"Grieve Not the Spirit..."

November 30, 2014

“Grieve Not the Spirit…”

Blessings folk!

Another command.
Another instruction.
A serious one which the Body of Christ often does not consider.

Ephesians 4:30
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.


The command: do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
So, apparently it is possible to grieve the Spirit.
True Believers have the Holy Spirit.
False believers do not.
True Believers can grieve...quench...inhibit the Spirit.
How?
Any number of ways which we have already seen.
Simply put, if we are not abiding in the Lord, then we are grieving the Spirit.
Sin...living outside the abiding of the Lord via the Spirit...is grieving the Spirit.

We learn something else about the Spirit.
The Spirit seals us for the day of redemption.

But, are we not already redeemed?
Yes.
But, the day of redemption is yet to come.
We were saved, at some point in time.
We are continuing to be saved.
We will be saved.

There is much yet to come of our redemption and salvation.

The Spirit seals us...protects us...preserves us for the time to come.

Grieve not the Spirit.
Live in the Spirit.


"Speak..."

November 29, 2014

“Speak…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord continues with His instructions to His Body.
Another two-fold, one thought moment...

Ephesians 4:29
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.


A command.
An instruction.
Related to our speech...our mouth.
Let no corrupting talk...no unwholesome word...come out of our mouth.

So, in the “negative”, we are to be certain to not allow any corrupting word to come from our mouths.
We decide.
We control our speech.
We either speak from the flesh, or we speak from the Spirit.
Choose well.

In the “positive”, we are to speak words which…

  • build up the Body
  • fit the occasion
  • give grace to those who hear…

Let those who have ears hear.
Speak grace.
Speak truth.
Speak love.

"No Longer Steal..."

November 28, 2014

“No Longer Steal…”

Blessings folk!

We have seen that repentance, confession, belief, faith in the Lord Jesus will bring forth a changed and ever-transforming life.

The following is an example.
An example with insight often overlooked.

Ephesians 4:28
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.


Someone who was once a thief but who is now saved is to no longer steal.

The same can be said of the…

  • liar
  • cheat
  • gossip
  • defrauder
  • murder
  • greedy
  • etc.

Notice what he is to do.
Rather than steal, he is to labor.

This is a much-needed word for our society today.
Rare is the day when we do not see people stealing.
Stealing “legally”.
Stealing “illegally”.

Our western government has created entire castes of society in the name of “helping the poor” that has resulted in a situation where it does not “pay to work”.

This has been done on purpose.

Destruction of honest labor and work is the goal.

Why?

Dependency.
We have seen the evil fruit of dependency.

The Word tells us to labor, to do honest work with our hands.

Did you see the purpose of such?

Not exclusively to meet one’s own needs...nor just the needs of the family.

But, so that we can have something to share with anyone...anyone...in need.

The creation of a society of dependents and takers has undermined the structure of the Most High.

God wants us to meet the needs of one another.
Not through the coercion of command and mandate at the tip of a barrel, but through obedience to the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

We as the Body of Christ have allowed the world to usurp and pervert that which God desires to do.

Let us repent.
Let us pursue the ancient path of the Lord.

Labor.
Work with your own hands.
Give as the Lord directs.

"Be Angry, Do Not Sin"

November 27, 2014

“Be Angry, Do Not Sin”

Blessings folk!

We are to put away falsehood.
We are to speak the truth to one another.
Now, the next verse...

Ephesians 4:26-27
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the devil.


Yes.
One can be angry and yet not sin.
The Word reveals that Jesus was angry, yet did not sin.

How can one be angry and not sin?
It is an attitude of the heart.
What is the motivation for the anger?
Selfish desire?
Personal?
Then, sin is likely involved.

If the motivation is the holiness and righteousness of God, then that is another matter.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Do no allow it to fester...to brood...to percolate...etc.

Why?

Because it will give an opportunity to the devil.

“Stewed over” anger will result in unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness is a foundational strategy of the evil one.

Be angry, yet do not sin.
Hold not ought against your brother.

In all things be thankful, especially for one another.

"Put Away Falsehood..."

November 26, 2014

“Put Away Falsehood…”

Blessings folk!

“Therefore”… in light of all the Lord has revealed to this point.
The Lord gives instruction. Command.
All are important.
Especially this one.

Ephesians 4:25
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.


The Lord gives us two commands around one thought.

  1. We are to put away falsehood.
  2. We...each one of us...are to speak the truth.

This is a major failure in the professing Body of Christ.

So many lie.
So many equivocate.
So many do not honor their word.

Personally, this is something that I experience on a near daily basis.

Those who profess to be believers tell things that are inaccurate, untrue, less than complete… lies.
Often it is “unintended”.
I am not speaking about the mistake, the misspoken word, the statement that is wrong because of incomplete knowledge.
We all do that.
I am speaking of when the default response is to pervert the truth, especially to protect oneself.

I had it happen recently.
A simple request of an individual brought forth a defensive lie.

Many experience the type of comments like “I’ll get with you tomorrow...I’ll get that to you this week”, etc. and it is never done.

These are falsehoods.

Such should not be found within the Body.

We are to put away falsehood.

If we examine ourselves I believe that we would find that there is a “culture” of falsehood, lies, etc. in many church organizations.

Such breeds doubt, distrust, frustration, bitterness, resentment...love is broken.

Therefore, today...let us determine to speak no falsehood.

Do not speak anything untrue.
Do not declare that you will do something...then not do it.
Do not tell those “little white” lies.
Do hold the tongue.

Determine to speak truth to one another.

The Truth of the Word.
The truth of the logistics of life.

Do not bludgeon one another with truth.
Speak truth in love.

The last phrase tells us to do this because we are members of one another.
We would not cause harm to ourselves.
We are One.
Therefore, do not cause harm to one another.

Speak no falsehood.
Speak truth.

Let Love reign.

"Put Off, Put On..."

November 25, 2014

“Put Off, Put On…”

Blessings folk!

One of the most powerful words in the Word - “but”…
We saw yesterday what happens to those who walk in the futility of their mind…
  • darkened in understanding
  • alienated from the Life of God
  • hard of heart
  • giving themselves to sensuality
  • greedy to practice every kind of impurity

True Believers?
“But”…we are not to live in this manner.
This is not the way you learned Christ...

Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.


The Spirit reveals that those who are His will not live in the manner of the Gentiles.
Assuming we are His.
Assuming we have heard about Him.
Assuming we were taught in Him...as the truth is in Jesus.

Too many assume that they are in correct relationship with the Lord, when the truth is that they are not.

They are religious.
Perhaps they are “good” in deed.
Yet, they are not saved.

They have not done what this passage reveals.

True Believers…

  • put off the old self...which belongs to the past life and is corrupt
  • are renewed in the spirit of their minds
  • put on the new self...created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

We do so by the power of the Spirit.

Have we put off the old self?
Do we continue to put to death the old self as it tries to resurrect itself?

Have we put on the new self?

Do we choose righteousness and holiness?

Do we do so on a continued basis?

If not, examine yourself to see if you be of the faith.

"Futile of Mind...They Are..."

November 24, 2014

“Futile of Mind...They Are…”

Blessings folk!

We are not to walk in the manner of the Gentiles…
  • in futility of mind
  • in sin
  • in pursuit of selfish fulfillments

Look at what happens when one lives in the futility of mind.

Ephesians 4:18-19
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

They are…

  • darkened in their understanding
  • alienated from the life of God. Why? Because of the ignorance that is in them.
  • hard of heart. This is what led to the ignorance.
  • callous
  • given up to sensuality...they did this to themselves.
  • greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

You see a similar description in Romans 1.

People who pursue the mind and the desire of the soul will find themselves living this type of life. Greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Those who pursue the Kingdom will find that the Lord will use their mind and soul in a way beyond anything possible in the flesh.

The question is simple.
Will we pursue the Kingdom?
Will we pursue the futility of the mind?

"Futile"

November 23, 2014

“Futile”

Blessings folk!

We press on.
We have seen that the Lord gives great detail as to how the Body of Christ - the organism of the True Church - should function.

More…a commandment...

Ephesians 4:17
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.


Paul is stating that this is a testifying of the Lord…instruction...commandment.
They were no longer to walk as the Gentiles…

What is the walk of the Gentiles?
We will see more…
For today…
Futility of minds.

“Gentiles” is the phrase use for those who do no believe.

They are futile in their minds.

Romans tells us the same thing…
Note that the wrath of God is revealed against such.
Romans 1 is a detailed description of man today...read the entire chapter sometime

Romans 1:18-23
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, mhave been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became
futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.


In their futility of mind/thinking their foolish hearts were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools.
The balance of the chapter reveals that God gives them over to what they want.

Let this not happen to us.

Be not futile in mind.
Walk not as the unbelievers.





"Fitted and Held..."

November 22, 2014

“Fitted and Held…”

Blessings folk!

Christ is the Head of the Church.

As the “Head” in the example that Paul is using, we see how the Body is structured and how it functions.

Yes.
Read the passage one more time. Happy
Review is important.

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


We, True Believers, are to grow up in all aspects...not just some...all...into Him Who is the head, Christ.

Then, this phrase…”from Whom…”

It is from the Lord Jesus that the Body is…

  • fitted together...put together the way He has determined
  • held together...not by the strength of man, not by anything other than the Lord
  • the Lord supplies every joint that holds the Body together
  • working by individual parts...the Lord grants these individual parts...us!
  • this working together is what causes the growth of the Body for the building up of itself in love.

In love, the Body grows.
In love, the Body builds itself up...in the Lord.

Anything else is strategy of man.
Anything else is void of the power of the Spirit.
Anything else...if there is power...it is not of the Holy Spirit.

Determine to function in the Body as the Lord designed.

"Speaking the Truth in Love..."

November 21, 2014

“Speaking the Truth in Love…”

Blessings folk!

The Lord has provided the equipping that the Saints need to be the Body…
If we will function in it.

We will…
  • no longer be children
  • be unified in the faith
  • have knowledge of the Son of God
  • mature
  • not tossed about by the trickery of men, nor deceitful false-doctrines

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 
but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


We will…

  • grow up

Not “grow up” in the sense that the phrase is used in the world.

We will grow up in all aspects into Him Who is the Head, Christ.
We will be Christ-like.
We will mature in His likeness.

We do so by speaking the truth in love.
Truth.
Love.

Both are evidence of the True Body.
Both are missing in many professing organizational churches.

May we live in both.

"As A Result..."

November 20, 2014

“As A Result…”

Blessings folk!

As you have seen, Ephesians gives vast, detailed revelation as to who we are in the Lord and how we, True Believers, are designed to function together.

We have seen…
  • God has given...and continues to give...individuals gifted by the Holy Spirit
  • God has given these for the equipping of the saints
  • The saints are equipped for the work of service...for the building up of the Body of Christ
  • This continues until we all attain to the unity of faith...until the fulness of Christ

There are further results...


Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14 
As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


The result of the Church being equipped in the manner that the Lord designed is that we…

  • will no longer be children...in faith, in behavior, in understanding, etc.
  • will no longer be tossed about by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine. This means that we will know the Word. We know error and deceit when it is presented. We will stand firm in the doctrine of the Truth of the Lord.
  • will not be tricked by men.
  • will not be susceptible to crafty, deceitful scheming.

These things will continue to assail...scheming, craftiness, every changing winds/waves of the doctrine of man/demons, childish behavior of those who refuse to mature in the Lord.

But, we can stand against such...if we will “do it” God’s way.
Doing things in the manner of the Lord would require major changes in the most portions of the Bod of Christ.

Are we willing?

Let’s do it...


"Until We All Attain..."

November 19, 2014

“Until We All Attain…”

Blessings folk!

We have seen that the Lord has provided gifted individuals for the equipping of the saints for the work of service.
The purpose?
Multifold.
First, to build up the Body of Christ.

Now, let’s look at another purpose...

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes
the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


Unity!
Unity is a reason that the Lord has granted this equipping.

Positionally, all True Believers are unified in the Spirit by definition.
We have seen this already. We are One.

But, the living out of this unity is an attainment.

The equipping of the saints occurs until we attain to the unity of the faith…
Until we attain the knowledge of the Son of God...maturity…
To the fulness of Christ in each Believer.

Unity.
Knowledge of the Son of God.
Fulness of Christ.

These are the things the Lord is developing in His Body.

Are we cooperating?

"For the Equipping of the Saints..."

November 18, 2014

“For the Equipping of the Saints…”

Blessings folk!

Yesterday we saw that God gave…
He gave...and gives...gifted individuals for a purpose.
Who are they?
What purpose?

We saw that one purpose was to cause the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Read again.
Give close heed to verses 11-12.

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes
the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


God gave/gives folk within the Body of Christ for the equipping of the saints for the work of service...to the building up of the Body of Christ.

Again, these equip the saints.
The saints do the work of the Kingdom.
The Body is built up.

These “builders” are also saints themselves. Happy

Given are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teacher.

What do they do?
They are supernaturally equipped by the Spirit to…
Teacher - teach
Pastor - shepherd
Evangelist - propagate the Gospel
Prophet - speak the truth of the Word of the Lord
Apostle - take the Kingdom to the world

Are we not all to do these things?
Yes.

But, the Lord equips us with such for the building of the Body.

Too often we are distracted by the “titles”, by the “functioning”, by the “structure”.
Resist such.

Rather, seek to do as the Lord leads.
Allow the Spirit to use you as He desires.

"God Gave..."

November 17, 2014

“God Gave…”

Blessings folk!

A proper understanding of Ephesians 4 is pivotal to the Church functioning as the Lord designed.

Sadly, most do not pay much attention to the Word.

Let’s take our time.

Note just two things.
What did God do?
Why?

Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes
the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.


What did God do?
He gave.
What did He give?
He gave…

  • some as apostles
  • some as prophets
  • some as evangelists
  • some as pastors
  • and teachers

Many refer to these as “spirituals gifts”.
I believe this is inaccurate.
These are gifted individuals...True Believers gifted with the Power of the Holy Spirit for Purpose.
These are “functionings” within the Body.

The Purpose we will examine later.

Why does the Lord do this?
For the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

The Body is built by the Body functioning in love within the design of the Lord.

This is profound.
So different from what is seen in most “church growth” strategies of man.

May we know the Word of the Lord.
May we live as He designed.

...to be continued...

"Descended...Ascended..."

November 16, 2014

“Descended…Ascended…”

Blessings folk!

Remember what we have seen...context…One Lord, One Faith, One Body...One.

Ephesians 4:8-10
8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,     and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

“Therefore”, in light of this context…

Paul is reminded of a portion of Scripture that speaks to the context.
The Lord gave gifts to men.
When?
When He led a host of captives.
I believe this refers to the great cloud of witnesses that believed in the coming Messiah.
The Lord “cleaned out the cache” of the Bosom of Abraham and led them to glory.

The parenthetical statement of verses 9-10 are interesting and of no-ending discussion.

Simply put, the Lord descended into the lower regions of the earth and proclaimed the gospel to those in chains. Not unto salvation, but as a declaration of victory. This occurred on the three days when He was “in the grave.”

Then, the Lord ascended.
He arose from the dead.
Ascending far above all the heavens.
To the purpose that He might fill all things.

This provides the context for what we are about to see related to the functioning of the Body of Christ.

Forget it not.


"Grace to Each One..."

November 15, 2014

“Grace to Each One…”

Blessings folk!

We have seen…
There is One Lord.
There is One Body.

Ephesians 4:4-7

4 There is
one body and
one Spirit—just as you were called to the
one hope that belongs to your call—
5 one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Verse 7 begins with “but”.
“But”?

Grace was given to each Believer.
Grace to believe.
Grace to function within the Body of Christ.
We are One by Grace.

Apparently varied degrees of grace are required for different folk.
Each is given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
We see more of this in Romans…

But for today.

Know this.

The grace granted each of us unto salvation is exactly that measured by Christ.
The grace granted for functioning within the Body - Spiritual gifting - is according to the measure released by the Lord.

We rest in this.
We rejoice in this.
We resist the temptation of the evil one to jealousy of other gifting.
Remember, we are one.




"There Is One..."

November 14, 2014

“There is One…”

Blessings folk!

This is a passage that must be learned...reflected upon...meditated upon...and lived by.

Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.


There is One Body - the Body of Christ.
The True Body...the True Church...is not divided.
Yes.
We may meet in different places.
We may worship in varied ways.
We have vast diversity.
Yet, we are One.

The fraudulent church of the strategies of man is not such.
It is fragmented.
It is independent of the Spirit.
It is a work of the flesh.

There is One Spirit - the Spirit of the Lord.

There is One Hope - the Lord.

One Lord.
One Faith.
One Baptism.
One God and Father of all.
One Who is over all.
One Who is through all.
One Who is all in all.

If you are not of The One - the Most High God - then you are not of the One Body and One Spirit.

The Called live in this Hope.
Again, True Believers are One in the Lord!

"Urge..."

November 13, 2014

“Urge…”

Blessings folk!

Often in the letters that Paul wrote to Believers he would deal with the Truths (doctrines) of the Kingdom of God, then he would write of the practical applications that arise from these Truths.

So he did to those in Ephesus.

Paul continues with the words “I therefore…”
In light of what we have seen to this point…
A personal moment...

Ephesians 4:1-3
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


Paul urged them.
He reminded them that he was a prisoner for the Lord.
Something about someone who is imprisoned urging us in this manner…

What did he urge?
That they/we walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called.
Called?
Yes.
Often we associate that with a vocational status of “ministry”, but such is wrong.

All that we have seen in Ephesians to this point reveals who we are in the Lord.
Such is the calling to which True Believers have responded.

The next two verses begin to explain.
Note what we are to do.

Bear with one another in love.
We are to love 1Another (remember that?)
We are to bear with 1Another.
The connotation is that we will not always “agree”...we are not “the same”...but we are One.
We are to walk in humility.
We are to walk in gentleness.
We are to eagerly maintain the unity of the Spirit.
We are to walk in the bond of peace.

Love binds us.
Peace is the bond of the Spirit.
We are unified in the Spirit.
We are to maintain this unity.
We do not need to fret and worry about attaining unity.
True Believers are unified in the Spirit by the Spirit...not by our works.
We simply walk in Who we are.

Why the disunity, division, quarrel, bickering, back-biting, gossip, etc. within “the church”?

Because many who profess to be True Believers are not.
They are known by their fruit.

True Believers are unified in the Spirit.
The false believers will never be unified in the Spirit because they have not the Spirit.

Oh, they are religious.
They do “good” deeds.
They talk the talk.
They teach.
They preach.
They look good.
They will also burn for all eternity if they do not repent, confess and truly receive salvation.

Examine yourself to see if you be of the faith...




"To Him Be the Glory..."

November 12, 2014

“To Him Be Glory…”

Blessings folk!

Paul brings this portion of the letter to a point of Doxology...praise of God!

Give close attention to what we learn about God.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


He is able far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…
That is an amazing phrase and an interesting way to word it.
“Far more abundantly”...much more.
More than we can think.
More than we can imagine.
More than we can ask.
He is able to do so.
Without limit.
There is no limit to God’s ability to do…

Then…
According to the power at work within us!
The limitless ability and power to do is at work within us.

It is in this that we should live.

Our response?
To Him be the glory!
Glorify and praise God without ceasing.
Glory of Father in the church.
Glory of Father in Christ Jesus.

For how long?
Throughout all generations.
Forever and ever!
Amen! (Make it so!)

"Filled With All Fullness..."

November 11, 2014

“Filled With All Fullness…”

Blessings folk!

We continue from yesterday…

Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the
love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


What do we learn about Father?

  • from Him is every family in heaven and on earth named
  • has riches in glory, according to them he grants us to be strengthened with power through His Spirit...in our inner being

What do we learn about Jesus Christ?
  • dwells in our hearts through faith
  • love that surpasses knowledge

What do we learn about Believers?
  • strengthened with power through His Spirit in our inner being
  • Christ dwells in our hearts
  • rooted, grounded in love, strengthened
  • comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth...the length...the height...the depth...to know the love of Christ
  • filled with all the fullness of God.

This is who we are in the Lord.
Such knowledge should transform the way we live as Kingdom vessels.
Has it?

"Strengthened..."

November 10, 2014

“Strengthened…”

Blessings folk!

We come to one of the most profound sentences in the Word.
I include it all today, though we shall take a “bite at a time…” Happy

Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you t
o be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“For this reason…”
What reason?
Paul used the same phrase in verse 1.
He is drawing conclusions.
The immediate context gives the reason.
Remember?
God’s eternal purpose.
We are not to lose heart.

For this reason, Paul bowed his knees before the Father and prayed that they would be strengthened.

In the strength of the Lord they would not lose heart.

Look at the main truth. We will examine some details later.

Paul prayed that they would be strengthened by Father.
This strength is in the power of the Spirit.
Note where.
In the inner being!

The strength is for purpose.
What purpose?
Read it again.
See it?
To comprehend.
To know.
What?
The Love of Christ.

And, to be filled with the fullness of God.

May we do so.
May we pray for one another in like manner.
Pray.
Prey not.

More later...

...to the praise of the glory of His grace...

"Do Not Lose Heart..."

November 9, 2014

“Do Not Lose Heart...”

Blessings folk!

Paul had a request of the folk in Ephesus and all who would read the letter…

Ephesians 3:13
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.


Paul ask them not to lose heart.
Did you note what the issue was?

Paul did not want them to lose heart over the fact that he was suffering for them.
Then Paul describes this as their glory.

Their glory - not losing heart.

Paul was suffering.
Imprisoned.
Yet, he counted it all joy.
Paul was concerned, not about himself, but that they not lose heart because of his situation.

He was imprisoned for the gospel.
Rejoice.
He was retrained.
Lose not heart.
He could not travel.
Trust in the Lord.

We worry and fret over the cares and concerns of the world.
Do not.
We make decisions outside of the abiding of the Lord then wonder why we suffer.
Trust in Him.

Live in His glory.

"Eternal Purpose"

November 8, 2014

“Eternal Purpose”

Blessings folk!

The manifold wisdom of God…
The mystery of God...the Jew/Gentile as the Church…
All that we have seen to this point was for a purpose.
What purpose?

Ephesians 3:11-12
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.


The eternal purpose of God was realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus...salvation.
Christ...Messiah.
Lord...Master.

The eternal purpose?
Salvation of mankind through Messiah.

It is through the Lord that such has been realized.

Therefore, in Him we have…

  • boldness
  • access with confidence through our faith in Him.

Through faith in Jesus we can come boldly before Father.
We have access to Him.
That which caused separation - sin - is not defeated.

Nothing separates Believers from God.

Rejoice in this eternal purpose!

"Manifold Wisdom Made Known..."

November 7, 2014

“Manifold Wisdom Made Known…”

Blessings folk!

Paul speaks of the grace that was given to him.
We as True Believers have received this grace.
Grace manifest Itself in each one as He desires.

Read how Grace moved in Paul’s life.
Then, see the Truth that applies to all of us.

Ephesians 3:8-10
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.


Paul...grace to…

  • preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles
  • bring to light to everyone the plan of the mystery hidden for ages...mystery of the church

God/Jesus
  • Giver of grace
  • unsearchable riches
  • created all things
  • manifold wisdom

Church
- the mystery hidden for ages
  • the manifold wisdom of God is made known through the church…

Did you note “to whom” the wisdom of God is made known?
Read verse 10 again.
God has designed things so that “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
To who?
Rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Who are they?
What are they?

There is a hierarchy in the heavenly places - angelic and demonic (rebellious angels).

The church literally testifies of the wisdom of God before these rulers and authorities.
They know that the church is victorious in the blood of Jesus.
The angels rejoice...and long to know more.
The demons resist...and are terrified of the Day to come.

Are you of the True Church...the organism that is the Body of Christ?
Rejoice!
Or…
Are you simply of the organization called “church”...a deception of the evil one?
Cease resisting.
Today is the day of salvation.

"Least of All the Saints..."

November 6, 2014

“Least of All the Saints…”

Blessings folk!

Paul was a minister, a proclaimer of the gospel according to God’s grace.
God’s power worked through him.
The Lord does the same for us.
Paul gives us more insight to what the Lord had done/was going in him.

Ephesians 3:8-10
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.


Note how Paul calls himself the least of the saints.
There is an interesting progression in the life of Belief in Paul in the manner in which he describes himself.

To the Galatians, some 15 years after he was saved, he described himself as the “equal of the apostles”. Galatians 2. True.

To the Corinthians, some 5 years later, he described himself as the “least of the apostles.” 1 Cor. 15:9. True.

To the Ephesians, some 5 years later, “least of the saints”. Eph 3: 8. True

To Timothy, some 5 years later and nearing the end of life, “chief of sinners”, 1 Tim. 1:15. True.

All of these were true and accurate…
Apostle
Least of apostles.
Least of saints.
Chief of sinners.

Was Paul “getting worse” as he was growing older?
Happy
No!
May it never be.

It was simply the growing awareness of who he was…who we are...without the Most High God.

We will cover the balance of the passage next time.

For today, reflect and rejoice in who you are in the Most High.
Give no ear to the lies of the evil one.
Listen to the Truth of the Holy One.

"Mystery of Christ"

November 5, 2014

“Mystery of Christ”

Blessings folk!

The mystery.
Paul has previously referenced it.
Now, he explains.

Ephesians 3:1-7
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.


The mystery of Christ.

  • unknown to other generations. That is what a Biblical mystery is. A Truth unknown, hidden to a previous time. It had not been made known to them.
  • now revealed to the Lord’s holy Apostles and prophets...in the Spirit
  • specifically? The Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body
  • the Gentiles are fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel

This mystery is seen in Genesis...chapter 12 and forward…when the Lord tells Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through him.
How this blessing would manifest was a mystery.

Now we know.
Believers...Jew and Gentile...One Body in the Lord.

Paul then acknowledges who he is, how…
  • minister
  • according…
    • to the gift of God’s grace
    • to the working of His power
  • that was given to him
We have the same.
What are we doing?

"Stewardship of God's Grace..."

November 4, 2014

“Stewardship of God’s Grace…”

Blessings folk!

Keeping in mind what we have seen in chapters 1 and 2…
It does us well to reread...repeatedly the Word of God.
Especially Ephesians.
Read often.
Now...

Ephesians 3:1-3
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.


“For this reason”
What reason?
In light of what Paul had been saying before, especially what he calls a “mystery”, the Jew and Gentile one in the faith.

We learn some of Paul.
He is imprisoned.
He is in a prison for Christ Jesus.
We know of little of this in our society, yet it is increasing.
More will come soon.
I suspect beginning tomorrow.

Paul was a prisoner on behalf of the Gentiles.
He was sent to the Gentiles with the Gospel.
He was incarcerated for it.

He assumed that they knew of God’s grace that was trusted to him.
He specified.
A mystery had been revealed to Paul.
The understanding of the mystery came by revelation.
We reject such today...we should not be so quick to do so.

The Lord reveals mysteries today.
(I hasten to say that such will not conflict with the Word.)

Paul will expand in a moment...

For today, rejoice in the stewardship of God’s grace that has been granted to you.
Live it out.
Be a good steward.

“Remember, remember the fifth of November…”

"Therefore, We Are..."

November 3, 2014

“Therefore, We Are…”

Blessings folk!

We reach another conclusion...we know because of “therefore/so then”.
We see who we are in the Lord.
We see the relationship between the Gentile/Jew believer.
We see what our purpose is.
We see how we are “built”.

Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.


We are no longer strangers.
We are no longer foreigners.
We are fellow citizens with the saints.
We are of the household of God.
We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (the Old Testament prophets!)
We are built upon the foundation that has Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone.
We are built into a building perfectly framed together to grow unto a holy temple in the Lord.
We are the habitation of God.
He does so through the Holy Spirit.

In the Lord we are fitted and built.

This reveals how we are to live together.
This reveals the Power by which we are the Body of Christ.

Anything else is a perversion and deception of the evil one.


"Access..."

November 2, 2014

“Access…”

Blessings folk!

One verse of profound synoptic insight.
Remember the context from the previous days…
Here is why the Lord Jesus died...

Ephesians 2:18
18 For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.


We have access to the Father through the Lord Jesus.
The Lord died to reconcile us to Father.
We are One Spirit - Jew and Gentile.
We are One in the Spirit.
We both have access in the One Spirit to the Father.

This verse affirms the triune nature of God.
True, the word “trinity” is never mentioned in the Word.
But, here we see the Truth.

This is who True Believers are.
This is why the Lord came in the flesh to die.
This is how we are reconciled to Father.

Rejoice!

"One Body..."

November 1, 2014

“One Body…”

Blessings folk!

Ephesians 2:13-17
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.


We saw yesterday that now we are in Christ Jesus, brought near to Father by the blood of Christ.

The next word? “For…”

For, He Himself is our peace.
The Lord is The Source of all Peace.

In this particular passage there is a specific peace that is being referenced - the removal of enmity between the Jew and the Gentile.

He has…

  • made both one
  • broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility
  • abolished the law of commandments expressed in ordinance
  • created in Himself One New Man from the two...in place of the two...the Jew, the Gentile
  • made peace
  • reconciled both to God through His Body on the cross
  • thereby killed the hostility

By faith and the blood both Jew and Gentile are one...when they Believe.