HOW TO KNOW GOD BETTER - PART 2

Paul's prayers for the saints in Ephesus were unique because of the purpose. Paul considered the Ephesian church to be faithful saints because of their proven integrity in their Christian walk. For this reason, he addressed them as God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:1). With the intention to encourage them to maintain their passion for God, he continually prayed for them to know God better.

Reference: Ephesians 1:16-17 New International Version (NIV) "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."

Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church was full of thanksgiving and the glory of God. He said, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." He was quite pleased with the condition of their spiritual progress that he made no mention of any severe problems in the congregation, unlike some churches he addressed. He had faith in them, and so he sought that they might advance in the experiential knowledge of God.

Like I mentioned previously in part 1, Paul asked for God to grant them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that they may know Him better. This means that we can't know God beyond the "realm of familiarity of His facts" without the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Since the Author of this wisdom and revelation is the Holy Spirit, his prayer simply means that God would grant to them the Holy Spirit to make them wise, and to reveal His will and knowledge to them.

What is this wisdom? The wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives is not natural human wisdom that can been learned, but wisdom that is directly from God with special insight. It is wisdom beyond the natural, which is deeper than merely knowing something. The Greek word is "sophia" which simply suggests an insight that is not naturally attained. On the other hand, "Apokalypsis" is the Greek word for revelation. It is the revealing or disclosing of some form of truth or deeper knowledge about something through constant communication and intimacy. Its like something about God that has been veiled or hidden from you for a long time and then suddenly, it becomes clear and visible to your understanding.

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation grant us a deep, personal and intimate insight into the true knowledge of God. This knowledge is important because it reveals more than just fact about the God of the Bible. The Greek word for this "knowledge" is epignosis, meaning precise and accurate knowledge. It is a fratanal mingling with God's supreme intelligence and the Spirit of divine disclosure of truth (Holy Spirit). It is our greater participation with God which leaves us with a deeper knowledge, discernment, recognition of who He really is, thus more powerfully influencing us in all aspect of life.

Beloved, we can actually experience the God of the Word by knowledge and participate in such experience with full discernment. Possessing this kind of knowledge about God brings about a more profound experience of the supernatural in our daily lives. It helps us to deal wisely in life, have abundant life, sustain life, and live prosperously. That was Paul's intention and prayer for the Ephesian saints. He wanted something deeper for them: to know God and have an in-depth understanding of God by experience, not just the facts about Him. Moreover, God first calls us to this knowledge (Epignosis) through His Word because increasing in the knowledge of His Word is an advantage that increases our faith and takes us deeper in relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Scripture Reading - Philippians 1:9-10; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 1:9-10; Philippians 3:10.

Guided Prayer: Thank you Father for the advantage of your spiritual truth, as I continually grasp the things of the Spirit that were hidden before. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, I have full access to spiritual wisdom and insight into your knowledge, which always becomes visibly clear to my understanding and a revelation in my spirit. Daily, I want to know you more intimately and fully acknowledge you in every aspect of my life. Likewise, I'm grateful for your wonderfully deep and comprehensive knowledge available through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' Name, Amen!