Well, I think it goes without saying that just because I say a couple of thoughts doesn't mean that this will be a short writing. :) I have been digging into Ephesians a lot in the past few days and God has been showing me some amazing truths. I'm excited to share what God has put on my heart so I won't delay any longer.
The first thing that really jumped out to me is Paul's words on POWER. In Chapter 1, Paul prays that we might know the immeasurable greatness of God's power. In context, this power is the very same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead and seated Him above all creation at the Father's right hand.
In Chapter 3, Paul shares again how he prays for the Ephesians. Paul prays that God would strengthen His people with power through His Spirit (v. 16). In verse 20, Paul writes "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..." This verse carries incredible significance! God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or can even think about asking! How? By His power.
When combining the three instances of power, we see that God's power is administered by His Holy Spirit, directed towards the Body of Christ, and at work within each and every one of us who have faith in Jesus Christ.
How often, I wonder, do we talk ourselves out of "big" prayers because we doubt that God is capable or willing to answer them? Instead of being deceived, why not rather ask as abundantly as we can for God's will to be done in our lives? Think beyond what appears wise by the world's standards and watch God begin to empower the Body of Christ to do amazing things for His glory. May we have the faith of children who simply trust that what God says is true!
Another thing that really stood out to me is Paul's continuous mentioning of GRACE. By grace you are saved; to the praise of His glorious grace; the immeasurable riches of His grace; the gift of grace, grace was given. In Chapter 3:7, Paul even mentions that it is by the working of God's power that His grace was given to Paul. Grace is a wonderful thing. To be given what we could never earn or even fathom being offered is such an amazing thing! God's Word is clear that we can never be overly boastful of His grace. It is the very reason we have salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ!
The last point I will make is one that continues to strike me more and more each time I read Chapter 2. We were dead, following the patterns of the world (which by the way is passing away and will be consumed by fire!), following the prince of the power of the air (who by the way is Satan), and were living to gratify the desires of our own flesh (which by the way is sinful in its very nature). We were creatures of wrath like the rest of mankind.
Make no mistake about it, friends. The world and everything of the world is on a one way train to destruction. We were onboard that train. We inherited our boarding pass and gladly accepted it as if our desires were all that mattered. There is only one thing that separates us from the rest of mankind: God's grace. He made us alive, he adopted us as sons, and he chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world.
In the second half of Chapter 2, Paul is specifically speaking to the Gentiles reminding them (us) that we were separated from Christ because we were not God's chosen people, Israel. Paul describes us Gentiles as strangers with no hope and without God. I can't imagine life without hope, yet so many people on this earth live without hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ. This has to compel us to take action! Time is running out!
Thankfully, it doesn't end with no hope. There is a hope, a peace, a Savior. The pivotal moment in history began with "but God." While we were still sinners, sons of disobedience, God sent His own Son to pay our debt and reconcile us to God. God loved us when we were still helpless, sinful creatures of wrath! Don't forget your roots in sin lest you fail to see the helpless state of those who don't know Christ. Without Jesus, there is no hope, there is no light, there is no life.
Father, help us to remember that we were once strangers, but are now citizens of Heaven along with all the saints. May this reality penetrate to the depths of our hearts and empower us to be light for the sake of Christ our Lord. May we never forget the destruction that you saved us from. Continue to grow us in understanding of how great the price was that you gladly paid for our sake. May our lives bring glory to your name and to Jesus Christ. Amen
The first thing that really jumped out to me is Paul's words on POWER. In Chapter 1, Paul prays that we might know the immeasurable greatness of God's power. In context, this power is the very same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead and seated Him above all creation at the Father's right hand.
In Chapter 3, Paul shares again how he prays for the Ephesians. Paul prays that God would strengthen His people with power through His Spirit (v. 16). In verse 20, Paul writes "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..." This verse carries incredible significance! God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or can even think about asking! How? By His power.
When combining the three instances of power, we see that God's power is administered by His Holy Spirit, directed towards the Body of Christ, and at work within each and every one of us who have faith in Jesus Christ.
How often, I wonder, do we talk ourselves out of "big" prayers because we doubt that God is capable or willing to answer them? Instead of being deceived, why not rather ask as abundantly as we can for God's will to be done in our lives? Think beyond what appears wise by the world's standards and watch God begin to empower the Body of Christ to do amazing things for His glory. May we have the faith of children who simply trust that what God says is true!
Another thing that really stood out to me is Paul's continuous mentioning of GRACE. By grace you are saved; to the praise of His glorious grace; the immeasurable riches of His grace; the gift of grace, grace was given. In Chapter 3:7, Paul even mentions that it is by the working of God's power that His grace was given to Paul. Grace is a wonderful thing. To be given what we could never earn or even fathom being offered is such an amazing thing! God's Word is clear that we can never be overly boastful of His grace. It is the very reason we have salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ!
The last point I will make is one that continues to strike me more and more each time I read Chapter 2. We were dead, following the patterns of the world (which by the way is passing away and will be consumed by fire!), following the prince of the power of the air (who by the way is Satan), and were living to gratify the desires of our own flesh (which by the way is sinful in its very nature). We were creatures of wrath like the rest of mankind.
Make no mistake about it, friends. The world and everything of the world is on a one way train to destruction. We were onboard that train. We inherited our boarding pass and gladly accepted it as if our desires were all that mattered. There is only one thing that separates us from the rest of mankind: God's grace. He made us alive, he adopted us as sons, and he chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world.
In the second half of Chapter 2, Paul is specifically speaking to the Gentiles reminding them (us) that we were separated from Christ because we were not God's chosen people, Israel. Paul describes us Gentiles as strangers with no hope and without God. I can't imagine life without hope, yet so many people on this earth live without hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ. This has to compel us to take action! Time is running out!
Thankfully, it doesn't end with no hope. There is a hope, a peace, a Savior. The pivotal moment in history began with "but God." While we were still sinners, sons of disobedience, God sent His own Son to pay our debt and reconcile us to God. God loved us when we were still helpless, sinful creatures of wrath! Don't forget your roots in sin lest you fail to see the helpless state of those who don't know Christ. Without Jesus, there is no hope, there is no light, there is no life.
Father, help us to remember that we were once strangers, but are now citizens of Heaven along with all the saints. May this reality penetrate to the depths of our hearts and empower us to be light for the sake of Christ our Lord. May we never forget the destruction that you saved us from. Continue to grow us in understanding of how great the price was that you gladly paid for our sake. May our lives bring glory to your name and to Jesus Christ. Amen
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