Category: Ephesians

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Stand Guard

This is the end of our walk through Ephesians. I hope you have found some wonderful nuggets of instruction and encouragement.

“This is the last thing I want to say: Be strong with the Lord’s strength. 11 Put on the things God gives you to fight with. Then you will not fall into the traps of the devil. 12 Our fight is not with people. It is against the leaders and the powers and the spirits of darkness in this world. It is against the demon world that works in the heavens. 13 Because of this, put on all the things God gives you to fight with. Then you will be able to stand in that sinful day. When it is all over, you will still be standing. ” Ephesians 6:10-13 NLV

The first thing that came to mind when I read this this morning was young David as he was about to face Goliath. David knew that he wasn’t going out to fight in his own strength. He knew God was with him. King Saul tried to get David to wear his royal armor – it didn’t fit, David chose to use what God had given him. A sling, some rocks and the supernatural presence of God.

Paul tells us that our fight isn’t with people. It’s a fight of a spiritual nature so it requires a specialized armor, the armor of God. The promise we have is that if we stand, stand strong, we will still be standing victoriously when the battle is over.

“14 So stand up and do not be moved. Wear a belt of truth around your body. Wear a piece of iron over your chest which is being right with God. 15 Wear shoes on your feet which are the Good News of peace. 16 Most important of all, you need a covering of faith in front of you. This is to put out the fire-arrows of the devil. 17 The covering for your head is that you have been saved from the punishment of sin. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:14-17

Every piece of our armor comes from God’s word.

a belt of truth – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”. John 14:6

a breastplate of righteousness – we know that “He became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” II Corinthians 5:21

our shoes are the gospel of peace – “we have peace with God” Romans 5:1

our shield is faith – “faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God” Romans 10:17

a helmet of salvation – “by grace are we saved through faith” Ephesians 2:8

our sword – is the word of God Ephesians 6:18

Without God’s word we have no armor; without our armor we cannot stand.

“You must pray at all times as the Holy Spirit leads you to pray. Pray for the things that are needed. You must watch and keep on praying. Remember to pray for all Christians. ” Ephesians 6:19 NLV

Now, more than ever it’s important for us to pray. Pray for ourselves, our families, for each other. Our victory comes by faith.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.” I John 5:4 CEV

So let’s do as Paul has instructed us to do. Stand Guard and Keep On Standing!

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Promise Made, Promise Kept

When our oldest two children were in kindergarten and first grade we lived in the little community of Arlington, AZ. Arlington is in the middle of farmland and there was only a little store and a post office. So, we would take a break from baling hay when we could and go for a treat at the Dairy Queen which was 30 miles away.

If we told the kids we were taking them on Friday you can be sure that Friday morning they started reminding us of our promise. After all, a promise made is a promise kept.

That’s what I want you to remember about this morning’s verses from Ephesians. God, the Father, is a loving parent and when He makes a promise He keeps it.

“Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, 2  “Obey your father and your mother, 3 and you will have a long and happy life.”

4  Parents, don’t be hard on your children. Raise them properly. Teach them and instruct them about the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1-4 CEV

Not only does the Bible give instruction to the children it also gives us, as parents, instruction.

“Fathers, do not be too hard on your children so they will become angry. Teach them in their growing years with Christian teaching.” Ephesians 6:4 NLV

We are to teach our children well. Teach them to be honest, loving, kind, understanding, respectful, and obedient. But, our teaching methods should never be harsh or demeaning. We should refrain from ridicule and criticism and instead use the same characteristics and qualities that God uses as He helps us to grow and mature into His image.

Speak the truth in love.

This same instruction follows through in our workplace relationships. Whether we are the employer or the employee, we have a responsibility before God to act in a way that pleases Him.

“Slaves, you must obey your earthly masters. Show them great respect and be as loyal to them as you are to Christ. 6 Try to please them at all times, and not just when you think they are watching. You are slaves of Christ, so with your whole heart you must do what God wants you to do. 7 Gladly serve your masters, as though they were the Lord himself, and not simply people. 8 You know that you will be rewarded for any good things you do, whether you are slaves or free.

9  Slave owners, you must treat your slaves with this same respect. Don’t threaten them. They have the same Master in heaven that you do, and he doesn’t have favorites.” Ephesians 6:5-9 CEV

If we are in someone’s employ we should be respectful and obedient. If they ask us to do something that goes contrary to God’s word, it’s time to look for a new job. We should work in such a way that God is pleased with what we do. He will reward us for our diligence.

And if we are in a place of authority with others working for us we must also please the Lord in how we lead. Those working for us should be treated with respect and we should never ask them to do something that would go against God’s instruction to us. God doesn’t play favorites.

Isaiah tells us this: “ If you are willing and obey, you will eat the best of the land.” Isaiah 1:19 NLV

Remember, a promise made is a promise kept. And God’s promises are much better than an ice cream.

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Marriage, Yes, Marriage

How many of you know that laughter and humor are good for a marriage?

The Bible tells us that a merry heart is good like a medicine, but sorrow dries out the bones. So, as we look at Paul’s teaching on marriage, I want us to have a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts.

“ Honor Christ and put others first. 22  A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. 24 Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first.” Ephesians 5:21-24 CEV

I had a wife tell me once that she didn’t like these verses on submission. She said you don’t know my husband. He will use these verses against me. I told her that it was true that I didn’t know him, but God did, and this was God’s instruction. We wives should put our husbands first; showing them respect and honor. Someone has to be able to make the final decision in the household and God has given that to our husbands.

” A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. 27 Christ did this, so he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.” Ephesians 5:25-27 CEV

These are strong words. Husbands are to love their wives in the same way that Christ loves the church. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us, giving His life for our redemption.

“28 In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows he loves himself. 29 None of us hate our own bodies. We provide for them and take good care of them, just as Christ does for the church, 30 because we are each part of his body. 31  As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother to get married, and he becomes like one person with his wife.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I understand it to mean Christ and his church.” Ephesians 5:28-32 CEV

A husband who loves as Christ loves will protect, nurture, provide and be kind to his wife. He will treat her in the same way that he provides for his own needs and desires. The marriage relationship should be an example of the love and submission that Christ has for us and that we show to Him.

“So each husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 CEV

There will be differences and disagreements in marriage. Those times can help us grow in our understanding of one another and make the marriage stronger. Having Christ’s point of view – love, respect, and forgiveness – can make our marriages a little bit of heaven here on earth.

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Be Imitators

Do you realize how often the advertising world tries to get us to imitate popular or famous people? Clothes, makeup, cars, food, sports, entertainment, etc. Even good or godly causes sometimes use celebrity endorsements to draw us in.

If we are going to copy anyone we should only imitate the best.

“ Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2  Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.

3 You are God’s people, so don’t let it be said that any of you are immoral or indecent or greedy. 4 Don’t use dirty or foolish or filthy words. Instead, say how thankful you are. 5 Being greedy, indecent, or immoral is just another way of worshiping idols. You can be sure people who behave in this way will never be part of the kingdom that belongs to Christ and to God.

6 Don’t let anyone trick you with foolish talk. God punishes everyone who disobeys him and says foolish things. 7 So don’t have anything to do with anyone like that.

8 You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light 9 and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful, 10 as you try to please the Lord.” Ephesians 5:1-10 CEV

Last night we watched a show where a young girl imitated her friend. Her hair color, her clothing, her activities were all an imitation of the girl she looked up too. In the end, the one girl told her she was stupid and she needed to get a life of her own.

God will never do that!

As we let our light shine we will draw people to Christ; we will be a beacon of hope. The word Christian was coined because those who were following the message of Christ were acting like Him.

We can’t go wrong in doing that. Let’s be imitators of God.

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For Our Benefit

This morning I’m going to do something I rarely do. I’m going to talk to you about a few “don’ts”.

When I was a kid I received a lot of instruction; don’t touch the stove, it’s hot. Don’t throw rocks at the window. There was a skull and crossbones on the bottle of poison telling me not to drink it. Don’t run with scissors. Don’t cut the dogs hair. Don’t go swimming for an hour after you eat.

All of these, and many more, instructions were for my benefit from loving and caring parents.

The Apostle Paul is giving us some don’ts today. These come from our loving heavenly Father and are for our good and beneficial to our development as we grow in Christ.

“So stop lying to each other. Tell the truth to your neighbor. We all belong to the same body. 26 If you are angry, do not let it become sin. Get over your anger before the day is finished. 27 Do not let the devil start working in your life. 28 Anyone who steals must stop it! He must work with his hands so he will have what he needs and can give to those who need help. 29 Watch your talk! No bad words should be coming from your mouth. Say what is good. Your words should help others grow as Christians. 30 Do not make God’s Holy Spirit have sorrow for the way you live. The Holy Spirit has put a mark on you for the day you will be set free. 31 Put out of your life all these things: bad feelings about other people, anger, temper, loud talk, bad talk which hurts other people, and bad feelings which hurt other people. 32 You must be kind to each other. Think of the other person. Forgive other people just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.” Ephesians 4:25-32 NLV

Each one of these instructions is for our benefit. Lying will destroy our character. Anger will give us ulcers and effect our heart. Stealing will get us thrown in jail or fired. Bad talk will separate family and friends.

On the other hand kindness, forgiveness, and thoughtfulness are beneficial and restorative.

The Bible is practical in its instruction. Let me put it this way, Don’t not follow the loving guidance that God gives us for a prosperous and peaceful life.

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A New Life

This morning, we are going to do a deep dive into practical daily living. Paul knew that the Christians in Ephesus didn’t need religious platitudes. What they needed was a true relationship with the “One True God”.

We do too.

“ I have something from the Lord to tell you. I warn you: Don’t continue living like those who don’t believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. 18 They have no understanding, and they know nothing because they refuse to listen. So they cannot have the life that God gives. 19 They have lost their feeling of shame and use their lives to do what is morally wrong. More and more they want to do all kinds of evil. 20 But that way of life is nothing like what you learned when you came to know Christ. 21 I know that you heard about him, and in him you were taught the truth. Yes, the truth is in Jesus. 22 You were taught to leave your old self. This means that you must stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self gets worse and worse, because people are fooled by the evil they want to do. 23 You must be made new in your hearts and in your thinking. 24 Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him.” Ephesians 4:17-24 CEV

Once we come to Christ our thinking and lifestyle needs to change. We give up trying to do things on our own, figuring everything out for ourselves. Our knowledge and skills are extremely limited when we put them up against God’s knowledge.

Our relationship with Christ gives us a whole new life.

“We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:16-18 CEV

Paul knew this transformation. He was a zealot. Die in the wool, true to the Jewish religion. He felt that anyone preaching Christ was the Son of God was teaching heresy and needed to be stopped. Saul, before his name was changed, secured arrest warrants and actively sought Christians to arrest and even kill.

When Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus Saul recognized his error and sin. He became one of the renown leaders of Christianity, traveling all over the known world with the message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

He had a new life. He was done with the old and he became the new person God designed him to be.

We all have a calling from God to accept that same transformation that Christ died to give us. We have been freely offered a new life in Christ.

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Help to Grow

One thing I know about our heavenly Father is He never leaves us alone. He doesn’t abandon us in our times of trouble or do we ever hear him say, “Go figure it out on your own”.

No, quite the contrary. He tells us to come to Him boldly when we need help and He’ll be there. He tells us to call and He will answer. We are to seek and we will find; ask and we will receive; knock and the door will be opened.

Jesus told his disciples that when He left the Father would send us a helper, the Holy Spirit would come to comfort, instruct and advocate for us. His primary purpose is to come along side of us and give us aid in our walk with Christ.

We have also been given spiritual leaders to help us grow. We learn from their teachings and instructions. Paul, the apostle, was doing just that when he wrote these words to the Christians in Ephesus.

“Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12 so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. 13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.

14 We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. 15 Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head 16  of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.” Ephesians 4:11-16 CEV

The teaching we receive should help us to grow to be more like Christ as we mature. Godly teaching is based on God’s word and not men’s opinions. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His day. Paul warns us not to be tricked by false teaching.

The Holy Spirit was sent to guide us into all truth. He’s there with that still small inner voice to steer us away from wrong teaching.

“The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.” John 16:13 CEV

As I said, the Father never leaves us alone or abandons us. He is here to help us grow!

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All for Him

I hope you are enjoying this morning walk through the book of Ephesians. I know I am.

There are so many promises and insights contained in this one book. God’s character, His love, revealed in depth. Being raised in a church that was more concerned about it’s rules than in relationship I had a hard time realizing that I didn’t have to earn God’s love. He gives it freely.

The last three chapters have shown us God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, power and unconditional love. Now Paul is going to show us how to put what we have received into action.

He was imprisoned because he taught that the message of Christ’s redemption was available to all, including the Gentiles. The Jewish religious elite hated this message and did their best to eliminate it from the very outset. But God had a different plan. Missionaries went around the known world telling them of the incomparable love of God. When Paul could no longer travel because of his imprisonment he wrote letters. Letters for us to read; letters that God has used to bring so many to a saving knowledge of Christ.

“I am being held in prison because of working for the Lord. I ask you from my heart to live and work the way the Lord expected you to live and work. 2 Live and work without pride. Be gentle and kind. Do not be hard on others. Let love keep you from doing that. 3 Work hard to live together as one by the help of the Holy Spirit. Then there will be peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in which you were called. 5 There is one Lord and one faith and one baptism. 6 There is one God. He is the Father of us all. He is over us all. He is the One working through us all. He is the One living in us all. 7 Loving-favor has been given to each one of us. We can see how great it is by the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:1-7 NLV

Do you see the theme of these verses? There is One. One way to live, one way to work and that is to follow the example and teachings of Christ.

We have the Holy Spirit living in us and He will help us to live in a way that brings honor to the Father. Since we are called the body of Christ, and Christ is the head that implies unity of thought and passion. Our physical bodies don’t act independently of our head and our spiritual bodies shouldn’t either.

Each one of us have received the loving-favor or the grace of God as a gift. Not one of us is good enough to work our way to heaven. This is a humbling fact. Remember these words from chapter 2?

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:4-5 NKJV

Let me repeat. Since Christ is the head and we are His body we should be working together for His honor and glory. It’s all for Him!

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Power Working In Us

Christ lived in a time of political occupation and suppression. His message: be reconciled to God and live a life that reflects His love. That’s the message I seek to deliver each day.

Today, we pick up in the 3rd chapter of Ephesians. Paul is about to pray another prayer for all of us.

I first became familiar with this prayer in 1980. Back then I read it every day as part of my daily meditation in God’s word. I didn’t continue reading it daily but I’ve probably read it over 14000 times and each time I come away with a greater understanding of God’s love for each of us.

I personalize it using my name and first person pronouns. I encourage you to do the same.

“12 In Christ we come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this because of our faith in Christ. 13 So I ask you not to be discouraged…14 So I bow in prayer before the Father. 15 Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. 16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 12-21 ERV

It’s vitality important that we realize we have been invited to come into God’s presence in freedom and without fear. His message to us is to come boldly to His throne and find help in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

When we come… we will receive power to strengthen our spirit. Christ came boldly in the Garden of Gethsemane the night of His betrayal. How much more important is it for us to come and find strength in our times of need.

When we come… Christ lives in our hearts and He fills us with His love.

To understand the depth, width and breadth of the love of God is almost incomprehensible. But, when we look at the life of Christ we see how God’s love was manifest on a daily basis. To the leper, the harlot, the tax collector, the hypocrites, the accusers and the murderers.

His love is unconditional; it is given freely to everyone who comes to receive. It is greater than we can know intellectually however, we can know it by experience.

Why does God want us to know this great love?

Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. 20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.”

And then, God receives glory for His loving kindness and more are drawn into relationship with Him.

His love produces a mighty power within us!

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It’s Personal

Do you read your Bible as if it’s a personal letter just for you? I hope you do. It’s an amazing book, written personally to each one who reads it.

Although God’s message is universal and to all who will believe it’s also written with specific and individual instruction so that we may each have our own personal relationship with the Father.

The purpose of Paul writing to the Christians at the church in Ephesus was to introduce them to this mystery of God’s amazing grace being given to them. It’s personal.

“ God let me know his secret plan by showing it to me. I have already written a little about this. 4 And if you read what I wrote, you can see that I understand the secret truth about Christ. 5 People who lived in other times were not told that secret truth. But now, through the Spirit, God has made it known to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And this is the secret truth: that by hearing the Good News, those who are not Jews will share with the Jews in the blessings God has for his people. They are part of the same body, and they share in the promise God made through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:3-6 ERV

For thousands of years, the blessings of God were reserved for His people, the Jews. David had confidence as he faced Goliath that God was with Him because of the covenant that God made with the Jewish people.

The three men who were threatened with a fiery furnace were not afraid because they trusted in their promise keeping God. Daniel chose to serve God even though it meant being thrown into a den of lions.

Esther, a young Jewish girl, who became queen, boldly went before the king and his adviser, who was intent on killing all Jews, because of her trust in her covenant keeping God.

And now Paul was telling the Ephesians, and us, that these same blessings and promises of God are made available to us through Christ.

“By God’s special gift of grace, I became a servant to tell that Good News. He gave me that grace by using his power. 8 I am the least important of all God’s people. But he gave me this gift—to tell the non-Jewish people the Good News about the riches Christ has. These riches are too great to understand fully. 9 And God gave me the work of telling all people about the plan for his secret truth. That secret truth has been hidden in him since the beginning of time. He is the one who created everything. 10 His purpose was that all the rulers and powers in the heavenly places will now know the many different ways he shows his wisdom. They will know this because of the church. 11 This agrees with the plan God had since the beginning of time. He did what he planned, and he did it through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In Christ we come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this because of our faith in Christ.” Ephesians 3:7-12 ERV

We, you and I, have been chosen by God to inherit His promises and through those promises we will be a testimony of the Father’s goodness and love. Our purpose is to never underestimate the power of God working in our lives and to boldly proclaim, like those of old, that God is able and deserves all glory.

It’s personal!

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