Psalms 139

Having finished Ephesians, I'm not sure what book I'll be studying and blogging next.  Instead of stopping the blog I've decided to do some Psalms until I know which direction I'm headed.

Psalms 139

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

These first six verses I find humbling, comforting and little bit disconcerting. To not have any secrets and to known so completely strips away any pretense of control or falsehood.  There is no arguing my point because God know ever word, every excuse and every argument before I say it.  He also knows what I did and why I did it.  Yet I find comfort that even with all this knowledge, God still chose to save me and loves me.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

I remember as a youth hiding in the pine trees to smoke cigarettes.  God was there.  I remember as a teen when my parents went away and I was free to do things I'd never do with my folks home.  God was there.  I think even now, when I am alone, God is there.  The difference now is I'm more aware of His presence and His guiding hand.  I'm aware that the Holy Spirit can and will help me to "hold fast"

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand —
    when I awake, I am still with you.

All of us were knit together.  Knitting is not a random act.  The one knitting has a pattern and follows the plan.  Miss a stitch and it won't hold.  God has a plan.  You and I are not mistakes.  Verse 14 says we are wonderfully made because God's works are wonderful.  

We had a frame work.  The frame not only supports but determines the shape of the structure.  God wave us in our mother's womb.  God knew the egg and the sperm that would create us. Through out all of history, God in His providence had the right man marry the right woman so that each of mom's and dad's would be able to exist.  He brought them together at the right time so that your egg and your sperm would join and bring you into existence.

Now some of you reading this may not have been born under the best of circumstances.  Your conception may have been the result of rape, incest or a premarital relationship.  These are sin and I can appreciate that you may feel some shame.  I must say that YOU did not sin in your conception and though you may not have been part of mom and dad's plan you ARE part of God's plan or you would not be here and all these verses apply to you as well.  YOU ARE NOT A MISTAKE.  YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT.

Verse 17 and 18 speak of God's thoughts.  I'm convicted that God's thoughts rarely enter my mind because I'm too busy with my own agenda.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

 Verses 19 - 22 speak of God's enemies.  The writer has reached the point that he hates evil and those who practice evil.  I immediately think of our society the revels in evil and admires those that practice evil.  Do we hate evil?

In the last two versed the Psalmist ask God to search him again.  Are we ready to be searched by God?

God Bless.

Ephesians 6:10-24

Ephesians 6:10-24

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Our society here in the US of A tends to down play the spiritual realm.  They deny the spiritual battle that goes on everyday.

¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The Christian walk is not passive.  We've been given tools by God for this battle.  It's up to us to wear them and learn how to use them.

¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Notice that all our defenses are in the front?  If you turn your back you will be exposed to the enemies attacks.  

Also note that the only offensive tool we have is the word of God.  Our words, our weapons and our ideas will not help us in fighting this battle.  This also answers the confusion I had with balancing "stand firm" found in the verses above and "flee" sexual immorality found in 1 Corinthians 6:18.
Our weapon tells us to flee and in that case we obey.



¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

We need to be mindful of the Spirit when we pray.  He intercedes for us as he knows our heart and the heart of God.

¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

We need to pray for our leaders in the church.

²¹ Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
²³ Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

I read these few verses and don't see any deep theological mysteries, nor any instructions for our daily lives.  What I do see is a community that cared for one another.  That is what God called us to do.

God Bless.

Contentment

I'm becoming more and more aware of a battle that rages in me.  A lack of contentment with what God has given me.

Why am I overweight?  I'm not content to eat what I need.  I want more.

Why was I over $7,000 in debt?  I was not content with what I make and spent more.

There are other areas that I don't wish to publish publicly.

Just a few months ago, could echo the word of the apostle Paul when he said in Phil. 4 "¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.".

God I have wandered from your value system.  I have allowed myself to be enticed and my heart dragged away from you.






My Hope Is You
   ------Third Day

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul
In you, O God, I place my trust
Do not let me be put to shame
Nor let my enemies triumph over me
My hope is in you
Show me your ways
Guide me in Truth
In all my days
My hope is in you
I am, O Lord, filled with your love
You are, O God, my salvation
Guard my life and rescue me
My broken spirit shouts
My mended heart cries out...

Ephesians 6:1-9

Ephesians 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Contrary to the belief of most kids, especially teens, parents have their children's best interest at heart.  Parents have the experience of having lived through growing up and survived.  Their experience can help one avoid some of the traps and pitfalls of growing up an help them avoid pain.  More importantly, this is a command of God.  Children are commanded to obey just because it is the right thing to do.
 
⁴ Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 Exasperate means to make angry or annoy.  Guide them as they grow, don't have a standard that is impossible to achieve.  Don't change the rules without giving them fair warning.  Don't tease them.

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, ⁸ because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

We have bosses now as slavery in the US of A is illegal.  Serve you boss as if you were serving the Lord.  In fact you are serving the Lord because God gave you that job and your boss is God's servant for your good.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Are you the boss?  Remember who your ultimate boss is and he does not care about your title.  You are held to a higher standard and will give account for how you treat those under you.

God Bless.

Ephesians 5:21-33

Ephesians 5:21-33

²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

As we submit our motive is reverence for Christ.  Pride is the biggest reason there is no submission.  None of us want to willingly put ourselves under the authority of another.

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.


This is very unpopular.  Men have abused this and turned their wives into slaves.  Some men have decided that they earn the money and the wife runs the house and makes all the family decisions thus neglecting their leadership role.  That is not how God intended.

How does a woman submit to the Lord?  She trusts Him, talks with Him, bring her requests and ideas to Him knowing that the Lord has her best interests at heart.

How does the Church submit to Christ? They trust Him, talk with Him, bring their requests and ideas to Him knowing that the Christ has their best interest at heart.


Why do women not submit?  

• Pride and control:  They just want to be in charge.  
• Trust issues: Something in their past just won't allow them to trust anyone for anything.
• Absent husband:  This could mean he died or he just isn't there physically.  It can also mean the guy is just not leading and out of desperation the wife just takes over.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

To whom will we be compared as to weather we loved our wives?  Jesus Christ Himself.  That's right gents, we have the higher calling and the tougher task.  All those power hunger abusers throughout history are now standing before Christ and being compared to Him.


Ask yourself:

• Are you giving up your life for her?
• Are you making her Holy? That is setting her apart as special.
• Are you leading her in the scripture?

²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body.

This morning I got up and had breakfast.  There is a nice cup of coffee with me as I type this.  I intend to go to the gym today.  So I ask you married men, have you taken care of your wife today?  Make time everyday to spend with you wife and take care of her.  I don't care if it's just 5 minutes when you first start doing this.  

Give up your TV time or golf or (insert hobby here).  Jesus Christ DIED  for his bride the church.  Die to yourself for your wife's benefit.  You will lose her if you don't.  First you will lose her heart, then her love and eventually you could lose her all together.  It happened to me. Learn from my mistakes.

³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Marriage is a picture of Christ's realationship with the church.  It's designed as a relationship that lasts a lifetime.

³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

A wife will have not problem submitting to a man who is God's man, however please note that these are commands for us to do REGARDLESS of the spouses response.


God Bless

Ephesians 5:1-20

Ephesians 5:1-20


¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I remember as a child being taught the God does want us to turn the other cheek, but he never intended us to be a doormat.  Yet here we are to walk in love as Christ and he gave up His life for us.  I think American culture has crept into the church and diluted the message.  Christ is our example and he never demanded his rights.

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Pretty clear here.  Think of brownies.  I mixed all the ingredients together, but added a tablespoon of contents from the cat box would you eat my brownies?  Yet we make the same justification when comes to sex.  Most of it is good.  There's just a little bad stuff.  How about those off color jokes that "aren't that bad" because they're really funny.

  ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.

Do you know a phoney?  Stay away from them.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

Vs 12 says it is shame to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  Our society revels in it.  We were once part of it, but we are to have no part in it any longer.

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

If one is not careful they will miss the opportunities that God places before them.  The Christian life is one we live ON PURPOSE and WITH PURPOSE.  If we're rapped up in our self we will miss what God has for us.

  ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we get together as brothers and sisters in Christ, do we bring praise to God or do we get drunk?  Are we grateful or do we just complain about what we don't have?

God Bless.

Ephesians 4:17-32

Ephesians 4:17-32

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

We have to stop living as we did in the past.  When you indulge in sin, you lose sensitivity towards sin.  You harden your heart.  That is why as we grow in Christ the things we had no issue with last year, bother our conscience today because the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are softening our hearts.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

I envision a person removing an old coat on putting on a new.

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Don't lie.

  ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.

Notice it does not say, do not get angry.  It says do no sin when angry.  However so often our anger is the result of pride or self defense.  A little trick I was taught when asking the question, "Do I have the right to get angry?" is to change one word.  "Do I have the DUTY to get angry?"  In other words is my anger aimed at sin?  Is my anger a righteous anger?

Don't go to bed mad.  You won't sleep well and when you wake you will that much more convinced that you are right and less likely to see the other persons point of view.

  ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Don't steal. Work.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

This is not just swearing.  Those off color jokes and gossip falls under this command too.

  ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Remember that the Holy Spirit lives inside you.  Everything you do he is right there watching you participate.  Do no grieve him with doing evil.

  ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Are you holding a grudge?  The the mere mention of a name set you off?  Do you wish some one dead?  Do want to fight someone?  Are you always ready to tear someone down?

  ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

This was a memory verse I learned back in my 2nd grade Sunday School class.  Time to move it from head knowledge to heart knowledge.

God Bless.

Ephesians 4:1-15

Ephesians 4:1-15

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

This is not some pampered false preacher who thinks that steak for dinner, instead of lobster, is suffering for Jesus. Paul is writing this letter from jail. He is literally a prisoner as the result of his faith.  He's not saying, "Fit Jesus into your lifestyle.".  He urging us, in light of the mercy, grace and election that God has "lavished" (1:8) upon us to live worthy of the calling.

  ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

In the past 14 months God has taught me humility and gentleness, but I've not reached "completely humble and gentle".  I've also begun to learn patience as I learn to live with the wonderful people who have taken me in. They do things differently than I.

  ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called ; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

  

This does not mean we lose who we are.  Each of us is a unique part of the whole with a specific function so the body can function properly.  Think of what would happen if the lungs decided they wanted to be the feet.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

We discussed these verses in my Adult Bible Fellowship which I the only reason I'm not scratching my head right now.  This is speaking for Christ coming to earth.  I'm thinking the captives are those who are saved.  I believe the gifts are those of the Spirit.  I'd welcome another's input here if you think I have misunderstood these verses.

  ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Did you know that your pastor is a gift from Christ himself?  We just went through Ephesians in class and this verse did not register.  Pastor Bernie and Steve are gifts to me from Jesus Christ himself.  Blows my mind.  After reading their job description, both men are faithfully executing their assigned tasks.  Thank you Jesus for these gifts.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

I was reading a book recently and there were teachings that just did not pass the "sniff" test.  I kept reading as this book came highly recommended by one of my mentors.  I kept hoping the writer would explain the points that did not sit right with what I know to be truth.  Nothing so far.  God has used Godly men to bring me to a point that I know the truth and recognize false teaching even Christian literature.


God Bless.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Paul knelt before the father because he was a "servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace" (vs 7).  Servant submit to their masters will. However Paul was a willing servant and his submission was one of from a grateful heart.

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

I keep reading this over and over.  God strengthens me through the Spirit so Christ can dwell in me.  I see the entire trinity at work here and no one is asking for my help.  Thank you God for this insight today.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

One becomes rooted and established through time.  Together with others who are believers we are to seek to understand how great out God really is.  I believe this process will take my entire life.  No matter "how wide and long and high and deep" I learn God love to be, I discover I've only scratched the surface.  That's why vs 19 says it "surpasses knowledge".


I read of the fullness of God and I'm reminded of how empty this world is.  Yes, there are pleasures here, but they are short lived and empty.  Only with God can we truly be filled.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God can do more than we can imagine, by his power at work within us.  God I pray that you work in me more and increase my faith.


God Bless.

Ephesians 3:1-13

Ephesians 3:1-13


For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Paul was a prisoner.  He was not some preacher living in the lap of luxury.
 
² Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

Jesus had met Paul of the road to Damascus and Paul received special instruction from God that he cannot even talk about.

⁴ In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Up to this point the Jews were God's chosen people.  As a nation they thought they were better than the Gentiles.  Anyone wanting access to God had to convert to Judaism and go through the Jews.  The concept of God caring about the gentiles would not have entered their minds.

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
  
Paul considered his servant hood a  gift resulting from God's grace and part of His work in his life.  Take note of the fact that God's grace was given so that Paul could accomplish the work God had for him.  Paul was able to and the church exists today all over the world.


  ¹⁰ His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹ according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who are these rulers and authorities?  I don't know.  The text does not explain it. However God wanted to demonstrate His wisdom and the church is His way of showing them.

  ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. ¹³ I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

We have direct access to God.  Modern believers may not appreciate that as much as believers in Paul's day where sacrifices, rituals and ceremony all were part of accessing God. We can go directly to Him anywhere any time.


God Bless.

Ephesians 2:11-22

Ephesians 2:11-22

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) —

These were gentiles that had come to believe in Christ.  They had never been circumcised.

¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

The Jewish temple had several areas.  The outer area (in tan) was the gentile court.  This was as far as a gentile could go.Then there were several inner courts for the Israelites, with the ultimate being the Holy of Holies.

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

When Jesus died, as far as God was concerned, these walls were torn down.  Even the dividing curtain hiding the HOLY OF HOLIES that the High Priest could only enter once a year was torn as a symbol that all had equal access to God.


¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

In Christ we are one.  There are no nations.  Together we become God's temple where the Holy Spirt lives. 


God Bless.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Our position is Christ is very important. This is where we WERE.  PAST TENSE. 

⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

God made us alive.  Who did?  GOD did.   Why did he do it?  Because of his mercy and grace.  He did not just leave us there though.  According to verse 6 God views us as already in heaven with Christ.  All through time we are a showpiece proclaiming God's riches through Christ. 

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It was not buy any task the I have done that I have been saved.  God did it all.  However he does have things for me to do.  There is a comfort in that thought.  I cannot die until everything God has for me to do is complete. God is not done with me yet.  How do I know?  I'm still here.


To recap:  You WERE dead.  You ARE alive.  Heaven is such a sure thing that God considers you ALREADY THERE.  There is work to be done that God planned for you and you CANNOT die until His plan is complete.  Lot's to dwell on today. 


God Bless.

Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Why did Paul give thanks?  Because these people too believed and were marked with the Spirit (vs 13).  An example we could learn here is that Paul did not stop giving thanks.  I know in my own life I will say "gimme" for weeks and months, yet my gratitude for God's provision is more often than not, short lived.

¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 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, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

What a great prayer. I suggest you pray it for yourself, your children, family, pastor, elders, deacons, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and even the leaders of our country.  Who would pass on God's wisdom and revelation?  Who would rather not get to know God?  Who would rather not have God open their eyes so that they will understand the hope given to us?  Who really wants to pass on God's riches and power?  Sadly many of us pass on it every day, yet praying the scripture allows you go focus on what you specifically desire.  Best of all...IT BIBLICAL!  You are not asking for stuff outside of God's will.  In fact this is a great way to ask God to help you grow. 
  
That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

When going through troubles, I forget how powerful God really is.  Being raised in a Christian home I sometimes become desensitized to scripture.  The resurrection becomes common place and "heard it before."  Yet look what that power...GOD's POWER.. did.  People coming back from the dead is not an everyday occurrence.


I'm a movie buff.  I watch a lot of movies.  The number on thing that offends me in film is the abuse of the name Jesus Christ.  His name is above "every name that is invoked".  It hurts when I hear it.  The abbreviation OMG has become so common place that it's even being used in advertising.  I encourage any Christian reading this to check your tongue for abuses of our savior. 

God Bless

Ephesians 1:1-14

It's been a while. I have not posted since Good Friday.  My apologies to those who counted on my posts.  I'm back.

Ephesians 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

What a wonderful thing to come to the point in ones walk with Christ to know who you are and why you are there. The understand that what you are doing is by the will of God.

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I hear on movies and read in books the people cry out for justice.  I am grateful for grace.  I have been forgiven so much that forgiving others has become very easy for me.  It is God grace that brought me through the trial of my divorce.  I have God's peace now that I have come out the other side.

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

We have everything in Christ.  We will have to wait for some of it, but it is ours all the same. 


⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—  ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

This is a truth that humbles me.  Before there was anything, God chose me.  It was not a random act.  The choice was part of his PLEASURE and WILL.  This is that grace I crave.  I am His son through His Son Jesus Christ.  I was not a cosmic accident.  I was a divine choice.

 ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. 

He lavished his grace on us.  He did not look at some spiritual cookbook and measure out the exactly amount of grace need for me.  He just poured it on.

With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment —to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 

He knew what he was doing.  I know when I go through trials I sometimes question God.  But this He did on purpose, for His pleasure and in His timing.  Why?  To bring all thing under Christ. It's not about me, it's about God's glory and His plan of redemption.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

 The apostles were the first to believe.

¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

This is me.  This is anyone who heard the word of the apostles and believed.  I know I have the Spirit because he never lets me stray too far from God.  With all the stuff I went through this past month and some of the bad choices I made, I was never able to just walk away.  Praise God.


God Bless.