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Now let us consider the two prayers, the first in Ephesians 1: 17-23, and the second in
Eph. 3: 14-21. In the first prayer Paul asks that God may give (1) the spirit of wisdom,
(2) revelation, and (3) in the knowledge (or acknowledgement) of Him. Then he
continues, "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened (lit. `having been
enlightened')", that ye may know (1) what is the hope of His calling, (2) what the riches
of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (holy place), and (3) what is the exceeding
greatness of His power to us-ward who believe. We need wisdom to understand all that
is written in the doctrinal section, and we only know what the Holy Spirit reveals to us. It
has been said that we only get to know the truth by divine enlightenment. It is indeed the
work of the Holy Spirit. As we receive light we have a greater responsibility to put what
we learn into practice, and so acknowledge the truth which will cause us to increase in
our knowledge of Christ, and to acknowledge Him. This is the way we should grow in
grace.
The second prayer in Eph. 3: 14-21 has three main points:
(1) "That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
(2) that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of
Christ which passeth knowledge.
(3) that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."
In the space available it is impossible to comment adequately on these two prayers, so
we refer our readers to the following items of supplementary reading:
In Heavenly Places, Charles H. Welch, pp. 148-188 and 310-320.
Letters From Prison, Stuart Allen, pp. 33-43 and 65-70.
An Alphabetical Analysis, Part 10, Stuart Allen, pp. 75-90.