Transformed by Receiving the Spirit of Revelation
16 I do not cease...making mention of you in my prayers: 17 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, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know (experience)
what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches (wealth) of the glory of His inheritance in
the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe…
(Ephesians 1:16-19)
I. UNDERSTANDING THIS PRAYER
A. This is a very important prayer in Scripture. It focuses on God imparting the spirit of glory to us. This
is Paul’s “road map for discipleship” speaking to what our heart needs to be fully alive. We pray this for our
own heart as well as for others, both believers and unbelievers (family, friends, ministries, cities, nations,
government leaders and especially our enemies).
B. Paul prayed a general prayer that people receive revelation of the knowledge of God (what God and
His kingdom are like). Then, he prayed that they experience 3 specific dimensions of God’s glory that
would cause them to persevere in godliness. The sequence here is important to notice.
1.We pray to understand God’s calling for our life, both in this age and the age-to-come.
We must have a clear vision for what our destiny is and what we are to do.
2 We pray to know who we are to God as His treasured inheritance and why we do what we do.
3. We pray to experience and perceive God’s power in our heart, ministry and life.
II. WALKING IN CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S CALLING FOR OUR LIFE
18 That you may know what is the hope (assurance/confidence) of His calling…
(Ephesians 1:18)
A. Paul prayed that people receive revelation of how God views their calling. God answers our longing
for significance by giving each of us a unique calling which has three dimensions (internal, external and eternal)
and two aspects (individual and corporate) to it.
B. In each of the three dimensions of our calling we need revelation (breakthrough for our heart). In each
of these we by nature have the wrong perspective. Each dimension demands faith that God sees or greatly
values what we do. The “hope of His calling” refers to having confidence that this calling is valuable to God,
wise and good and certain to come to pass (if we yield to the Spirit).
C. Our primary calling in this life is to be a faithful disciple of Jesus that deeply loves God and
embraces what the world calls foolish and weak (serving, giving, fasting, praying and forgiving). We
need revelation that this lifestyle of so-called weakness is valuable to God.
27 God has chosen the (so-called) foolish things of the world (Mt. 5-7 lifestyle) to put to shame
the wise, and God has chosen the (so-called) weak things of the world to put to shame the
things which are mighty…29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
D. Our external calling includes our position (function) in the marketplace, a ministry organization or our
home. The Lord has given the vast majority (99.9%) an assignment that involves few things and makes very
little impact (that can be measured by man in terms of the numbers impacted). Of the approximate 1 billion
believers today, my guess is that only about 1,000 people directly impact 5,000 people or more on a
regular basis.
21 You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matthew 25:21)
17 You were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:17)
E. Our eternal calling is to function in “bigness” in the age-to-come. Our calling in the age-to-come is
far bigger in impact than what we will accomplish in this age. By revelation we see that faithfulness in “very
little” now leads to “ruling ten cities” in the age-to-come.
III. OUR CORPORATE CALLING (IN TIME AND ETERNITY)
A. We will stand before God as a corporate people on several levels (ministries, cities, nations,
generation). This touches our longing to belong to something bigger than ourselves. Jesus gave
corporate promises and warnings to the seven churches of Asia that apply to this age and the
age-to-come (Revelation 2-3).
B. Paul spoke of the glory of a corporate people standing before God (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20;
2 Thessalonians 1:11). We will be resurrected together with those we ministered with while on earth.
14 Knowing that He…will raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
(2 Corinthians 4:14)
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence
of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
(1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)
C. Generations will be judged together (Matthew 11:16; 12:39-45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36; Luke 11:29-51).
41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it…
42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation… (Matthew 12:41-42)
IV. THE SPIRITUAL IDENTITY OF THE GENERATION IN WHICH THE LORD RETURNS
A. There is a specific promise and requirement for the generation in which the Lord returns. It will
be a generation that walks blameless before the Lord with a spirit of prayer and a bridal identity.
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any
such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)
17 And the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!” (Revelation 22:17)
B. It will be a generation the sees a vast ingathering of souls from all nations.
9 A great multitude…of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the Throne…
14 These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation... (Revelation 7:9-14)
C. It will be a generation that is prepared to courageously and victoriously resist the Antichrist. It will
be the only generation that will not die physically (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).
2 I saw…those who have the victory over the Beast (Antichrist)…standing on the sea of glass…
3 They sing…the song of the Lamb… (Revelation 15:2-3)
D. It will be the generation that provokes Israel to jealousy so as to be saved.
11 To provoke them (Israel) to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles…26 So all Israel
will be saved…The Deliverer…will turn away ungodliness from Jacob… (Romans 11:11, 26)
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has
come…15 So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your
glory. 16 For the LORD shall build up Zion…18 This will be written for the generation to
come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD… (Psalm 102:13-18)
E. We have an eternal corporate identity together as Jesus’ Bride. This is who we are together in
eternity. This changes our perspective of those who we have conflicts with in the Body of Christ
9 I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 He carried me away in the Spirit…and showed
me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God… (Revelation 21:9-10)
V. THE GLORY OF BEING GOD’S INHERITANCE: KNOWING WHO WE ARE IN GOD
17 The Father…may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation...that you may know
(experience)... 18 what are the riches (wealth) of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…
(Ephesians 1:17-18)
A. We must know the “why” behind the “what we do.” Jesus wants a Bride as His inheritance. Being God’s
inheritance speaks to how dear we are to God (we are what He wants) and what it costs Him to walk out this
love and what He requires from those He loves.
44 The Kingdom…is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over
it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went
and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46)
B. Jesus will totally possess the people that He wants as His inheritance. We need revelation of this. He
shares His heart, home and Throne only with them. They will represent Him as His Bride for all eternity. This
relationship is costly to Jesus and His Bride.
4 If you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me
above all people… 6 These are the words which you shall speak to Israel. (Exodus 19:4-6)
14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
Himself His own special people… (Titus 2:14)
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth
for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron… (Psalm 2:8-9)
C. God chose weak human beings as His treasured inheritance, therefore, He is not surprised by our
failure. At a time that Israel was failing, God declared that she was His inheritance.
9 The LORD'S portion is His people; Jacob (Israel) is the place of His inheritance.
(Deuteronomy 32:9)
D. Those who sincerely seek to obey Jesus need not fear that they will be disqualified from their
calling because of weakness. Our most sincere efforts to love God are flawed. We are lovely to God
even in our weakness. He is tender and affectionate toward us in our spiritual immaturity.
5 I am dark (in my heart), but lovely (to God because of Jesus)… (Song 1:5)
E. We are the reward that God gave to Jesus because we are what Jesus most desires. This
reveals His passion for us. We are the prize of all the ages that the Father gave the Son. The
Father promised Jesus a great prize. The Church is that prize. She is a bride pictured as a rose.
She is the rose that has captured the heart of Jesus. The Father has cultivated this rose for His
dear Son.
1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (Song 2:1)
F. When we can say with revelation, "I am THE rose, THE inheritance the Father has promised the Son" then
something powerful happens in our emotions. This is the core truth of our spiritual identity. This is where our true value,
dignity and honor comes from. We embrace difficulty and interpret our calling best as we understand the bridal
paradigm.
G. In seasons of relational difficulty, we must know that God is ravished for all Christians, even the ones who
mistreat us. As we view the Church through the lens that she is dark in her heart but lovely to God, we relate to them
differently. This gives us much more patience for others.
9 You have ravished My heart, My sister, My spouse… (Song 4:9)
VI. EXPERIENCING GOD’S POWER IN OUR LIFE AND MINISTRY
17 That the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation...that you may know
(experience)...19 what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe... (Ephesians 1:17-19)
A. We need revelation to see God’s power is operating in “small ways” that we take for granted. As we discerning
the “small measure” of God’s power in the daily administration of His kingdom, we are filled with gratitude. For example,
we only love God by the working of power in us.
B. As we discern God’s power (tenderized heart, open doors, direction, protection and provision) it confirms and
renews our sense of calling and identity as God’s inheritance.
C. As we discern God’s power in us it gives us confidence to regularly fellowship with the Spirit.
D. We also need revelation that God wants to release a great breakthrough of power for our heart that we may live
out our calling and identity in God with a tenderized heart and for our ministry so that we can powerfully bring others
to their calling and identity in God.