Going Deeper in Faith: Understanding the Gift We Have in Jesus

When we encounter exceptional gifts or talents in others, we often respond with a mix of jealousy and appreciation. Sometimes, people possess amazing abilities but choose not to develop them further. This parallels our spiritual journey – we all have received an incredible gift of faith, but how deeply are we willing to explore it?

What Does It Mean to Have a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation?

The Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian churches wasn’t about gaining special information or exclusive knowledge. Instead, he prayed for deeper perception and revelation of who God is. This highlights an important distinction between head knowledge and heart knowledge in our faith journey.

Head Knowledge vs. Heart Knowledge

Technical or head knowledge has its limits. While understanding facts about God is important, experiential or heart knowledge takes us to deeper places in our relationship with Him. Just as understanding basketball rules isn’t the same as playing the game, merely knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing Him personally.

What Are the Three Key Areas Paul Prays For?

1. Understanding the hope to which we are called
2. Knowing the riches of God’s glorious inheritance
3. Experiencing God’s incomparable power

The Hope We Have in Christ

This hope includes:

• Freedom from fear of death
• Reunion with believers who have passed
• Certainty of eternity
• Adoption into God’s family
• Assurance of our value to God

The Riches of God’s Inheritance

This speaks to the ultimate unity of all believers and our future dwelling together in perfect harmony with God in the new heaven and earth.

What Power Do Believers Have Access To?

The same power that:

• Raised Christ from the dead
• Seated Him at God’s right hand
• Placed all things under His authority

This power enables believers to:

• Overcome temptation
• Resist sin
• Face spiritual warfare
• Navigate hardships
• Combat doubt and fear

Life Application

Don’t settle for surface-level faith. Instead:

• Pray for deeper understanding of God
• Seek both head and heart knowledge
• Ask for more of God’s presence in your life

Questions to consider:

1. Am I satisfied with my current level of faith, or am I actively seeking to go deeper?
2. Do I rely more on head knowledge or heart knowledge in my relationship with God?
3. How can I practically pursue a deeper understanding of the hope, inheritance, and power available to me in Christ?

This week, challenge yourself to pray daily for wisdom and revelation to know God better, moving beyond surface-level faith into deeper waters of relationship with Him.