Ephesians...

Good evening my readers, I hope this week is starting out to be a productive, happy, faith filled week! I know mine sure is. Tonight, I want to discuss what the Lord has put on my heart all day. The Book of Ephesians; not any one particular scripture but the entire book. So, I read it, then read it again but the second time I wrote down some of the important scriptures that the Lord was calling my heart to. They are exactly what I needed to read and to have on my heart. So here we go…..

Ephesians

Paul is the author of Ephesians, and he wrote this letter when he was imprisoned in Rome. He wrote it to the believers in in the church Ephesus. It discusses the “Church as Being the Body of Christ” and “Unity”. Unity as a family and as fellow believers. Paul starts out the letter with a powerful verse.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united in Christ.” Eph 1:3

Isn’t that beautiful and so powerful?! I mean, just….WOW!!! We are blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms! Because we are united in Christ. We have access to the heavenly realms because of our Father Christ and His Father, God (also our Father). I read a devotional recently that talked about the realms of heaven. The author stated that there are three (see 2 Cor 12:2), the first is the atmosphere that surrounds the earth. Then there is the heaven in the stars and the universe the author went on to compare the angels to the stars (Job 38:7), and that we are to be reminded of them when we see the glowing stars. Then there is the heaven that we are use to hearing about in Church and the heaven we are promised being a follower and believer of Christ.

I believe this to be true, the three heavens. I have always loved nature and the peace that it brings, I can really find Christ in those beautiful peaceful moments, seeing His creations! I have also always been fascinated with the universe, the vast expanse of what He created, and it just keeps going and going, I can see the angels working in the stars, they are beyond beautiful and is all unexplainable except to God. Am I right? Then there is heaven heaven….the one we are all working toward to get to. We have the blessings of all the spiritual realms through Christ. And I 100% believe in that, this world can appear to be so ugly at times. The war, human trafficking, disease, murder, rape, cancer, death, financial distress, marital distress, loss of children, or a loved one. All the worldly problems that we face daily. But we can find peace amid it all when we truly lay it all at His feet and give our problems and worries to Him. We must trust Him. Of course, that is easier said than done in times of trouble, but that is where our spiritual maturity comes back to us time and time again. We can find our own personal heaven in Him and through Him. I believe that Paul’s depiction of this is so powerful and beautiful. It sets up Ephesians perfectly.

The next verse that caught my attention (and I am sure you have heard it before)

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you cannot take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Eph 2:8

God saved us by sending Christ to suffer and die for us, atoning for all of our sins and creating the new covenant with man. Paul goes on to say,

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life which is corrupted by lust &deception. Instead, let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Eph 4:22-23

Since we have been born anew in Christ, we are to leave our old life behind. Baptism is essential to a new Christian, or any Christian wanting to renew themselves. When we are dipped under the water it symbolizes your old life, when you come up out of the water your new life begins. The old life has been washed away and we are made anew in Christ and we are to follow the instruction God has laid before us, in the Bible.

This next verse is one I keep handy to look at!!

“do not sin by letting anger control you. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives the devil an opportunity.” Eph 4:26-27

This couldn’t be any more true and is essential to know and understand. The devil never sleeps, his minions are always at work, trying to get a way into us at any available opportunity. And anger is probably the easiest way for him to get ahold of us and to keep ahold of us!! We are supposed to live as Christ did, with love for all, peace for all, forgiveness for all. God doesn’t say, “well maybe I’ll forgive you tomorrow, that is if I feel you deserve it.” Can you imagine if that is what God would say to us!? Thankfully that is not the way He operates; He forgives us as soon as we repent. He still loves us no matter what we have done. He is full of unconditional love and never-ending grace. The Lord instructs us to, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Eph 4:32

God equips us with all that we need in life. All we have to do I ask and to continuously seek Him. Paul gives us probably one of the most important passages in defending ourselves against the devils schemes. I am sure all of you know it.

The Armor of God

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we fight against unforeseen enemies & evil rulers.” Eph 6:10-11

We are to equip:

· The Belt of Truth

· Body Armor of Righteousness

· Shoes of Peace

· Shield of Faith

· Helmet of Salvation

· Sword of the Spirit

“Pray in the spirit at all times.” Eph 6:10-18

I have taught my son about putting on the full armor of God, and that we have to equip it every day, sometimes multiple times a day!! There are times we put it on together, I love it!! You should too, especially when you are having a difficult day. Physically put on the armor of God and watch and feel as the days trouble melt away and the Peace and strength of Christ flows into you. It is such a beautiful and overwhelming feeling. One that I love to experience.

Paul wrote a lot of important information in Ephesians. All whilst he was in prison too!! Have you ever met anyone so happy while being in a dire circumstance? He really had the holy spirit in him and speaking through him. He reached people he would not have otherwise if he weren’t imprisoned. He used his circumstances to still preach the good news of Christ. How beautiful and inspiring. Paul is an inspiring apostle, its no wonder Christ chose him to spread the good news.

In Ephesians Paul also instructs us on how a family and husband and wife are supposed to function, but that is another topic, for another time…