Tag: immeasurable

27.b. “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened”

 

Ephesians 1:15  For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

 Matthew 11:25    At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

 1 Corinthians 2:10   these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God

 John 14:26   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

 James 3:17-18   But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Proverbs 2:1  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Man will think the proper study of mankind rests in philosophy, science, cultural and social, studies.  There may be some truth to this but in its highest science, loftiest speculation, and deepest philosophy, it will never give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God apart from God’s Word. It may engage the attention of a child of God as a study of what man thinks they know or speculate to understand. (Spurgeon) It is good to know thy self but far more beneficial, glorious, and fruitful to know thy God. (Alford)

Our eyes of our heart need to be enlightened by God to understanding and knowledge of Him. Scripture speaks of “hearts of stone” and “hardened hearts) about those who intentionally choose to harden their hearts against the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of things of God.  They are ever hearing the Word of God but there is no enlightenment in their heart. It seems as though it comes in one ear and out the other. We all need to be mindful of not only hearing but seeking to understand.  Do we think we can we seek this understanding once per week on Sundays and have any growth, not to mention maturity, in God and things of God? Do we think we can gain this understanding and knowledge by osmosis – somehow it just filters in through all of the chaos and busyness of life? I can’t tell you how many times people quote what was on the news as if it was their own thoughts.  They believe the fear, hate, anger, division, worry, etc… because that is what the narrative of “News” tells them to do.  They actually believe they should fear or hate or worry or be divisive, or be angry and do not see that these are not their thoughts but the thoughts of those who do not know God or things of God.  They have allowed them into their hearts and minds. They have allowed them to take root and grow. They see the fruits of them in their lives and think it is proper fruit. It is not wrong to be informed but we need to be mindful of the source and the underlying message it is giving.  We can only do this if the eyes to our hearts and minds are seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from and of God.  When you read a news article scan it for words like, it could, it might, it may, it is possible, it is conceivable, it may be, it is feasible, potentially it could, it is probable, it is likely,  you should worry about, etc…….. these are all enticing words to engage and develop your thinking toward a specific conclusion of the writer or speaker.  When our hearts and minds spend more time on things of this world and what it deems and says should be important to us, we will be filled with  dark clouds of thought and it will consume us.  How much time is spent catching up on the daily news compared to quality time in God’s Word?  How much of your thoughts are consumed with what someone else has determined for you to be worthy of your time and thoughts?  

Watch out for what your itching ears are listening to.  They will give you insight into what is filling your hearts and minds. Wouldn’t it be something if believers what believers spoke out of their hearts and minds was things of God rather than the vomit coming out of social and media outlets. 

2.v. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,

2 Chronicles 25:9  ” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”

Ephesians 3:20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,

1 Corinthians 2:9    But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Ephesians 1:19    and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

Psalms 36:8-9    They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Daniel 3:17    If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

God has no limits and there is nothing He doesn’t understand.  He created the galaxies, universe, planets, stars, air, light, water, plants, animals, and mankind.  By His wisdom, He spoke all of this into creation.  All physics, quantum physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, gravity, gravitational wave, electromagnetic attraction, and a host of other sciences are all our attempts at explaining what He has created or have been knowledge glimpses given by Him to point us toward His awesome knowledge, understanding, power, might, and wisdom.

Before we got “so smart” there were very few on earth that did not think there was/is a god, gods, or God.  They could see the mysteries of the skies and the wonders of the earth in everything that God created.  They knew it came from someone greater than themselves.  The problem is that they distorted this into false gods, false teachings, and false obedience.  Over time we have grown so smart that we have those who clearly state that there is no God and everything started from a big bang and evolved into what we are now.  Millions of people have chosen to believe these lies.   Others have had their desire and seeking of the Creator limited. They no longer seek Him with an earnest desire. Their eyes are blind and their mind made dull to the Creator and all things created by Him.    

No matter how smart we think we have become.  No matter how much knowledge and understanding of the sciences we can explain.  No matter what the human explanation is, God is still God and creator.  He has reached out to mankind;

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

The verses today are but a few of hundreds that all speak of the love of God and “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might”

There are many who will try to explain away God.  There are many who teach false gods.  There are those who teach the truth about God.  And yet, it all comes down to me/you and our intentional choice to honor, serve, follow, trust, obey, believe in and rely on the true Creator.  It all comes down to our desire and commitment to Him for He alone is God and worthy of all praise, honor, service, trust, obedience, and glory.

I will never cast out

 “It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me”

John 6:37  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 17:24    Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 2:4-10   (ESV)  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Revelation 22:17     The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

2 Timothy 2:19     But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

Fixing our eyes on our heavenly home is easy when all things are going well but when we have times of trials it has tendency to fade for some and others it only becomes stronger.  They face odds with hope that is far beyond most of our imaginations.  It is not that they don’t want to be rid of it but rather they have committed whatever it is into His sovereign hands with hope and faith.  Seeing our eyes set on Him throughout all times will yield hope and faith that passes all understanding.  I know that when you are in the company of these people you are so blessed.