Wednesday, November 30, 2011

One

Eph 4:4,5,6 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."


 

All of God's word is significant. All of God's word is true. If He says something even once, we need to sit up and pay attention. But I have heard people say, if He says it twice, we need to really pay attention, and if He says it three times, it is something that He is trying to drill into our heads and hearts. How about seven times? How about repeating something seven times? He does it here in these three verses. Seven times in three verses He uses the word "one". Why? Why this emphasis on "one"?


 

In order to grab onto this, I think we have to go back to what Paul was talking about in verse three: unity. We have to exert effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. Unity is huge in the church because it reflects the character, nature and work of God. When we, as a body, are divided, we distort who God is. We misrepresent His work.


 

Look at God's work: There is one body. There is only one church. It is the church universal of blood bought believers. It isn't the Baptist church, or the Methodist church, or the Catholic church, or the Lutheran church, or the non-denom church. It is the church. It is the body of Christ. Man, have we really screwed it up. The world does not understand who God is because we have decided that some of our petty issues need to divide us. Now, of course, the real church is the one whose family members all have the same lineage in them. The lineage is the blood of Christ. Only those who have trusted in Jesus' finished work on the cross are a part of this family. Anyone who is trusting on their own works, their own smarts, their own ability to get in this family is not a part of it. But if you have repented and trusted in Jesus alone, we are one.


 

There is only one hope of your calling. I mean what else is there? There is only one "joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation". (Strongs) Hope for anything else is useless. It is worthless. It is hopeless. And there is that calling thing again. It is only the work of God that calls us into that hope.


 

There is only one faith. There is only one confident conviction of truth, because there is only one truth. Sure, people can run around espousing other beliefs, other faiths, other ideas, but there is really only one faith…"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 Narrow? Yes. But truth is narrow.


 

There is only one baptism. This seems kind of weird in this list of things. What does Paul mean by baptism? Back then, people may have been confused. There was the baptism of John and there was the baptism of Jesus. Which one was right? Which one evidenced true faith? Only the immersion that comes after faith in Christ. I know that some people struggle with baptism. I am not sure why. I mean, it should be the next step. You get saved and you get baptized. The Ethiopian did it this way with Philip. The early church did it. Jesus instructs us to do it. What is the big deal? There is only one.


 

And then look at the character of God. One Spirit, One Lord, One God and Father. Kind of looks like the trinity to me. God is One. God's work is one. The church should be one. Petty squabbles need to be put aside.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Getting Practical

Eph 4:2,3 "with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."


 

I love practical application. To me, if you are filled with a bunch of truth but you can't or don't do anything about it, it is not really very helpful or real. That is what is so cool about Paul's writing. He just doesn't fill you will a bunch of information, but he gives you real, practical ways to live out what he has taught. These two verses are just an example of that.


 

In verse one he gives us a principle: Walk worthy. That is great. And as I wrote yesterday, this means live a life that shows God's worth, a life of worship. But what does that mean really? How can I do this an everyday way? Here come verses two and three.


 

Walk in lowliness. That doesn't sound like too much fun. It may not be, but it is how we walk worthy. The word for lowliness actually means that you have a deep sense of how little you really are. The understanding that this salvation that you have is not up to you, the realization that this relationship with God that you have is totally His doing, knowing that this is all God and my location in His presence is His work and that He wants me to know the unsearchable, should result in a deep sense of my littleness. "I am nothing, He is everything, but He wants to make me something." This is how I have to live my life. When the world around me is so "me centered", my worthy walk has to be the opposite.


 

Walk in gentleness. How do I respond when things don't go the way I think that they should go? How do I react when I see something that I think is wrong? What do I do when I can't control a situation, or direct an outcome? Am I loud? Do I scream? Do I lose my temper? Does my face get all contorted? Do I climb into my shell and give the silent treatment? To walk worthy means to walk in gentleness, to respond in a mild, calm, even way. Why? Because God has it all under control and if I am not all that big of a deal to begin with, then I should not get all bent out of shape. (Yikes…too practical. This is hitting me right between the eyes right now.)


 

Walk with longsuffering. I have been pretty vocal lately about faithfulness. I have told several people that the key in the Christian life is not the highs and lows, but the constancy. The consistency. This verse just hits it again. Longsuffering means constancy. It means endurance. It means steadfastness. No matter what happens, no matter what hits, be patient. Be steady. I think of the story of the tortoise and the hare. It was the constant, steady, sometime plodding tortoise that won the race. Not because he was faster, not because he was better, but because he was determined and constant. Even though he could have stopped to smell the roses and eat the grass, he didn't. He didn't get distracted. He kept going no matter what. That is another way to have a worthy walk. Junk is going to hit us, junk is going to hit me. People are going to rub me the wrong way, or an obstacle may seem to impede…be longsuffering.

Walk in forbearance. This is the KJV word. Yes, it means to endure one another…and sometimes we must. I know that my wife has to put up with a lot…but she endures it in love. But it goes beyond that. To bear means to hold up, to support. Don't just endure one another, but support one another in unconditional love. Am I irritated by someone? Bear it in love. Does someone need my help or encouragement? Give it in love. "Bear one another's burdens."


 

I am starting to see that these verses really indicate that a worthy walk is one that is outside myself. Little, gentle, patient, bearing and…


 

Walk in unity. I appreciate the fact that Paul understands that being peacefully unified takes work. It isn't easy. It doesn't come naturally. The word for endeavoring means that we have to be diligent. We have to exert effort. But, if we practice being little, if we practice gentleness, if we practice patience, if we practice endurance and support, what do you think the result is going to be? We will be bound together in peaceful unity. Can I do it myself? Nope. It has to be the unity of the Spirit. This has to be a work of God in me. No matter how much I try, no matter if I take this verse and plaster it all over my walls, it isn't going to happen unless God's Spirit does an amazing work in me.


 

Man I need this…and I need to keep it before me all the time. Like I said, pretty practical.


 

Monday, November 21, 2011

Walk Worthy

Eph 4:1 "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called," NKJV


 

In light of all of the stuff that he just wrote about, that our choosing, the truth and the blessings are all God (chapter 1), that we have a new location (chapter 2), and that God wants us to understand the incomprehendable and beyond(chapter 3), because of all of this, Paul, the guy who was sitting in prison because of this faith was beseeching, teaching, exhorting, coming along side to urge these people to walk worthy.


 

I love how God uses words interchangeably. Beseech actually is "paraclete" the same word that is used for the Holy Spirit. Paul was saying that he was coming along side these people to encourage, to challenge, to urge, to spur along. I mean, if ever there was a guy who was qualified to do this it was Paul. The Ephesians all were living in their homes in their city, I am assuming with relative ease. Yet here was Paul, the prisoner of the Lord. Note, he does not say a prisoner of Rome, rather the prisoner of the Lord. He knew that this was God's desire for him. It was probably not what he wanted for his life, but he was content in it because the Lord was in it. So this guy who is very qualified, who had the war wounds of the battle, was challenging these people to walk a certain way.


 

Their walk was the way that they lived. Paul was urging them to walk/live worthy…worthy of the calling with which they were called. Now calling and called are two different words. The first calling means that God drew them into a relationship with Him. This was not something that they did, it was ''all God" (chp 1). And this was not a group thing, this was an individual thing because the second "called" means name by name. To think that God called me by name to be in a relationship with Him is astounding. No wonder Paul said to live worthy. Now this word: "worthy" is something to explore. What does Paul mean when he encourages these people to live in a worthy manner? It means suitably, in a way that gives worth to the calling. These people were personally invited to have a relationship with God. Since this was the case, how in the world would you expect them to live? In a way that honors God...all the time. He is the One who did the work. He is the One who engaged in the action. He is the One who did the calling. He is the One who is worthy of all of their honor.


 

Nothing has changed. God still personally still calls us into a relationship with Him. How should I respond? With a life that gives Him worth. With a life of worth-ship. With a life of worship. All that I do, all that I say, my every motivation should be activities of worship because He called me by name. I need to always remember that.


 


 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Ice Cream

Eph 3:20,21 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." NKJV


 

One of my downfalls is ice cream. Right now I am enjoying a carton of mint chocolate chip…it is one of my favorites. I enjoy going to Malley's that serves something called a black and white. It is vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, chocolate ice cream with marshmallow sauce, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Whenever I go there, that is what I get. The problem is, when it is gone I want more.


 

That is how I am looking at these verses. Up to this point Paul has given us the great ice cream of God's truth. Now he hits us with the whipped cream and cherry.


 

It's amazing that how you think you know a verse. I mean, I have heard and read and memorized 3:20. For some reason I did not memorize verse 21…but verse 21 is more important than verse 20.


 

First, verse 20 is amazing. I am pumped because God wants me to know His mystery, His unsearchable riches, His manifold wisdom, the width and length and depth and height of His love. But then the whipped cream comes in verse 20. God wants to do more. He wants to move more. He wants to reveal Himself more…more than I can ask. More than I can think. More than I can comprehend. More than I can understand. And He wants to do it in an exceeding abundant way. Sure He wants me to know Him, but He wants to go beyond my wildest imagination…based upon the power that is in me. As I think about His power that is in me, I think of what I wrote about yesterday. Jesus is in me and since He lives in me His power is in me. That very power that raised Jesus from the dead. (1:19,20)


 

Yesterday morning I was praying about a bunch of stuff. One thing I prayed about was our church and our eventual need to move to a new location. I started thinking about how much money this was going to cost, and how were we going to get it and how realistic is this…and now this verse. God can, God does, God will blow me away with how He works. It may not be how I think, in fact it will not be how I think. It will be far beyond how I think. And then I think of my sister in law, Linda, who just had brain surgery. His power is coursing through her veins as well. Even though she is having a difficult time swallowing, and communicating and sitting up straight and walking, God is going to do something far beyond what we ask or think.


 

That is the whipped cream. Verse 21 is the cherry. Verse 21 is what the church is all about. Verse 21 is what life is all about. "To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever." This entire chapter about understanding the incomprehendable and seeing God work in unbelievable, unrealistic, blow my mind ways is not for me, it is for Him. It is for His glory. It is so He can be exalted. It is so He is magnified in this world. And then this, and this is something that I had never seen before, "to all generations forever and ever". God wants His glory to be revealed to all generations…past, present and future, forever.


 

I take a look at our world today and it just seems like it is going down the tubes. It seems like our society is more godless than ever, and then I hit this verse. God's glory will be revealed to all generations. It does not matter how things seem, the reality is that God will be magnified in my parent's generation, in my generation, in my kid's generation, in Maddie's generation to eternity. This is what it is all about. Every generation will see the salvation and glory of the Lord and it will revealed in the church. In this body of Christ. Through you and me. This is the cherry.


 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Within our Grasp

Eph 3:17,18,19 "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." NKJV


 

I am trying to grasp all of this. I am trying to get a hold of all the truth that is contained in these verses. I mean this stuff is huge. It is massive…and it is within our grasp.


 

I just think about his truth: Jesus lives in my inner man. From a human perspective this is impossible. No one can live in another person. But here it is. Christ lives in my heart. Not that thing that keeps the blood flowing through my arteries, but the thing that actually motivates me, moves me, inspires me, controls me. Jesus is there through the person of the Holy Spirit. (Talk about Jesus and the Holy Spirit being one entity.)


 

And then this truth: My foundation, my stability, my strength is found in love. The love of God. What Paul wants these people to know and what I have to know is that God's love, the love of Christ which passes knowledge is knowable, in all of its width and length and depth and height. I enjoy how Paul says that you may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. Knowing something that is not knowable. This is not a human thing. This is a supernatural thing. This is something that I can't understand through my tiny little brain, but it is something that I can grasp because Jesus lives in me, and if the God of all creation lives in me then I have that knowledge because I have Him.


 

I remember when I was in college I read a book by Watchman Nee called "Christ the Sum of All Spiritual Things". The premise of the book was that I am a possessor of all of Christ's character…His love, His kindness, His mercy, His grace, His understanding, His wisdom, His knowledge…because He lives in me. This is just blow me away time. This is just shaking my head time. And these are things that reachable, comprehendable, knowable. Paul says it: That you may be able to comprehend…that you may know…even though it is beyond knowledge…that you may get it.


 

I just went back and reviewed Eph 1:18. There it is again. Understanding. Enlightenment. Knowledge. The revelation had been made known to Paul and he wanted these people to get it too. It is possible.


 

I have so far to go, but I have an amazing Teacher who lives in me, who wants to fill me to the fullness of God. Wow.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Blown Socks

Eph 3:10,11 "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord," NKJV


 

Now if these verses don't blow your socks off, nothing will.


 

What was God's intent? What has been His purpose, not just from the beginning of time but from all eternity? That through Christ, the church would make His manifold wisdom known to the rulers and powers in heaven. That through the church the various aspects of the wisdom of God would be recognized by angels and all of the authorities in heaven.


 

Before Jesus came and before the church was formed, even those in heaven did not understand the mystery. The angels did not have complete knowledge. They didn't understand how this was all going to work. How were they informed? By the church. I am not talking about some organization that men have created and structured and politicized. I am talking about those of us who make up the body of Christ here on earth. Jews and Gentiles. Men and women. Rich and poor. Black and white. The whole church declares the wisdom of God to those in heaven.


 

And this is not just a limited thing. The church is the vehicle that God uses to reveal His manifold wisdom. I love the word for "manifold". No, it isn't a part of the inner workings of a car. Manifold actually means: "marked with a great variety of colors". God's wisdom is multifaceted. It really is endless. And this multifaceted wisdom that comes in great variety is something that the church declares to angels. Do I get it? Do I understand this? Can I grasp the depth of this? No way. But it is true and it was God's plan from all eternity.


 

Some question the relevance of the church. Some question the importance of the church. Some question the power of the church. It doesn't matter what some do…this is the truth. The church is relevant, and important and powerful because we are the representation of Jesus on this earth and in heaven. And we declare God's unbelievable wisdom to all. We need to take this thing seriously and not just play the game of church but be the church and watch what God does as He blows our socks off.


 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Enlighten

Eph 3:9 "and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;" NKJV


 

There are certain times in my life when I was totally in the dark about some things. I mean, I had no clue what was going on. I didn't understand what people were talking about. I just could not connect. Then, for some reason it clicked. I was enlightened. I finally got it. It was one of those eureka moments and it became clear.


 

This is what Paul said that he wanted all to get. He wanted everyone to see, to be enlightened about this mystery that had been hidden from the beginning of all time. And when this enlightenment came it brought about fellowship. The two groups became one. The Jews and the Gentiles no longer were separated but they were all brought into fellowship through Christ. This is something that the Ephesians really struggled with. I mean, here were a bunch of believers who were wondering if the division between the two groups still existed. Paul was telling them that Jesus broke down the dividing wall and now they both had fellowship, Koinonia, oneness…through the One who created everything.


 

Now this is kind of working on a theme. Paul was called to preach the unsearchable riches, the incomprehendable abundance of Christ and he wanted us all to see it, to understand it, to be enlightened by it. This is not unreachable. This is not unobtainable. And part of it is this unity aspect of bring all people together in Jesus. Now from a human perspective, this is impossible. I mean really, when you think about history it is filled with conflict between people groups. It has always gone on and I believe that it will continue to go on. There is only one thing, there is only one Person who is able to break down religious, racial, societal, and political barriers…it is Jesus, the One who prayed: "That they may be one…" John 17.


 

I wonder if this mystery is a reality in my life? Are there any walls that Jesus needs to tear down? Is there anyone that I have issues with that this mystery needs to invade?


 

God enlighten me.


 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Understanding the Incomprehendable

Eph 3:8 "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," NKJV


 

As I read Ephesians chapter three, I am starting to see that maybe I am underestimating the things that we as believers are able to understand about God. The next few days will kind of lay this out, but Paul starts here, with who he was, with who that church was and who Christ is.


 

Who was Paul? Before he became a Christian he was Saul. A circumcised Hebrew of Hebrews. From the tribe of Benjamin. A very learned Pharisee. A teacher of the law. A big deal hotshot in his religion. So much so that he persecuted this new group of people called the church. He even said that he was blameless as it related to the law. (That is a pretty bold claim…see Phil. 3) Now who is he? A guy who was picked out by God to take his past history and his learning and teach the church. He is the guy who wrote two thirds of the New Testament. He, in my mind, was a significant part of what God was doing…but in his mind he was "…less than the least of all the saints". He knew his past. He knew what he had done. He knew how very unworthy he was to be in the position that he was in. He knew the grace of God in his life and it humbled him.


 

I wonder how I do? Do I start to believe my own press clips? Don't. I can't. If Paul was less that the least, I am less than that. Why did God choose me to be a part of His family? Why can I sit here and write this stuff? Why does He share His word with me? Not a clue…yet I am His poem…His workmanship. As I have said before: "I am nothing and He is everything and He wants to make me something." I stand amazed.


 

What was Paul called to do? Preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. The unsearchable riches means the incomprehendable abundance of Christ. This is the stuff that I talk about so often…that we really cannot grasp what Jesus is like…what God is like. I mean, He is too huge. Too massive. Too awesome. Yet here is Paul saying that he has been called to preach these incomprehendable things. If his job was to preach this stuff, then apparently it could be known, because he had to know it and he had to communicate it to these people.


 

This is why I said at the beginning that I think that I may be underestimating some things. Will I in this life be able to grasp all that God is? No way. Can I grasp more than I have? Yes…and it is a never ending adventure.


 


 

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A Good Mystery

Eph 3:6 "the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,"


 

I enjoy a good mystery. We don't watch a lot of TV. I wish I was not so stuck on the Browns because they seem to draw my attention every week, (talk about mysteries) but my wife and I are kind of stuck on one TV program every week. It is a mystery. A "whodunit". They always start with a crime and then you have to figure out which of the characters may have pulled it off. The thing about mysteries is that there is this hint. There is something that whets your appetite and then you want to know what the secret is.


 

That is what it was like for the people who lived before Jesus was born. The knew something was coming. They had the promise of the Messiah but they had not seen it yet. They really did not know how all encompassing His life, His work and His ultimate act would be. It was a mystery. And here is Paul talking about a mystery. He uses the word three times in nine verses. And what is the mystery? Christ.


 

For some reason God chose to reach down and grab Paul and through special revelation, He let Paul in on the unsearchable riches of Jesus. Part of this mystery is that Jews and Gentiles who trust Jesus are all one body. There is no more separation. There is no more animosity. We are fellow heirs. We are the same body. We are all partakers of His promise.


 

I don't think the world sees this…but it is happening. Jew and Gentile believers are all one body in this thing called the Church. The fact that we are worshipping together should be trumpeted. The fact that there is no division should be something that is noticeable. And this should not just be for Jew and Gentile, but for men and women; and blacks, whites, Asians, and Hispanics; for those who have been given strong bodies and those who have special needs; for the rich and for the poor. The mystery of Christ is the fact that, in His death and resurrection, He has made us all one. All fellow heirs. All partakers. All one body. There should be no division, only unity…and the world should be able to sit up and take notice.


 

I wonder why they don't? Something to think about.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Contrasts

Eph 2:19 "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God," NKJV


 

Last night I woke up periodically listening to something hitting our house. What was it? Snow and sleet. As I woke up this morning and looked outside, I discovered a blanket of white covering my yard…the first snowfall of the season. It won't stay. Tomorrow is going to be 55 degrees. In fact, Tuesday of this week was a beautiful and sunny 69 degrees. Talk about contrasts! That is what they say about weather in Cleveland, though…if you don't like it just wait, it will change.


 

Contrasts are really a big deal in life. If we didn't have them we would never know how good good can be. For example sweet verses sour. Hot verses cold. Strong verses weak. Healthy verses sick. Lush verses desolate. Happy verses sad. Right verses wrong. Truth verses error. Good verses bad. And how about this one: strangers and foreigners verses fellow citizens and members of God's household. Now that is a huge contrast.


 

I was once a stranger and foreigner to God and His kingdom. I was not a part of those He chose to be His special people I was an alien. I didn't belong. I had no home. I was outside looking in. I was not accepted. Talk about hopeless and helpless. But then something happened. Jesus came and invaded this world. Jesus came and invaded my life. Jesus came and took this world's sin and my sin on Himself and died making access to God available…location, location, location…and now I am a fellow citizen and a member of God's household. I am on the same playing field with the saints and apostles. I am a part of God's family. I belong. No longer on the outside looking in, but a part of what God is doing right there with the saints and the apostles…built on that foundation. And the cornerstone, the primary building block, the thing that holds this house together is Jesus. (v20)


 

I am not sure that I get all this. I know that scripture is true and I know that this is true, but does it really sink into this think brain of mine? Does it really communicate with my inner man? No longer a stranger. No longer a foreigner. Now an integral part of God's family. A crazy and wild and true contrast. This is who I am. A fellow citizen. A part of God's household. That should eliminate any insecurity or desire for recognition that I might want. This is my identity in Christ.


 

(If you want to see your true identity in Christ, just take a look at James MacDonald's study on Gripped by the Greatness of God. Powerful stuff.)

Saturday, November 12, 2011

That Location Thing

Eph 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." NKJV


 

So many times we think about the death of Jesus and the blood that He shed in light of our forgiveness. You know: "What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus." This is an amazing truth that we need to hang on to, but when Jesus died on the cross much more was taking place.


 

Like what? This verse lays out one thing. Those of us who were far off (Frankly that is all of us, no matter who we are…but Paul was writing in terms of Jew and Gentile. The Jew was near because they had a special relationship with God. They were His chosen people. They were the ones who He made a nation through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They were the ones who were rescued from Egypt to go to the Promised Land. They were the ones who were given the law.) So what about us Gentiles? We were aliens. We were strangers. We had no hope We were without God. Then that one magic word: "But". I love that word. It changes everything. 2:4 said "But God" and it changed everything. And here, "But now" those of us who were far off have been brought near. Here is that location thing again. Here we are positionally again. We who were far away are now near. We now have access to God. We are close to Him. We are in His presence. Again, location…location…location.


 

How did this happen? What changed? The blood of Christ. Jesus' death on the cross did this. When He died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and God gave all of us, Jew and Gentile, free access to His throne How can I ever look at prayer differently again? How can I take this access for granted? It was paid for at a high price. And look what else the blood of Jesus did: No more separation. No more hatred. No more strangers. No more foreigners. No more law. We now have peace and reconciliation and unity…all because of the blood of Jesus. All who have trusted Jesus' death on the cross for their forgiveness, eternal destination and control are one. It doesn't matter what our nationality. It doesn't matter what our prior religion It doesn't matter what we once were, we are now new, we are brought near, we are in His presence, our location is right next to God…through the blood of Jesus.


 

Friday, November 11, 2011

God’s Poem…Us

Eph 2:10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." NKJV


 

This is another one of those verses that I love. Why? Because of the thought, because of the reality, because of the truth that says that God made me and planned things for me to do. This is just another one of those verses that verifies the sovereignty of God.


 

First, I am His workmanship. The word for workmanship is poiema...poem...one who has been made by God. I have been created by God. I have been shaped by God. I have been formed by God. This truth gives me purpose. It gives me value. Those who believe that we have just evolved really feed the thought that man is worthless. That we are not any better than the rock that is sitting in my garden. Sure we can think, reason and feel, but we don't have any more right to live than some animal. (See where animal rights activists get their philosophy?) This reasoning is not only false, it degrades what God has done. Genesis tells me that God formed man in His image. I am a work that God has made. Why did He choose to make me? Why did He decide to form this body of mine? Why was I born? First, to be in Christ Jesus. Not only was I born physically, but I was born spiritually. When that happened, I was created in Christ Jesus for a very specific thing...for good works. Now Paul just got done telling the Ephesians that they were not saved by good works, but now he tells them that they have been saved for good works. This kind of echos what James wrote that faith without works is dead. A verification that we have been born spiritually is the fact that we perform good works. And these good works are also special works of God. God set in place the things that I would do as a believer. He outlined that I would minister to people in my job and elsewhere. He ordained that I would serve by helping people worship Him. He prepared ahead of time the work that I would do in serving people, and hopefully teach and disciple people. These are things that God did. These are things that God prepared in advance that I should walk in them. This is my walk...this is my life...this is how I am supposed to live.


 

And not only that, but God is not done. He has prepared more for me to do. I don't know right now what it is, but it will happen when the right time comes. How do I know? Because it is God who planned the work. It is God who prepared the work. It is God who will bring the work. It is God who will do the work.


 

How cool that I can be involved in the work of God. No wonder I love this verse. God made me so I can work with Him. Amazing stuff.


 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

All God

Eph 2:8,9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." NKJV


 

For people who have been in the evangelical church awhile, this is a very familiar verse. In fact, it is so familiar that I think that we sometimes just quote it to prove a point and then move on without giving it much thought. Oh sure, we believe it and we rely upon it, but how much have we really dug into this verse. Well here goes.


 

For by grace. I have recently quoted what Strongs has written about the meaning of this word, but I think it is something that I need to look at again: "of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues." Whose grace is it? God's. Whose merciful kindness is it? God's. Who exerts His holy influence? God. Who turns us to Christ? God. Who keeps, strengthens and increases us in our faith, knowledge and character? God. The point about grace: It is all God. This is the grace of God. This is the unmerited favor of God. This is a total God-thing There is nothing that I do that gives me grace. It is all up to God.


 

You have been saved. Let's face it. We are a sorry bunch. We are a suffering bunch. We are a needy bunch. We are a lost bunch. We are a hurting bunch. We are a sick bunch. In short, we need to be rescued because we are on a road that will destroy us. We need to be rescued. We need to be delivered. We need to be saved. People think that we should not use the word "saved" when talking to those who do not share our faith. They joke: "You mean like saving money, ha…ha…ha." Wrong. This is a Biblical word. It must be used. It must be communicated because people know what it means to be saved from impending destruction…and those that have experienced the merciful kindness of God in turning to Christ have been rescued.


 

How? Through faith. I am going back to Strongs: "a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God". Where does this conviction come from? How do we get this belief? How do we know that it is how we obtain eternal salvation?


 

It is the gift of God. This is God's gift to us. It is something that only He can give. My wife and I have already begun our Christmas shopping. We have gotten some pretty cool things for our kids and Maddie. Now when I give a gift at Christmas, who gets the gift rolling? Who picks it out? Who buys it? I do. No one else exerts any effort…it is all up to me. This is how faith is. God got it rolling. He picked it out. He bought it. And He gives it. Any faith that I have is something that God has given to me. I do nothing to get it.


 

Not of works. I don't work for His grace. I don't work for this faith. It is all free and given by God. Now most of the religions of the world say that in order to go to heaven, or paradise, or wherever, you have to do something. You have to engage in good works. You have to practice the golden rule. You have to keep the law. You have to live faithfully to the tenants of the faith. You have to… No you don't…because if you do, you are saying that Jesus' death on the cross was not enough…we humans have to add to it. That is totally and completely false and is a teaching straight out of hell. It is a free gift given only by God.


 

Lest anyone should boast. If I can work my way into heaven, then I will get there and say: "Look what I did. I made it and this other guy didn't because I was better." "I said the Rosary so many times. I blew myself up because of my faith. I shaved my head and fasted." Let's be clear about one thing: There will be no boasting in heaven, only adoration to the One who died, who gave, who made it possible for anyone to be there.


 

My response: No boasting now…only thankfulness and adoration now. This does not have to wait. It should not wait. God's grace. God's faith. God's gift…all extended to me. Amazing.


 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Location, Location, Location

Eph 2:6 "and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"


 

It's all about location. Another way of thinking about it, is that it is all about position. People fight for it all the time. I know that when I go to Cedar Point the place to be is the front of the line. If you can get there early and get in line first for the Top Thrill Dragster, it is a good thing. It goes beyond simple things like that, though. People work, and educate, and fight, and claw for top spots in sports, and industry, and politics. I watch the politicking that is going on right now for the Presidential race coming up next year, and these guys will say and do anything to get that position. I am not sure why they want it, but this is a coveted prize. They want to win so they spend millions of dollars to get there. Frankly, what a waste of money. Then you see the dumb things that people did at Ohio State and the way Tressel kept his mouth shut. Why? To try to win a National Championship…to be on top…to take the prize. The result? Shame, gone, stupidity. And the garbage that went on at Penn State that is being revealed now? Why keep things quiet? To stay on top, to maintain position.


 

The position that this world can offer in anything is worthless. You can win national championships, you can grab the ring, you can be Steve Jobs, you can become President and where does that get you ultimately? No where.


 

Now compare this to the position that a believer has. We are raised up. We are seated in heaven. This is not our position in the future, this is our position now. It doesn't get greater than this. It doesn't get more powerful than this. We are at the top right now because we, positionally, are in the presence of God. Now raised up can mean two things. First it can mean that we are no longer dead. We have been raised from the dead and been given life by the power of God exhibited in raising Jesus from the dead. The thing is, the term raised up is coupled with the word together. This is a plural thing. This is a community thing. It is actually the word for synergy. It is what has happened to all who have been made alive together with Christ. (v5) We are alive together, we are raised together and we sit down together in, by and with Christ. This is now. This is currently. This is our position and it is amazing.


 

So, when I think about this, what is holding me back from doing anything for the kingdom? I am currently in the presence of Jesus and His power and His ability and His wisdom is available for the asking. None of us should be fighting for any position here on this earth. We have it all right now.


 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

But God

Eph 2:4,5 "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," NKJV


 

What was I? Dead. Verse one tells us pretty plainly. "And you who were dead in trespasses and sins…" and then it lays it out. The world, Satan, disobedience, lusts, mental and fleshly desires, wrath. Nasty stuff. This is dead. This is what I was. This is what we all are. We have no spiritual breath in us. We are consumed with stuff that is just rotten and decaying and dead. I think about the world and what it has to offer. Sure, it looks appealing for a time. But when you boil it down to its root, it is dead. It is worthless. It is a waste. We invest our time and energy and thoughts and passion is stuff that is all centered on self. It has no lasting value. It has no eternal purpose. We are dead and hopeless.


 

And the thing is, a dead thing cannot bring itself life. It is dead. Just ask that squashed spider that you killed in the corner of your house the other day to come to life again. Nothing doing. It is gone. It is in the Kleenex and it is thrown in the garbage. There is nothing it can do to get its legs moving again. That is a picture of the human condition. We are so dead, we are incapable of making any choice that is going to bring us real life. God has to do something. He has to act on our behalf. If He doesn't we are gonners.


 

Enter: "But God…". This is massive. God enters the picture. And what is God like? Rich in mercy. God's wealth is given to us poor, dead, pitiful people and He extends His mercy, His kindness, His good will toward us who do not deserve it. And He has great, huge, unconditional love. Unreal. He give us this. And even when we are dead and almost buried, He makes us alive. He breathes life into us. He extends His unmerited favor (grace) and rescues us. This is not our act. This is not our choice. This is not our effort. This is all God. He does the acting. He does the choosing. He puts forth the effort. He extends mercy. He shows love. He gives grace. What do we do? Nothing. It is all a work of God that gives us life.


 

I praise you God for your great love, for your mercy and grace. Thank you for giving me life.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Feet…Head…Body

Eph 1:23,24 "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head of all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." NKJV


 

Sometimes I wonder why the translators of the Bible include certain words. You can tell added words because they are in italics. This verse is one of those wondering situations. This verse should actually read: "And He put all under His feet, and gave Him head of all to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." It isn't just things that God put under Jesus feet, it wasn't just stuff that He is the ruler over, it is all…period. Jesus is the head of all. He is the controller of all. He is the ruler of all…things and people. There is nothing that escapes His sovereignty. This is true in the world and this is true in the church. Jesus is the master and Lord of all. It really does not matter whether the world acknowledges this truth. It really does not matter whether anyone bows to His lordship. It really does not matter whether people follow Him or not, He is still Lord. He is still in control. He is still the head.


 

I love a couple things about this verse. First the word "all". It is used four times. I am thinking that Paul wanted to get a point across. All are under His feet. He is head of all to the church. He fills all in all. There is nothing that escapes who He is and He is the picture of total completeness. Sounds like another phrase that God used with Moses. When Moses asked what God's name was God replied: "I AM". In other words, I am everything. I am all. I am complete. I am all you need. That is Jesus.


 

And then I love the fact that Jesus is the head of the body. Now in a physical sense, every living creature needs a head. The head (the brain) controls all the functions of the human body and all of its movements. That is Jesus. He is the head of His body, the church. He should not only control all of our conscious decisions, He should also be in control of all of the things that we do unconsciously. When we make a decision, He is in charge. When we go a direction, He is in charge. When we talk to people, He is in charge. When we spend money, He is in charge. When we minister to others, He is in charge. When we get an idea, He is in charge. When we worship, He is in charge. When we teach, He is in charge. When we have fun together, He is in charge. When we extend grace, or forgiveness, or mercy, or help…He is in charge. In every way, in all things Jesus is in charge because He is the head…but everything and everyone is also under His feet. See how complete He is? All encompassing. All consuming. All in all.


 

Thank you God for teaching me.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Exceeding, Great, Mighty Power

Eph 1:19,20 "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,"


 

This is the last thing on this list that Paul wants these people to know, to understand, to be enlightened about…"the exceeding greatness of God's power toward us who believe". This was written to the church in Ephesis, but it was not written just for the church in Ephesis. Some believe that this was what was called a circular letter that was to be distributed to a bunch of churches. So this was probably being addressed to all believers in that area. But not only that, this is addressing all of "us who believe".


 

Now I have to remember who Paul is writing about. I have to remember the resource that Paul is addressing. He is talking about God. He is talking about the almighty, awesome, ruling, powerful Creator and Sustainer of everything. He is talking about the great I AM. He is talking about Jehovah, the eternally existing One. All the resources of God, all the magnitude of God, all the power of God is given to us. The word "toward" actually is better translated "to us".


 

And what is that power like? What did that power do? How did God ultimately display this amazing power? By the resurrection of Christ from the dead and His ascension to heaven. Sure, God's power was demonstrated at creation. And yes, it has been demonstrated through the nation of Israel and in the many miracles that Jesus did. But the ultimate demonstration of God's power is the living Christ. This is exceedingly great power. This is hyper power. And Paul wanted these people and he wants us to know it. God wants us to know it. God wants us to experience it.


 

How? Changed lives. That is really resurrection power. To see total transformation. How? Victorious lives. Overcoming sin. Overcoming temptation. Overcoming trials.

How? Miraculous lives. Seeing God do things that can only be explained by God. Things happening that go far beyond anything we could ever manufacture.


 

May I know, understand and be enlightened about all of this…my hope…my inheritance…my power in Christ.


 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

What We Need to Know

Eph 1:18 ", the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints," NKJV


 

I have to keep going with these verses. Paul prayed that these people would get their brains around their faith. And this is what he wanted them to know: God, their hope, their inheritance, God's power.


 

First God. He prayed that they would be given wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. This is primary. If we miss this we miss everything. God wants us to know Him. He wants us to grow in our knowledge of Him. In short, He wants relationship. Paul said it in another letter: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." (Philippians) He said that he counted everything loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ. This is it. If we have to concentrate on anything in our Christian life, this is it. Know Jesus. Grow in our relationship with Christ. Paul knew this and this was a big deal prayer request for him on behalf of this church.


 

Then look at what else he wanted these people to know: Their hope, their inheritance and their power.


 

Their Hope. In my profession I have found this truth: People need hope. It is tough to live without hope. Now as a lawyer, people think that hope is found in money, or a job, or health. There are times that I have an opportunity to share with them that real hope is found in a person: Jesus. Money and jobs and health will all eventually fade…Christ never will. Real hope, real purpose, a real future is found there and nowhere else. Paul said that he wanted them to know the hope of their calling. Their hope was not in what they did. Their hope was not in what they decided. Their hope was found in the calling of God in their lives. Their hope was found in the divine invitation of God to embrace salvation. If we have this, we have eternal hope.


 

Their Inheritance. Paul said that this was glorious. This is the magnificence of what we will eventually receive. I know that I have no clue, but Paul wanted these people, and God wants us to get a clue. I think that if we concentrated on this, if we spent time talking about and investigating what our inheritance is then we would not be so enamored with the junk that this world has to offer. There is no way that this world's property, or power, or money, or thrills can compare with God has for us. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man all that God has prepared for us." It is so astounding. Just wait.


 

Their Power…tomorrow.


 

Friday, November 4, 2011

A Thinking Person’s Faith

Eph 1:17-20 "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places," NKJV


 

Whew! There is a ton here. This may take a few days to digest. Paul just got done telling the Ephesian church that after he heard of their faith and love, he thanked God for them and prayed for them. What did he pray? Here it is:


 

That God the Father, the Source of all things, the Maker of all things, the Ruler over all things would give them something. Here is Paul going to God and he is making a specific request…that God would give these people wisdom, revelation, knowledge, understanding, enlightenment in the most important thing to know…God, our hope, our inheritance, and His power.


 

Wisdom. This is full intelligence. This is the ability to use knowledge in every situation. This is, in fact, supreme intelligence that can only come from God. Just think if this happened in the church. Paul wanted this for the Ephesians, and I am sure that it is something that is available today as well. Is this outside of our reach? Is this just pie in the sky stuff? I don't think so. Paul talks about it. Solomon talks about it. James talks about it. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…" "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…" "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy". This is attainable stuff. Since that is the case, we should, I should be going to God all the time and begging for it…and He will give it.


 

Revelation. I think that this word scares some people. They think it is something spooky and impossible to get in this time period. Not so. This is just a disclosure of the truth. This is just an understanding in knowing what is right. If this is not attainable today, then we might as well hang it up. God wants us to know the truth. "You shall know the truth (revelation) and the truth will set you free." It is simply God revealing His truth to us. And how does He do that most often? His word. I can't expect to grasp the truth unless I am in it. That is where God reveals His truth. "Sanctify them in Thy truth, Thy word is truth."


 

Knowledge. This is precise and correct knowledge about everything ethical and divine. This isn't just smart. This is knowing how God thinks. That is powerful. That is amazing. That is something that Paul prayed that these people would have. That is something we all should pray we have.


 

Understanding. This deals primarily with the mind. That God would invade these people's minds, that God would invade our minds and allow us to grasp, to understand what He is like and what He is up to. Man, if there is ever a time to crave this in history, now is the time. God gives us your mind so we can know how to live our lives in this crazy culture.


 

Enlighten. This is to illuminate. To bring to light. To say: "Eureka…I get it!" This has to do with instruction, with teaching, with informing. Paul was saying to these people: "I am praying that you get it. That you will learn…and then maybe take it one step further and in your instruction you instruct. In your teaching you will be able to teach, in your informing you will be able to inform.


 

I kind of get the idea that Paul wanted these people to really grasp what they had. He wanted them to get not just their emotions, but their brains around the magnitude of what they had in Christ.


 

The point: Christianity makes sense intellectually because of an intelligent God.


 

There is a ton here…and more to come.


 

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Faith and Love

Eph 1: 15,16 "Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:"


 

I grab two things here: The church at Ephesis and Paul. What that church was like and what Paul did.


 

What was the church at Ephesis like? They were people of faith and love. They had faith. Now this was not just the faith that saved them, this was something more. It was a conviction of truth in who Christ was. I am thinking that it was the ability to speak intelligently and forcefully into the lives of people. I am thinking that it was the strong conviction that Jesus came, lived, died, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and was interceding for them. Now I don't know this for sure, but I think it was more than just: "Yes, I put my faith in Christ". It was the ability to defend the truth of the Gospel. And they were faithful. This word for faith also means faithful…steadfast…consistent. They were not up here and down there. They were not dependent on emotional experiences to sustain them. They were steady. They endured. They were reliable.


 

They were also people of love. This was not a superficial love. This was not just a warm fuzzy. It was agape love. It was an in spite of love. It was a sacrificial love. It was an unconditional love. No matter what, no matter the situation, these people loved all who were saints. This church loved everyone who had put their faith in Christ. It didn't matter whether they were Jew or Gentile. It didn't matter whether they were slave or free. It didn't matter whether they were male or female. They loved them all.


 

No wonder Paul said that he did not cease to give thanks for them. No wonder he prayed for them. This was a special group of people who consistently lived what they believed. It would seem that any leader would be thankful for people like this, those who practiced and shared their faith with confidence and loved others with the love of Christ. Yet he continued to pray for them. And what he prayed is dynamite. (That is in the coming verses.)


 

Now I wonder about us. I wonder about the church in the 21st Century. I wonder about the church in the United States. I wonder about the churches in Lake County. I wonder about Lake Ridge. Can someone say about us that we have a strong, unyielding, consistent, open faith in Christ? Can others see our sacrificial, unconditional, persistent love for believers? "By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another." Can they? I think that if they did, we would not see our society going down the sewer.


 

And then I wonder about me? What about me…do these two qualities characterize my life? A strong, defensible, faithful faith in Jesus, and an evident love for others?


 

I know this: I have a long way to go. We all do.


 

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Sealed

Eph 1:16,17 "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. "


 

Here is the order: Hearing, trusting and believing, salvation, sealing, receipt of our inheritance, God's glory. When God established things before the creation of the world, He made sure that all of these things would occur in His children's life. First we would hear. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." In order for God to give us the gift of faith, we need to hear His word. "How shall they believe in whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher, and how shall they preach unless they are sent." This hearing thing is huge. People have to hear. We heave to hear the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation. It is how God does things.


 

Once we hear the good news of salvation, something happens. Trust develops. Faith develops. Belief develops...and salvation comes. Thank God that at some point in time in my life someone opened their mouth and spoke the good news of truth to me. God used this to work in my life and save me.


 

The cool thing is what comes next: Sealing. Guaranteeing. The Holy Spirit is insurance. This is totally a mystery that we will never figure out until we get to heaven, but when we believe God places a part of who He is in us...the Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit is there to teach, and remind, and convict, and direct, but He is also there as a promise of what is to come. Once the Holy Spirit is in the believer, He will always be there. He will never leave. And He is the guarantee of our future inheritance that we have in Christ. Since this is a guarantee, since this is a sealing, it cannot be broken. It cannot be taken away. Frankly, once saved always saved. This salvation cannot be lost. It cannot be taken away. It is guaranteed. Our inheritance is guaranteed. God is not fickle. He does not lose what is His. And all who know Him will receive their inheritance...forever.


 

And he is glorified.


 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

God’s Purpose…In All Things

Eph 1:11,12 "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."


 

Here is that predestination thing again.
That is not what is hitting me this time, though. Rather it is God's purpose that is making an impact. The word for counsel also means purpose. So, "according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the purpose of His will." The thing that is ringing in my ears is that God has a definite purpose and plan. Everything that is done throughout all of history is being done, is being worked out according to that plan. Nothing will stop it. Nothing will derail it. No stupid decision that I make, or that my wife makes, or that the President of the United States makes, or any other leader throughout all of time has made or will make will impact the purpose of God. He "...works all things according..." to his purpose.

I love this "all things" concept. This is an all encompassing God. I just read in verse three that He has blessed us with "...every spiritual blessing...". Every is a big deal word. "All things" is also a big deal word. Everything is being worked out based upon what God wants. This reminds me of Rom 8:28 "For we know that all things work together for

good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Amazing, there is that "all things" and "purpose" concept again. But that is God. He has "all things" under His control so that His ultimate purpose will prevail. And He invites us to be a part of it. Wild. "We have obtained an inheritance" "That we who first trusted in Christ". His purpose, His will, His desire is to be worked out through and for His people. No matter what we see going on around us, no matter what ugliness happens in the world, we can rely on the fact that all things are coming together according to God's plan, and we have part of it. The part? "To the praise of His glory." It seems like we have seen this before. Try verse 6 "To the praise of the glory of His grace."

God's ultimate purpose: His glory. Man's chief end: To glorify God. And when it is all said and done, God alone will be receiving the glory from all things because He is the One who planned it all.