#1380. The riches of His inheritance (5/11/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (posted, at present, every weekday) as we continue our Ephesians series: Ephesians - To the praise, for the purpose, in the power of God. 

In our last devotional, we reflected on the need to ‘keep asking’ - to persist in prayer. Today, we see that: 

Prayer imparts spiritual vision so as to believe for and rejoice in our future hope. 

You can listen to this devotional below

As in the previous verse, Paul reminds us that true spiritual understanding comes through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Today, we’re invited to consider how the Spirit wants to reveal more of the hope we’ve been called to, and the riches of God’s glorious inheritance.

I’m sure that we all would like to know the future. We’ve all, I’m sure, watched films or read stories about time travel and how, knowing the future, gives all sorts of opportunities for those in the adventure. However, God does want us to know certain things about the future. He wants us to know things that will inspire us in the present. Like a light at the end of a tunnel, our future in Christ is meant to sustain us through life’s darkest seasons 

1. The Spirit gives revelation of our hope

Paul prays that we will know ‘the hope to which He has called you.’ This isn’t vague optimism - it’s the solid expectation of resurrection life, eternal glory, and unhindered fellowship with God. As he writes elsewhere:

This hope is more than head knowledge. The Spirit wants the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened - an image of deep, inner awareness that transforms our emotions, desires, and endurance.

2. The Spirit wants us to know the riches of His inheritance

Paul also prays that we would grasp ‘the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people.’There is some debate as to whether this is speaking about God’s or our inheritance. To my mind, this seems to speak of the inheritance that God wants to give to us as His children. Our hope and inheritance are about the glory we will experience and which is beyond comparison: we will see God, be like Christ, and dwell in joy and holiness forever. This is guaranteed because, in Christ, we are adopted into His family and are heirs with Christ. 

Response

• How hopeful are you? Are you allowing the Spirit to fill you with a hope that infuses your present with joy? Or are you letting today’s difficulties eclipse the glory of your future inheritance?

• Let the Holy Spirit open the eyes of your heart to see again the unshakable hope and breathtaking inheritance that are already yours in Christ.

Community Group Notes

This week is ’SIV’ Week, where we will give much more time to sharing and praying about how we are seeking to bring the gospel to our friends and community. 

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

THIS WEEK IS SIV (SERVE INVEST AND INVITE) WEEK.

What is SIV? 

SIV stands for Serve, Invest, and Invite. This is our very simple strategy to help bring our community to Jesus. We believe that God has placed us in relationships and in specific locations to be 'salt and light.' and to ‘fish for people’.  We can effectively bring people to Jesus by 'Serving' them - demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways; by 'Investing' in the people to whom we feel the Spirit is leading us; and by 'Inviting' them into our homes by showing hospitality and inviting them to church events, to Alpha, and ultimately, inviting them to come to Jesus through the gospel. 

Along with a brief reflection on Sunday’s text, let's spend this time sharing, thinking and praying about how God wants to work through us to help our communities to come to Jesus. 

1. Our message from Ephesians 1:15-21, was:  Understand the Spirit’s work,  give thanks and pray for His work. Please read Ephesians 1:15-21. What, from this text, is helpful and inspirational in regard to growing in effectively bringing the gospel to our friends and community? 

2. Who are you regularly praying for to come to Christ?

3. Do you have any encouraging stories to share - how have you served, invested and invited? 

4. Do you have any plans for how you plan to serve, invest and invite in the places and to the people that God has given to you? Why not make a note so that you can pray and hold yourself accountable? 

5. Are you planning to, or could you, do anything together as a group?

6. Let's pray for ourselves and our community together. Let's pray for the particular people that God is putting on your heart. Let's pray for the Holy Spirit to empower and direct us in how to Serve, Invest and Invite. 

Note - a very practical thing to do, is to think about who you might want to invite to our upcoming carol service (7th December) and to sign up for carol singing (30th November). 

To sign up, go to: https://forms.monday.com/forms/67541e198902721e4b04ee65cc95ae8a?r=use1