Eyes of the Heart: Knowing God's Hope and Power

I stood in Ephesians 1:15–23 and thanked God for the way faith in Jesus and love for one another are showing up among you. Because the Father, Son, and Spirit have done enormous things for us, Paul’s response is both praise and persistent intercession: he gives thanks and he prays. I urged us to cultivate the habit of thanking God for brothers and sisters, to refuse the lone-wolf life, and to be a body that bears one another’s burdens and celebrates one another’s joys. Prayer is both a continual posture and a disciplined appointment — Jesus withdrew to pray, and Paul “never stops giving thanks” in prayer — so we need both rhythms in our lives.

I asked the Spirit to give wisdom and revelation so we truly know God, not merely know about him. Knowing God reshapes every choice; it’s the difference between religion as information and faith as life. I prayed that our hearts’ eyes would be opened to three things: the living hope of our calling, the astonishing fact that we are God’s treasured inheritance in Christ, and the immeasurable greatness of his power at work in us. That power is not abstract: it raised Jesus, seated him at the Father’s right hand, exalted him over every authority, and made him head of the church — and the same Spirit fills and equips his body for mission, holiness, and endurance.

So our response this morning is to pray — to thank, to intercede, to ask for insight, and to trust the power that raised Christ to raise and renew his people. If a next step of obedience is needed — repentance, baptism, joining the church, or a call to serve — come speak with me. For now let us pray, trusting that the God who is able has already acted in Christ and continues to work by his Spirit among us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Give thanks for other believers Gratitude toward fellow Christians trains our attention to grace instead of grievance. When we thank God for what he is doing in others, praise replaces judgment and unity is strengthened. Regular thanksgiving fuels intercession and makes us partners in one another’s growth. This discipline protects the body from fragmentation.
• 2. Practice continual and scheduled prayer Prayer is both an ongoing posture and a deliberate discipline; one without the other leaves us shallow or scattered. Continual prayer keeps us dependent in daily life; set-aside times deepen intimacy and clarity before God. Together they form a life shaped by God’s presence rather than by our impulses. Learn both rhythms and watch them steady your walk.
• 3. Pray for Spirit-given understanding True knowledge of God is not intellectual mastery but Spirit-wrought intimacy that reorients the heart. Asking the Spirit for wisdom opens eyes to hope, holiness, and how to live well. This kind of knowing produces obedience, humility, and confidence in God’s purposes. It turns doctrine into devotion.
• 4. See the church as God’s inheritance God values the gathered, redeemed community as his treasured possession in Christ. Realizing that changes how we care for one another, fight sin, and invest in mission. It raises our view of belonging from convenience to covenant responsibility. When we see ourselves as his inheritance, we steward one another with holy tenderness.
• 5. Live under Christ’s resurrecting power The same power that raised Jesus is at work to save, sanctify, and send us. This power is practical: it strengthens resistance to sin, sustains endurance in suffering, and fuels bold witness. Trusting it reshapes fear into faithful action and despair into expectant hope. Walk in that power by prayer and obedience.

1. In verses 15-16, Paul expresses gratitude for the believers in Ephesus. What two specific things about them does he give thanks for?
2. Paul prays for the Spirit to give "wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (v. 17). What three specific things does he pray that the "eyes of your heart" (v. 18-19) would be enlightened to know?
3. The sermon emphasized that God's power is not abstract. What specific historical events does Paul point to in verses 20-23 as evidence of God's immeasurable power at work?

1. The pastor mentioned that the church's reputation often has more to do with "pride, arrogance, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness" than selfless love. How does Paul's emphasis on giving thanks for other believers (v. 16) challenge this negative perception and foster genuine love and unity within the church?
2. The sermon highlighted that a healthy prayer life involves both "continuous conversation" and "specific time to do" it. Why might one of these rhythms be more challenging for believers to cultivate than the other, and what are the potential consequences of neglecting either one?
3. The pastor used the example of Arnold Schwarzenegger to distinguish between knowing *about* someone and truly *knowing* them. What does it mean for the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation" (v. 17) to give us true knowledge of God, and how does this differ from merely accumulating theological information?
4. The sermon stated that God considers the gathered, redeemed community "HIS glorious inheritance" (v. 18). How does understanding ourselves as God's treasured possession change our perspective on our value, our purpose, and our responsibility to one another within the church?

1. The pastor encouraged us to "cultivate the habit of thanking God for our brothers and sisters in the faith." Think of one specific person in our small group or church family. What is one specific thing you can thank God for about them this week, and how might you communicate that appreciation to them?
2. The pastor confessed that he struggled with dedicated prayer time until recently. Which prayer rhythm (continual or scheduled) do you find more challenging, and what is one concrete step you can take this week to strengthen that rhythm in your life? (For example, setting a specific alarm, writing down a prayer list, or practicing breath prayers throughout the day).
3. Paul prays for "wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" (v. 17). When was the last time you specifically prayed for the Holy Spirit to open your "eyes of the heart" (v. 18) to understand a specific truth from Scripture or a situation in your life? What was the outcome, or what truth do you need insight into now?
4. The sermon emphasized that seeing the church as God's inheritance changes "how we care for one another, fight sin, and invest in mission." What is one practical way you can demonstrate "holy tenderness" (as mentioned in the sermon summary) towards another member of our church family this week, especially someone you might find challenging?
5. The sermon reminded us that the "same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available through Holy Spirit in us" for resisting sin, enduring hardships, and bold witness. Identify one specific area in your life where you feel weak or overwhelmed (e.g., a persistent temptation, a difficult relationship, a fear of sharing your faith). How can you intentionally lean into Christ's resurrecting power in that area this week through prayer and obedience?
6. The sermon contrasted worldly hope (uncertain) with biblical hope (certain). What is one specific area of your life where you are currently experiencing despair or anxiety, and how can you intentionally anchor yourself in the "living hope" (1 Peter 1:3-4, mentioned in the sermon) of your calling in Christ this week?