Empowered to See, Capacity to Be and Do

“I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms...” (Ephesians 1:16–19, NLT)

One of the most meaningful prayers in Paul’s writings is found in Ephesians 1:16–23, where he prays not for new believers or the spiritually weak, but for mature, Spirit-filled Christians. What makes this passage so rich is that Paul is asking God to empower believers—not merely for outward ministry, but for inner vision, revelation, and understanding of who God is and what He has made available to them.

But here’s a deeper question: Were these believers already baptized in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues? And if so, why was Paul still praying for them to receive more from the Spirit?

Spirit-Baptized Believers in Ephesus

To answer this, we turn to Acts 19:1–7. When Paul first came to Ephesus, he encountered a group of disciples who had not yet received the Holy Spirit. After teaching them, he laid hands on them, and:

“The Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:6)

These same Spirit-baptized believers are now the recipients of Paul’s letter. This means that when Paul writes his powerful prayer in Ephesians 1, he’s addressing people who have already experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues.

Why Ask for More? The Disciple of Continual Filling

The discipline of continual filling means regularly choosing to seek the Holy Spirit—making time for Him, staying open to His leading, and depending on His strength and presence in everyday life, consistently pursuing Him with intentionality.

If the Ephesians were already Spirit-filled, what exactly was Paul praying for?

Here’s the answer: Empowerment isn’t a one-time event. It’s an ongoing relationship.

Paul’s prayer is that these believers would:

• Receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation

• Have the eyes of their hearts enlightened

• Understand the hope of their calling, the riches of God’s inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of His power

This reflects the discipline of “continual filling” (cf. Ephesians 5:18), where believers are urged to keep being filled with the Spirit—continually growing in intimacy, wisdom, and spiritual insight. It’s not so much about getting more of God, as it is about God getting more of us.

Not everyone who claims to walk in the Spirit actually reflects His fruit. Some may appear spiritual but lack true transformation. That’s why Scripture urges us to “examine [ourselves] to see whether [we] are in the faith” and to remember that “Jesus Christ is in you” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The Holy Spirit’s empowerment isn't just a badge to wear—it’s a life to be lived, dependent on the Spirit. When the fruit is missing, it’s not a sign to strive harder in our own strength, but a call to return to the source—to seek His face: go deeper in intimacy with Jesus, pursue a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit, and maintain a humble heart that surrenders to Him for more of Him.

We must continually depend on the Holy Spirit—not just for gifts or ministry, but for more of God Himself. God desires to take us from glory to glory. But our prideful religiosity—a hollow practice of faith that relies on tradition, appearance, or knowledge without true submission to the Spirit—will be the very thing that hinders us from experiencing deeper transformation and walking in the fullness of His power and presence.

Seeing as God Sees, Doing as God Leads

Paul’s prayer reveals a central truth: Empowerment isn’t just about outward signs and spiritual gifts (though those are important). It’s also about:

• Seeing reality through God’s eyes (Ephesians 1:18)

• Understanding your identity and calling (1 Peter 2:9)

• Hearing and following His direction (John 10:27)

• Walking in the authority and power available in Christ (Ephesians 1:19–21)

This is the kind of empowerment that transforms lives—not just for ministry, but especially, for knowing God and living in the fullness of God. This is a continual lifelong journey.

Never stop asking God to empower you to see what He is seeing and to give you the capacity to walk in what He’s called you to do. Be persistent, be intentional, and ask Him to transform your mindset—from religion to a deep, intimate relationship with God. This kind of empowerment isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifelong journey, moving from glory to glory.

A Prayer:

Lord, I don’t want to settle for appearances or rely on past experiences. I want more of You. Open the eyes of my heart to see what You see. Fill me with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so I may know You more deeply. Let my life reflect Your fruit and power—not just as a testimony, but so I may walk closely with You.

I surrender my pride, my patterns, and my limitations. I yield to You again. Lead me into deeper intimacy, fresh encounters, and the fullness of Your Spirit. Empower me not just with gifts or tongues, but with the capacity to be who You’ve called me to be and to do what You’ve called me to do.

Let Your strength be made perfect in my weakness. Empower me to love when it’s hard, to stand when I feel weak, to speak when I feel inadequate, and to serve when it costs. Let Your glory flow through my life—not for my name, but for Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Embracing a Deeper Journey … with the Almighty I AM

Yolandita Colón

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