“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” – Ephesians 1:18
What do you see around you?
When it comes to physical objects, most people are able to see what’s around them. Sure, as I discovered, when you get a little older some of those things might get a little blurrier, but you can still see them.
Now, what if I get a little more abstract?
What worldly truths can you “see” around you?
Most people’s “eyesight” starts to get a little worse when talking about worldly truths. The election-year makes a great illustration of this fact.
Try talking (peacefully) to someone of the opposite political party as you. You’ll likely notice that they see things very differently than you do. Truths that seem obvious to you are invisible to them and vice-versa. In a Bible study I was in tonight, we talked about how hard it is for people to honestly assess whether the facts actually support their beliefs. I invite you to try this some time. It takes courage and humility but may be quite enlightening.
What about the truths of the Spirit?
Now, we’ve hit a real blindspot. We really can’t see spiritual truths on our own. It’s just not possible.
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 2:13-14
Our natural, sin-corrupted minds cannot fathom the things of God.
These truths can only come from the Spirit of God. Because of this, Paul prays for the people Ephesus, that the Spirit would enlighten the eyes of their hearts to know the hope of Jesus Christ. They cannot know that hope unless the Spirit opens the eyes of their hearts.
This is true of all of us. So, this is a good prayer for us to adopt for ourselves and others. We pray for ourselves as we read the Bible that God’s Spirit would open our eyes to understand. We pray for those who do not believe in Jesus that God would open their eyes to who He is and the salvation He brings.
This is why prayer is one of (if not the) most important things we can do for evangelism. Yes, share the Gospel, but pray for the person and keep praying. The Gospel is foolishness to them apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s start praying for people.
Take a few minutes and make a list of some people you know who do not believe in Jesus. Over this coming month, pray for them every day as part of your daily prayers. Pray, also, for them when they enter your mind. Pray that God would open the eyes of their heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. Pray for an opportunity to share that hope with them.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for opening my eyes to Your saving Gospel. I pray that You continue to open my mind to Your Word. Please, also, reveal Your Word to the following people:
(pray for the people on your list)
I ask that You reveal the truth of the Gospel to them and give them faith. Please be give me or others the opportunity to share the Gospel with them and the courage and wisdom to speak when that opportunity comes.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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