Ephesians Chapter Four Part One

The bottom line for Paul’s concern in this fourth chapter of Ephesians is the unity of the church. (note: all scripture is in blue)

I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service,

You have been called by God to serve (in one way or another) others. All of God’s born again believers have been called into some kind of ministry on behalf of God’s church for its edification. Most of you know what your calling is. If you don’t know, ask God (in faith) to show you, and He will.

But here he’s talking to you regarding your lifestyle. As Jesus said “Love God and love your neighbor”.  Understand and do this and all will be well. Also, since the early church was made up mostly of born again believers, the Apostle is assuming that he is talking to people who have made some progress in the idea of walking in love.

The degree to which you have (through faith) apprehended God’s love for yourself will reflect in your ability to walk in love towards others.

Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.

The above describes, pretty well, what God likes to see in His children’s lives.

Be careful about any form of pride in your attitude. We are clearly told in Romans twelve “not to think too highly of ourselves”. If you are aware of pride in your life, be quick to go to God with it and ask truefully for help.

The thing is, God means this and will take action to eliminate your pride if it begins to run away with you. Your life circumstances and who knows what else will come along and do a good job to pull you back to reality. Believe me because I know… you will not like the way God will deal with you.

But also, whenever you find and recognize that it is God Himself dealing with you, there is a ‘background’ joy that can appear because you know it is His love for you that is His motivation.

Give everyone the respect and relate to them in meekness. Be unselfish with gentleness and with patience. Value others, giving them a lot of slack and special allowances because God’s love for you has produced love for the brethren in you. You love them. It’s like, when you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend that you love you’re easy on them, because of your love. As I’ve said before, if you are born again, God’s destination for you is Love. 

Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

Now Paul is very serious about this. We should guard and keep the harmony and oneness that God’s Spirit provides, bound together by peace. Notice that you don’t produce harmony and oneness or peace. It is already provided by the Spirit. Don’t allow it to be disturbed.

At this point, I need to show you something out of First Corinthians. Sort of a teaching within a teaching if you will. For there is a price to pay for strife- which really has it’s effect by disturbing the peace which is given by God’s Spirit.

1st Corth 1:10 amp 

But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments.  

Paul entreats the church in Corinth by the name of the Lord Jesus (Paul is very serious) that all of the church be:

In perfect harmony

In full agreement in what they say

That there be no dissensions

Or factions

Or divisions among the church

That in the church all be perfectly united

United together in all common understanding

United in all their opinions

United in all their judgements

How different do Paul’s words on Unity appear when contrasted with what we usually find in the modern church in America today.

Our next post on Ephesians will show the high spiritual cost to the church when true Unity is lost.

Until then, may God’s grace and favor rule over you and yours. May all be framed and filled in your life with Love-

 

Ephesians Chapter Three Part Two

So far in this epistle we have learned that you, being born again are therefore in Christ And because you are now in Christ are one of God’s children. On top of that, you were actually known by and picked out by God as His child in Christ Jesus before the world was created. The Cross of Christ was here waiting for you. Because of His Cross you are now  before God always. You stand before Him in your spirit, as one with Christ. Amazing to say the least. You stand always before Him (God) covered in His Love completely and absolutely. You are clean and above reproach before Him because of His grace alone. Nothing you can do can remove you from this condition because it is not based on you in any way except your faith. You have this faith in the first place only because of His Grace which He poured out on you when you believed. Make sure you never stop believing.

You will have doubts. The thing to do (as Joyce Meyer said) is to doubt your doubts. Hang on, you do have the power and ability.

So I ask you not to lose heart [not to faint or become despondent through fear] at what I am suffering in your behalf. [Rather glory in it] for it is an honor to you.

The fact that Paul was in jail was something that could cause people to lose heart and fear. After all, our natural nature would assume that something must be wrong if a man so strong in the New Covenant as Paul was could be imprisoned. Paul of course, realized that prison was the will of God for Him in order to further his ministry unto the Gentiles.  So, he included the paragraph above so they would understand.

 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ],

Paul is about to pray for the Gentiles (that would be you and I by the way). He desires for this prayer to be ours because we are being built up together with some Jews into one new man.

I exhort you to not only listen to this prayer, but to also pray it for yourself-

I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with His mighty power in your inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

What we know is not enough. We need to also ask God to strengthen all of us with His mighty power. This strengthening needs to occur in your spiritual inner man. Where the Holy Spirit Himself indwells you. 

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love. Who could have thought that such a thing could be possible for someone like you and I? Has this ever been taught? I hope someone reading this could say yes. It would seem to me that if this is part of His gospel it must be a very important part. The idea that Christ would actually make His permanent home in your heart and  that we could have our roots deep in love. While we stand founded securely on love. Founded securely on love with roots deep in love. We are on love and deep in love. We all need love. Here then is Godly love waiting for us all. Why wouldn’t this prayer be the most important prayer we could pray for ourselves as well as others?

That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];  [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

Ask God for the power, rather ask God that all His children have the power, to be strong to apprehend and grasp, the experience of all the enormity that makes up the love of Christ. This is so much more than mere knowledge. This means you’ll be filled and flooded (love this word) with God Himself.

I’ve said it before, that our destination once we are born again, is love. Well here it is. God is sure to hear and answer this prayer because God is love. This prayer is in here because it reflects God’s will. Agree with God now and make this your will also. Watch then, what happens next. Pray this and pray this and pray this.

Now to Him Who, in consequence of the action of His power that is at work within us,

is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams.

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

I’ve split the last paragraph into three thoughts. They should be self evident.

Thank you so much for reading this post. I hope you’ve heard what the spirit has wanted to say to you. May your desire for love yield much fruit for you, your friends and family. May God bless all.

Mcfalger