Have you ever wondered what apostle Paul prayed for when he lifted up early believers? In our journey through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we reach a pivotal moment in chapter 1 (verses 15–23). Here, Paul shares a profound, Trinitarian prayer designed not merely to give us head knowledge, but to radically transform how we live out our faith daily.
If you feel like you are just getting by—trudging step-by-step up a steep hill—God is inviting you to experience a massive upgrade. It is time to level up your faith, your hope, and your power in Christ.
Moving from Casual Knowing to “Superknowledge” (Epignosis)
In Ephesians 1:15–17, Paul writes:
“Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you may grow in your knowledge of God.”
When Paul hears news about churches struggling with false teachings, legalism, or mystic traditions in Asia Minor (as referenced in Colossians), he doesn’t immediately charge in with human arguments. He prays first.
He specifically prays for spiritual wisdom and insight (revelation—apokalupsis). When spiritual wisdom from God’s Word aligns with divine revelation born out of an intimate relationship, it produces what the Greek text calls epignosis.
English translations render epignosis simply as “knowledge,” but it means so much more than knowing facts or having an acquaintance-level awareness. It translates to superknowledge—an intimate, deep, life-transforming knowledge of God.
God doesn’t want you to just know about Him. He wants you to experience Him intimately, depending on Him as He knows and holds you.
Leveling Up Your Hope: Expanding Your Vision
Paul continues in verse 18:
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope that he has given to those he called, his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”
When the Holy Spirit floods our hearts with light, hidden darkness and sinful intentions are exposed and transformed. As our church theme verse from Ephesians 5:13 reminds us: Everything exposed to the light becomes a light.
Once our eyes are opened, we begin to grasp the true nature of biblical hope. Biblical hope isn’t a wishful “I hope it rains today.” It is a confident, unwavering expectation anchored in God’s promises.
Lessons from the Mountain Peak
Think of climbing a 14,000-foot peak like Long’s Peak in Colorado. You start hiking in the pitch dark at 3:00 AM, scaling massive boulders for miles. The climb is grueling, and your legs feel completely numb. But once you pass through a landmark like the “Keyhole” and reach the summit, a breathtaking 360-degree panorama unfolds—far greater than anything you could have anticipated.
Too often, our spiritual expectations are far too small. As 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 declares, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him—but it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit.”
God wants to exceed every limit of your imagination. When you feel trapped in the daily grind, remember that God has vastly higher ground and greater glory prepared for you.
You Are God’s Prize and Inheritance
In the middle of verse 18 lies a staggering truth that is easy to miss: “His holy people… are his rich and glorious inheritance.”
Not only do we receive an eternal inheritance from God, but we are God’s prized inheritance. You are the treasure Christ set His heart upon.
Hebrews 12:2 notes that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy set before Him.” What was that joy? It was you. You were the mountaintop experience Jesus was climbing toward on Calvary. He didn’t run from the suffering because He saw the value of bringing you into His family.
Unpacking the Explosive “Mega Power” of God
Finally, Paul turns his attention to power in verses 19–21:
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”
In the original Greek text, Paul stacks dynamic, explosive words together to describe the power available to believers:
- Hyperbolo: Exceeding, over-the-top, or far-flung greatness.
- Megathos: Massive, “mega” magnitude.
- Dunamis: Explosive power (where we get our word dynamite).
- Energia: Active, working energy.
- Kratos & Ischys: Sovereign strength and ultimate authority to rule.
Paul piles word upon word to emphasize that God’s power toward you is limitless. And notice who this power is given to—not just apostles, church leaders, or full-time ministers, but “to us who believe.”
This is the exact same resurrection power that broke the chains of death and elevated Jesus above every ruler, authority, and title in this age and the age to come.
Step Into Your Call to Action
God did not unleash this tremendous power just for us to have an intellectual understanding of theology. As verse 22 reveals, God put all things under Christ’s authority for the benefit of the church—so that we can be empowered, effective witnesses across the earth (Acts 1:8).
Are you ready to stop settling for a weak, low-energy faith? Here is how you can level up starting today:
- Spend Time with Jesus Daily: Cultivate epignosis (superknowledge) through consistent time reading Scripture and listening in prayer.
- Expose Your Heart to the Light: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas blocking your connection with God so His light can transform them.
- Be Filled with the Holy Spirit: Ask God for a fresh baptism and refilling of the Holy Spirit to activate His resurrection power in your life.
- Engage in the Body: Don’t walk the journey alone. Pray constantly with and for other believers in your local church community.
There is always more in store for you in Christ. Elevate your expectations, step into His resurrection power, and live out your high calling today!
Watch the original sermon video on YouTube: LAMP Live | Level Up Your Faith
