God's Plan For Growth Series

Ephesians 1:15-23 [15]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. (ESV)

The economic effect of the current pandemic on international monetary systems around the planet has meant wild swings in valuations and many investors are worried about the growth possibilities amidst some fragile economies. The economic approach that many governments have taken is to spend on everything in the hope of enabling recovery. Economists note that what we lack is a plan for growth based on economic fundamentals. This is the economic foundation for growth.

Ephesians 1:3–14 talks about the foundation of God's plan for growth in the Christian life. The Apostle Paul has set forth the amazing blessings believers have in Jesus Christ, blessings that amount to our personal inheritance of all that belongs to Him. In the remainder of the chapter (vv. 15–23) Paul prays that the believers to whom he writes, including us, will come to fully understand and appreciate those blessings in God’s plan for growth.

Where do you want to grow in your life? What stands in your way? Do you know what God wants of you? Do you know how he wants you to do it? If you come to understand what God has provided you, and in faith, put into work what He instructs, the task will be guaranteed successful. We know that the efforts will be successful, for God blesses and equips His believers what He commands.

In Ephesians 1:3–14 Paul focuses on believers’ comprehension of their resources in their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God's plan for Grown comes from the 1) Prayer (Ephesians 1:15-16), 2) Person (Ephesians 1:17), 3) Promise (Ephesians 1:18), 4) Power (Ephesians 1:19-20) and 5) Position (Ephesians 1:21-23) that believers have in Christ.

God's Plan for Grown comes from the:

1) Growth through the Prayer to God. (Ephesians 1:15-16).

Ephesians 1:15-16 [15]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, (ESV)

Please turn to 1 John 2

In light of their marvelous inheritance in Jesus Christ (For this reason), Paul now intercedes for the possessors of that treasure. His immediate audience included not only the believers in Ephesus but probably those in all the churches of Asia Minor. Traffic by sea was brisk in those days; visitors were allowed to see the famous prisoner, Paul, in Rome; and the bond of Christian fellowship was very strong. For all these reasons it is not surprising that although about four years had now elapsed since the apostle carried on his labors in Ephesus — labors from which the people of the surrounding territories also benefited (Acts 19:10, 26) — he had been kept well informed. That is how he could say that he heard. From letters, as well as through personal reports from friends who visited him in prison, he had received considerable information from and about the churches. He heard two things that indicated the genuineness of their salvation, and for those two cardinal marks of a true Christian—faith in Christ and love for other Christians—he affectionately praises them. Those two dimensions of spiritual life are inseparable (cf 1 John 2:9–11) (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 7: New Testament commentary: Exposition of Ephesians. New Testament Commentary (95). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)

These two obvious marks of faith show the genuineness of salvation as John explains:

1 John 2:9-11 [9] Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. [10] Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. [11] But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (ESV) "KEEP YOUR PLACE IN 1 JOHN"