A revelation of the hope, inheritance and power trinity

Continuing with Paul's prayer that God would grant us a spirit of revelation of hope, of our inheritance, and of God’s power towards us (Ephesians 1:17-19). Last day we were saying that a revelation  is a trinity (logos words, rhama words and the grace to appropriate them). This morning we are discussing that hope, inheritance and power are also trinity (three interconnected diversities). We need to know the facts (logos) for example that God is all powerful. Paul tells that this incredible power is the same that raised Jesus from the dead, and it is far, far greater than the power of the enemy (verses 20,21). Secondly we need to know how this relates to us, that part of our inheritance is that this power has already been made available to us, so that thirdly there is hope for every situation in which we find ourselves.

And if we don’t know our inheritance, we don’t know that we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, including the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy (2 Peter 1:3; Luke 10:19). And if we don't know them, how will we know to exercise that power and authority? And if we know only in our heads about the things that are freely given (1 Corinthians 2:12), but we don’t have the sure hope that flows from a vibrant faith, or we know that God is powerful but are not sure we have the authority to tap into that power, then what good it is? No, we need all three together, that is we need a revelation of these things. We need a living hope (1 Peter 1:3) that flows out of the experience of God living in us, and into the exercise of a faith that takes risks. A faith, for example that prays out loud in their presence, for people to be healed.

We read (logos word) that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16). When we are born anew into a living hope, it becomes a rhama word and we experience it. The rhama word comes with the grace to respond (revelation). In this case to cry out “Abba Father” (verse 15). Our inheritance includes “exceedingly great and precious promises” that allow us to partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Many of these promises have conditions that need to be fulfilled before we can claim them. One such promise is that God will not only give us the grace to do His will, but He will actually work in our desires. Our part is to work out the sanctification part of our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12,13). This is not about working for the justification salvation, the freedom from the penalty of sin. No, it's the working out that part of salvation that increasingly frees us from the power and pollution of sin, while we wait to be delivered from its very presence (see January 30 post).

Father, a spirit of revelation is ongoing and progressive. I am seeing it a bit laying bricks in our wall of faith, as we grow in wisdom and knowledge and grace. In this process we do need to respond with all we are and have (fear and trembling), and we need Your help and a spirit of revelation of these things.  So we are asking for these things this morning Lord, in Jesus Name Amen