“In Him” Christ Our Inheritance - Part 5
The Inheritance Prayer Part 2

by Rev. Wayne Monbleau

We honor Jesus Christ and all that He has accomplished on our behalf when we live in and search out our inheritance in Him.

In the midst of the apostle Paul’s inheritance prayer for the Ephesian believers (and for all believers), let us pause and consider where we are.

Paul was about to pray, in verses 18 and 19 of Ephesians chapter one, that believers would come to know three specific truths regarding our inheritance “in Him,” in Christ our Savior. It is important to realize that, according to Paul’s way of thinking, our awareness had to first be awakened and opened before we could know, and understand, certain truths. This is why Paul first prayed that we would be given the right spirit from God, “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

Are you aware of the Holy Spirit within you enthusing you and directing you towards desiring after “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him”? I hope your answer is a big grateful YES! This is what Paul prayed - that believers would first have this right spirit so they would not only behold the truths he was about to pray for them but that they would understand, appreciate and value what they were about to behold.

With a “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” granted us in Jesus Christ, Paul then prayed that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” When we seek after God for this same spirit of wisdom and revelation in the ever-growing and never-ending knowledge of Christ, we are then, in that posture, brought to desiring after enlightenment for the eyes of our heart. It’s not our natural eyesight, made up of appearances, opinions and judgements that we are after.

No, it is from these things that we flee - from our own natural (adamic natured) thoughts and conclusions for we know these things only impair or prevent the eyes of our heart from the very enlightenment we so seek after and need in our Lord. When we have and remain in the right spirit then we will desire the right enlightenment, from the eyes of our heart. It is only with this honest and humble approach to God, for the proper “spirit” and “eyes,” that we may be graced and blessed (forever as God’s beloved, adopted children and priests), to see the things Paul next prayed for the Ephesian church.

Do you feel as if I may be overly belaboring this point? Perhaps I may be but, I actually don’t think so, for I see Paul emphasizing this same point. And why? Well, to me, in this present day and age in the body of Christ, I clearly see that if an individual is not keenly aware of their own need for a “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” accompanied by an eyes-of-the-heart enlightenment, then what happens is that all of the glorious truths of our riches in Christ are glazed over, diminished and neglected, and all the while believers keep pressing on trying to achieve Christian growth and maturity through human effort, works and understanding.

God’s greatest truths concerning Himself are so often lost when the body of Christ ignores the Savior due to a singular and profound failure to truly seek after God with “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” It is also for this very reason that our precious priesthood in God is neglected and passed over in this current generation in favor of man’s current thoughts about what people think God may be saying to His body - based upon their impressions rather than the revelation of Christ!

But now, possessing, by God’s grace, a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, and with the eyes of our heart enlightened, let us see what Paul continued to pray that we would realize. The apostle prayed three specific requests for Christians, three specific things that we would know, and may now know, because of his previously prayed for state of spirit and heart.

Paul prayed first, “that you will know what is the hope of His calling” (Ephesians 1:18). Second, Paul prayed that we would know,“what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (vs. 18). Paul’s third request was that we would know, “what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (vs.19).

“The hope of His calling” is what we initially beheld when we began looking at this text concerning our inheritance from Ephesians. The first few verses of Ephesians chapter one are definitely about “the hope of His calling.” Paul wrote,“He chose us in Him” (vs. 4) and “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself” (vs. 5). Yes Paul clearly taught us concerning “the hope of His calling.”
But you see, it’s not enough, just by itself, to be taught the truth.

We need the revealed wisdom of God so that what we have been taught may truly come to life in Jesus’ name - not by our own power or might but by the Spirit of the Living God.

We need prayer for wisdom and revelation and the right eyes of the heart, so that the truth we have heard may be truly received, understood and applied, all with “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” You see, it’s not only about being taught concerning the hope of our calling. We need the revelation so we may truly “know” profoundly in our innermost being “what is the hope of His calling.”

How many people are there in our present age who think Christian doctrine is primarily a matter of hearing and agreeing with correct teaching? But we are not to be only hearers of the word, are we? God has called us to something higher, to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22). And for this, to truly “do” the word of God, we need the revelation and the applied truth of Christ into the totality of lives. We need the revealed wisdom of God so that what we have been taught may truly come to life in Jesus’ name - not by our own power or might but by the Spirit of the Living God (Zechariah 4:6).

We need to be the real thing, real Christians filled with the real Holy Spirit so that, with our whole lives, we may live “to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:12). Paul the apostle humbly prayed that these Ephesians would be given the right “spirit” and “eyes” so that what he had just taught them (and us) would be truly known, received, understood and lived in, to the praise of God’s glory and to our testimony in this world.

Once we have the hope of His calling firmly implanted within us (“You did not choose Me, but I chose you” Jesus said in John 15:16), we are then in a great position to receive the truth of our inheritance in Jesus Christ. Of course, the faithful understanding of our priesthood is a significant element in “the hope of His calling” for this is specifically who He has called us and made us to be.

It is not only that He has called us to be someone, but He has called us to Himself, to be someone in Him and through Him and for Him - “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6).

Having prayed “that you will know what is the hope of His calling” Paul then prayed we would know “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” It’s as if this prayer of Paul’s was like a combination to a lock. First, we turn ourselves to receive a spirit of wisdom and knowledge in the revelation of Him. Then may the eyes of our heart be enlightened. Then may we know the hope of His calling.

It’s not that this is the one and only way that someone may behold their inheritance, for God, Sovereign as He is, may quicken His truth to someone in any way He desires. But in this specifically prayed for frame of spirit and mind we are, for sure, in the best possible place, not just to see our inheritance, but to substantially receive, understand and live in our inheritance, for the rest of our existence, on earth and beyond “to the praise of His glory.” This truly is “the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Now here is something truly wonderful and glorious which, I believe, will further fortify all I have been sharing with you regarding our inheritance in Jesus Christ and our living “to the praise of His glory.” Let’s look exactly at what Paul prayed for us - “that you will know... what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” I have been repeatedly quoting this phrase throughout this section and I wonder if you’ve caught what is being said. Where, according to this prayer, is our inheritance? We know God has granted us an inheritance “in Him” (Eph. 1:10b-11).

But in this prayer of Paul’s, he was praying that we would know,“what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance”... in us! “In the saints” (vs. 18)! God not only has given us an inheritance“in Him” but he wants us, and I believe this whole world, to behold that His inheritance is in us, in Jesus Christ Who is in us - “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This is so we may know, really know, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Our inheritance in Jesus Christ is meant to be a mantle, if you will, adorning the entire body of Christ with “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

Now here is something truly wonderful and glorious which, I believe, will further fortify all I have been sharing with you regarding our inheritance in Jesus Christ and our living “to the praise of His glory.” Let’s look exactly at what Paul prayed for us - “that you will know... what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

I have been repeatedly quoting this phrase throughout this section and I wonder if you’ve caught what is being said. Where, according to this prayer, is our inheritance? We know God has granted us an inheritance “in Him” (Eph. 1:10b-11). But in this prayer of Paul’s, he was praying that we would know,“what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance”... in us! “In the saints” (vs. 18)! God not only has given us an inheritance“in Him” but he wants us, and I believe this whole world, to behold that His inheritance is in us, in Jesus Christ Who is in us - “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This is so we may know, really know, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

When a believer in Jesus Christ comes into a true awareness of their inheritance in Jesus Christ and all that this means, there is a richness and a glory that one sees in their inheritance. Oh it is so rich and glorious that God has placed His inheritance in us, in His saints. This is truly living in “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We are blessed now to have His glory in His inheritance which is “in Him” and “in the saints.” And we are blessed in Jesus Christ to have “the hope of glory” for all time, because of Him Who, as we have seen, has “sealed” us “in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13).

I believe God desires to display His inheritance in us. Why? Well, it’s all for “the praise of His glory” - to provoke other believers and this fallen world to jealousy so they may come and desire after God’s fullness in Jesus Christ.

What we can clearly see in this opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the church of the Ephesians is that this was not, in any way, some fringe or esoteric teaching. This was to be THE mainstream reality for the whole entire body of Christ. God desires that we all would pursue after this same spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, with the eyes of our heart being enlightened. This is for all of us, every one. Our inheritance in Jesus Christ is meant to be a mantle, if you will, adorning the entire body of Christ with “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” that we may, with one voice, glorify God our Savior and forever be “to the praise of His glory.”

It’s amazing, isn’t it, to see that God has placed His inheritance “in the saints.” Some may, perhaps, be a bit confused for they may be thinking of an inheritance in earthly terms. And, of course, in earthly terms one does not receive their inheritance until someone has died. Right?

But Christ has died, and He has risen again. We also have died and God has raised us up in Him. Paul wrote “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Our inheritance is for now and forever. It needs to be for now. We need it now and God wants it to be for now. God desires that we, His children, would fully know “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” This is for our growth and maturity and unity in Christ. This is for our powerful radiant testimony to this unbelieving world of the reality of the resurrected Christ - for His inheritance is living right now in us. And, as I have said, and will keep on saying, this is all “to the praise of His glory.”

There are many great things which we are blessed to learn of and encounter in our life as a Christian, but this truth of our inheritance is a “surpassing greatness.”

How are you doing presently with knowing “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints?” Are you allowing yourself to see these things? This is so rich. This is so glorious. This is His inheritance which He has placed in the saints. What a joy this is for us to learn more and more about. As we live each day with “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” may we be blessed, every day, to grow more in the awareness of our inheritance in Christ, which God has placed in the saints!

Every once in awhile I will meet someone who appears to be cold or even hostile to the truth of our priesthood (probably because this radiant reality is so overlooked by the church in general). The attitude basically seems to be, “what do I ‘do’ when I minister unto the Lord? Do I just stand there and thank God? Is that it?” It’s as if to say “What’s the big deal?” or “don’t I already ‘do’ that when I worship?” Oh, you have to be on the outside looking in to think such thoughts.

For in reality, Ministering unto the Lord, when seen with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, is akin to standing in the middle of your inheritance in Jesus Christ, surrounded by all the treasures of Christ, Himself, in the light of His presence. In this light not only do you behold Him, and ever increasingly as He is, but you also behold all He has given you in Him, which in turn only makes one even more grateful, more praising, more connected and more desirous to live as a priest unto God, to always live “to the praise of His glory” through the “riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”

This brings me to Paul’s third request in his, what I call, “inheritance” prayer for us. Paul prayed that we would know, “what is the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.” There are many great things which we are blessed to learn of and encounter in our life as a Christian, but this truth of our inheritance is a “surpassing greatness.”

This is a “surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.” There is a great surpassing power of God towards us, His children, in our inheritance. His power and His inheritance are towards us, or for us, so we may essentially be for or towards God as witnesses in this world, filled and overflowing with praises for “the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.”

Oh may we all become utterly convinced that this is good, right and holy for all of God’s children to be clothed in our inheritance in Jesus Christ. Pray this inheritance prayer for yourself and pray this inheritance prayer for the entire body of Christ. May we all truly come to our senses regarding “the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.” Our inheritance is intended to be a blessed fullness of Christ in our lives so we may live “to the praise of His glory” proclaiming and radiating the reality of our blessed holy Savior throughout this world.

His power and His inheritance are towards us, or for us, so we may essentially be for or towards God as witnesses in this world, filled and overflowing with praises for “the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.”

God has placed “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” because of “His great love with which He loved us” (Ephesians 2:4). God has placed “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” so we may live “to the praise of His glory” in this world, as living examples of the presence of God in our lives, that more may know Him. Ultimately and simply, God has placed “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” so we may truly live and exist for His glory. Hallelujah! What amazing blessings and life we have in Christ!

All of these mighty blessings of our inheritance (and we still have more to see!) are definitely to be searched out and realized in this present life and they are always best seen in the full light of Christ Himself, as we stand as priests unto the Lord, living from the center to the praise of His glory.

To underscore the importance of this in God’s will for us, Paul followed his insight-filled prayer by writing, “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 in the age to come” (Ephesians 1: 19b-21).

In other words, this vast inheritance which we have been given “in Him” is not only God’s will for us, brought about through “the strength of His might,” but this inheritance has been paid for, in full, through the shed blood, death and resurrection of our Savior. We honor Jesus Christ and all that He has accomplished on our behalf when we live in and search out our inheritance in Him. We bless the Lord as we walk in this “surpassing greatness.” This is not about wishful thinking. This is about living right now and from this day forward humbly and gratefully beholding “the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.”

God has a divine purpose, far above what you or I could ever think or fully comprehend, in granting us this inheritance. In the same way that Jesus is “far above all rule and authority” so also is our inheritance a “far above” truth intended to bring the actual reality and Lordship of Jesus Christ to His Own church.

Paul concluded this section by writing of God that, “He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1: 22-23). Perhaps you have never heard the church defined this way, but this is God’s perfect holy will, that His church may become known on planet earth as “the fulness of Him who fills all in all.” So often we mistakenly allow ourselves to become self-centered and self-serving when it comes to how we define the church. But God has always desired and intended for His church to be the physical manifestation of the resurrected Christ in this world.

As huge and overwhelming as this truth may be, it nevertheless is God’s expressed will for us. I believe with all my heart, soul, mind and strength that if we will step into our priesthood, corporately as God’s body, we will then be in the perfect place to receive and understand our inheritance. With God’s own wisdom and will leading the way, we may actually behold the church becoming transformed, from a series of earth bound institutions into the true manifestation of Jesus Christ in this world. How would you like to be a part of this happening in your own lifetime? This is worth living for, isn’t it? There is so much potential for true change and genuine revival, birthed by God Himself, as this truth of our priesthood and living in our inheritance “to the praise of His glory” begins to travel through and rise up in the body of Christ. May this be so in Jesus’ name.

“For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 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 saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe.”
(Ephesians 1:15-19)

Amen Lord Jesus! May this be true for Your whole church, Your body. May we all willingly become, “the fulness of Him who fills all in all.”

To be continued in Wayne's next installment.

End