - II Cor. 4:6

Our highest knowledge is a Divine gift - Luke 8:10

Every Christian, yea, every man’s prayer should be

“open thou mine eyes, that I may see wondrous things

out of thy law” - Ps. 119:18

I Peter 1:3-5

Eternal life - Every believer is called to have an

assurance of his personal interest in Christ! A whole epistle,

I John has been written for this. I John 5:13 says “These

things have I written to you that believe on the Name of the

Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life”.

Eternal inheritance - God is rich in:

mercy,

grace,

love,

power,

goodness,

forebearance and

in Heaven, glory!

“My God shall supply all your needs according to

His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19

“Eye hath not seen nor ear heard......”

Rev. 21:7

v. 19 - Power will always excite admiration.

The devils know the power of God, something many

mortals do not conceive.

Phil. 3:21

“Thine is the kingdom, & the power, and the glory,

forever”. Amen.

152 times or so, lest my eyes play tricks on me, power

is mentioned in the New Testament.

God is omnipotent - He is powerful.

Power mentioned in Old Testament, roughly 120 times.

“To see thy power & thy glory, so as I have seen thee in

the sanctuary.” Ps. 63:2

v. 20 - Power of the resurrection

John 11:25

Phil. 3:10

Rom. 8:11

Job 19:25-27 my favorite

v. 21 - Exaltation of Christ

Heb. 9:24 - “Christ......entered....into heaven itself, now

to appear in the presence of God for us”.

vs. 22-23 - Christ’s Headship.

Without Him was not anything made that was made,

that means you, the dirt on your shoe, rock stuck in your

car tire, the cloud overhead or the love of your child.

By Him all things consist - from the tinniest atom, to your

heart beating, which Spurgeon says "where the pulse beats

like a muffled drum, my march to death", and to this podium which

I physically lean on.

He upholds all things by the word of His power - Heb. 1:3b

The government is upon His shoulders - Is. 9:6

One would think today it is under the feet of the American

Civil Liberties union - they locally have intimidated students

& faculty so that Easter is relegated to consisting of bunnies

and plastic eggs and they want the Bible under lock & key and not on the shelf in the library.

Let us be thankful that “greater is He that is in us than he that

is in the world - I John 4:4

Heb. 4:15 - Christ as head feels our pain like the head the

body. He is touched with the feeling of our

infirmities.

My prayer is that He will frustrate all evil in whatever form,

in my life and all others.