Knitted together (Ephesians 4)

We must remember this book is written to those new in the faith. Chapter 1 reveals who is the head and how we are connected. Chapter deals with grace and the privilege we now have because of  our Lord. In Chapter 3 we learnt that the Father all along had this plan for us so we would not doubt but be confident in faith.

Ephesians 4 : 1 - 6

In this portion of scripture we start by learning again how we are to live and love one another in unity.  As Christ-Followers we are reminded to walk in the character of our Lord. 
We walk in humility, we walk in gentleness, we walk in long-suffering, bearing one another in love, and living in peace with one another.

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.

Ephesian 4 : 7 - 16

In this portion we learn of the spiritual gifts for the church to function. 

Apostleship
Prophecy
Evangelism
Pastoral care
Teaching

We as the body of the church will function in them for when we all function in the gifts needed we are then equipped as the body to do the work of the Lord. 
In these gifts as the body we are encouraged, we grow in unity for they knit us together and we all learn to play our part as we exercise according to what we have been given.

Ephesians 4 : 17 - 32

In our Lord we have been freed from darkness, as we learnt in Chapter 1 we are now reconciled with the Father. We are new people or new creations. In this portion we are reminded to let go of old habits. It takes time and commitment to learn new habit.
As always i prefer we concentrate on the new habits for if we know them the old fall away. 

We speak only in edification to others.
We are kind to one another.
We are tenderhearted with each other.
We are forgiving of one another.

No longer a mystery (Ephesians 3)

After reading this chapter you cant help but be even more grateful to the Lord. All of mankind is included. 

Ephesians 3 : 1 - 13

Paul first declares that he has been appointed to the Gentiles by the Father, and he has the message of the mystery that has been revealed in his age. That Christ death includes all mankind not just the Jews. We are also reminded that the purposes of the Father have been fulfilled in our Lord, that in Him the Father's plan to bring salvation to all mankind from the beginning. In Genesis Abram became Abraham the father of all nations and it is him that is recorded through scripture as the father of faith.
Then the Gentiles are reminded that they too can have confidence in the faith, being new to the faith and not Jewish. 

Ephesians 3 : 14 - 20

In chapter 1 the apostle prays for spiritual wisdom, in this chapter again he has a prayer for us. He prays for spiritual wisdom. He prays that we would have faith in our Lord, trust Him and know that we now belong to Him. He prays that we may be filled with our Lord to the full. That we may realise just how much we are loved and valued as the children of the Father.

The chapter ends with an incredible salutation, to the Father.

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.

By Grace in Peace (Ephesians 2)

It is by grace that we have been saved and it is through our Lord's blood that we are reconciled with the Father and have peace with Him.

Ephesians 2 : 1 - 10

We lived and walked dead to the Father but through our Lord we have been made alive. Our Father in His rich mercy and because He loved us saved us. He not only graciously saved us but He raises us up and sits us with our Lord in the heavenly places.

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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Our Lord came to this earth to fulfill a mission, and He left us with a mission. Part of that mission is good works in His name and for His Kingdom. In the other books of the Bible we journeyed through we learnt that motives are important, good works can be for self gain. Since we are the craftsmanship of the Father we should always be aware of our motives as we exist for nothing else but Him.

Ephesians 2 : 11 - 13

We should never forget what price was paid to allow us to enjoy the relationship we now have with the Father. By our Lord's blood we who were once so far away from the Father now have access and relationship with Him, a price paid by Him who knew no sin but became sin.

Ephesians 2 : 14 - 18

Our Lord is our peace.
In our Lord we now have reconciliation with our Father.
We sometimes forget that there was enmity between us and the Father. Our Lord purchased the peace we now have with our Father. You see our Lord when He was on earth had access to the Father by the Spirit. We also now have the same privilege that by the same Spirit we now can access the Father.

Ephesians 2 : 19 - 22

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Listen to how now we are partakers with our Lord but Him at the center of it all, the cornerstone of our faith.

In Christ (Ephesians 1)

I thought we would start on a new book Ephesians. Our unity as Christ-Followers is with our Lord Jesus and we are also called to unity with one another. We the church (Followers of Christ) are the display of the Father's glory chosen by the Father for that purpose.

Ephesians 1 : 1 - 14

Our Father chose us in Christ our Lord before the world was formed, and in our Lord we have all spiritual blessings, in our Lord we are blameless and  holy. Without us being connected to our Lord none of this is true. It is with Christ in Christ that we can claim any of this.
Our Father created us with the plan to reconcile us to Himself through Christ our Lord.

In our Lord we have been redeemed, we are out Father's inheritance, we also have been forgiven and we are made wise and knowledgeable. This our  Father did for His own pleasure. One of the greatest comforts that we gain when we are in relationship with the Lord is that we learn that we are our Father's pleasure and delight through our Lord Jesus. This kind of security and confidence gives us the boldness and courage to serve and glorify the Father through our Lord.

Ephesians 1 : 15 - 23

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: 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, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

In our Lord the Father demonstrated His power but He gave all that power to our Lord, the head of the church. 

Let us always remember in all that is only in our Lord and through our Lord that we can bring glory to our Father.

Waiting for you

The Father is waiting for you

I have been enjoying women’s cricket showcased by the televised world cup tournament.

I have to admit i always thought their matches would not be as aggressive or nail biting as the men’s can sometimes be. I apologise they are just as good and gripping.

I only know this because I took the time to watch, google some of them and pick a few who I can look out for should i have an opportunity to watch.

Today’s post is to ask you the sceptic, to you who has declared it’s not for you.

Just like i took time to find out more, I ask you to find out more. Give our Lord a chance and you won’t be disappointed.  The Father is more than you can ever imagine and a relationship with Him changes your whole life. He is a kind, loving, gracious and merciful Father and one of the benefits of being in relationship with Him is peace no matter the circumstance.

I know it will be a challenge but i ask you to find a community of Christ-Followers, a church near you. Just go in, it’s OK if you sit at the back but I ask you to be willing to listen and find out. Ask for a Bible and a perhaps a short daily devotional to start you off in the habit of reading the Bible. This is essential for in your journey to knowing the Lord the Bible is your source and starting off little by little helps. It’s a big book and as you grow you will learn to value it as you let it sink in.

God our Father loves us all(including you) so much that He gave his only begotten son that we would not perish but have eternal life with Him. This you will learn and understand as you spend time with Him in His Word. There is no pressure we all journey as we understand but the more we make time and take time the more we understand.

Unfortunately but perhaps fortunately Christ-Following is not a solo journey. The next step is to join a lifegroup, or cell-group, that is a group of Christ-Followers often living close to one another meeting once a week. In this meeting they share their lives and learn together about the faith. This is important because you will learn early on there is no perfect follower of Christ and we are all learning as we journey together in getting to know our Lord and serving Him. In this group you build relationship with others on the same journey you are on. In this setting the Bible is also discussed and explored by the group. Remember we all start with zero understanding so don’t be intimidated if others are further along than you.

The Father loves us all the same and wants us all in the same way.

Only the Father knows (2 Peter 2&3)

2 Peter 2  :  1 – 17

In this chapter Peter starts to warn us about false teachers amongst us. This book was written to believers making them aware.  We then are also being warned for all scripture is for our correction and wisdom.

If you remember in our study of the books to Timothy we were warned about leaders who are greedy, and exploit the ministry for personal gain. In this we are also reminded that should we fall into the clutches of such leadership our Father is able to rescue us, just as He did with Noah and Lot. The nature and character of falsehood among as believers is also described in detail.

2 Peter  3  :  1 – 17

Every now and then you hear or read about people predicting when our Lord coming back or when the earth will end. We are warned against these teachings for they are a waste of time. We are not told to be ignorant of the signs around us but we are warned against making the when and predictions our focus.

Only the Father knows when.  A 1000 years is like a day to Him and a 1000 days like a year.

Time is in the Father’s hand don’t stress, remember we learnt in Chapter 1 that He has provided for all we will need for life and godliness. Only through Him can we learn truth not through man.

In Control(2 Peter 1)

Once again this book is dedicated to warning us about false representation of the gospel. Truth is a revelation from the Father.  In my research I also found that it was written before the books to Timothy by Paul which we started with in exploring the Word together.

2 Peter 1: 1-15

All we need to engage in life and godliness is provided for by our Father’s divine power.  We get all this provision when we get to know Him, when through faith we turn our desires to the Father only.

Premeditated acts of goodness,

 learning to know the Father through His Word,

exercising discipline,

persevering and learning to love one another; 

these not only grow our faith but bear fruit in our lives. We are also made aware that by these actions we avoid stumbling blocks in our faith.

Peter goes on to write that he wont stop reminding the believers of these things even though he knows they know them.  This he says is because in these acts our Lord is poured again and again in our lives.

2 Peter 1: 16 – 21

In this passage Peter reminds us of the moment of transfiguration, where the Father again declared to all that our Lord is His Son and in Him He is pleased.

None of scripture is from man’s knowledge or intelligence, but it is truth revealed by the Father.  Through His Spirit the Father will move men and women across all generations and races to tell and speak of His Truth.