Ephesians - Week 7 - Chapter 6

Well, ladies, this is our last week together!  I'm so thankful you joined me in this journey!  I absolutely loved Ephesians and every week the Lord had something to speak to my heart.  We will be doing more studies in the future - some will be books of the Bible and others will just be going through a book or bible study together.  I hope you will return and join us again.

So we end with Ephesians 6.  Which at the beginning is still kind of going through the household and living with others.  So it starts with children and parents.  This is particularly fresh on my mind as the mother of 3 young boys.  I immediately read it with that vantage point.  But I also take a step back and remember that I am a daughter still to two loving parents and I am also a daughter-in-law to my husband's parents.  So it made me think - am I honoring them?  How can I honor them?  And I find it very interesting that honoring our father and mother is the "first commandment with a promise."  And what is the promise - "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Which is all referenced from the 10 commandments in the Old Testament.  I don't think anyone would turn down a promise like that!  So, how can we honor our mothers and fathers as adult children?  I think that is something that we prayerfully petition the Lord about and ask for wisdom about.  Not everyone is blessed with wonderful parents that are easy to honor, so I think it is something they must lean upon the Holy Spirit for power and wisdom to do.

Obviously, we don't deal with slaves and masters like they did in that time period like is referenced in verses 5-9.  But I think you can take the wisdom there and apply it to any work situation.  Serving others, in your job, with right motives.  Serving others sacrificially - not in a tit for tat mentality.  I think as a mom - I love verses 7-8.  Sometimes the mundane of the every day is hard!  Sometimes the mundane of playing a game for the 100th time is hard.  But I will serve my family "wholeheartedly, as if I were serving the Lord!"  Then it becomes bigger than just me! 

I love the verses on the armor of God!  I love to envision myself putting on this armor.  Verse 10 sums it up for me - be strong IN the LORD!  Not in Kristin!  Not in Kristin's ability!  But in the Lord!  Allow His power to work in and through me. 

The devil's schemes are relentless and He is always prowling around ready to pounce and He will drive into your weakness!  We MUST put on the armor of God so that we can stand against his attacks which WILL come.

Verse 12 is just a reminder that there is a spiritual battle going on all around us.  We must be aware of this all the time. 

So our armor that we will put on each day - every morning, I challenge you to mentally put on the armor before you get out of your bed -

Belt of Truth
Breastplate of Righteousness
Gospel of Peace
Shield of Faith
Helmet of Salvation
Sword of the Spirit

I LOVE the explanation given here of the armor of God and would encourage you to go read it!!  It gives a little bit more in depth look at each piece. 

After we have the armor on - our battle plan is to pray!   Arm ourselves and pray as it talks about in verse 18.

I love Paul's plea for prayer in verses 19-20.  What an example for us.  Lord, may that be the prayer of my heart as well!  What a prayer for me as a mom - that when I open my mouth to speak to my children - especially in rebuke - that the gospel will be on my tongue and that I will make it known to them - fearlessly!


Ladies, I have loved our time together. I hope you will join me again sometime!!

Ephesians - Week 6 - Chapter 5

Good evening, ladies!  I've been traveling all day and just now getting a chance to sit down at the computer.  Chapter 5 this week!  Such a HUGE wealth of information and knowledge!  It probably could have been split up into a couple of weeks.  And don't even get me started on the Biblical household section - I could go on and on.  So be patient with me!  :-)

v.1-2
¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

My first thought when reading these verses was to ask myself - how do I practically love like Jesus did?  Even farther than that - how do I love people in opposition to me and my beliefs?  That is what Jesus did.  "Walk in the way of love" and "gave himself up" - that's radical love, sacrificial love, servant love!  The one thing I do know is that I'm totally incapable of giving this kind of love without the one who IS love!  I cannot do it apart from Him!  I must be spending time with the One who is love, so that I can be love.

v.3-7
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.⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.

v.3 - Not a HINT  of sexual immorality!  This causes me to evaluate if I have a "hint."  TV Shows I watch?  Movies I allow myself to see?  Books & Magazines I read?  Do they have a hint?  Paul also mentions greed.  What is my (your) heart regarding money?  Is it an idol in my life?  Is it competing with first place in my life with God?

v.4 - Paul covers unwholesome talk.  We touched on this last week because he had just dealt with this some in chapter 4.  

v.5 - So is this verse saying that if we struggle with these things then we have lost our inheritance - no heaven?  I don't believe that's what it is saying.  I think someone who has a life saturated with these things - sexual immorality, obscenity, money/greed, etc - is there evidence of Christ in them?  Two verses that come to mind with this verse...

Matthew 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
 Matthew 7:16 - By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

We will recognize them by their fruit.  So the fruit that our life produces is evidence of what our life is saturated with (v16) and when someone claims to live a Christian life and then lives in a life of sin, it's easy to doubt the authenticity of that relationship. 

v.6 - don't be fooled by the world (we must put on the armor of God - Ephesians 6)

v.7 - We need to guard ourselves against people like this.  Yes, we still love them.  But we must learn to be in the world and not of it.

v.8-14

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

v.8 - Our lives should be changed once we meet Jesus!  We should be noticeably different.  It should be a transforming process!  We are not in the darkness anymore. 

 v.10 - How do we find out what pleases the Lord??  We can know by spending time in His Word.

v.11 - Expose fruitless deeds of darkness - we must call sin for what it is - SIN!  Exposing it in love in others lives but also in out own life so that God's light can sine in those places. 

v.15-20 

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

v.15 - How can we have wisdom? - By reading God's Word, spending time with a godly mentor, and by asking and praying for it.

v.17 - How do we understand & know the Lord's will?  Romans 12:1-2 says "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  We surrender our lives, do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, and renew our minds --> then we will be able to test and approve God's will!

v.18 - Is the Spirit what you go to to be filled - or do you go to worldly things? - alcohol, money, sex, etc??

v.20 - Are we taking time to give thanks?  I love the book 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I would encourage you to read it.

v.21
²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Before we really get into the marriage relationship, this verse sets it straight.  We must submit to one another!  Submission is a two way street.

I think THE biggest problem of households today and is detrimental to Christian homes is that the Biblical line of authority is completely out of order!!  It seems that homes either follow one of these orders...

wife
children
husband
God

wife
husband
children
God

children 
wife
husband
God

COMPLETELY out of whack!!!  If you want to destroy a family and destroy it's ability to be used by the Lord, then follow one of these orders!

Whether women want to admit it or not, we are created to be led!  And deep down, I think we all want to be led!  With that being said, let's look at the verses that are written for women.

v.22-24
²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Submit yourselves to your husband --> doesn't mean you're a doormat.  Satan has done a VERY crafty job of making the s-word into a bad word!   You are living in disobedience if you are not submitting to your husband.  And a woman no submitted to her husband is a woman not submitted to the Lord.

v.24 - mentions submitting to the your husband in everything!

I will just say now this is impossible unless you are depending on the Lord and are filled up in a relationship with Him.

v.25-33
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Husbands have it a lot harder!  I mean, let's just be honest!  We can complain about submission - but to love a person (sinner) like Christ loves them (complete sacrificial love) is HARD!  The husband is to love her like Christ loves the church, disciple/lead her spiritually, and care for her physically like he would himself.

v.31 - There is a physical, emotional leaving when marriage takes place.  They become a unit/family of their own.  

v.33 - it is so, so important that we respect our husbands!

One of the best pictures of marriage that my husband and I were ever given before we were married is the image of a triangle.  See the picture below.  In the triangle, the closer we grow in relationship with God, the closer we grow in relationship with each other.
 

Ok - thanks for hanging in there with me!  There was so much in that chapter!  And it was convicting and challenging for me.  I hope it was for you too!

Look forward to your comments!


Blessings

 

Ephesians - Week 5 - Chapter 4

Hello!!  Today we jump into Ephesians 4.  It's a great chapter with a wealth of information!

v.1 
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

I've always loved this verse.  Not because I fulfill the verse but it's just a good reminder for me.  Am I living a life worthy of the calling I've received - am I living a life worthy of being chosen as a child of God?  What are my daily decisions & choices reflective of - that God is the King of my life or that I am my own King?  Who sits enthroned in every area of my life?

v.2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Ouch!  I need a little extra of all of these things and nothing reminds me more of my shortcomings in this area than parenting my 3 young boys. :-)  I need to be desperate for Him to be any of these things!  Will I humbly come before Him and allow the Holy Spirit to give me power to do these things?

v.4-16
⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” ⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 I love this picture of the church!  Of God's people!  A group of God's children that are unified by Christ in us - who is over all things.  A group of God's children (believers) that are giving gifts to be used for His glory and to serve and minister within the group "so that the body of Christ may be built up."  A group of God's children that all have access to the power of the Holy Spirit.  A group of God's children that He is molding and crafting into people that are more like Him (Philippians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:24).

The church is like a building being laid brick by brick (until we all reach unity, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, etc).  You have been given specific "bricks" (gifts) that will need to be laid at certain times throughout the building process.  Are you available (are you apart of the body) when your brick is needed?  Otherwise the whole building is not done right.  My husband and I sometimes talk about this in regards to people coming and not coming to church.  Church (the body) is not just for YOU.  It is not a place you go to be served!  You are not just a spectator when it comes to going to church on Sunday and being a part of a group of believers.  You never know when your specific gifts will encourage someone, speak to someone, or build them up in the Lord!  It's imperative that we not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing (Hebrews 10:23-25).  Are you plugged into a body of believers somewhere??  If not, pray and ask the Lord where you are to be!  Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to serve others through you in that body?  We need to be plugged into a small group of believers that we can serve with, grow with, challenge each other, go through life together, etc.  Take a look at Acts 2:42-47 - are you apart of a church like this?

v.17-24
¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. ²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

There should be a noticeable difference in the lives of believers and non-believers.  These verses also remind me that not only should someone looking into my life be able to tell that I am different because Christ is in me BUT I am also called to be set apart and holy (John 17:15-18, 1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 John 2:15).   This made me reflect on my life - choices I make for myself and my family, convictions that I do or do not hold....are they reflective of a changed life?  A life that is remarkably different from a worldly life?  Am I keeping myself and my family from being apart of the world?  What does "the world" mean to you?

v.25-32
²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Some great verses on how we are to live!  Verses about how to handle conflict resolution - it needs to be dealt with!  It needs to be dealt with in truth and love and it needs to be dealt with quickly!  This is not EASY!  I have been in these situations before and my stomach would be in knots.  But the getting it over with and dealing with it was far better than the bitterness that could have taken root or the foothold that satan would have in my life because of my disobedience not to deal with it.  I've been on the other end of that where I did not deal with a situation one time and satan did get a foothold and for about 2 years I was miserable because of it!  Relationships were damaged & changed and it was a WHOLE lot harder to deal with it at that point than it would have been to deal with it right away.

Verse 29 is hard, isn't it!?  Especially for women who are natural talkers any way!  I think allowing your talk to always be wholesome has to come from an attitude of dependence on the Lord! "Lord, I can't even speak without You!!"   And I think we can somewhat set ourself up for success or failure here.  A lot of times, what we put into our hearts and minds is what is manifested out of our mouth (Luke 6:45), so we need to be on guard for what we put into our minds and hearts - trashy TV, music, movies, books, etc!  What you are putting in, will come out and will definitely influence your mouth.

How I do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit!  I don't want to put out the Spirit's fire (1 Thessalonians 5:19) within me!  Verse 31 are ways that we can grieve the Holy Spirit.  Do an evaluation of your life - is there evidence of those in your life right now?  I do love how He reminds us that we are sealed until redemption.  So while we may grieve Him, we never lose Him!  Praise the Lord!

Verse 32 is a great verse to pray and ask the Lord to bring it to fruition in your life.  I want to be those things...kind, compassionate, quick to forgive - yes, Lord, let it begin with me!

Hopefully you'll leave some comments and let me know your thoughts on the chapter!  

We now move on to chapter 5 this week!!
Blessings

Ephesians - Week 4 - Chapter 3

Good evening, ladies!!  Please forgive me for being a little late with my post this week. 

This week we looked into Chapter 3 of Ephesians.  I'm looking forward to hearing if any of you have comments about this chapter.  I'm continuing to pray that the Lord will speak to you through this study.

Chapter 3 starts off in the first 13 verses with Paul continuing to talk about "the mystery" that he also mentioned in Chapter 1 that I asked y'all about.  Here, he lays out exactly what the mystery is....it is simply that through the gospel, Gentiles and Jews are BOTH heirs and members of one body - the church.  This may not seem like a big deal to us - as most of you probably doing this are Gentiles (not Jewish/Israelites), so you've always known that the gospel was for you.  BUT, this was a HUGE deal for the Jewish people in that day - God's chosen people.  For that "title" to now be available to Gentiles was a whole new idea.  And Paul was to be the pioneer, so to speak, of serving and shepherding Gentiles into the church.  I would encourage you to read this article by John MacArthur on the topic.

I absolutely love verses 14-19!  I love this prayer!  The main things I get from this prayer to pray for myself and loved ones, friends, my church community...

• strengthen with power through His Spirit
• be rooted & established in love
• grasp the love of Christ
• know the love that surpasses knowledge
• be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (yes, please, Lord!)

I would challenge you to begin praying this over yourself and your friend, family, church, etc. 

Verses 20-21 are verses you have probably heard before.  He is able to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."  So, if I pray for a red Corvette, I can eagerly anticipate a red Lamborghini because I mean, more than I ask or imagine right?!?  Not totally sure that's what he has in mind here. :-)  We've got to keep things in context. This is attached to the prayer from the previous few verses where Paul is praying for the Ephesians the things in the list above.  I think He is concluding that prayer with - not only will He & can He do these things - but He can do far more than we could ever imagine - more than I (Paul) am even asking for.  He will fill us to the measure of all fullness of God more than we could ever ask or imagine.  This to me is just a conclusion of the prayer - a conclusion of praise and confidence in the God he is praying too.  An example to us, as well, as we pray.  Our praise should be included with the request.  Are you praying with confidence in a God that is able to do more than you could ever ask?  Are you laying out your requests before the Lord in great anticipation - in FAITH - of what He will do?  And are we praying it so that He will be glorified? 

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below!  Would love to hear them!

The last half of Ephesians, Paul begins to get into Christian living - very practical for us!  This next week we will do Ephesians 4.  I LOVE Ephesians 4!  I've laid out a little bit of an outline for you, if you want it. But I'm praying that the Holy Spirit will move in your life and heart as you read this week.

Day 1 - Read all of Ephesians 4.  Then narrow in on verses 1-9. 

• What is a common point of these verses?  
• What is something you can apply right now in your life?  
• What do you think Paul means by "live a life worthy of the calling you have received?"
• Which word in verse 2 is a word that you need to pray and ask the Spirit to help you with this week? (patience, gentleness, humility, etc)
• Write down your thoughts about verses 7-9.  What do you think it is talking about?  What picture of Christ is it giving you?

Day 2 - Read all of the chapter.  If anything jumps out, write down your thoughts. Narrow in on verses 10-16.

• List out the gifts named here.  Do a little research and find other spiritual gifts.
• Do you know your spiritual gift?  If not, take this test here and see what information you get. Write down what you find out about your gift(s).
• Why do we use our gifts?  What is their purpose?
• What are verses 14-16 a picture of?

Day 3 - Read all of Chapter 4.  Focus on verses 17-24

• Do you see any similarities between the world/America and verses 17-19?  Get detailed in your comparison.
• What does it mean to "put off your old self" and "put on the new self" as mentioned in verse 22-24?
• What general idea do you get from these verses?

Day 4 - Read all of Chapter 4.  Narrow in on verses 25-28

• What are the things we are told to do in these verses?
• Verse 26 mentions not staying angry and not giving the devil a foothold.  How are we to resolve conflict?  (see Matthew 18)
• What does it mean to "give the devil a foothold?"
• Are you struggling with anger or bitterness right now?  If so, what is your plan for dealing with it?

Day 5 - Read all of Chapter 4.  Focus on verses 29-32

• Flesh out verse 29.  Write down your thoughts, feelings, etc when you read it.  Is unwholesome talk a problem for you (this includes gossip)?  If so, confess & repent of it, and ask the Holy Spirit for help. 
• Do your words build others up (husband, kids, friends, parents, random person at Wal-mart, etc)?
• What are we called to get rid of?
• What are we called to be?
• Why should we forgive others?

Conclude and wrap up all 5 days in your journal with your final thoughts.  Can't wait to hear them!  See you next week!

Love

Ephesians - Week 3 - Chapter 2

Good morning everyone!!

I so enjoyed reading your comments from last week!  We move onto Chapter 2!  Can't wait to hear your comments on this chapter.  I enjoyed it.

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

I just felt like these verses were such a great reminder of what I once was, what I would be if Christ had not rescued me!  Overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness and like I mentioned last week, thankful for the reminder to focus on the gift He has given me in Christ!

It was also a good reminder for me to realize that the unsaved are living in this state!  A reminder to earnestly be praying for those I know that are lost.  To pray for opportunities to share with them because as they currently are - they are deserving of wrath and will get that unless the Spirit opens their eyes!

⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  

These verses confirmed for me characteristics of God - He is loving, He is merciful, He is just, He is alive!  What comfort that brings!  It also served as a great avenue of thankfulness as I was reminded that but for the love of Christ - I'd still be stuck in my sin and transgression!  I'd still be headed toward a path of wrath!  But because of His great love for us!  I'm not! Thank you Jesus!

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

We are saved by grace - PERIOD!  God saves us - we can do NOTHING to earn it or get it!  I find this is also very encouraging when I am witnessing to non-believers!  It is NOT my job to save anyone.  I simply cannot save a person.  It is a work of God and God alone.  The Father (Holy Spirit) draws people to Himself.  He saves!  He opens eyes!  When approaching people to share Christ, remember that.  It should give us freedom, should relax me - their salvation is NOT up to me!  I only need to be a link in the chain - I only need to worry about whether or not I am obeying the Lord and following promptings of the Holy Spirit when talking with them.  I could be the end of the chain and get to witness them coming to a saving knowledge of Christ, or I could be a small link in the chain that is planting a seed.  Brings freedom to my heart especially as a mother of young children who I pray will come to know the Father and love them all of their days.  But I cannot save my children - I cannot convict my children.  I can simply present the gospel as many times as I can and in as many ways as I can and pray that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to His love for them and that they will accept the gift!

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  

I love this verse!  Everything is laid out for me in advance.  If I am keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) then I will know what those good works are and can stand assured that I am equipped for them.  This is also a great verse for a person like me who has a hard time saying no to things - but if I am seeking the Lord and petitioning Him and walking in obedience - He will show me exactly what the good works are that I'm to do - all else I need not worry about.  I can stand confident in the fact that they were not intended for me to do and that He has prepared them in advance for someone else to do.

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Love that these verses are a reminder that Christ died for ALL!  And the commonality between us all is JESUS!  Love that from a practical standpoint.  Anytime we feel uncomfortable in a situation with other believers, or like we wouldn't fit in, etc - we must remember that we all have Jesus in common - it is the common thread that runs through all of us.  

vs 19-22
He is building us up all together as the Church - all one people with Jesus as the commonality.  With Jesus as the cornerstone.  We are the temple of the Lord.  We are the house of Worship.  It's an ongoing process.  He is forming and molding us to be more like Him - to be a dwelling for Him.

How this also applies to my own life!  Is Jesus MY cornerstone - is all of my life built upon Him?  Am I living in such a way that I am a temple of the Lord - have I purged my life of the unclean things?  Am I a house of worship for Him with my life - am I living in complete worship and surrender to Him?  Am I in an ongoing process of growth?  Am I being formed and molded to be more like Him?  The Holy Spirit indwells me - does my life show evidence of that?  All thoughts I had to ponder this week as I read that last section.

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 2!  Please share your thoughts in the comments below so we can all grow from each other!

This week, please continue on and read Chapter 3!  I'd spread it out much like we did on Chapter 1 and focus in on short verse chunks each day.



Much love!

  

Ephesians - Week 2 - Chapter 1

Hey ladies!!

So thrilled that you will be joining me for this journey!  The book of Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the Bible - it is so practical for our lives today and can be applied to so many situations!  How did you like Chapter 1? There's a wealth of info and knowledge just in this first chapter!  Can't wait to hear your thoughts and see what the Lord revealed to you.  Just a reminder, post whatever is laid on your heart from what you read this week in the comments (sign your name if you comment as anonymous) and we'll try to just have a casual dialogue.  Below are my thoughts from the chapter as I read and jotted in my journal. 

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I wanted to know a little background on the church of Ephesus and found that while Paul sometimes wrote to churches in hopes of changing their path or to confront issues of the church; with Ephesus, he simply wrote the church to encourage them in their faith and to encourage them in living out a life of godliness.

I love that Paul uses "grace and peace" like he does in other letters to other churches.  I think if anyone knew about God's grace it was Paul.  Prior to his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he hated & persecuted the church.  And it just made me think - do I live my life through the lens of truly knowing what life before God's grace was and after God's grace?  In other words, where I would be without it.  Do I live life every day thankful for His grace?  Thankful that He saved me?  Great reminder for me - I sometimes get caught up in the daily routine - I'm a list maker - let's just get through the list - instead of just really relishing in God's grace EVERY day!  The gift of grace!  I think Paul got it! 

In verse 3, it mentions that he has blessed us with "every spiritual blessing."  What did that mean for you?  I think because of Christ and what He did on the cross - we are able to enjoy the gift of every spiritual blessing NOW!  What is every spiritual blessing? - salvation, Holy Spirit's power, fruit of the Spirit manifested in my life, access to the throne room/to God, an heir, access to grace and mercy, His power - I have access to all of these things and more - He has already blessed me with this - notice it's past tense.  I have everything I need to live life right now, today, no matter what I'm going through! Second Peter 1:3 speaks of this as well - "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. (NLT).

Verse 4 says he has chosen us as "holy and blameless" - a good reminder for me when I am struggling with guilt over something.  Thank you, Lord, that the slate is wiped clean!

What does it mean for you that you are adopted like it talks about in verse 5?  Think about an adopted child now.  A child that is lost, lonely, no hope - their world is radically changed and they are brought into the new family as if nothing in the past had happened.  They are now welcomed into this new family with unconditional love.  As if they are a blood son or daughter.  They have access to everything that the new parents have to offer them - money, food, knowledge, wisdom, love, care, etc.  Did you know that on adopted children's birth certificates, the mother and father's names are changed to the adopted parents' names?  So it is with us!  Our lives are radically changed!  We have access to everything of the Father's!  We are joint-heirs with Jesus!  We are no longer in the family of Adam, but we are in the family of Jesus!  Praise God!

What do you think "the mystery" is that Paul mentions in verse 9?  I'd like to hear your thoughts on that.

In verse 13 - Paul mentions that we are "marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." - Once we accept Christ and follow Him, the Spirit enters us and NOTHING (satan) can change that!  Romans 8:38-39 says "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

And the Holy Spirit is a "deposit" guaranteeing our access to God, to heaven!  I love that image.  A mark that we belong to Him!  Just like the adopted child's birth certificate - it is now a seal/certificate that they belong in this new family. 

Verses 15-23 are some of my favorite verses in the Bible.  I especially love praying them over myself and other people.  I would encourage you to sit quietly before the Lord and ask Him who are some people/friends/family that you could pray those verses over.  Verse 17  is the ultimate for me - ask for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know Him better!  Isn't that really what it's all about?  That's the Christian life in a nutshell!  It should be our ultimate goal in life to know Him better and it says right here that I can pray and ask for help in that.   That HE will do that in me!  It's not just up to me!  Two things: 1) That is a relief!  HE will open my eyes to know Him more.  HE will reveal Himself to me and 2) What is my ultimate goal in life?  Would others say that my goal is to know Him better?  Would others say that that is your goal?  If not, why isn't it?  What else are we striving for?   Hard evaluation for me!  Stepping on my own toes. ;-)


I mean the first and greatest commandment according to Jesus when He was asked is in Matthew 22:37 - Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

And in Matthew 6:33 we are told, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

So, are we praying for a spirit of wisdom and revelation?  Are we spending time in His Word and through prayer so He CAN give us wisdom and revelation?  Are we seeking Him above all things?

I love in verses 19-20 when it speaks of His "incomparably great power"... that "he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead..."  Paul is praying that the church of Ephesus' eyes of their hearts will be enlightened to know THIS power.  RESURRECTION POWER!  You and I have access to this same power!  Do I call on it?  Do I claim it?  Do I ask God to manifest it in my life?  Do you?!  If He can raise Christ from the dead, surely He can handle what is going on in my life and in your life at this very moment!  There is nothing too difficult for Him!

And lastly, in verse 22 - it says that "God placed all things under his feet." HE is OVER ALL!  HE is RULER!  HE is SOVEREIGN!  HE is ON THE THRONE!  He has been appointed head over the church - over you and I.  Are we submitted to Him? Am I living my life as if He is on the throne?  What else do I have sitting on the throne in His place?  What other idols in my life (even the good things) are in His place?  Convicting!  Lord, I want YOU on the throne of MY life!
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Ladies, I love you!  I am continuing to pray for you as you move onto Chapter 2 this week.  I would encourage you to break it up into verse sections again this time. 

Love,

Ephesians - Week 1 - Introduction

Hi!  I'm so glad you have stopped by to check out and hopefully join our online study of Ephesians!!   Over the next 6 weeks, beginning JUNE 19th, we will dig into this book of the Bible, and I hope you will join us.

Here is how it will work.  We will study a chapter of Ephesians each week.  Every Wednesday I will post an overview, my thoughts, and some questions on the chapter we studied for the week, and you will respond in the comments with what the Lord taught you over the week or answers to the questions.  I will also provide an outline of the next chapter if you need something to help guide you through the chapter.  I would encourage you to get a Bible in the translation that you prefer (NIV, NLT, ESV are some of my favorites), a journal for writing down thoughts as you read or for revelations that the Holy Spirit may speak to you.  There is also a great online resource at www.biblos.com that allows you to read and dig deeper into God's Word.

I am praying for you as you study - that He will reveal new Truth to you and that you will grow in relationship with Him over these 6 weeks.

I'd love to know who all is joining me for this journey, so if you will check-in in the comments that would be great!  Just give a name and state or city.  (ex. Kristin - Tyler, TX)   We'll start with introductions today.  Then the rest of this week, please begin reading through Chapter 1.  Next Wednesday, June 26th, we will begin our discussion of Chapter 1 in the comments.  I'll have some questions you can answer next week and you can just share thoughts that the Lord gave you throughout the week.

This week we will start with Ephesians 1.  Can I suggest you read through the whole chapter first each week to familiarize yourself with the chapter?  Then go through slowly and do a few verses at a time and allow Him to speak to you.  Grab a journal and get comfy and spend some precious time with your Lord!

Here's a reading outline for you to go by if you wish.

Day 1 - Read all of Ephesians 1.  Then narrow in on verses 1-2.  Really get a feel for where the church of Ephesus was, what was going on at the time Paul wrote to them.  Who is  Paul?  Dig into some of the words that jump out at you (grace, peace, etc).  Get some background for what you are about to read.
Day 2 - Read Ephesians 1 all the way through again.  Focus in on verses 3-10.  Write thoughts, feelings, questions you may have.
Day 3 - Read the whole chapter and then dig deep into verses 11-14.
Day 4 - Read the whole chapter and then narrow in on verses 15-17
Day 5 - Read the whole chapter and focus on verses 18-23.  Also, use this day to wrap up some thoughts/revelations from the whole chapter for the week.
 
Can't wait to hear what you all learned this week!  "See" you next Wednesday!

Blessings