A KNOWLEDGE OF RELATIONSHIP – Pastor Chris
Friday, June 18, 2021
Cease not 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 unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Ephesians 1:16-17).
Just because you’ve been a Christian for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean you’d be effective for God, and in the things of God. It takes more than singing nicely, praising God joyfully, and even preaching, to be effective for Christ and for the Kingdom; you have to know Him in a very personal way.
That’s the reason for Paul’s prayer for the baby church in Ephesus, as read in our opening verse. Paul heard about their love for God; they were excited about the things of God. But he knew they lacked something and prayed that the Lord would grant it to them: “…the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him….”
There’s a certain type of knowledge, a certain type of revelation of God that you ought to have; it’s called “Epignosis” (Greek); knowledge that relates with the known; a knowledge of relationship. This knowledge is different from theology, or mere science.
You can appropriate that prayer of the Spirit through Paul for yourself; put your name there and say, “I have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the accurate knowledge of God.” You’ll experience the unveiling! It’s the work of the Spirit of God.
Without this kind of knowledge, you’ll be a religious Christian, doing things religiously, without having a real relationship with God. When you have that relationship, you no longer see Him as the God of David or the God of Elijah; He becomes your God; He’s personal to you. That’s when you really appreciate and celebrate your union and oneness with Him.
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PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for giving me the spirit of wisdom—insight into realities—and revelation in the knowledge of you, absolute knowledge that comes through revelation and relationship. Through my relationship and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, grace and peace are multiplied in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Ephesians 1:16-17 AMPC I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. 17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING:
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 7:54-8:1-8 & 2 Chronicles 31-32
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 2:8-20 & Deuteronomy 16
