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"The spirit of wisdom and revelation..."

Text: Ephesians 1:17

A DEEPLY MEANINGFUL PRAYER

The Apostle Paul was a man of prayer. His prayers reflect great depth of thought and understanding. There were two prayers offered by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians. The first prayer made reference to the Holy Spirit.

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
Ephesians 1:15-18

1. Intercessory prayer

This is typical of the ministry of the Apostle Paul. He was given to intercession for the churches he founded and ministered to.

2. Identification of “the spirit of wisdom and revelation”

a) Some have thought that this is with reference to the human spirit.

b) Others have argued that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

3. It is unlikely that this is a reference to the human spirit

a) The human being is badly affected by the blight of sin.

b) The human spirit by itself is incapable of fathoming the deep things of God.

4. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit

a) The Holy Spirit has already been given as our Seal and Guarantee.

b) However these two roles do not reflect the work of teaching and revealing the mystery of God’s profound will.

c) Only the Spirit of God can give deep wisdom.

d) Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2).

e) Only He knows the fullness of the hope of God’s calling.

f) Only He fully comprehends the riches of God’s glory of His inheritance in the saints.

g) That He would reveal these things is consistent with the role of the Spirit in teaching.

h) Only the Spirit of God can bring about true enlightenment of the great and deep things of God.