Paul Reviews His Letter to the Ephesians
The identity and responsibility of the Church
Introduction
My name is Paul.
During my time on earth I was an apostle appointed by Jesus to share the good news with both Jews and Gentiles but mostly to gentiles.
I was not always and apostle and definitely not always a Christian.
In fact, I felt that followers of Jesus Christ were traitors to our faith and blasphemers deserving of death.
I was present when Stephen was stoned to death for his commitment to follow Jesus.
I made it my life’s ambition to track down and arrest key and influential followers of Jesus some of whom were killed.
That is until Jesus literally knocked me on the ground and confronted me.
That encounter was the beginning of a lifetime of encounters and labor for the savior who called me and equipped me to spread the mystery of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome and everywhere in between.
You can read my biography written by my great friend and coworker Luke.
Today I want to focus on what I shared with the followers of Jesus living in Ephesus.
I enjoyed a wonderful history and relationship with these dear people of God.
These dear believers lived in a cultural and religious melting pot due to its location as a seaport.
Their city hosted a major temple to Diana complete with idol worship and rampant sexual perversion through male and female temple prostitutes.
The city was every bit as morally and spiritually corrupt as Corinth.
The gospel seed planted by this courageous group of people sprouted and spread to bring amazing transformation to their culture.
My time among these faithful Christians still stirs in my heart.
I remember telling the elders…
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:18-21
I had a significant investment in those people.
“for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. Acts 20:31
I remember the day I had to leave them like it was yesterday.
When I had said my farewells we all knelt down and prayed.
And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced me and kissed me, being sorrowful most of all because of the word I had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied me to the ship. Acts 20:36-38
And I did not ever see them again.
After I was put under house arrest, the Holy Spirit prompted me to write a letter concerning the basics of being a healthy body of believers in a hostile environment.
I had warned them that after I left them, there would be those who would come in like ravenous wolves twisting the truth and trying to get people to follow them and eventually destroy them to their lies.
You know that letter as the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians.
This letter was passed on all though the other churches and still exists today because the truth is just as relavant today as it was when Holy Spirit directed and inspired me to write it.
I wanted them to understand their true wealth and worth by reason of their relationship with Christ.
I also wanted them to understand that with great blessing comes great responsibility.
Finally, I wanted them to understand how to overcome the greatest obstacle to those two things.
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4
A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ!
I started my letter by offering a blessing to God for his great blessing toward us.
Until we understand the unfathomable blessing of God in us and for us, we will never be able to accomplish all that God wants to do through us.
My father is never stingy.
He freely blesses every true believer with every spiritual blessing by reason of our connection with his beloved son.
For the sake of saving precious parchment, I only singled out just six of those life-changing blessings.
1. Specially Chosen 1:4
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
I reminded them that they were specially chosen by God before they were even born.
They were chosen to enjoy a perfect and unhindered relationship with him for eternity.
2. Purposefully Adopted 1:5-6
In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
I reminded them that by God's will they were destined to be dearly loved son's as an unmistakable illustration of God's grace with which he blessed us because of Jesus his beloved son.
3. Freely Redeemed and Forgiven 1:7-8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us,
I reminded them that it is only because of our connection with Jesus and the sacrifice of himself on the cross that we were rescued from the ravages of sin and granted forgiveness because of the unearned and undeserved favor he poured out on us.
4. Spiritually Enlightened 1:8b-10
In all wisdom and insight having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
I also reminded them that because of our adoption into his family, we have been let in on all of the family secrets.
We know the final chapter.
No matter what is going on today, we know that one day everything is going to revolve around Jesus Christ.
Everything will be summed up in him and for him.
5. Surely Deemed God’s Inheritance 1:11-12
In Him also we have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:10-12
Before the foundation of the world our destiny was set.
God determined that we would become his treasure, His valued inheritance.
Yes we also are given an inheritance.
But I wanted them to understand that they themselves were a special inheritance valued and protected by God.
6. Securely Sealed 1:13-14
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel (good news) of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
Along with all this blessing, God sent his Holy Spirit like a down payment on a house; A promise of full payment to come that we would be protected.
He sent the Holy Spirit to seal us; to certify us so that we would become what he determined.
Satan would not win.
We would certainly possess what God proclaimed to the praise of his glory.
B. Paul prayed for their enlightenment 1:15-23
From the time that I received reports about the Ephesian’s continued faith in God and deep love for each other, I couldn't help but break out into continual thanksgiving to God.
the eyes of your heart having been enlightened
I asked God to open the eyes of their heart with his enlightenment and give them a deeper understanding of himself
1. To know the hope of His calling
To know the hope of His calling
I asked God that they would come to understand the confidence that comes from understanding his special call on their life.
2. To know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
“the glory of His inheritance in the saints” Ephesians 1:18
I asked God that they would understand just how Jesus feels about them.
I wanted them to know that He considers them a glorious inheritance.
We were gifts from God and Jesus treasures us as His inheritance.
3. To know the surpassing greatness of His power and might toward us
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
According to the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23
Finally, I prayed that they would come to understand just how great his power is toward those who believe.
Not just a physical power but an internal power that changes the very heart of men and women.
I wanted them to come to know that the same power that was in play when he raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies with all authority and power and dominion is working in us.
It is that same power that determines that Jesus his son is and will be the center of all.
C. Paul detailed our resurrected life in Christ
These blessings were all possible because of our connection with Jesus who brought us from death to life.
1. Our woeful condition – Dead and doomed
We were all born spiritually dead by reason of our trespasses and sins inherited from Adam and committed by us.
I reminded the Ephesians that they used to walk just like their culture.
Their thinking and their actions were being dictated by the devil who is currently operating on this Earth and energizing all those who are disobedient to God.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind… 2:3a
this was a life focused on the fulfillment of desires for things that are the opposite of what God designed.
These are desires that bring death and not life.
These are desires that leave God out and try to find fulfillment apart from dependent relationship with God.
This failure to submit to God’s rule in our life made us enemies of God; objects of His wrath.
What a predicament!
• Unable to relate to God.
• Living a lifestyle designed and directed by the devil.
• Trapped in a life of fleshly indulgence (Whatever feels good do it).
• Destined to face God’s eternal wrath.
2. God’s wonderful correction – Alive in Christ
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Fortunately, we didn’t have to stay in that condition.
Because we couldn't do something, because we were unable to do anything, God did it for us!
Out of His great mercy and because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we're in that dead condition without connection with him, God brought us into spiritual life.
He gave us life even when we wanted nothing to do with him.
• “made us alive together with Christ”
• “and raised us up with Him”
• “and seated us with Him in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus”
God connected us with Jesus.
He connected us to the life of Jesus.
He connected us to the status and authority of Jesus.
He connected us to a life that will last into eternity.
He connected us to a blessing grace that lasts forever.
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 2:7
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
It was all a gift.
Our only responsibility was to believe it and receive it and embrace it.
It had nothing to do with anything in us.
It had everything to with God's grace to us.
In fact, we are God's poem.
We are using new creation in Christ for living differently in this fallen world.
D. Paul declared our awesome acceptance and reconciliation 2:11-21
1. Our Awful Alienation and Rejection 2:11-12
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:11-12
Not only did Jesus bring us from death to life, but they needed to remember that God also brought them from alienation to intimate relationship.
Being Gentiles they were completely cut off from anything to do with true and living God.
Whatever promises God made Israel were not available to them.
They had no basis for hope being separated from Christ and without God in the world.
2. Our Awesome Acceptance and Reconciliation 2:13-21
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
But because of their connection with Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, those who were far off from God have been brought near.
Jesus has become our peace and through his sacrifice making it possible to reconcile both Jews and Gentiles to the cross.
These Gentile followers of Jesus who had felt the prejudice and rejection of the Jews living in their town could now enjoy a renewal where all distinction between Jew and Gentile or any nationalities slave or free has been eliminated.
Through Jesus there is a new self, a new race continually being renewed to true knowledge of God where Christ is all and in all.
Rather than rejection by God, which we deserved, we now have bold access by the Holy Spirit onto the very presence of our heavenly father.
This is the kind of relationship and community God planned in the first place.
We are no longer a people without a country; aliens wherever we travel, but we are full citizens of his kingdom.
We are children in God's loving family.
Everyone has a purpose.
Everyone has a place and a part in the strategic building of God's temple where God wants to manifest his glory.
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:20-22
E. Paul shared His personal testimony regarding ministry 3:1-13
I recapped my ministry among them.
I wanted them to understand that I realized I was in prison because of Jesus.
It was clear that I was suffering in order that a ministry might be carried out among the Gentiles.
God had sent me to them.
Not only did God send me to them but he commissioned me with His specific words for them.
He wanted to be sure that they understood that they were graciously and enthusiastically included in God's plan.
I reminded them that I was not chosen because I was such a special person but by a sovereign act of God's grace to bring the unsearchable through a supernatural demonstration of the power of God.
I was truly concerned that these treasured friends felt guilty for my imprisonment.
I reminded them that it was not because of them, but for them by a divine assignment to bring them glory through gloom.
F. Paul prayed for the Ephesian’s enablement 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
I shared with them another special prayer I like to continually pray for them.
In light of the fact that God entrusted such great mysteries of truth with them, I would pray that God would not only enlighten them but empower them in their innermost being through the work of the Holy Spirit.
I prayed that these believers be strengthened with power in the inner man
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner
I asked that such empowering work of the Holy Spirit would make more and more of their lives open to the transforming presence and work of Jesus
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love
I requested that that loving connection would bring even greater comprehension of God’s Great love; a love that defies human knowledge.
So that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
I prayed that that deeper understanding of Christ’s love would result in a complete filling of God’s loving fullness.
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Sometimes we think such fullness is impossible but I reminded them to focus on…
him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to His power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
II. Our Walk in Christ 4-6
You can’t talk about blessing and privileged identity without talking about corresponding responsibility.
Great privilege always carries great responsibility.
The next section of my letter focused on how a privileged gifted child who had been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ should live.
They should live life differently.
They should treat one another differently.
They should live in a fallen world with distinction not conforming but transforming.
They should live as ambassadors of a new and living way.
They should live different because they ARE different.
A. Walk (live) in Unity
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3
The first difference is how they were to relate to one another.
The central characteristic of a new believer is unified relationships.
Those who are reconciled to God must also be reconciled to each other because we all belong to each other.
It is the way of humility, gentleness long-suffering.
It requires us to continually bear with one in love and do everything possible to maintain this God ordained unity made possible through our relationship with Jesus.
Through Jesus we are…
ONE BODY – We are all interconnected members of the same body.
ONE SPIRIT -- The same Holy Spirit indwells every Christian.
ONE HOPE – The same eternal destiny awaits every Christian.
ONE LORD – We all answer to the same Lord.
ONE FAITH – We all contend for the same once-for-all delivered faith.
ONE BAPTISM – The same Holy Spirit places every Christian into the same body.
ONE GOD AND FATHER – We all share and serve the same God and Father.
Within this unity there is diversity.
We are not all the same.
We do not all have the same gifting or responsibility but EVERY Christ has been supernaturally equipped to function within the community for the good of the community.
God also gives gifted leaders to the church in order to equip the individual members for the work of serving, for building up the body of Christ,
Too often people think that the pastors are to do the ministry.
God establishes pastors to equip, outfit and train members to minister to each other.
The purpose of such utilization of gifting results in the unity of the faith and maturing of the members.
The community grows when each member faithfully does their specific job in conjunction with the other members.
The church at Corinth had problems in this area and I wrote at length to this issue.
I stressed the importance of the balance between unity, diversity, mutuality.
B. Walk (live) in Newness of life 4:17-24
1. The Old life
Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
Not only should we focus on unity but on a transformed life.
We should live different because we ARE different.
We should not live like we did before in the futility of our thinking.
Such a focus results in ignorance, darkness and hardness.
2. The NEW life 4:17-19
That is not the way of Christ
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21since indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus We have laid aside the old self which was only getting worse and put on a new self which is continually being transformed into the character of Jesus.22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
C. Live in Love
We are to life differently in our relationships with others.
1. Speak truth not falsehood 4:25
“Therefore, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, having laid aside falsehood, for we are members of one another.”
2. Be angry without sinning 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
3. Stop stealing to get but work to give 4:28
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
4. Speak with your mouth to encourage others 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
5. Stop grieving the Holy Spirit 4:30
And stop grieving the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
6. Let God purge the hostility within us 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Eph 4:31
a. Purge all manner of Wrath
b. Purge all manner of Anger
c. Purge all manner of Clamor
d. Purge all manner of Slander
e. Purge all manner of Malice
7. Practice harmony and love for one another 4:32-5:2
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and live in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2
a. Become continually kind
b. Become continually tenderhearted
c. Become continually forgiving
D. Live in Purity 5:3-14
Not only does Christ transform our relationships but our lifestyle.
The world is full of self-centered people focuses on self-gratification.
1. Guard your reputation 5:3-6
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 5:3-6
a. Prohibition
Don’t let sensual behavior even be named among you.
“Sexual immorality” (porneia)
“Impurity”
“Covetousness” (idolater)
“Obscene or shameful language”
“Foolish talk”
“Crude humor”
b. Principle
These practices are not proper or fitting for a sanctified (saint) child of God.
Those whose lives are characterized by such behavior will not be included in God’s kingdom.
Such behavior stirs God to wrath because it dishonors Him and His creation.
c. Practice
Practice expressing thanksgiving with a heart of gratitude.
2. Guard your associations 5:7-10
Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
a. Prohibition
Don’t partner with those who practice sensual behavior.
b. Principle
You are no longer children of darkness but children of light. We must live different because we are different.
c. Practice
Live like grateful children of light by demonstrating what pleasing to God.
3. Guard your lifestyle / practice 5:11-14
a. Prohibition
Don’t participate in the barren deeds of darkness.
b. Principle
It is shameful even to talk about evil deeds done in secret.
c. Practice
Rather than talk about the deeds of darkness, expose them.
E. Live in Wisdom 5:15-6:9
It takes a new thinking to live this new life.
It is a wisdom that comes from the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
I strongly urged the followers of Jesus in Ephesus to…
1. Seize every opportune moment to shine His light 5:15-16
Be careful how you live, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
2. Understand the will of the Lord 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
3. Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit 18-20
And do not (stop) get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit
a. Speaking and singing truth to one another and praise to God.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:18-19
b. Giving thanks for all things.
always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
c. Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Subjugation was all too familiar in the Roman Empire where slave made up the large portion of the population.
Subjugation is forced submission.
God’s submission is willing service will submission to the authority of another.
The roles and responsibility in the family which is the microcosm of the macrocosm.
How goes the family goes the nation.
I urged a proper understanding of those roles.
1) Wives submit and willingly support Husbands who are to unconditionally love them
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Ephesians 5:22-24
Wife’s Role: Willing Support
Wife’s Response
1. Submit to husbands
2. Love husbands and children Titus 2:3-5
3. Respect Eph 5:33
Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:33
Husbands Role: Loving Leader
Husbands Response
1. Love, nature and cherish as Christ loves the Church
2. Live with your wife in and understanding way
3. Laud (praise) your wife
2) Children submit to fathers who are to nurture them not frustrate them
1. Obey your parents
2. Honor your parents
Blessing associated with honoring parents
1. It will go well with you
2. You may live long on the earth
3) Servants were to submit to masters who were urged to treat them well
III. Our Warfare through Christ 6:10
The biggest obstacle to living the transformed life is the determined enemy.
I had my share of tangles with the devil.
In fact, I continually carried a demonic hindrance which God allowed to stay in order that I would live and serve humbly.
The Ephesians were familiar with Satan’s activity.
They lived in a hotbed of idol worship and witchcraft.
Christ did a powerful work in that city.
Many in Ephesus who had become believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to over one million dollars. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. Acts 19:18-20
That cut into the local idol trade and what mess Satan stirred up.
Where ever God does a great work, the enemy redoubles his efforts to reverse.
Just be aware that you cannot keep a beneficial grasp on your identity and live differently base on the fact that you ARE different if you fail to take a solid stand against the true enemy.
I wanted the Ephesians to remember that our true fight and quarrel is not really centered with people.
It is a battle with the unseen hostiles that work in and through people; including ourselves.
If we are not alert, we can be broadsided and sidelined.
I wrote out some basic instruction on how to effectively defeat the enemy. Resist, stand, fight, destroy.
A. Be fully empowered in the Lord and His might 6:10
Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10
1. Be empowered in the Lord
2. Be empowered in His might
B. Be completely armed with His armor
This armor reminds us to put on Christ who is the ultimate protection in all these areas.
1. Put on the belt of TRUTH of and about Jesus
STAND having girded your loins with truth
2. Put on the breastplate of the righteousness of Christ
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, Ephesians 6:14
3. Stand having put on the shoes of the PEACE of Christ 6:15
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
4. Stand firm shielded by FAITH from and in Christ
in all these things, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
5. Stand having received the helmet of SALVATION provided and protected by Christ
and take the helmet of salvation Ephesians 6:17
6. Stand having received the Spirit’s sword; the WORD of Christ 6:17b
and receive the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Ephesians 6:17
C. Be utterly steadfast with His protection – STAND
D. Be continually alert with Constant Prayer 6:18
…by means of all prayer and petition praying at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, keeping watch with all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints,
We cannot do this alone.
This letter was to remind that community that the only way to impact our world is to demonstrate a community that actually lives different.
We ARE that community so we need to live like that community.
We need to understand the tremendous privilege we have been freely given because of Jesus.
We have been blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.
On the basis of those blessings we need to live worthy of that privilege.
By living in unity
By living as the new workmanship we are
By living in love in all our relationships
By living in purity
By living in wisdom and the energy of the Holy Spirit.
We need to be alert and armed to fight the real enemy.
I leave you today with the same prayers I prayed for my dear friends at Ephesus.
Father, I humbly ask that you, the Father of glory, to grant these dear followers of Your son a spirit of wisdom and of revelation through a deepening knowledge of Jesus that having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, they may know what is the hope to which You have called them, that they come to deeply realize the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the them, that they may understand the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward all of us who believe, the same kind of power that Your worked in Christ when Your raised him from the dead and seated him at Your right hand in the heavenlies, 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.
And You put all things under His feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
May they not lose heart but according to the riches of Your glory You may grant them to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in the inner being, the new self so that Christ may be invited to make Himself the focus of their hearts through faith—that, being rooted and grounded in His love, may have the capacity to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that they may be filled with all Your fullness.
Now to YOU Father who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to You be glory in this church and in Your Son Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen
