Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
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Excerpt from John Gill's Exposition:
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the
knowledge of him;
this was one part of the apostle's prayers for the saints at Ephesus, that they might increase in divine knowledge; either in the knowledge of God, as the God of Christ, and the Father of glory, and as their God and Father in Christ; or of God, as considered in Christ the Mediator; or else of Christ himself: and designs not a notional and speculative knowledge of Christ, but what is practical and experimental; and which is joined with love of him, faith in him, and obedience to him; and which is not only approbative, but fiducial and appropriating; and though it is but imperfect, yet is progressive; and for the progression of it, the apostle prays; for it is certain, that these saints had a knowledge of Christ, but this was not perfect; and a larger measure of it was desirable: and in order to this, he prays for the Spirit, as a "spirit of wisdom"; who implants spiritual wisdom in the hearts of men, and instructs them in the Gospel, the hidden wisdom of God, leads them into all truths, and opens to them the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which are hid in Christ, the wisdom of God; and as a spirit of "revelation"; who reveals Christ and the things of Christ, at first conversion; and afterwards reveals him and his righteousness, and other benefits of his more largely, even from faith to faith; and gives a clearer view of interest in them: hence it appears, that the Spirit is the gift of God; and that all spiritual light and knowledge, and the increase of it, are owing to him.
I could not have come up with all of that, but I like what he says.
(found here)
Ephesians 1:17 Commentary - John Gill's Exposition...
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the
knowledge of him;
this was one part of the apostle's prayers for the saints at Ephesus, that they might increase in divine knowledge; either in the knowledge of God, as the God of Christ, and the Father of glory, and as their God and Father in Christ; or of God, as considered in Christ the Mediator; or else of Christ himself: and designs not a notional and speculative knowledge of Christ, but what is practical and experimental; and which is joined with love of him, faith in him, and obedience to him; and which is not only approbative, but fiducial and appropriating; and though it is but imperfect, yet is progressive; and for the progression of it, the apostle prays; for it is certain, that these saints had a knowledge of Christ, but this was not perfect; and a larger measure of it was desirable: and in order to this, he prays for the Spirit, as a "spirit of wisdom"; who implants spiritual wisdom in the hearts of men, and instructs them in the Gospel, the hidden wisdom of God, leads them into all truths, and opens to them the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which are hid in Christ, the wisdom of God; and as a spirit of "revelation"; who reveals Christ and the things of Christ, at first conversion; and afterwards reveals him and his righteousness, and other benefits of his more largely, even from faith to faith; and gives a clearer view of interest in them: hence it appears, that the Spirit is the gift of God; and that all spiritual light and knowledge, and the increase of it, are owing to him.
I could not have come up with all of that, but I like what he says.
(found here)
Ephesians 1:17 Commentary - John Gill's Exposition...
I have prayed this prayer as well as the other one in Ephesians 3:14-21 for a few years now for myself as well as others. I have to say that the revelation of Christ Himself and what He has done for us has been exploding in my spirit and renewing my mind and I am more aware of the Father and the Lord Jesus now then every before and I know it is just starting.
The Greek word for revelation means a "disclosure, manifestation" and my personal favorite is "unveiling". To me it means an "unveiling" of the things of Jesus and all that He has already done for us in His great love and grace. Unveiling His love and grace and His true nature.
I don't believe Paul wasn’t praying for the Lord to give us anything new. He was praying for us to receive a revelation of what is already ours because we are in Christ and as we behold the glory of the Christ - the Holy Spirit transforms us. ( 2 Cor. 3:17-18 )...and also transforms our minds too.
Paul didn’t pray that God would give them more and more things, but rather that they would get a revelation of what had already been freely given to them in Christ.
The Christian life is not an attempt to get more faith, more anointing, or to get closer to the Lord. We already have these things in their fullness ( Romans 12:3). We just need a revelation of what is already ours because we are one with Christ. He is the source for all things in our life.
Understanding this takes a lot of frustration and doubt away. It’s much easier to release something we already have than to try to get something that we don’t have. And why would any of us doubt that we would receive what we already have? Through Christ, we are already blessed with all spiritual blessings ( Ephesians 1:3). All we have to do is appropriate what is already ours, through the renewing of our minds ( Romans 12:2).
Keep our eyes on Jesus and the circumstances of life will flow with His words to us.
That's why I think Peter walking on the water is a perfect picture of the true Christian life - keeping our eyes on Jesus only as we walk in this life. Once we start to look at the circumstances and take our eyes off Jesus - we begin to falter in life.
Wisdom could be is the "application" of the revelation that we get of our Lord Jesus Christ. It looks like we need the wisdom first.
Just some random thoughts.
The Greek word for revelation means a "disclosure, manifestation" and my personal favorite is "unveiling". To me it means an "unveiling" of the things of Jesus and all that He has already done for us in His great love and grace. Unveiling His love and grace and His true nature.
I don't believe Paul wasn’t praying for the Lord to give us anything new. He was praying for us to receive a revelation of what is already ours because we are in Christ and as we behold the glory of the Christ - the Holy Spirit transforms us. ( 2 Cor. 3:17-18 )...and also transforms our minds too.
Paul didn’t pray that God would give them more and more things, but rather that they would get a revelation of what had already been freely given to them in Christ.
The Christian life is not an attempt to get more faith, more anointing, or to get closer to the Lord. We already have these things in their fullness ( Romans 12:3). We just need a revelation of what is already ours because we are one with Christ. He is the source for all things in our life.
Understanding this takes a lot of frustration and doubt away. It’s much easier to release something we already have than to try to get something that we don’t have. And why would any of us doubt that we would receive what we already have? Through Christ, we are already blessed with all spiritual blessings ( Ephesians 1:3). All we have to do is appropriate what is already ours, through the renewing of our minds ( Romans 12:2).
Keep our eyes on Jesus and the circumstances of life will flow with His words to us.
That's why I think Peter walking on the water is a perfect picture of the true Christian life - keeping our eyes on Jesus only as we walk in this life. Once we start to look at the circumstances and take our eyes off Jesus - we begin to falter in life.
Wisdom could be is the "application" of the revelation that we get of our Lord Jesus Christ. It looks like we need the wisdom first.
Just some random thoughts.
P
Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,[b]
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
I love these two teachings each day I ponder there meanings and instruction. The scriptures would suggest that wisdom from God is our mother in a way.
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,[b]
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
I love these two teachings each day I ponder there meanings and instruction. The scriptures would suggest that wisdom from God is our mother in a way.