Paul’s Prayer: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you

a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in

the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His
calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saint, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about 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 every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He pit
all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
who fills all in all. –Ephesians 1:17-23
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SPIRIT OF WISDOM & REVELATION / the source of enlightenment – v. 17-18

1) Does v. 17 refer to God’s Spirit (HS) or the human spirit?

2) What is the spirit of revelation?

3) How could Paul’s words to the Corinthian Christians in 1 Cor. 2:9-16 help us understand vv. 17-18?

4) Describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit? (for some help, if needed, look to Romans 8:25-27; Romans 8:3-12; Acts 10:36-48;
Isaiah 43:28-44:5; John 14:16-17; John 15:26; John 16:13-15)

KNOWLEDGE OF HIM / that they might know God – v. 17b

5) What does it mean to know God?

6) How is this knowledge possible?

7) How do we grow in the knowledge of God?

8) How does Jesus greatly enhance our ability to know God?

KNOW THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING / that they would know the calling – v. 18a (*also question 11 on back)
9) “Calling” can be a confusing word for us. What am I called to? What is my calling? The fleshing-out of it can be blurry.
What does the author of Ephesians mean here by “calling”?

10) What is the content of the hope?

11) How does this hope bring definition to this usage of “calling”? What is the content of our calling and our appropriate
response to that calling?

KNOW THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS / that they would know the inheritance – v.18b
12) What are the basic elements of this inheritance?

13) What are some specific kingdom principles/blessings/heavenly inheritances that we have received in salvation? (i.e.
What’s heaven gonna be like!?!)

14) Can we make use of those now? Which ones? How/When/Where?

KNOW THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US WHO BELIEVE / that they would know His power – v.19-23
15) How does the author describe God’s power?

16) What is the nature of that power? How is it exercised? (i.e. How does God use His power? -you may ref. 1:4; 1:20; 2:1-10.)

17) Why do you think the author wrote about God’s power as the last of his prayer requests?

18) How are we partakers in that power? How do we utilize that power?

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APPLICATION QUESTIONS
How does the prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 give us better understanding of Philippians 2:1-2?

(Belong) How would you change if your group prayed vv. 17-19 every week for each other?

(Become) Which of the four prayer requests do you need most in your life right now?

(Beyond) God put His resources in you…what keeps you from seeing and applying them?

*For more discussion on the Holy Spirit: http://www.kevinboyd.com/2010/08/who-spirit.html