Ephesians

And Pray (Ephesians 6)

Praying Hands

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. 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.

This passage follows the famous passage on the “armour of God”. It’s not just a fun excuse for church kids to dress up as medieval knights, it’s an important passage!

But right next to that vital discourse on spiritual warfare, we find the above three verses and the overwhelming exhortation to PRAY! Five times we read the word “pray”.

Appearing right after the account of the spiritual armour it couldn’t be coincidence, could it?

Prayer

We need to armour of God for the battles we find ourselves in as believers. But without prayer our armoury is incomplete. Prayer and warfare and inseparable!

We are implored to pray. Make today a day of prayer!

PRAYER: Father, thank you for gifting me with prayer. Make me a man / woman of prayer. I choose to believe in the power of prayer and the importance of prayer in my life. Forgive my unbelief. In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You Living in the Dark? (Ephesians 5)

Living in the dark

Ephesians 5:3-5 says:

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.

No one likes to think that we could be living a life that puts our lives in eternal danger. Especially, those of us that call ourselves Christians.

“I’m ok. It’s other people who are really bad, right?”

Here the Apostle Paul gives us a checklist. Verse 6 tells us of “No immoral, impure or greedy person”.

Here he gives three areas you need to avoid if you want to walk in the light and avoid becoming an idolater, who won’t see the “kingdom of Christ” (v6).

Are you living in the darkness?

1. Sexual Immorality – Our sexual life is a gift from God, created by God for intimacy with one person, for life. Anything outside of that is to use the gift of sex for the wrong purpose. Whether you are married or not, it is all to easy to use sensuality as an alternative for true intimacy with God.

2. Impure Talk – What comes out of your mouth is an indicator of what’s in your heart (Luke 6:45). Talk is never just talk. Words have the power to create and to abuse that gift with debased talk is grievous in the sight of God.

3. Selfish Greed – Greed is excessive desire or consumption of something. Anytime we overindulgence in anything our flesh desires, we are pulling in the opposite direction of the Spirit. And a life that is governed by the flesh, leads to death! (Romans 8:5-6)

Are you walking in darkness?

PRAYER: Father, I ask you to forgive me. Cleanse me as I renounce the sins that have kept me in darkness. I ask for your grace to make me new. Thank you Lord, Amen.

The Nature of God’s Power (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Power On Button

Ephesians 3:16-21 says:

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Many of us love the demonstrations of God’s power at work in our lives or in the lives of others in the church. But do we understand the nature of God’s power? Do you comprehend clearly the purpose and work of the power of God?

1. The Power of God is for strengthening the inner man (v16)
The power of God is always redemptive in nature, never is it demonstrated just for show. When a Christian is strong spiritually (inner man), then they are able to effect maximum redemptive benefit for the Kingdom.

2. The Power of God is so that Christ may dwell in our heart (v17)
The work of salvation was performed by Jesus. But we experience the living reality of salvation by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is His power that works within us, transforming our hearts.

3. The Power of God enables us to comprehend the incomprehensible love of God (v18-19)
The love of God is not an idea to be understood it is a truth to be supernaturally known. Our minds can’t comprehend all that God has done for us. But by the power of His Word and Spirit we can KNOW the God who is love.

4. The Power of God enables me to go beyond me (v20)
When the power of God is at work within my life I have a power working in me that is greater than my own abilities and strength. God’s power enables me to exceed my earthly limits, beyond even what I can imagine!

5. The Power of God brings glory to God (v21)
The working of God’s supernatural power in my life elevates and amplifies the magnificence of God. It is not about making me look good or for my profit alone. It is about Him getting His glory through my life.

PRAYER: Father I ask you for a fresh infilling of your power in my life. I rely on you Lord for your strength to be made known in me. Thank you Lord I receive it by faith, in Jesus name, Amen.

Knowing Him Better (Ephesians 1)

All this time...

Ephesians 1:17 says:

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Why does God give us revelation by the Spirit? So that we may know Him better.

Anything we do as believers returns to this end – that we may know Him better.

Why is this so? Everything else we do, we do for Him. The ministry, the outreach, the discipleship, the phone calls, the hard work, the discipline, the love, the hard words, the prayer, the labour, the sacrifice, the tears, the low times, the giving, the sowing, the patience, the advice…

All of that stems from one thing – how well we KNOW Him. And how well we know Him stems from our level of spiritual revelation and wisdom.

And here’s good news. This revelation and wisdom is available to you. God gives it, you just need to ask for it and you too will begin to KNOW HIM more and more!

PRAYER: Father I ask you to reveal Jesus to me today. I ask you for fresh revelation of your precious son as I’ve not had before. May new life spring forth from it Lord, I ask. In Jesus name, Thank you Father God, Amen.

The Mysteries of God (Ephesians 1)

mystery

Ephesians 1:8b-9 says:

In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him

God always has a purpose in all things. And at all times He is bringing about HIS purpose.

It is through this purpose that the Lord takes pleasure. He delights in revealing to us the mystery of His will.

Please ask “Is this the will of God?” “Is the will of God to allow this?” “Is the will of God for me to go there?” ad infinitum.

Well, you and I CAN know the will of God because the Bible tells us He takes PLEASURE in revealing it to us.

So how does God do this? How does He reveal to us His will? Above we are told, through “all wisdom and insight”.

Knowing the will of God needn’t be a mystery that confounds us. Rather, it is a mystery that God delights in revealing to us through wisdom and insight. And where do we get wisdom and insight? From Him.

Go to God, draw near to Him, and ask Him to reveal the mystery of His will and let Him reveal it to you.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your perfect will in all things. Thank you for your purpose for me. I submit to it and ask you for revelation and understanding to know the working of your mystery in my life. I love and trust you Lord, Amen.