Know the Father of Glory!

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Know the Father of Glory

“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.”
—Ephesians 1:17      

Reflection

Paul cut to the center of his prayer in Ephesians 1:17.

Notice that Paul calls upon, “the Father of glory.”

Paul began many of his letters to the early churches by saying, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In this prayer, he is addressing not only Yeshua but Father God, who sent Jesus to the world.

Sometimes Christians are so focused on Jesus they forget that it is because of the Father’s love for them that Yeshua was sent in the first place. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son.

Who is this God who “so loved the world”? He is the Father of Messiah Jesus, the God of Israel, the One referred to in the Hebrew Bible as Yahweh. This is who Paul was praying to, the God of Israel, who is the Father of glory and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul prayed that the Father of glory “may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

Paul did not pray for wisdom just for wisdom’s sake. Although wisdom is always good in every respect, Paul prayed specifically that we would have wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who God is.

Beloved, this is important: Paul is linking wisdom with revelation.

Why? Because revelation is the bedrock the church is being built on.

When Yeshua asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-17)

Peter did not arrive at this understanding merely through human reasoning. The Father revealed it to him.

Then Messiah said, “Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)

We need more than knowledge about God. We need the Father to reveal Himself to us.

The prayer of Paul is that the Father of glory would give us wisdom and revelation so that we would truly know Him. Ask Him for this. Ask Father God to open your heart and give you revelation in the knowledge of who He is.

Application

  • Ask the Father of glory to give you wisdom and revelation, not simply more information, so that you may know Him more deeply.
  • Remember that revelation comes from the Father. Depend on Him to open your heart to the reality of who He is and who Yeshua is.

Prayer

Father of glory, give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Thank You that it was Your love that sent Yeshua into the world for me. I do not want merely to know things about You; I want You to reveal Yourself to my heart. Open my understanding and give me revelation concerning who You are and who Messiah Jesus is. Build my life upon what You reveal, and cause me to know You more deeply. In Messiah Jesus’ name, amen.

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