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Good morning dear friends who are on the ‘Walking with Jesus” journey together. Did you know there are about 300 of us, all across North America, walking together?
We’re reading Ephesians chapter 1 together, trying to gain some fresh perspective on what Paul was writing to Christians all across the Roman Empire, in about 60ad. Paul had written several other letters which we’ve already reviewed…Galatians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Corinthians; Romans and Colossians. Now in this letter, with special focus on his friends in Ephesus, Paul gives a very powerful explanation of what a healthy church or group of Christ followers should look like. He had spent more than 3 years in Ephesus (Acts 19) and he knew these people well, and loved them deeply. We’re going slowly, so let’s dig in. . . we’re in Ephesians 1.
Please notice a little word in verse 13…‘also’. “And you ALSO were included in Christ, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” (Eph. 1:13) Consider two reasons Paul used that word… first, that these men and women in Ephesus, who believed Paul’s message and put their faith in Jesus Christ, were joined, with those who preceded them, in other places Paul, Peter and other of the apostles had gone and proclaimed Jesus Christ, as we saw in Acts 13-28. This Jesus movement had spread from Jerusalem all the way to Rome! From a few hundred to thousands, and by this time perhaps 100,000 or more Christ followers, across the Roman Empire. The “also” was a rapidly growing Jesus movement!
Did you know that today about 100,000 people PER DAY are trusting in Jesus Christ around the world? I’ve shown you this before, but if you’ll open this web site www.greatcommission2020.com you will see something amazing. A live, real time synopsis of what God is doing around the world at least through about 100 different Christian websites, based in many different countries, which are trying to bring the Gospel to the world. You’ll see little lights flashing on the map of the world, representing people who are logging in to those web sites. Three numbers at the bottom of the screen are real time tally’s of the spiritual activity. The first number is titled “Gospel Visits” and that’s the number of people logging into the sites looking for Spiritual answers.
The second number is titled “Indicated Decisions”, that is the total number of those who have indicated a specific decision about Jesus on any of those web sites. The third number is titled “Discipleship Activity” and that number are those people engaging in discipleship discussions with mentors through these web sites, receiving training in the Gospel. The numbers all start at zero EACH DAY at midnight California time! It’s staggering to see what the Holy Spirit of God is doing in our day around the world…and this is only one glimpse!
Another reason Paul used the word “also” in Eph. 1:13 was what will be the majority of Paul’s focus in Ephesians chapter 2. . .the miracle of how Jesus united Jews and Gentiles into one church, one people of God. It was stunning… Gentiles were ALSO extended God’s grace through Jesus! Remember how shocking that was in Acts 10 when Peter shared the Gospel with Roman soldier Cornelius and his house full of Gentiles? And today, my friends, that “ALSO” includes every color of human skin, almost every language spoken anywhere in our world, and people from every possible religious background. . .all together in Jesus Christ! The unity of the people of God IN Christ is nothing short of miraculous!
Did you notice Paul’s explanation of one of the important roles of the Holy Spirit in the life of an authentic Christian…“marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…” . You understand how cattle are branded showing the mark of their owner, right? And history tells us that same thing was sometimes done to human slaves… a permanent mark of ownership. Can you make the spiritual application? The Holy Spirit of God seals our salvation as permanent when He births a new spiritual nature in us. That’s called ‘regeneration’, and Jesus spoke about it to Nicodemus in John 3:3-7.
The Holy Spirit, resident in us, born again Christ followers, is like a living brand mark, invisible to human eyes, but very visible to angelic eyes, and to demonic eyes. A mark of God’s ownership! We’ve been purchased by Jesus’s blood, we are no longer citizens of the kingdom of darkness, no longer under the authority of Satan, we are freed, emancipated, purchased by Jesus, and now adopted into God’s family, citizens of ‘the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Col. 1:13). You may know there is reference in Revelation 13:16,17 to a ‘mark of the beast’ in future times, which will identify those with allegiance to the ‘beast’, evil powers, the anti-Christ. In many ways the Holy Spirit is our living mark of our allegiance to Jesus!
But there’s more isn’t there? Do you see Paul’s refers in vs. 14 to the role of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our spiritual, heavenly inheritance? That’s a concept we’ll develop much more as we journey with Paul. It was a very big deal to him, as he so often sat in prison, healing from his latest beating. We understand guarantees don’t we? That’s what the FDIC is all about when you look at your bank statement, right? So Paul wants us to celebrate that heaven is an absolute guarantee for those who have trusted Jesus for their salvation from their sin, and their eternal future. And the Holy Spirit living within us, continually assures us of our glorious inheritance in Christ! Of course that spiritual inheritance in Christ is so much more than heaven, and we’ll see that in future chapters. Finally, in vs. 14 do you see Paul repeats that wonderful phrase we saw yesterday “to the praise of His glory”? Do we understand it yet? Are we living ‘for the praise of God’s glory”?
Please notice in the remainder of Ephesians 1, Paul’s promise that he prays often for these dear Christians in Ephesus, but not just generic prayers. Please take careful note of what Paul is praying for:
1. “…the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him (God the Father) better…” Do you see a difference between knowing information ABOUT God, and living in a personal relationship WITH God? Jeremiah 9:23,24 assures us that knowing and understanding God is a treasure of great blessing! So, what grows your personal relationship WITH God? Have you discovered that experiencing God in the struggles, the pain of life, helps you know Him in all His power, His love for you, His understanding of your need?
Paul says he also prays:
2. “…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you...” The eyes of your heart is wisdom. Consider Proverbs 2 as a great challenge to pursuing spiritual wisdom. And consider what Paul wrote about this hope to the Roman Christians: “…we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
Paul continues in Eph. 1:18
3. “…the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints…” For most people inheritance has usually meant something you anticipate receiving when your parents die, leaving to you a portion of their accumulated estate. Usually that’s tangible…real-estate, bank accounts, perhaps a business or in Bible times flocks and herds. Paul is pointing beyond that…to things much more valuable… all the things we inherit from God, our Heavenly Father, as a result of being adopted into His family, through the saving work of Jesus Christ. I wonder how long a list you could write, of the things you are receiving from God NOW as part of your inheritance as a follower of Jesus Christ…and what is waiting for you in heaven?
Paul continues in verse 19 speaking about the Power of God available to us and working in our lives…
4. “…His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…” Is there any more impressive power than that which God exercised when He raised Jesus from the dead, healed his body from being brutalized, and restored Him to His great glory, and finally brought Him back to heaven and gave Jesus His place of supremacy over all? Paul wants us to understand God is using that same power as He works His purposes in our lives!
In verse 20 Paul again specifies where Jesus is now and His unlimited authority over all. Many Bible scholars see the words “rule, authority, power, dominion” as titles or ranks of angels, similar to ranks in the military. Thus Paul is re-affirming Jesus’ authority over all angels, both those still in heaven and those thrown out of heaven in their rebellion…demons!
5. “…and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given…”
In verse 21, with this short little statement, Paul reminds us that Jesus is eternal, no beginning and no end. His reign will last forever!
6. “…not only in the present age, but in the age to come.”
Look closely at Paul’s closing verse of Ephesians 1…one more time Paul re-affirms Jesus’ supremacy role…
7. “And God (the Father) placed all things under His (Jesus Christ) feet and appointed Him to be head over everything…”
and with this last statement, Paul brings us full circle, back to where he began Ephesians 1, celebrating the ‘saints’, God’s people who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, who have been chosen by God to be holy and blameless, and who comprise Jesus’ global church, over which He reigns and who are His representatives in all the places we live around the world. Remember Paul gave us great detail in 1 Corinthians 12, about being the Body of Christ, each of us different from the other, but all united together in Jesus!
8. “…for the church, which is His (Jesus) body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.”
Oh my, it’s a remarkable first chapter that Paul has written…and even now, 2000 years later, I hope as you read it the Holy Spirit is re-affirming in you great joy as you more fully understand all God is accomplishing in you through Jesus Christ your Savior, the Holy Spirit living in you and your direct relationship with God the Father as your adoptive, heavenly Father!
One last thought… I understand of course that when you and I pray, we pray for health issues and maybe relationships that need God’s touch, but when is the last time we prayed for God to work in our lives and the lives of those we love…like Paul did in Eph. 1:17-23!?
Oh God, our heavenly Father…sometimes we simply bow our heads overwhelmed by all you have done and all you are doing in us your sons and daughters! We ask you to help us understand what you’d like to do next as you grow us, strengthen us, refine us more and more into God honoring men and women who live for your Glory oh God!
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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