Ephesians (W2D3) Hopeful Hearts

Wednesday: Hearts Enlightened with Hope

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word

READ: Ephesians 1:18

I pray 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 his holy people,

UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words

• Heart (Greek: kardia): seat of emotions, will, character

• Our hearts are naturally deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

• The pure in heart are blessed (Matthew 5:8)

• What we treasure/value comes from the heart (Matthew 6:21)

• We must guard against a cold and closed heart (Matthew 13:15)

• Enlightened (Greek: phōtizō): exposing what’s true or false (Luke 11:36)

• Hope (Greek: elpis): joyful & confident expectation (Romans 5:3-5)

• This kind of hope is not wishful thinking.

• Biblical hope is confident and comes through spiritual growth.

• Called (Greek: klēsis): divine invitation (Ephesians 4:1)

• God’s calling is always effective (Romans 11:29)

• God’s calling is based on His grace, not our merit (1 Corinthians 1:26)

• Riches (Greek: Ploutos): fullness, abundance (Romans 11:33)

• Inheritance (Greek: klēronomia): eternal blessings (Colossians 3:24)

• Holy People (Greek: hagios): pure, set apart, different (1 Peter 1:15-16)

• The result of an enlightened heart is holiness.

• The more our hearts change, the more holy we become.

• God wants our holiness more than our happiness.

APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?

In this passage, Paul prays that God would enlighten the hearts of the Ephesians. Why? Because we all have a heart problem. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us our hearts are deceitful above all things. Sin always begins in the heart. Whether it’s anger, greed, envy, gossip, hatred, lust, or any other sin, it begins in the heart. That’s why our hearts need to be enlightened. Light always drives out the darkness.

In what ways has your heart deceived you or led you astray?

What is currently in your heart that needs to be changed?

PRAY: Ask God to enlighten your heart so you can live a holy life for Him.