Grace Notes // Ephesians Week 2
Written by Keli Miller
With All Wisdom & Revelation
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” -Ephesians 1:15-17
In the second half of Ephesians 1 we see Paul beautifully pray for these believers that they may be equipped and know God. Paul pray’s that they will have both wisdom and revelation. These two things go hand in hand. Wisdom is what God grows in you. It’s not just knowing how to do something but when to do something. Wisdom is knowing the difference between should and could. Revelation on the other hand is what God gives to you. It’s an unveiling that’s grounded and found in the supernatural. Revelation is something that is given to you in a moment. Here, Paul is pointing out that we need both wisdom and revelation.
In Proverbs, we see an example of what it is like to have all the wisdom in the world but no revelation of purpose and meaning. Solomon was the wisest man to live, second to Jesus, but at the end of his life he counts it all as meaningless because he had no revelation of what God was doing or had given him.
If Solomon is an example of what it’s like to have all wisdom and no revelation, then the Prodigal Son is the perfect example of what happens when you have all revelation and no wisdom. He did not have the wisdom to steward what he had been given. Because of that he found himself living a reckless life. Revelation without wisdom leads to recklessness.
Wisdom and revelation support one another. Wisdom is a foundation that is built for the revelation that God wants to give you. David is a perfect example of what it looks like to have both qualities. David spent years in the fields, shepherding his flocks and fending off lions and wolves. This was a time of preparation for David where he was growing wisdom. Because of his time in the field, he had the foundation that would support the revelation that God was calling him into. If David didn't spend years battling wildlife with a slingshot, he probably wouldn’t have had the skill or courage to defeat Goliath. The same is true in our lives.
God works both slowly and suddenly. Slowly David grew in wisdom and skill and then suddenly, the veil was lifted, and David was given a revelation of what God was going to do through him, and he became King. When you are waiting for a fresh revelation from God, the days can feel long. God always moves slower than expected, but we know he also moves purposefully. In these seasons we need to prepare and seek out God’s wisdom and revelation. If you are asking God for a revelation you better be ready to act when he does it. Look for it, and anticipate, and let God grow new things in you. Do not despise the season of waiting and preparing, they are crucial for what’s to come.
IN THE WORD
Hebrews 10:35-36
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 7:24-29
PROCESSING QUESTIONS
How can you be faithful with what is currently in your hands?
What are you asking for that you don’t yet know how to carry?