When you read the first 10 verses of this chapter, it sounds somewhat like a spiritual autobiography for the believer .
Verses (1-3) (Your past)
Verses (4-6,8-9) (your present)
Verses (7,10) (Your future)
What struck me the most in this passage is the word "Workmanship" This word actually means poem. So a saved soul is God's work of art. Well what do we do with a piece of art that we are proud of? We hang it on a wall to show off, for everyone to see. But what is shown off? You have to look at verse 7 for the answer. "He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus" Verse 10 sums it up. We were saved yes by Grace alone, but for doing "Good Works". These good works were prepared beforehand. It seems to me that He has it all figured out. We just need to learn to trust in Him as He teaches us to walk "In Him"
Friday, June 13, 2014
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Journey through Ephesians # 2 (1:15-20)
A Prayer for Each Other :
Paul expresses his thankfulness for his fellow brothers and expresses a prayer that we could do well to model for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
" For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places"
1. Spirit of Wisdom and knowledge if Him.
2. The eyes of your hearts enlightened.
3. You may know they hope to which He has called You.
4. What are the riches of HIs glorious inheritance
5. Know the immeasurable greatness of HIs Power.
What if we prayed this for each other, daily for our Church?
Paul expresses his thankfulness for his fellow brothers and expresses a prayer that we could do well to model for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
" For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places"
1. Spirit of Wisdom and knowledge if Him.
2. The eyes of your hearts enlightened.
3. You may know they hope to which He has called You.
4. What are the riches of HIs glorious inheritance
5. Know the immeasurable greatness of HIs Power.
What if we prayed this for each other, daily for our Church?
Journey through Ephesians # 1 (1:3)
"... Who has blessed us in Christ with every Spiritual; blessing in the heavenly places." Ephesians 1:3
I wonder if we Christians realize how truly rich we are? No, I am not talking about financially rich. Paul, in this letter tells us about the SOURCE of our wealth. We have a rich God who owns everything and knows exactly what we need. Paul also speaks to the SCOPE of our wealth. He says we have been blessed with "Every" Spiritual blessing. Yes, material riches come from God, but more than that true riches are spiritual in nature. All of what we need and have are wrapped up in the person of Christ. Lastly Paul informs us of the SPHERE of our spiritual blessings. They are "in the heavenlies" We as believers have a new spiritual address and that is with Christ in Heaven. That is where true riches are found.
So here is the question, Are we living our lives in this reality . Our position in Christ is not only where we derive our wealth, but really our identity.
Father, thank you for giving me all things in Christ! Help me to be content in you and help me to trust you with my life, the life you have given me !
I wonder if we Christians realize how truly rich we are? No, I am not talking about financially rich. Paul, in this letter tells us about the SOURCE of our wealth. We have a rich God who owns everything and knows exactly what we need. Paul also speaks to the SCOPE of our wealth. He says we have been blessed with "Every" Spiritual blessing. Yes, material riches come from God, but more than that true riches are spiritual in nature. All of what we need and have are wrapped up in the person of Christ. Lastly Paul informs us of the SPHERE of our spiritual blessings. They are "in the heavenlies" We as believers have a new spiritual address and that is with Christ in Heaven. That is where true riches are found.
So here is the question, Are we living our lives in this reality . Our position in Christ is not only where we derive our wealth, but really our identity.
Father, thank you for giving me all things in Christ! Help me to be content in you and help me to trust you with my life, the life you have given me !
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Galatians 5
" Walk in the Spirit... not fulfill the lust if the flesh" Galatians 5:16
I was reading Galatians chapter 5 this morning. Verse 16 is key to understanding victory over the flesh. We must daily live, allowing the Spirit to control. Verse 17- 18 implies that we have a conflict going on in our lives. Remember Paul, in this passage is speaking to believers. This conflict exists because our sin nature battles our new nature we have as a result of being in Christ. So what do we do to face this conflict? Verse 16 tells us! " Walk in the Spirit"/ When you read verse 10-23 you see the contrast. Paul tells is that the graces of the spirit must grow like rich fruit in our lives, but how? "Walk in The Spirit" Verse 24-26 explains how all of this is done. Paul tells us that the evil desires must be crucified, done away with so that we can walk in step with the Spirit.
In summary , it seems that in order for us to walk in the Spirit(16), we must get rid of the desires in us that are contrary to His will. In order to do that we must walk in step(25) with the Spirit. So We submit to His leading, He guides us as we learn to walk day by day with Him.
Prayer: "Lord , today help me walk in step with the Spirit"
Hint: Spend some time with Him in His Word!
I was reading Galatians chapter 5 this morning. Verse 16 is key to understanding victory over the flesh. We must daily live, allowing the Spirit to control. Verse 17- 18 implies that we have a conflict going on in our lives. Remember Paul, in this passage is speaking to believers. This conflict exists because our sin nature battles our new nature we have as a result of being in Christ. So what do we do to face this conflict? Verse 16 tells us! " Walk in the Spirit"/ When you read verse 10-23 you see the contrast. Paul tells is that the graces of the spirit must grow like rich fruit in our lives, but how? "Walk in The Spirit" Verse 24-26 explains how all of this is done. Paul tells us that the evil desires must be crucified, done away with so that we can walk in step with the Spirit.
In summary , it seems that in order for us to walk in the Spirit(16), we must get rid of the desires in us that are contrary to His will. In order to do that we must walk in step(25) with the Spirit. So We submit to His leading, He guides us as we learn to walk day by day with Him.
Prayer: "Lord , today help me walk in step with the Spirit"
Hint: Spend some time with Him in His Word!
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