Spiritual Wisdom is At Hand
Ephesians 1:15-23
I ask you to actually see the vision of my words in your mind’s eye. Our Father in heaven lays before us opportunity after opportunity to gain in spiritual growth and draw closer to Him. In our New Testament reading today, we read Paul’s prayer that God will grant spiritual wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of Him to the peoples of Ephesus.
As always, we bring Scriptural Messages to the forefront of today, knowing that they apply to us in just the same manner as they did to the church at Ephesus. Spiritual Wisdom is ours for the asking. A closer relationship with God is at hand.
To run or attempt to hide from God is a perilous venture. PICTURE yourself on the darkest of dark nights where there is no ambient light. PICTURE yourself running from God as fast as you can. How long and how far do you think you can run without tangling with a barbed wire fence or slamming into a tree?
So many times, we attempt to go it alone; do it our way; put off what we know we should be doing or simply don’t want to believe.
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Yes, most of us are willing to try and live for God, but we lack the power to do so on our own. Paul is showing us how to tap into that power.
Immediately, I think of an old song: Black Muddy River. The lyrics ring in my head: “I will walk alone by the black muddy river and sing me a song of my own.” I don’t know about you but that conjures up a very sad image for me. (By David Dodd 1997-98)
Compare that image to that beloved old hymn: There is Power in the Blood. “There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the lamb.” [Author: Lewis E. Jones (1899)]
Tune: POWER IN THE BLOOD
God isn’t looking to control our lives, not by a longshot. God is extending His love in offering hope. Otherwise what possible reason would God have for sacrificing His Only Son, Jesus Christ as payment (out and out trade off) for our sins that we might be reconciled with HIM. That is NOT control that is LOVE.
Just who or what is behind the constant bombardment of temptations that befall us every minute of every day? If you say the devil himself, give yourself a gold star. Yes, Satan will go the extra mile just to see you or me fail.
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:11-12
Spiritual Wisdom says read and heed the Scripture, for it is here that God provides HIS power to fend off the devil.
Beloved, we have the power of God at hand and Spiritual Wisdom says lay hold of it. I just want to say that if we are going to lay hold of it and keep it close to our heart, it requires maintenance. Daily prayers of confession and repentance coupled with daily praise and gratitude to God are essential. Also, there is NO better way to stay strong in the LORD than to assemble with other Christian believers on a regular basis for corporate prayer, worship, study and fellowship – I call that church. Church should be the earthly kinship to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Let us pray.
