Powerful Praying

Ephes. 3:14-21 (ESV) 

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.

[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.

Introduction-

Have you ever started to pray and before you were finished, you were thinking about something else?  The other day someone called me on the phone and asked me to pray for a young lady they knew who was struggling.  As I prayed for her I was also thinking about some useful counseling resources.  That led me to think about seminary where I received my counseling degree…that led me to think about where we lived and our daily routine…that led me to think about walking across the railroad tracks to class…and that led me to think about smashing pennies on the tracks…Oh how we get distracted.

Paul began a prayer in Ephesians 3:1 but was quickly led to contemplate the riches of Christ.  His distraction was much better than mine.  Now he is back to his prayer and he sort of picks up where he left off.  From verses 3:2-3:13 he was lost in the riches of Christ.  Now he is back on planet earth and busy praying for the churches. Continue Reading

The Mysterious Gospel

Ephes. 3:1-13 (ESV) 

    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.  [4] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,  [5] which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  [6] This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

    [7] Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  [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.  [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.  [13] So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Introduction

Four times in this passage Paul uses the word mystery.  I love a good mystery.  I love to watch movies that don’t unravel till the end.  It’s a good movie if you’re kept on the edge of your seat and then at the end it all makes sense.  That’s what the word means today.  However, that’s not exactly what Paul means by the word mystery here in this text.  For Paul, he uses this word to express something beyond natural knowledge, but has been opened to us by divine revelation through the Holy Spirit. Continue Reading

Christ’s Work of Reconciliation

Ephes. 2:11-22 (ESV) 

    Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands- [12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  [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 and 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.  [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.  [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,  [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

As we begin to unpack these verses, let’s notice together how the Apostle Paul is moving us along. In this section of Scripture he wants the Ephesians to remember where they once were. Like the section found in Ephesians 2:1-10 where he taught that we were once dead and God brought us to life. Here, he wants us to see that we as Gentiles were once separated from God, alienated but because of Christ we are reconciled to God.

The key focus in this text is reconciliation. Wayne Grudem defines reconciliation as…The removal of enmity and the restoration of fellowship between two parties. In our text today, restoration happens between man and God and between man and man. Christ has removed the enmity between us and God. He has taken our sin away and He has performed His mediatory work bringing us back into fellowship with God. Continue Reading

The Language of Salvation

Ephes. 2:8-10 (ESV) 

    For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

As we begin, I want us to see that this text of Scripture and others have been challenged throughout Church History. A salvation that is at the mercy of God is not popular among the masses. In America this doctrine is fought against very viciously. People in general want to work and earn their keep. For the most part they want to say they have acted well toward God and so He somehow owes them salvation. We hear things like…I’m a good person, I try my best, no one is perfect, God and I have an agreement.

This type of teaching has been around from the beginning of the church.

The first famous surfacing of this false teaching happened around the fourth century. A British monk named Pelagius began to teach that mankind really wasn’t dead in sin and transgressions but born in a state of innocence, that Adam’s sin didn’t affect anyone but him. He also taught that man is unimpaired spiritually. He taught that mankind without any help from God through his freewill can choose that which is spiritually good. Mankind was not corrupt but basically good. Pelagius probably would not have liked this passage at all. This is, however, the reality of salvation…The Language of Salvation   Continue Reading

But God…

Ephesians 2:1-7 (ESV)

    And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved- [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

Paul has finished his prayer for the believers. Remember, his prayer was focused on the topic of seeing Christ clearly through knowledge of Him and that they would see where they were going. He prayed that the Ephesians would be Christ focused and heavenly minded.

One can best appreciate his current standing before God if he remembers where he was before Christ. The old saying, “Don’t forget where you came from” can well be used here in this text. The Apostle Paul was reminding the believers where they came from. Continue Reading

A Prayer for the Church

Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephes. 1:15-23 (ESV) 

    For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,  [16] I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,  [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,  [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  [20] that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  [22] And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Introduction-

The Ephesian Church had a reputation. They were known for a few things. Paul had heard of their… faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints.

Paul’s heart rejoiced as he learned that these believers were living out their faith in Christ. They were showing the fruit of true conversion. Continue Reading

The Spiritual Blessing of Our Inheritance

Ephesians 1:11-14

Ephes. 1:3 (ESV) 

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

Ephes. 1:11-14 (ESV) 

    In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,  [12] so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  [13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,  [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

If you remember when we began the Book of Ephesians, I mentioned that one purpose of the Book was to show that Jew and Gentile come together to form a new humanity called the Church. Here, Paul stresses this truth.

He began this extended sentence in verse 3 and carries it through to verse 14, one long, run-on sentence. For the apostle, the praise of God was more important than grammar. Once he began thinking about the blessings God has lavished on His people, he forgot all else. Continue Reading

The Spiritual Blessing of Redemption

Ephes. 1:3 (ESV) 

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

Ephes. 1:7-10 (ESV) 

    In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight  [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ  [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Last time we looked together at the Spiritual Blessing of Adoption. We were concerned with the timing of this blessing. Paul made sure we understood that the timing was before the foundation of the earth.

Ephes. 1:4 (ESV) 

    even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 

The first Spiritual Blessing of adoption happened in ages past, even before time began. Before God had created anything, the Church was on His mind. He was already at work electing and making things ready for our adoption. That’s the Spiritual Blessing in the past.

Today, I want us to see another Spiritual Blessing. This one is present tense. This one is the Spiritual Blessing of Redemption. Continue Reading

The Spiritual Blessing of Adoption

Ephes. 1:3-6 (ESV)

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love  [5] he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

The Apostle Paul begins the letter to the Ephesian Church with worship. Paul writes May the God and Father of our Lord be glorified, may God be highly exalted. 

He is worshipping God because of all the benefits God has given Paul and also given the Church. That is exactly why we should worship God. He has done so much for His people that He alone deserves to be worshipped.

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

The best way to understand this verse is to see it as a statement the Apostle makes. He makes this blanket proclamation and then he spends the next ten verses showing us just how much we are blessed in Christ. He is going to elaborate on what he means by who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

God has given the Church every spiritual blessing. In other words, Continue Reading

Reason to Rejoice

Ephes. 1:1-2 (ESV) 

    Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we begin the Book of Ephesians, I want us to make sure we get it right. When we’re done with the book, we should be living more like the way God wants us to live based on the truths given to us in the book. God reveals to His children truths through His written Word. Don’t wait for some mystical word from God, we have all we need in the written pages of His Holy Word…the Bible.

Paul highlights three main points throughout the book. These main points help us understand his purpose for writing:

1. He wants to show that God has brought together Jew and Gentile to form a new group, the church. In God’s sight there is no longer Jew and Greek but believers of all races that make up the Church. Jews and Greeks are now brought together through the blood of Jesus and reconciled to God. It would be wrong to think that there is going to be some great revival of national Israel and that the Jewish Nation would somehow experience a revival apart from the institution of the Church. Christ died for the church not for Israel.

2. Christ’s triumph over the powers of darkness on behalf of the church and how the Holy Spirit plays a key role in that.

3. Christian behavior that reflects unity in the body of Christ…the Church.

So, Ephesians is all about the work of Christ on behalf of the Church. I thought it would be very fitting to begin here as a new church plant to learn together the value Jesus places on His Church.

To take the truths of Ephesians into our hearts and to live them out daily will change our lives forever. We truly have Reason to Rejoice.

I. Paul Has Reason to Rejoice (Eph. 1:1a)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, Continue Reading