Ephesians 5 reminds us that the Christian life can only be lived to the full by the power of God the Holy Spirit at work within us. He is the fountain of life 5:18 but more about that next time!

Because we are children of our Heavenly Father our love for others should be like Christ’s love for us when He gave Himself a sacrifice for our sins, this was like a precious perfume to God. We are to imitate Jesus as we love God and others our witness for the Lord will also ascend as a precious perfume unto Him 5: 1-2.

We are in the world but we are no longer of the world, Jesus was a friend of sinners but He never condoned sin. We must not avoid contact with the world or else when would we get opportunity to share the gospel? But we must never condone bad behaviour inside the church fellowship or outside of it. We must be on our guard against foolish talk and gossip indeed any behaviour that is opposed to what we hold dear as Christians 5: 6-7

Christians are no longer spiritually dead because they have been raised from death to life Romans 6:1-11 however it’s possible to be spiritually asleep, we need to wake up! to who we are already because of our union with Jesus Christ. In the parable of the wheat and the tares Jesus said that while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares amount the wheat and went away. The devil loves darkness but we are called children of the light so the promise remains we need to wake up! never forgetting our new identity in Christ, and Christ’s light will shine upon us 5:11-14 and Psalm 119:105.

Memory verse

“Awake,O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14 N.L.T.

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Pause For Thought

We are all called to the work of the “ministry” ministry is not the sole domain of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, or Pastors and teachers. These ministries are appointed by Christ Jesus Himself to equip each of us so that we can carry out the good works God has prepared for us before we had any choice in the matter! 2:10 However God has given us free will which is ours to exercise in the matter of our willingness or reluctance to play our part in the work of Christ’s ministry 4:12 and 16.

When we become “born again” we were given a new nature and the Holy Spirit came to dwell in our reborn spirit. Although we a have new nature we don’t automatically always think good thoughts and always express a right attitude. There must be a spiritual renewal of our thoughts and attitudes this comes as we trust God to change us. We will find our minds being renewed as we read the scripture and as we submit ourselves to the prompting of the Holy Spirit 4:22-23.

We must not allow anger to control us, we must deal with anger quickly so it does not give the devil opportunity to cause disunity and hurt. In His sermon on the mount Jesus warned about anger Mathew 5:22 . Instead Jesus said we are to love our enemies and do them good Mathew 6:44.

If the Holy Spirit is grieved it is often because we fail to treat others as Christ has treated us. The Holy Spirit will never leave us Hebrews 13:5. However if we cause grief to the Holy Spirit He will withdraw the sense of His presence from us. We should always endeavour to Love and forgive others just as Jesus has forgiven us. Luke 11:4

A verse to remember

You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness – righteous. holy, and true. Ephesians 4:24 N.L.T.

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The apostle Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison, he didn’t let anything stop him from serving the Lord, Do we have the same attitude as Paul ? He didn’t wait for ideal conditions he didn’t waste any time but made the most of his time in prison 4:1

When we first heard the gospel and who is was that shared it with us we should never forget that it was God himself who chose and called each and every one of us to be His children. To walk worthy of the call upon our lives means that we should follow Jesus in everything but especially in our love for each other. The “Call” is not the call to service but the call we responded to when first believed in Jesus Christ 4:1-2

I believe there is a clear difference however between the first Apostles and those of today. It was the first century Apostles who with the Old Testament Prophets were inspired to write the Bible. Today’s Ministers operating under the same anointing are forbidden by God to add to the cannon of scripture, this is for our safety as everything has to be tested by the Word of God. The five fold ministry is Christ’s gift to His Church to equip Her for the work of God.

Memory verse

Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians chapter 4:2

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The mystery was the purpose of God’s will that was hidden in former times but has now been revealed in Christ for our understanding and application 3:3

In His perfect timing God revealed what previously had been hidden that Gentiles would receive an equal share with Jews in the body of Christ 3:6

As Gods children we have a personal role in spreading the good news to everyone, in so doing we are making known the wisdom of God in all its variety to the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms. We must never forget that we are seated together with Christ over every wicked thing in the heavenly places 3:10

We have the fullness of God because of Gods love and our union with Christ, and through the empowering of the Holy Spirit even though we may not fully understand it yet! 3:19

Memory verse

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. Ephesians 3:20 N.K.V.

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Pause for Thought

Sometimes it is helpful to remember what a hopeless condition we were in before we first believed. Now because of Christ we are partakers with all Gods people of Gods covenant promises and we are included in the commonwealth of Israel. Once we were far off but now we have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ 2:12-13.

In Christ there is no longer Jew or Gentile but One new Man created in Christ Jesus. Only New Creations are Kingdom people! Praise the Lord for His amazing grace! 2:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

We have been built on the foundation of the Apostles and of the prophets I think this refers to those who were inspired as they wrote the bible. The New Testament Apostles and the Old Testament Prophets. Present day apostles and prophets do not add to scripture or build new foundations for the church these are already built 2:20 There is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in which He continues to fit us all together!

memory verse

By His death He ended the whole system of Jewish Law that excluded the Gentiles. His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new person from the two groups Ephesians 2:15

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Grace has been described as Gods Riches At Christs Expense, or Gods undeserved mercy, the bottom line is Grace describes the undeserved kindness of God in freely giving salvation.

We are given salvation as a free gift when we put our trust in Jesus, but we sometimes forget that faith itself is also a free gift! 2:8

We have been made alive “together” with Christ, He is our salvation. We are raised up “together” with Christ, this describes being partakers in the resurrection. We are seated together in heavenly places in Christ, this describes our Christ given authority over the enemy 1:21. These three “togethers” illustrate our union with Jesus Christ 2:5-6

Christians know that salvation is a free gift not earned by good works 2:9 Yet many think they have to prove they really are a Christian by doing good works. Now I’m sure God is not against good works it’s just that He wants us to do the good works He prepared in advance of us even before we were made alive in Christ 2:10

Gods works are full of Gods life, Dead works are the things we decide to do and void of the life of God!

Memory verse

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

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Wisdom and revelation have a dual purpose they help us as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ and in understanding Gods power and purpose in our lives, the Holy Spirit is the source of both 1:17-18, Colossians 1:9

Revelation is never to be thought of as “mystical” this was how the Gnostics acted when they claimed special or secret revelation knowledge that only the initiated could understand. The Holy Spirit does indeed give us revelation as these verses show. But these insights should never be considered equal to the Holy Scriptures 1:17-19, 2 Peter 1:19

Jesus Christ is seated in the heavenly realms “far above” every power, ruler, authority, and every principality, this refers to the unseen defeated enemies who continue to manipulate human behaviour on this earth. Because we are in Christ we also share in Christ’s authority over these powers 1:20-21, 6:12

Jesus Christ is the head of His body the church that is the physical presence of Jesus Christ He fills His church with gifts and blessings. We must ask ourselves are we fully expressing Him who himself fills everything

Memory verse

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future He has promised to those He called. I want you to realise what a rich and glorious inheritance He has given to His people Ephesians 1: 18 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Paul wrote Ephesians while in prison in Rome around A.D.60. Ephesians was probably passed on to a number of the churches in the area. In this letter he unveils the “mystery” of the Church. Gods secret intention is revealed. The body of Christ expressing Christ’s fullness on the Earth by the bringing together of both Jew and Gentile in one body. Christs church is to proclaim His victory over the principalities and powers. That in the fullness of time Jesus Christ will bring all things together in heaven and earth in Himself 1:7-10

Paul says he is writing to those who are in Ephesus and “faithful” to Christ Jesus must always be the object of our “faith”. Can you see a difference in faith and faithfulness?

It comes as quite a shock when we first read that God calls us saints! but when we realise this is now true of us because of what Jesus Christ has achieved, He made us holy through His salvation. We are called saints “holy people” the moment we are born again. We are holy yet we are still being made holy, this is sanctification 1:1.

Here are some of the “spiritual blessings” you were “graced with” when you put your faith in Jesus. you were chosen, without blame 1:4, predestined and adopted 1:5 accepted 1:6 redeemed and forgiven 1:7, and sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of your inheritance 1:13-14.

Memory verse

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Ephesians 1:3 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Phoebe probably was acting as courier for Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, this chapter was a sort of introduction for her to Pricilla and Aquila and the other church leaders.

We can see from this chapter that the Christian church consists of individual’s from every race and background Paul commends each one for serving the Lord in what ever way He has called and equipped them 16:25-27

Some of these Christians were slaves which meant that they were limited in what they were able to do for the Lord. but the Holy Spirit was not limited! in that they became better slaves bringing glory to Christ.

Behind all the names Paul mentioned there lies a story. what would be the story behind your name if you were to be mentioned in dispatches?

We must not be taken in by smooth talk or glowing words, As we study God’s Word trusting Him to reveal the truth we will not be easily fooled and will be able to identify and keep clear of those who bring division.16:17-20

Paul ends his letter by reminding us that the only way we can remain firm is by believing his gospel. the truth about Jesus Christ.The best way for anyone to keep the truth of the gospel is to preach it 16:25

Memory verse

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:20 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Another Christian should be the first port of call when we need Godly counsel, especially seeking out someone who knows the scriptures and how to apply them with the help of the Holy Spirit. 15:14

Paul’s preaching was in the power of the Holy Spirit, indeed he only reported those things that Christ did in him the evidence of the source of his ministry was the mighty signs that confirmed that he was preaching the full gospel. 15:18-19

Our prayers are far more effective than we sometimes think, Paul evidently thought so he “begged” his readers to join with him in prayer warfare that his mission to Jerusalem might be safe and fruitful. 15:30 Because there is no distance in prayer, praying to God for another Christian means we not only encourage them but we can enter into the fight of faith with them. 15:31-32

memory verse

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing 1 Thessalonians 5:11 N.L.T.

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