Ephesians 1:17 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.

I feel this pastoral prayer of Paul, from verse 15 on through verse 23, is second only to Jesus’ pastoral prayer in John 17. There are many things a good pastor desires for his people, but most of them could be incorporated in the whole matter of knowing God by His Spirit. Ignorance of God is noted many times in the Bible, and it’s never a good thing. Even James and John, who were with Jesus physically, daily, as His disciples, didn’t know the Spirit that empowered Him and was going to be poured out on them. (Luke 9:54-55, though some translations don’t include verse 55) The better we know God by His Spirit, the more we are going to be like Jesus, who operated perfectly by the Spirit all the time. That in itself solves all of the behavior problems that give pastors headaches! The thing is, though, we all have room to, and need to, know God better; this is a lifetime pursuit. That’s why we need to keep pressing in. Any time we think we know enough of God, that simply proves we hardly grasp Him at all. That’s not to say we can’t know Him, but it is why Paul uses the term “revelation” here. Human intellect can get so far as to understanding that God exists, because life from non-life is something no scientist has ever achieved, or will, for that matter. Simply observing the world should teach us enough about God to cause us to seek to know more. (Romans 1:18-20) However, when we decline to accept what God shows us of Himself, we are in deep trouble. (Romans 1:21-25) Paul doesn’t want that for his readers, so he prays for wisdom and revelation by the Holy Spirit.

I have always thought of myself as deficient in Pastoral gifting, yet when I read the pastoral prayers recorded in the New Testament my heart is caught up in a resounding YES to what is expressed. I am painfully aware that I cannot do anything, really, for those under my care, so that drives me to prayer, and to offer myself as God’s tool in answering those prayers. It is a continuing mystery to me why so few believers develop a consistent, daily pattern of devotions, of spending time with God at the beginning of each day. Have they not tasted the goodness of the Lord enough to want more? Have they never heard Him speak to them through His Word? I remember the fog of pride that blinded me for quite a few years, and that gives me patience. However, it certainly doesn’t stop me from wanting more for my spiritual children! I pray with Paul that God would pour His Spirit of wisdom and revelation on each one, not just to relieve my headaches (though it would do that) but so that they won’t miss any of the good things He has prepared for them.

Father, You know those for whom my head, and my heart, ache right now. I do pray with Paul that You would pour Your spirit out on each one, revealing Your truth to them so that they may receive it and be set free from the lies of the enemy. So many are bound in so many ways, and where Your Spirit is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) I ask You to pour Your Spirit out on us all, even today, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!