Paul's 1Paul's 1stst Prayer Prayer…… that you might know,“that you might know,“

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 1616 do not cease to give thanks for you, making do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: mention of you in my prayers: 1717 that the God of that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, in the knowledge of Him, 1818 the eyes of your the eyes of your understandingunderstanding** being enlightened; that you may being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, saints,

1919 and what is the exceeding greatness of His and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power working of His mighty power 2020 which He which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, heavenly places, 2121 far above all principality far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. also in that which is to come.

2222 And He put all things under His feet, and And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the gave Him to be head over all things to the church, church, 2323 which is His body, the fullness of Him which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in allwho fills all in all.. NKJV NKJV

There are two prayers in Ephesians:There are two prayers in Ephesians: (1) "that you might know," (1) "that you might know," 1:15-231:15-23; ; (2) "that you might be," (2) "that you might be," 3:13-213:13-21. .

The first is for The first is for ENLIGHTENMENTENLIGHTENMENT, , the second for the second for ENABLEMENT.ENABLEMENT.

ThereforeTherefore I also, after I heard of your I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, for all the saints, 1616 do not cease to do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:of you in my prayers:

1717 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, knowledge of Him, 1818 the eyes of your the eyes of your understandingunderstanding** being enlightened; that being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,His inheritance in the saints,

thethe SOURCE SOURCE of the Revelation is GOD.of the Revelation is GOD.

the the MEANSMEANS by which this knowledge is by which this knowledge is attained.= he gives knowledge of Himself attained.= he gives knowledge of Himself throughthrough the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.revelation.

the the OBJECTOBJECT of the of the spiritual spiritual enlightenment enlightenment relates to "GOD." relates to "GOD."

The graces and comforts of the The graces and comforts of the SpiritSpirit are are communicated to the communicated to the soulsoul by the by the enlightening of the enlightening of the UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING..

In this way we In this way we GAIN AND KEEP GAIN AND KEEP POSSESSIONPOSSESSION. .

Satan Satan getsgets possession by the possession by the sensessenses & & passionspassions, Christ , Christ givesgives possession by possession by THE UNDERSTANDING.THE UNDERSTANDING.

1818 the eyes of your understanding the eyes of your understanding** being being enlightened; that you may know what is enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,saints,

THINGS, WE COME TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THINGS, WE COME TO FULLY UNDERSTAND "THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.“"THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM.“

1. "the hope of His calling,“= God's purpose in relation to men -- to call them into glory.

2. "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," =the glory that shall accumulate to Himself through men glorified.

3. "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us" and Christ.= the magnificent character of the means used to secure these glorious ends

1919 and what is the exceeding greatness of His and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power working of His mighty power 2020 which He which He worked in Christ when worked in Christ when He raised Him from He raised Him from the dead the dead and and seated Him at His right hand in seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly placesthe heavenly places, , 2121 far above all far above all principality and power and might and dominion, principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. age but also in that which is to come.

2222 And And He put all things under His feetHe put all things under His feet, , and gave Him to be head over all things and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, to the church, 2323 which is His body, the which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in fullness of Him who fills all in allall.. NKJV NKJV

Eph 1:10-11Eph 1:10-11

10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, bothall things in Christ, both** which are in which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him. heaven and which are on earth — in Him. 11NKJVNKJV

Col 1:18-20Col 1:18-20

1818 And He is the head of the body, the church, And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. preeminence.

1919 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, fullness should dwell, 2020 and by Him to and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross…made peace through the blood of His cross…NKJVNKJV

Ephesians 1:19-23 ……IS IS THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO

FILLS ALL IN ALL .FILLS ALL IN ALL .

The verb The verb "fills" "fills" can be taken without can be taken without interest, meaning that Christ, the Head of interest, meaning that Christ, the Head of the body, the body, is filled by the churchis filled by the church. That is, . That is, as the church grows it completes Christ…as the church grows it completes Christ…

This is This is WRONGWRONG!!!!!!!!

Nowhere in the New Testament state Nowhere in the New Testament state that Christ finds fullness from the that Christ finds fullness from the church.church.

How can we fulfill a Divine work that How can we fulfill a Divine work that which we never started and clearly still which we never started and clearly still have problems understanding?have problems understanding?

Christ, the Head of the body, fills (for Christ, the Head of the body, fills (for Himself) the church with blessings.Himself) the church with blessings.

The verse in the The verse in the Complete Jewish BibleComplete Jewish Bible 2323 which is his body, the full which is his body, the full

expression of him who fills all expression of him who fills all creation….creation….CJBCJB

This view fits the context well because the This view fits the context well because the Persons of the Godhead are completing Persons of the Godhead are completing the actionsthe actions

Eph 4:10-13Eph 4:10-13

10 He who descended is also the One who 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that ascended far above all the heavens, that He He might fill all thingsmight fill all things.) .)

1111 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, pastors and teachers, 1212 for the equipping of for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, edifying of the body of Christ, 1….1….NKJVNKJV