Intentional Life - 3

    Remember, God does not divide our lives into different areas, he wants all of it. He wants our home life, our work life, our spiritual life, and even our recreational life to be directed by Him…and bring praise glory, and honor to Him. He has a plan and a purpose, He has a will and a desired outcome for every area of our lives…but it must be our desire, our will, and our intention to seek it, find it, and do it! 
    It doesn’t matter how spiritual you act in church. It doesn’t matter how much money you give. It doesn’t matter how often you attend. It doesn’t matter who your friends and family are. It doesn’t matter if you’re a member of a church. What matters is your answer to the question; “Do you really know God? Are you intentionally living the life he desires for you? The full, and abundant life? Or are you allowing circumstances, people, money, position, or anything besides God, dictate your life and your time for you? 
I believe that living that way is the main cause of stress in our lives. We have all things that we “intend” to do but don’t or we believe we can’t…and they are a source of stress. We need a change! We need to take control! 
    John Maxwell has said “Change is not a once and for all kind of thing - if only it were that easy. No, changing ourselves is a lifelong process." Not only that, but we must be intentional about how we want to change. I find that we often make two mistakes in this area. First, we often sit around and wait for God to change our circumstances. Second, we wait for circumstances to change our attitude and our behavior. Is it any wonder that some people change so little? Most people fail to see that life is moving on at a rapid speed. None of us have all the time we'd like to have…and, in fact, we are not getting any more…so we need to take control and make the best of the time we have. Trust me, just a few years ago I was 25 and now I am 65…Someone once said that the only person who really wants change are the wet babies!
    If you see an area you need to change, CHANGE NOW. I'm not talking about cosmetic changes. That's where we change our talking but not our thinking; we change our environment instead of our expectations; our appearance instead of our attitudes; our business instead of our behavior; and our biases instead of our beliefs.
    Rather than intentionally changing ourselves, too many of us are “wisher’s”…content with dreaming about the results we desire from life and wonder why they remain just that - “dreams, and wishes”!
    If we desire God’s best for our lives…If we desire to live with less stress…If we desire to change the results we are getting in the eight areas of life mentioned…Then we must intentionally do it!  It is a process, but we have to start somewhere. God operates in an intentional manner and I believe our lives will be better if we do also. Remember…If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got!
    If we want to relieve stress and take control of our lives, then we need to find our purpose or our priorities in each of the eight areas of our lives…then produce a plan that will help us discipline ourselves to intentionally take control of those things which will produce results that will amaze us!
    We need to define the areas of stress in our lives, which are usually our real priorities in each area that we would like to see happen, but never do, because we have allowed everything and everyone to set our agenda, day in and day out!  We need to seek and find those undone priorities in each area of our lives such as our families, our work, our church, our physical health as well as our financial goals and dreams, and most of all we must make the decision to do something about taking control of this life that God has given us. We need to intentionally seek it, find it, and do it.
     We need to first understand that we are talking about our present and our future, we can’t change the past, but, we can change the future from this day forward. And, we can change every important area of our lives from this day forward, in ways that we never thought possible. We can get excited about life because we know we serve a God who is able to do “exceedingly, abundantly, more than we could ever ask, think, or dream!  His Word says “with God, all things are possible” the key word being “with”. That’s called a positive faith. It’s a partnership!

Intentional Life 2 
Psalms 139:13-16 and  2 Peter 1:3-9

     I went to the dictionary to find the technical definition of the word intent. This is what I found:

INTENT = a determination to act in a certain way; a Resolve…
RESOVLE = fixation of purpose; Resoluteness….
RESOLUTENESS = firm determination marked by boldness and steadfastness.

    With these definitions, living an intentional life could be stated this way: An intentional life is one with purpose. The purpose is followed with a bold and steady determination until the desired outcome is realized. To make it easier to remember, I settled on this phrase: An intentional life has purpose, discipline and results. The emphasis being on results!

    Before we can jump into what I will simply define as the “eight areas of priorities” in life, we must first ask “Why is this an important issue”?  The answer to that is simple: It is really about each one of us taking control of our lives and determining our own happiness and well being, rather than allowing our lives to be controlled by other people, circumstances or forces. If we do not have an agenda for our lives, one will be provided for us—either by the events and circumstances of life itself, or by other people.
     To live intentionally means that we are taking control and determining how we will live our lives and spend our time, energy and resources. Without such a plan, you could say that just the opposite is true;  “An UN-intentional life neither seeks nor has purpose, is very undisciplined, and will yield little if any – and usually the wrong results!”
     I want a lay a foundation for intentional living by considering three facts;
( 1.) God has a purpose and plan for every life. And, that God’s plan includes all areas of life.  What I mean is this; we live compartmentalized lives. Each part being separate from the others…and yet at the same time being interconnected in the way that each affects the other…as they all affect our whole being…like interconnecting circles.
    I have taken the liberty of breaking them down to eight categories: We have our (a.) Home or Family life (b.) Spiritual life (c.) Work life or Career (d.) Our  Recreational life, (e.) Church life; (f.) Intellectual life; (g.) Financial life; and finally, (h.) Our Physical/Health and well being. But, one thing we need to know is that with God, there is no distinction between the differing areas of our lives. He’s concerned with all of it. He is concerned with the physical, mental and emotional well being in every area.
(2.) Not only does God have a plan for our lives but God has a will for our lives. Although they are closely related, I believe there is a slight difference. For instance, it was God’s will for me to become a minister of His Word …how and where His will is carried out in my life is His plan.
    God has a plan for every life, however, because God has given us free will, His will is not always accomplished in our lives. That’s because - Our wills determine whether or not God’s purpose is accomplished in our lives. There are people who never accept Jesus as their savior…(which is God’s will). There are Christians who remain spiritually immature (and never reach the potential of God’s plan for their lives.) There are people who waste their entire lives…despite our greatest efforts….and because of their free will.
    GOD NOT ONLY HAS A PLAN AND A WILL, BUT…
(3.) God has an intended outcome—that man would enter into a loving relationship with HIM.  This plan started in the Garden of Eden but was frustrated when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command not to eat from one tree. Sin entered the world of mankind and ever since that time, God has worked to bring man back to himself; first with the Jewish people, then with the Gentiles. But it was Jesus who came to bring us back to God once and for all. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son; that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. If this verse were the only Bible we had, it would be all we need!
    GOD HAS A PLAN, A WILL AND AN INTENDED OUTCOME. NOW THE QUESTION IS…What does all of this mean to you and me?

Intentional Living
Scripture - 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  For this very reason, make every effort to “add” to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to know-ledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive….”

    This is what I call “information”. Whether it’s from God’s Word or any other book, or any other source it’s simply information. Even a recipe card is a piece of information. We receive information constantly, daily, if not a minute to minute basis. That being said;

#1- How we comprehend and process that information will determine our reaction to it.
#2- Our reaction then, in turn, will determine whether or not that information affects our lives.
#3- The extent that it affects our life will be the determining factor as to how we live, and 
       perhaps even how long we live.
On top of all that, How we react to certain information will be influenced by the value we place on the information in conjunction with how much value we place on the area of our lives it affects. For instance; if we read or hear information concerning a health issue, the value we place on the information…and the value we place on the area of our physical health, will determine how we process it and whether or not we apply it. The problem, in my opinion, is that our value system is way out of whack and out of balance.
    For example; We may “say” that we value our physical health, but what are we doing with the information we have received over the years as it concerns our own personal health? What kinds of foods do we tend to eat? How much do we really exercise?  And what does that really say about our values? (Believe me when I say that I am looking in the mirror…) Again, we may say that we place great value on family and our relationships but how much time and energy do we really give to building strong, loving relational ties through the wealth of information we have available to us? Or, we might say that we place great value on our faith, but what are we doing, with all the information we have, to cultivate and grow our faith?  As it concerns the scripture here; I think we must ask “Are we making any effort at all to add anything to our faith?” I think you are getting the point. We need to motivate ourselves to be more intentional.
    There is some information that, even though good and true, goes against the grain of our will which I call our “wanna”.   Somewhere in the process it gets thrown out or purposely misplaced because even though true…and we know it’s the right thing to do…we just don’t “wanna” do it! 
    There is something scripture says about that…The first is that those who know what is right and true but refuse to apply it are “fools”…Someone once said; “Every time I feel like exercising, I lie down until the feeling goes away!” (I think it was me!) Even though we know exercise is good, and that we should, we just don’t “wanna”!..We have a “Lackawanna!” – That was the name of a Street in my home town.
    Remember I said that even a recipe card is information. God’s Word is much like a cake recipe. Everything you need to bake a cake is in the recipe. If you follow the recipe, and add all the ingredients - in their proper balance or quantity, the end result is a delicious cake. But, suppose you wanted a perfect chocolate cake and decided to leave out the chocolate…What would happen?  Or suppose you think there are too many ingredients, so you leave out the eggs! - You don’t “wanna” add eggs! - Eggs are just too messy! What would the result be?  What if you added too many eggs or too much of any certain ingredient? It surely would certainly change and in some cases, even spoil the outcome. The same is true in life. Life must have a proper balance of the right ingredients!
    There needs to be a balance…But, for some people, their balance is out of whack. Let me explain; Some are so obsessed with exercise, they neglect their relationships. Or, they are so obsessed with religious or church or spiritual things, that they get out of balance in other areas of their life. Listen, Everything…Everything…. EVERYTHING!…we need for LIFE… and GODLINESS…says the scripture, but then again, it is only inform-ation…But, the value we place on it will determine whether or not it will affect our lives. 
    Many Christians know and believe the Bible to be truly the “authoritative Word of God”… yet, it doesn’t seem to affect some areas of their lives…Why? It is all about “intentionally” doing some things that will determine the course…and may even change the course of your life. It’s about doing something, even if we don’t “wanna”!  It is really about each one of us taking control of our lives and determining our own happiness and well being, rather than allowing our lives to be controlled by other people, circumstances, or forces.      
“IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE…YOU WILL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS GOT!”
        Let me conclude by saying this; When my wife bakes a “crazy cake” I know exactly what it is going to taste like…I know the texture…I know the outcome…Why? (because the recipe doesn’t change.) The information is always the same… and, as long as she applies the information in the right balance and quantity, it’s “crazy cake”.  What is the goal of baking a cake? The goal is to enjoy it or eat it! 
    Now, let me ask this; “How many here have applied the information; put all the ingredients together in the right balance and quantity; and your goal was to eat the whole cake yourself?  No, you bake the cake so others can share in the joy of the outcome!  Matthew 5:15  “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to every-one in the house.”  There is not only personal benefit in the right application of information, but there is mutual benefit as well. I think that’s pretty good information!

Colossians 4:7-18
“What’s In a Name?” (Some lesser known Biblical people.)
(continued...) 

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.”

    We have already met Epaphras in the opening verses of this scripture. He was the evangelist who first began the church at Colossae. He had probably carried the gospel to Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis, when Paul was living in Ephesus, teaching the word of God. Epaphras also had a pastor's heart. He labored in teaching and in prayer to bring these Colossian Christians to maturity.  It is interesting to remember that in the letter to Philemon, Epaphras is called a "fellow prisoner" of the apostle. That may indicate that he too was arrested by the Romans when he came to visit Paul and was chained as well as the apostle. This would explain why he was unable to return to Colossae.
    With Epaphras is linked the most faithful of all of Paul's associates, Doctor Luke. In Second Timothy, the apostle's last letter, Paul writes, "Only Luke is with me." All the others had left, but Luke remained faithful to the end. To this beloved, faithful brother we owe both the gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Only eternity will reveal the enormous debt the church owes to Luke for his faithful labors to the end.
    By contrast, the name Demas is mentioned here without comment in a kind of eloquent silence. He too was from Thessalonica and probably was part of that original band of interns who traveled with Paul. Evidently he labored well for awhile for Paul seems to have taken him to several places. But now, when Paul is in prison and all his associates are in danger of being arrested themselves, it is apparent that Demas is beginning to drift. Paul says nothing good or bad about him at this point, but later, in his letter to Timothy, he writes, "Demas has forsaken me having loved this present age, and has gone back to Thessalonica." This young man has become famous (or infamous) in Christian history as the one close associate of Paul who would not hang in there. He left because he loved the attractions of the world and abandoned his faith as a result.
    The theme of home churches is introduced in verses 15 and 16. "Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea." It is likely, that this person was a woman who owned her own home. Perhaps she was a businesswoman, or a wealthy widow. In Philippi, we are told Paul and Silas stayed in the home of Lydia, a wealthy widow who was a "seller of purple."
    We do not find any church buildings described until the third century, so that for at least 250 years Christians met in homes, and when they met they read the Scriptures. That is what Paul exhorts them to do here. His letters were already widely shared, as we see from this note. He himself makes the claim in I Thessalonians (one of his earliest letters) that what he preached was not his own ideas but it was "the word of God" which came to them. Thus they read and studied these letters; analyzed and applied them. This reading formed a great part of their worship service, just as it does in our churches today. You can imagine how this letter to the Colossians was discussed in the church at Colossae, It must have opened many long hours of discussion!
    Paul now sends a message to an individual in the church. Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work [or, the ministry] you have received in the Lord." In the letter to Philemon we learn that Archippus was most likely the son of Philemon. He had a certain ministry given to him which he was neglecting, so Paul reminds him to "complete the work." No one knows what that ministry was, but the important thing was that he had a ministry, as do all Christians! If not a specific ministry, scripture says that we all have been given the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18)
    Paul closes with this word in verse 18, when he takes the pen in his own hand: “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” That word, "Remember my chains," was written two thousand years ago to people who have long since gone. Paul himself has been in glory all these centuries, and yet these words still have meaning for us. It is well for us too to remember his chains, to think of this mighty apostle who was hounded, persecuted and oppressed everywhere he went. He was resisted and thrown into jail in many places. He was beaten with rods and stoned on occasion. Even as he writes these letters he does not find it easy to do so. He does not sit down in a comfortable room with his word processor. He must dictate them to an educated slave, and then painfully, because he suffered from poor eyesight, write with large letters his name at the close, lest the letter be treated as a forgery. Down through the centuries this letter, along with others, has transformed the history of the world. It is a tremendously important document. Yet it is well for us to remember the cost of having these scriptures in our own hands. "Remember my chains." We ought always give thanks for this apostle who kept the Lord always at the center of his thoughts and his ministry.
(Taken from notes on personal study of Colossians.)

Colossians 4:7-18
“What’s In a Name?” (Some lesser known Biblical people.)

    In the letter to the Colossians we come to a list of names of associates and friends of the apostle Paul. A closer look will reveal characteristics of life in the early church and what they thought to be important. In verses 7-9, mention is made of two of the disciples whom Paul took along with him in a training experience.

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circum-stances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”
    We should be grateful for these two men mentioned because they brought this letter from Paul in Rome to the church in Colossae. They may not have realized what a treasure they were carrying, or how monumental this letter would prove to be, but how grateful we are for their faithful obedience.
    Tychicus was one of a band of young men and women to accompany Paul on much of his ministry. There were no seminaries in those days, so training was done in the most effective way of all---through continual, on-the-job, personal relationships. This involved taking people along on journeys and teaching them what was important and how to respond to situations. Who comes to mind concerning this? (Jesus)  Four years in a seminary today could not possibly equal one or two years of this intense, personalized training with the apostle Paul himself. Tychicus, who was from Thessalonica, traveled widely with Paul. He was part of the delegation chosen by the churches of Macedonia to accompany the apostle when he brought to Jerusalem the special offering that had been collected for the poor and needy saints there. Later, Paul sent him to Ephesus to take Timothy's place in that city, and possibly also, as the letter to Titus suggests, Tychicus was sent to Crete.
    Notice the three descriptions used by Paul which give insight into how he related to these young men and women who accompanied him on his ministries. He calls Tychicus "a dear brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant." In the first description, "a dear brother," we can see something of the ties of love that bound the apostle to these young men, and bound them to him as well. You cannot read the New Testament without seeing in these greetings that Paul was a very warmhearted man. He loved those who worked with him and showered them with praise and encouragement.
    He also calls Tychicus a "faithful minister." Here Paul assesses the quality of his work. The chief virtue of a Christian at work is his or her faithfulness. In the letter to the Corinthians, the apostle writes that God has called us to be stewards of the mysteries of Christ. He goes on to say, "It is required of stewards that they be found faithful." That is what God values more than anything else. He does not ask us to be popular, or brilliant, or widely accepted, but he does ask us to be faithful in whatever ministry, task, or assignment he has given us. Tychicus obviously demonstrated that quality of faithfulness.
    The third phrase, which describes Tychicus as a fellow servant, speaks not of the quality of his work but of the equality of the workers. There is no hierarchy in the early church. That has been imposed upon the church and borrowed directly from the world. Paul never refers to himself as a pope, or even as a bishop. He always speaks of himself as a fellow worker, a fellow servant. He is an apostle (authorized spokesman), an older brother, and sometimes calls himself a spiritual father, yet his authority was one of love and of knowledge. He treated them with courtesy and respect as equals. He shared with them the vast knowledge of truth he had, yet always on a basis of personal equality. As a result he gained their respect and their voluntary submission to his desires.
    The story of Onesimus is related in the letter to Philemon. Onesimus was a runaway slave. He apparently took some of his master's money with him when he left. Somehow he found his way to Rome and came in contact with Paul. The apostle himself probably led him to Christ. Paul now sends him back to his master, with a beautiful appeal to Philemon, "If he has done anything wrong, charge it to my account!" He asked Philemon to welcome Onesimus as a brother in Christ and restore him to his household. It is likely that Onesimus is being sent back to Colossae to be a minister among the slaves who probably made up half the congregations of these early day churches. By this means the gospel penetrated all classes of society. Jesus himself said that his task as living Lord was to place people where he wanted them to be. "You have not chosen me," he said to his disciples, "I chose you and I appointed you (the word means, 'I strategically placed you') so that you may bear fruit in my name." Along with Onesimus, the forgiven slave, another name; given in verse 10, highlights the Christian virtue of reconciliation…“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas.”
      That reference to Mark takes us back to the first missionary journey of Paul, recorded in the thirteenth chapter of the Book of Acts, when the apostle, together with Barnabas, was sent out from the church at Antioch. They took with them a young man named John Mark (who is referred to in Acts 13 as John). We know from other references that John Mark was the son of a wealthy widow who lived in Jerusalem. He was probably a little spoiled, so that when things got tough on the journey with Paul and Barnabas Mark wanted to go home to mama. And that was what he did, abandoning the work. Later, when Barnabas wanted to take him on the second missionary journey, Paul resisted and refused to allow Mark to go along. Barnabas instead took Mark to Cyprus.
    What a wonderful thing it is to find that now, years later, Mark is with Paul in Rome. Somehow he has won his way back into the apostle's good graces. It may well be that by this time he had finished the Gospel according to Mark, which he wrote under the tutoring of the apostle Peter, with whom he had ministered for many years. Now Paul sends him to Colossae with this affectionate word of appreciation, and instructions that he should be welcomed there. Aristarchus and Mark are linked in verse 11 with another name; “Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.” Here are three Hebrew Christians---reading between the lines here we see a reminder that Paul's too was raised a Jew.
    Aristarchus, who came from Thessalonica, probably became a Christian under Paul's ministry in that city and Paul refers to him as a "fellow prisoner," which suggests that he had been charged by the Jews with some crime and was actually awaiting trial along with Paul.
    A section on the theme of faithful prayer and intercession brings before us the names of Epaphras, Dr. Luke, and Demas who we will look at tomorrow…

Thoughts on Prayer - 2
Colossians 4:1-6

Speaking to others about God:

As we study verses 5-6, we’ll gain some insight into how to speak to others about God. This is where prayer dovetails with evangelism as we discover that our ability to impact people is directly related to the intensity of our intercession in prayer. Billy Graham used to say that the success of a crusade was the result of many people and many churches praying for many weeks before the event.
    Verse 5 focuses on how we walk. In verse 6 the emphasis is on how we talk. We must balance our life and our lips. Let’s look first at verse 5: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”
1. Be wise. To be wise in the way we walk means that we’re careful not to do anything that would open the door for others to point a finger and make it difficult to share the gospel. Often this simply means that we need to remember that those who don’t yet know Christ are watching us. When we pray, God will give us open doors. Let’s not shut them by our behavior. Will Rogers once said; “Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.”
2. Make the most of opportunities. We are all given many opportunities every day to share our faith and to be salt and light in our world. Try to accomplish as much spiritual good as you can in all your relationships.
3. Be gracious. Verse 6 challenges us to guard what comes out of our mouths. Our wise walk should lead to wise words: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” It’s important that we communicate with words of grace when we speak with those who don’t know Christ. Unfortunately, many times believers go off on people who are living in sin. Or, we let loose about a moral issue in our culture, forgetting that there may be someone listening who is caught in that particular sin. When we’re filled with anger and rage and self-righteousness, people feel judgment, not hope.
4. Be appetizing. Our conversations need to be seasoned with salt. Salt enhances flavor and makes food appetizing. “Salty speech” in Paul’s day referred to witty and clever discussion. It was the opposite of being boring or monotone. When we talk about our faith, how can we not be interesting? In one of our Growth Groups we’ve worked on giving our testimonies. One of the common themes in almost all of them is a funny story or interesting comment that peaks the interest of the hearer. Salty speech makes people thirsty for more. We should be talking about Christ in a way that makes someone’s mouth water! What is it about your story that would cause others to listen?
5. Be ready. When we choose to mix it up with people who don’t yet know Christ we need to be ready to give them an answer when they ask us some questions or make comments. Another way to say it is that when we are gracious and appetizing, people will want an explanation. This is a natural process that will happen when people see Christ in us. Peter put it this way in 1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Some comments I have personally had were – “I don’t like church, it’s so boring!” Or, “I have been (hurt, insulted, ignored, snubbed, etc.) in church before.” I don’t know, all this spiritual stuff is kind of scary!” If you think about it, we can all probably relate to what they are saying. Be prepared to give an answer…For some people “church” is not the answer, but maybe a home group or some other non-church setting would be.
    In all of these things we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our thoughts and our hearts and our speech, as we speak to God about others and as we speak to others about God.

Thoughts on Prayer
Colossians 4:1-6

Our text falls naturally into two parts.
· Prayer: Speaking to God about people (verses 2-4)
· Evangelism: Speaking to people about God (verses 5-6)

Let’s look first at how to speak to God about others. Verse 2 answers the question, “How do we pray?” We discover three helpful guidelines in this verse: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
1. Pray with devotion. The word, “devote” means to “adhere firmly to.” It implies unrelenting persistence and is the opposite of “hit and miss.” It brings back to mind how steadfast the early church was in Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” In Luke 18:1, Jesus told his “disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
    Being devoted in prayer is similar to cheering on your sports team, regardless of whether they are winning or losing. Paul is saying something quite simple: Keep praying. Don’t bail. Don’t give up. Be faithful. You may have dry times and days when you don’t know what to say, but keep praying anyway.
    To be “devoted” to prayer also means to be “ready at all times.” In Colossians 4:2. Paul is saying, “Always be ready to break into prayer, and do it instantaneously, at all times.” That’s precisely the same admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where we’re exhorted to “pray continually.”

2. Pray with watchfulness. Verse 2 continues by saying that we’re to be “watchful” or awake when we pray. Paul told the believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 to be “alert and self-controlled” as the time approaches for the Lord’s return. This exhortation brings to mind the words of Jesus to His disciples the night before He was crucified in Mark 14:34, 38: “Stay here and keep watch…Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Watchful prayer provides the spiritual fortitude to face down temptation. Because Peter could not stay awake when he was supposed to pray, he gave in to temptation and denied Christ a few hours later.
    Consider the difference between two military sentries. One is guarding an Armory here in the U.S… The other is guarding a platoon in Afghanistan. Which one is probably going to be more attentive? The one who realizes he’s in a battle. Friends, because we’re in a spiritual battle, we need to stay on high alert at all times. 1 Peter 5:8 paints a real picture of the war we are in: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

3. Pray with thankfulness. We should never pray without thinking of at least one thing to thank God for. Gratitude is a stimulus to prayer. When we see answers to prayer, we will desire to pray more. He’s given us so many things. Listen to how Paul puts his own preaching into practice in the Book of Colossians;
· 1:3: “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.”
· 1:12: “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”
· 2:7: “Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
· 3:15-17: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

4.  Ask for open doors. It’s amazing to me that while Paul is under house arrest he doesn’t ask for prayers for his release, or for better food, or anything else like that. He simply wants an open door for the gospel message. In Scripture, a door is an opportunity, or ability. In 1 Corinthians 16:9, Paul says, “a great door for effective work has opened to me.” In 2 Corinthians 2:12, he writes, “I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me.” Jesus opens and shuts doors for us as we seek Him in prayer.

5.  Ask for clarity. Once God opens a door, it’s essential that we have the ability to proclaim the mystery of Christ with clarity. The goal of evangelism is to make the cloudy clear. As we’ve learned, the mystery is that Christ has died for the sins of the whole world, and that when we receive Him by faith, He comes to take up residence in our life as Colossians 1:27 states: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”…It’s the mystery of transformation power!

Tomorrow we will look into verses 5-6…

“Walk in the Light”
Ephesians Study - 6:10-18

    Well, I'm still in Ephesians, and in Chapter 4 verse 1 Paul calls us to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received”…And, from verse 2 through the end of the letter, chapters 5 and 6 - he tells us what living such a life entails.

    We have talked about living within the unity of the Spirit which consists of the seven “ones” of the doctrine of the true church of Christ; ( One body; one Spirit; one hope; one Lord; one faith; one baptism; one God.) … Paul says that WE are to “make every effort” to keep this unity… Where else have we heard these words? “Make every effort” …. “to add to your faith…”…( 2 Peter 1:5 ) “goodness; knowledge; self-control; perseverance; godliness; brotherly kindness; and love”… “For if you do this in increasing measure, it will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive”. I think Paul and Peter were on the same wavelength as it concerns the way our attitudes and actions affect our witness; which in turn affects the whole church, the body!
    Beginning at verse 17 of chapter 4 - Paul becomes very abrupt; very matter of fact; very blunt… “So I tell you this, and INSIST on it in the Lord”…“You must no longer live as the Gentiles do!”…Today we might say “as the world lives” ( What “world” am I talking about? Both the system and the people of the system who are without the knowledge of God and Christ.)
    Let’s pick it up at Verse 22-  “put off your old self” and “put on the new self”…Who is doing the “putting off and putting on?  We do!
How do we “put off the old self”? How do we “put on the new self?” What does it take?
Verse 25 - “Therefore” ….
1.     Put off falsehood…. Or pretense.
2.     In your anger, do not sin…This is a part of self-control; being able to control anger.
3.     Do not steal…but work that you may have something useful to share. (Unselfish motive)
4.   No unwholesome talk. (Only things that build others up - and those who are listening!)
5.   Do not grieve the Holy Spirit…(all of these things we need to “put off” grieve the Holy Spirit!)
6.   Get rid of; bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, and every form of malice…(Instead, be kind,   compassionate, and forgiving. )
7.   Be imitators of God, and live a life of love. (Ask the question - Would you say that in the resence of God? Would you do that in the presence of Jesus? Well, guess what, we do!
8.   NOT EVEN A HINT of sexual immorality…How much is O.K.? - Or of impurity, or greed, (they are improper) Nor; obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking…(out of place for a Christian.)

Now, let’s combine verses 8-10 with 15-17  “For you were once in darkness, but now you ARE light in the Lord. Live as children of light… and find out what pleases the Lord.” … “Be very careful then how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is”.

    Let me repeat that first part again- “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” There is a contrast to who we once were and who we are now. It is not a contrast of where - but who. Some perhaps did not formerly walk in darkness but were in darkness nevertheless. Now, it’s not that we are in the light but we ARE the light. Those are powerful words.
    Barnhouse put it this way, ‘When Christ was in the world, He was like the shining sun. When the sun sets, the moon comes up. The moon is a picture of believers, the Church. The church is to shine, but not with its own light. It shines with reflected light…Our light does not originate with us’. Our job, like the moon, is to reflect light. IF we do not then things really can be dark.”
    When is the only reason the moon does not reflect the light of the Sun? Only in an eclipse, when the world gets in the way. We stop reflecting light when the world blocks our way.
Verse (9) – “for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. The light has fruit within it. That which naturally develops out of its existence. Three are mentioned by Paul and three which are quite opposite of the things mentioned earlier;
1) GOODNESS: This refers to ‘moral excellence’. It is the same word Paul uses to describe a ‘fruit of the Spirit’ in Galations 5:22. It is best described as ‘love in action’.
2) RIGHTEOUSNESS: This is the idea of living in integrity before God and man. Paul told Timothy to ‘Pursue righteousness’(1 Timothy 6:11) and John said “whoever ‘practices righteousness is born of Him’ (1 John 2:29)
3) TRUTH: The absence of deception or falsehood or hypocrisy!
    I once heard about a man who went golfing with a foursome that included Billy Graham. After the last hole he was asked what he thought about Reverend Graham. He angrily responded, ‘I don’t need anybody like Billy Graham ramming religion down my throat’. It was later understood that Billy Graham had not spoken one direct word to this man about anything religious, but his very life reproved and convicted the man.
“Live a life worthy”…“Imitate God”…“with not even a hint of these things” says Paul.

“Live worthy”
Ephesians - 4:1-6

    After giving us doctrine, and praying that we would be able to truly grasp it, he now exhorts us to live it! Paul wants to be sure that we know how to back up our beliefs with behavior. He simply says; “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”. That calling is a “relative” term; if you have been called to be a Sunday school teacher, then live a life worthy of that which you teach. If a Pastor, then live worthy of that which you preach. If a lay Christian, then live a life worthy of your call!  (The Word says we are called to do good works; we are called to fellowship; we are called to service with our talents and gifts; we are called out of darkness into the light; we are called according to His purpose – eternal, general, and personal or specific.) Though the call may be different, the life or lifestyle is the same!

    Paul does not write this while living in a mansion on the hill, driving a Mercedes, wearing silk pajamas… He does not exhort us out of his knowledge…but, out of his experience and practice. In other words, Christianity is not a “do as I say” belief…it is a “do as I do” belief.  In fact, Paul even says this in 1^st. Cor. 11:1 - “follow my example, as I follow Christ”… You better be pretty confident of your example to say that!
Two things I want to point out;
1. The word “worthy” means “having the same weight or value” … If we place great value on the things he has taught us from chapters 1-3 then we ought to place that same weight or value on our lifestyle…
2.  Notice that Paul tells us to “walk” worthy…Not to “run” as to go too fast, so as to stumble or wear ourselves out… And, not to “crawl” - as to go too slow and not grow and mature, so as to become a bad example…But, to “walk” - which gives the vision of going “forward” with progress and purpose…to attain a goal. 
O.K…. So, in light of all this, he urges us to live a life or a lifestyle that includes;
Being humble and gentle. Which is the opposite of - “proud and harsh”…a “know-it-all, who handles people in a “rough” manner. Maybe we need to think of this “box” we call the church, as having the word “fragile” written all over it!  Romans 12:3 says “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought”…(“conceited”)  “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you.”  We could probably talk for hours on this one thing...because this is where it all must start. Also - and this goes along with the first one - “be patient, bearing with one another.” You know, I think our impatience all started with “Jiffy Pop”!  Ever since Jiffy Pop, life has been going at a pace as never before. I can hardly remember what life was like before my computer, my cell phone, and a microwave! In our impatience, we expect people to change things over-night that took decades to develop. By the way, “Jiffy pop” is also a red-neck fire alarm!
    Then he says; “Make every effort to (keep) the unity of the Spirit.” Notice the word “keep”…What does that mean? (If we are to “keep” it, it already exists)…We are not told to bring it into existence or try to create it, we are to keep it, or maintain it. However, in order to do this, it will require a diligent “effort” on our part!
    This unity is “of the Spirit”, which means it is not natural or human made…it is supernatural, produced, created, and powered by the Holy Spirit. Here is a truth you can put in the front of your Bible;   “Any church that denies the supernatural power and character of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit - ceases to be the church and becomes simply a religious organization or society; bound together by natural ties and traditions; that is “powerless” beyond themselves.”
Paul then goes on to tell us what this “unity” involves; it is a unity of seven elements;
1.     There is “one body” - Paul, in the 12^th chapter of Corinthians goes into greater detail about the body, but notice that Paul did not say one “organization”. The essence of a body is that it consists of thousands of cells with one mutually shared life, and it is the sharing of life that makes it different from an organization. A body is produced by the extension of one original cell growing until it becomes a fully matured body that shares that original life. Now, the “one body” that Paul speaks of is that which is “connected” to the supernatural life, character, and power of Christ. (ie, the “vine and the branches.)
2.     There is “one Spirit”. The one great eternal, invisible, power behind the church - the body.  The strength of a church never comes from numbers! (repeat that to yourself)…It never has.  The prophet Zechariah was once confronted with a great mountain that God said would become a plain. When Zechariah wondered how this could be? God said; “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord”. And, this Spirit of God is the same no matter where the church - the body of Christ exists. This is why the church is not dependent upon many or few, but on the one Spirit. 
3.     There is “one hope”.  This is expressed hundreds of times throughout the Bible; it is the “hope of glory”; the hope of the raptured, resurrected church; the hope of heaven; the hope of eternity. While there may be differences in viewpoint here, it’s the same expectation.
4.     There is “one Lord”. Phil 2:9 - “Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord”… Acts 4:12 - “There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved”… Jesus said “No one comes to the Father except by me.”
5.     There is “one faith” in God and God alone. “Those that come to God must first believe that He exists.” One faith, that begins with Gen. 1:1… And ends with Rev. 22:21…. Faith in “a god” is not faith at all! I have heard many a person say they have faith that there is “a” god…That won’t cut it!
6.     There is “one baptism.”  Here, there seems to be much disunity. However, the disunity is with the “how” not with the “what”. Baptism is the symbol of our dying to self, and being given new life by the infilling of the Spirit of Christ…no matter how you get wet! 
7.     There is “one God and Father of all”…who is over all, through all, and in all”. All things exist because of Him, and all things come from Him, and all things point to Him…It’s all about God. “I am the Lord Thy God, and Thou shall have no other gods before me”…Rule #1

“Mysteries made known”
Ephesians - 3:1-13

    The Apostle Paul had come into his life one of the greatest revelations of God, the secret that the love and mercy of God was not just for the Jews, but for all mankind. God was reaching out the Gentiles, the pagans of the world with the message of hope through Jesus Christ. This was not only important to Paul, it also was important to the Gentiles. Verses 6-8, 6 “This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
    This seems rather academic to us today, but in Paul’s day this was the issue! It was almost inconceivable to the Jews that Gentiles would be allowed to join them in sacred worship of Jehovah…much less any kind of fellowship.

    Imagine what would happen if a large group of Jehovah’s Witnesses were brought into your congregation and allowed to be trustees and teachers and elders…and that you were to fellowship together with them! This is exactly what the Jews were experiencing. This prospect of Gentiles being accepted by God was repugnant to them and was partly responsible for keeping many Jews from embracing Christianity. However, this was just as hard for Jewish Christians to accept. That is why we are told that they were placing strict rules on their fellowship like requiring that they be circumcised…and eat certain foods.
Let me ask you this, “What kinds of things do we impose on those whom we will accept into our fellowship?
    The mystery is important to Paul, it is important to the Gentiles, and it was Important to the angels. Verses 9 and 10 - “and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
    Did you know that God is educating the angels through the church? Angels are created beings just like we are. 1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us; “Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”
    Even the angels are curious about God’s plans because there are parts of what God is doing which are not revealed to them just as they are not revealed to us. God’s plan concerning the church was hidden in the beginning, now Paul is making it known and with the knowledge comes responsibility. I cannot even begin to explain the spiritual realm of things that is all around us, I simply believe it because God’s Word says it exists; and I can see its effects upon people. To that extent, if angels are watching and learning from the church, how are we doing? What impression is the church giving?
    There are two kinds of books that always sell well: mysteries and love stories. The gospel is both. It is the story of God’s love and the mystery of God’s plan and purpose from the beginning of time. A “mystery” in God’s Word is something that unaided human wisdom cannot grasp, but which God makes plain through the revelation by His Spirit. Unless we can see with spiritual eyes, we remain spiritually blind.
    Who is ‘the church?’ Paul did not say, “His intent was that now through the wonderful and talented ministers, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.”… NO! He said this is the church’s mission! “Well, we can’t tell anybody the good news if they won’t come to church,”…That old hand exercise we learned as kids - “Here’s the church, here’s the steeple, open the door & see all the people” - is WRONG! The church is the people! The church is all of us, working together, to bring this good news to everyone.

“Before and After”
Ephesians - 2:1-10

    We live in a world that’s always looking for a change for the better. Hundreds of commercials flood our televisions that advertise products or methods for a healthy body that guarantees life changing results. The familiar still shot of before & after have become popular in showing satisfied results of particular products and exercises. The before picture shows how a person appeared in the sight of others that didn’t bring happiness, but amazingly, the after shot shows results that seem to change their whole outlook on life. People are always looking to change their current situations, financial status, or outward appearances. But people have become so caught up in changing things that only help the outward appearance, that millions remain spiritually dead because the inner man has not received a spiritual conversion…the inner man remains unchanged. I think that we sometimes allow Satan to confuse us, and we forget and fail to know and understand the new creature we have become. Satan wants to keep us bound by confusing us about our identity. He wants saints to think they’re sinners and sinners to think they’re saints!
    There were two brothers, well known around town for their crooked business dealings and underworld connections. They were a mean and cold-blooded as you could imagine. One day one of the brothers died, and the surviving brother wanted to give his dead brother a funeral fit for a king. He called the funeral home and made all the arrangements, then he called the town’s minister and made him an offer, as they say, he couldn’t refuse. He said, "I’ll give you $10,000 to put that new roof on the church if, in eulogizing my brother, you call him a saint."
    The minister agreed. The whole town turned out for the funeral, and the minister began: "The man you see in the coffin was a vile and wick-ed individual. He was a liar, a thief, a deceiver, a manipulator, and a reprobate. He destroyed the fortunes, careers, and lives of countless people in this city, some of whom are here today. This man did every dirty, rotten thing you can think of. But compared to his brother, he was a saint" (Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes, 759).

    In Ephesians 2:1-3 Paul is writing to the saints in Ephesus reminding them of their condition before they trusted in Jesus Christ. He gives them - and us - three sobering facts concerning every person without Christ.
First, The person without Christ is alive physically but dead spiritually. Verse 1 - There are three kinds of death:
1. PHYSICAL, the separation of the spirit from the body;
2. SPIRITUAL, the separation of the spirit from God;
3. ETERNAL, the everlasting banishment from the presence of God in hell. Described in Revelation as the “second death”.
Spiritual death is the past condition of believers and the present condition for everyone else who are not yet “born again”.
He goes on to give us three reasons why this may be true;
1.     “when you followed the ways of this world”
2.     “and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air” ( Satan ) Why does he say that? If we are not following God, we are following the ways of Satan, even if we don’t know it or want to admit it.
3.     “gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following it’s desires and thoughts” ( Selfish, self-pleasing, self-indulgent ) "the desires of the body and of the mind" … the passions of the flesh.  
    The word he uses for "desires" is really the word will. It carries with it the thought of an unbreakable resolve, a determination. Perhaps the nearest English equivalent today is the word "drive" or passion.
    That is the subtlety of this. What is wrong with eating? Why, nothing! If you don't eat, then you won't live. But where do we cross the line? At what point do we “over eat”?  What is wrong with having money or wealth? Nothing until we allow it to consume our lives. “And this is the way we “were” and perhaps still are if we allow the desires of the world and the flesh and the temptations of Satan to control us.
    What is the result of all this? “we are objects of wrath”…. What does that mean?  (We are subject to the consequences of our actions, as determined by God.) If we jump off a cliff, we are “objects of wrath” because we have gone against or disobeyed God’s creative and pre-determined law or will. If we “follow the ways of the world” or “the ways or temptations of Satan” or “gratify the cravings of our sinful nature”… Then we are objects of wrath, subject to consequences, of God’s law and God’s Word.
    “BUT” - because of His love for us, God made us alive with Christ.” In, through, and only by His grace.  In order to truly understand and comprehend the greatness and extent of our salvation in Christ, Paul shows us the how and why of our need for salvation…and just how great our need was…If we tend to think that we are by nature pretty good people; that we are not too bad compared to some people we could describe… If that’s how we see ourselves, we don’t see the extent of what God did through Christ on the Cross. We see it as a “nice thing” that God did so we good people could go to heaven…( See Romans 6:1-14 )

The “Eyes of the Heart”
Ephesians - 1:15-18

    The phrase, "For this reason," looks back upon the great passage that we covered last time, from Verse 3 through Verse 14, in which Paul has been outlining the great, fundamental facts about our faith. 

    He is writing to “the faithful in Christ Jesus” according to verse 1 of chapter one…And, he is convinced that they are Christians because of two things which have come to his attention -- their faith, and their love. That should be very insightful to us. A while back, we looked at how God measures a church, as well as how He measures our faith and growth as a Christian. It comes from this scripture - He has heard of the fact that they have confessed Christ and have great faith; But the thing that proves that their faith was true was the evidence of their love -- If our faith has not resulted in our becoming a more loving person, or at least growing in this direction, then it is not genuine faith.  It is merely an intellectual acceptance, which means nothing. Both James and John stress this very fact in ( James 2:14-17  & 1^st.John 3:11-23 ) Read it.  
    Paul agrees. He has heard of their love, and so he is aware that their faith is genuine…In other words their faith has made a noticeable difference in their lives and their attitudes and their actions. And notice that it is love toward ALL the saints, not just toward some of them. Some saints are easy to love. Some are beautiful people, joyful and happy, and everybody likes to be around them. But Paul is struck by the fact that these Christians love all the saints, and, therefore, their love is not based upon people's personalities, their looks, nor upon their wealth; or anything else, rather, it is based upon the fact that they are Christians; They belong to the Lord Jesus; they are part of the family of God. This is something every Christian must learn. This is a truth of scripture; the knowledge of doctrine is never enough to enable one to grow up as a Christian. You can learn all that there is in the Bible, and be able to write a very profound and scholarly theological thesis on it, but if it hasn't reached the heart it is absolutely worthless.  
    A Truth known never changes anybody; it is truth done, truth which has flowed through the emotions and gripped the heart and thus motivated the will that makes a difference. Thus this passage beautifully takes into consideration the way God has made us. He has made us so that truth hits the mind first of all. We are exposed to the facts, to the truth, but that is never enough. There are some people who think that if you merely study your Bible and take the right courses and learn all these great facts, learn the doctrine, and the truth of the Scriptures, that is all you need. But just that much will never change anybody. But truth must somehow move from the head down to the heart. It must grip "the eyes of the heart," to use the beautiful figure that Paul employs, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened”…Truth alone can be dull and academic and deadly. Your heart also must be stirred in order to motivate the will!  Like the two disciples whom Jesus met on the road to Emmaus who said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32 )
    Paul then prays "...[that he] may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation so that you may know Him better.” Why does he say that? Because it’s all about relationship, not just knowledge.  
    Notice that he doesn't take it for granted that this is going to happen. This is not an automatic feature of the Christian life…He prays for it!
    He goes on to pray; "having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know Him better ... and the HOPE…"  Then he tells us what the “hope” is; - “the riches of his glorious inheritance” and “his incomparably great power for us who believe”.   They have lost their sense of hope. They know it as a doctrine, but they have lost the experience of it…the emotions of it, the expectancy of it.
   So Paul prays that God will enlighten their hearts so that they may know the hope of God's calling. Hope always concerns the future. These people obviously had lost their sense that anything happening now will affect the future. This happens to many of us. We all say we are waiting for the coming of the Lord, but it doesn't really turn us on very much. We know it as doctrine, but it isn't very exciting – right here, right now. How would it affect us if we knew Jesus was coming tomorrow? Yet scripture tells us that He could come any moment…”in the twinkling of an eye!”
    There is one final element in Paul's request here -- that you may know “what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe” - (Ephesians 1:19) Paul prays that Christians will get their eyes open, in a practical way, to the power available in them -- "that you may know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us (not up in heaven somewhere) – but in us who believe." The only place this kind of power is ever going to be manifested is in you and me; in the church!  So, this is what God is telling us. He has come to give us hope, and riches, and power -- power to be what he wants us to be, and power to do what He, wants us to do.

 

“Words, words, words” – 2
Ephesians 1:1-14

    It is when we begin to understand these words that we can apply them and accept them. Now let's look at the other one, “blameless”.  Most people refuse to think of themselves as blameless because they know that they have done many things for which they ought to be blamed. That is, they have made choices, deliberate choices, against right, against God, and even against the knowledge of the consequences. But we confuse this word with another, because it is not sinless. Never having done anything wrong is sinless. But, the Bible says you can be sinful and still be blameless. Do you know how?  By handling your sin in the right way. If you did something that injured someone else, and the full result of it was not visible to you when you did it, but afterward you saw how much you had hurt the person, and you acknowledged it, apologized to them, asked for forgiveness, and did what you could to restore it, then there would be nothing further you could do. From that point on you would be blameless. You would not be sinless -- you still did it -- but you also did all you could to handle it rightly, or to make it right.

    The idea is the same with our offenses against God. What can you do about your sins? You can't go back and straighten it all out, no, but you can ask for and accept his forgiveness. You can acknowledge what you did and your need for forgiveness, you can seek to restore the relationship, and when you've done that, you're blameless! That is what God has chosen us to do -- to learn this wonderful process of being whole (holy) and blameless.
    Notice that these things are to be reckoned true even though we don't feel that way. We need to accept the fact that God chose us “in Christ” to make us holy and blameless. And as we walk before him in his prescribed way, that is what we are…we ought to “reckon” that we are, and we ought to rejoice in that great fact.
    Now look at the second great aspect which is recorded of the work of the Father, and which is related to the first, (Ephesians 1:5-6 )
    Here is a partial explanation of how God takes care of all the past failures and the shame of our lives, in order to produce someone who is holy and blameless. It is by means of a “change” of family relationship. "He predestined us to be sons" …Most of us are familiar with the process of adoption. Adoption means leaving one family and joining another. Leaving behind all that was involved in the first family and assuming the name, the characteristics, the resources, and the relationships of another family. We've been transferred and adopted into a new family. This is why we are called the “family of God.”
    Now, my question is: Are you enjoying your inheritance? Do you wake in the morning and remind yourself at the beginning of the day, "I'm a child of the Father…El Elyon…the “Most High God"…"I've been chosen by him to be a member of his family." Because He chose me, He imparts to me His peace, His joy, and, His love, His resources, His knowledge and wisdom…and much more. They are my inheritance from which I can draw every moment of life. And I have them no matter what my circumstances may be. In His sight - through Jesus Christ His Son - I am holy and blameless!” Well, I reckon it’s true!

Words, words, words.
Ephesians 1:1-14

    There is an unusual structure in this passage of scripture. From Verse 3 through Verse 14 in the Greek text (not in the English) it is written in one complete, unbroken sentence filled with many descriptive phrases brought in to amplify and enrich it. It's almost as though Paul is taking a walk through a treasure chamber, like those of the Pharaohs of Egypt, describing what he sees. He starts out with the most immediate and evident fact and tells us what that is. Then something else comes into view and he puts that in. And glory flashes upon glory here until he has this tremendously complicated sentence which includes vast and almost indescribable riches.

    This is the way God builds truth. One truth leads into the next and all truth is interrelated somehow, and all truth is based or centered around God.  There is a rather simplifying division of this passage, however, and that is, that these blessings gather about the Persons of the Trinity. There is the work of the Father, the work of the Son, and the work of the Holy Spirit:
In Verses 3-6 you have the work of the Father: (Ephesians 1:3-6 ) Then, in Verses 7-12, you have that which relates to the Son: (Ephesians 1:7-12 ) Finally, in Verses 13 and 14, you have the work of the Holy Spirit: (Ephesians 1:13-14 )
    Remember that these are all available to us in the “heavenly realms” That is not heaven; it does not mean they are only available in heaven when you die. No, "in the heavenly realms" is a reference to the invisible realities of our life now. It reaches on into eternity, yes, but it is something to be experienced now, in the inner life. He is talking about our thought-life, our attitudes, our emotions, our inner life where we live, where we feel conflict and pressure, struggle and disaster. He calls them “spiritual blessings in Christ”…What does that mean?
    It is in these areas of our inner life that we are exposed to the attack of the principalities and powers which are mentioned in Chapter 6, those dark spirits in high places who get to us, and depress us, and frighten us, and make us anxious or hostile or angry. It is the realm of conflict, but it is also the realm where God can release us and deliver us, and where the Spirit of God reaches us at the seat of our intellect, our emotions and our will. It is the realm of those deep, surging urges which rise within us and can create either a restlessness or a sense of peace, depending on the source from which they come. So don't read this as though it were something out in heaven somewhere, someday. These blessings that Paul gives us and which we will be looking more closely at, are ours in our inner experience, now, if we are in Jesus Christ…This is the “package” that it all comes in – “Christ”.
    If you are not a Christian you cannot possibly claim these benefits. They are not yours, they don't belong to you. You cannot buy them, you cannot discover them. There is no way you can claim them unless you are in Christ. But, if you are "in Christ" there is nothing to keep you from having all of them, every moment of every day. That is why it is so important that we discover what they are.
    You see, these are much more than mere doctrinal or mere theological ideas. They are facts, they are foundational truths.  And, unless we understand those facts, we can't utilize them, we can't benefit from them. I would even say that these great facts are so revolutionary, so radical, that we hesitate to believe them! And even more-so, we hesitate to apply them to ourselves despite the fact that they are true. The reason we hesitate is that we have such distorted ideas of what these words mean. We think of words like “holy and blameless” and we think that holiness is all about being absolutely sinless and pure…and we don't want to claim that for ourselves. But it is not that at all. Holiness means "wholeness," and wholeness means "to be restored to the originally intended function; to be put to the proper use, that's all. Physical wholeness prevails when the body works the way it was supposed to. When your whole being functions the way it was intended to function, you are holy.

If you read yesterdays blog, you know about “crabby Karl”…
    NOW MIKE – (on the other hand) had the kind of experience that people write about in books. I MEAN – his marriage was a mess, he had a problem with drugs and alcohol, all he cared about was making money & climbing the corporate ladder. He would do and had already done almost anything to make it; to be successful. One day things really went south for Mike… he got nailed for a D.U.I, was laid off from work and His wife took the kids and went to stay with her parents. MIKE – hit bottom, he was in serious pain…and that pain finally drove him to church.
    The first week there, Mike sat in the back row because for some reason, the cross in the front bothered him. But he returned the next Sunday and he brought a bible. Before long Mike started getting up at 4 am to read the bible; and after a few months he surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized. He joined a small group and got involved in the ministry of the church. Mike’s life changed so fast and so abruptly, that his pastor wondered if it would stick. But now - several years latter according to his wife, his children, his friends and Mike himself, he is a new man. I mean– the way he talks, acts, lives, serves, gives and loves is sincerely fresh and new. Mike has completely changed…He is being transformed into the image of Christ…
Question – As I told you about Karl & Mike…did any images pass in your mind? Do these examples ring true to you?
Another question - In your church experience what have you found to be the norm? Who do we find more of in the church…(unchanged) Karls or Christ-like Mikes? I think we all know the answer.
    IN – a recent interview George Gallup said that the reason Christianity hasn’t grown as it should is that people don’t see Christians as being any different from the rest of the population. The question we have to ask is why? Why do so few believers experience this transformation and change.
    We need to understand that there are really only two things that cause people to change:
1) When the pain or discomfort of certain situation in their life forces them to change. Or, they feel they have no where else to turn…or no other choice. ( Heaven or Hell? )
2) People change when they are given a powerful and compelling vision of a new and better way to live; a vision of a new and better reality of life. A vision for their life; that pumps them up, stokes their fire, and ignites their hope.
    I am convinced that this is exactly what Jesus intends the reality of the kingdom of God to do in each of our lives as believers. Jesus wants to give people a vision for a different and better future. That’s why He said things like: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” – or - “the Kingdom of Heaven is like a choice pearl. The merchant, when he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!”
LISTEN - part of the reason why we have missed the awesome reality of living in the kingdom of God (now) is because we have preached, taught and embraced an incomplete Gospel. The word gospel comes from the a Greek word that means ‘good news.’ The good news about what?
Well, the primary message of the incomplete gospel is that Jesus came and He died on a cross so that our sins can be forgiven and we can go to heaven when we die…It is finished…end of story.
There is a bumper sticker that gently imposes its little message: “Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven.” Just forgiven? Is that really all there is to being a Christian?  Well, it certainly needs to be said that Christians are forgiven; and it needs to be said that forgiveness does not depend on being perfect; but is that really what the slogan communicates? Unfortunately not. What the slogan really conveys is that forgiveness alone is what Christianity is all about. It says that you can have faith in Christ that brings forgiveness, while in every other respect your life is no different from that of others who have no faith in Christ at all. Dallas Willard calls this “bar code faith.” He goes on to say; “Can we seriously believe that God would establish a plan for us in that essentially the Christian faith and salvation covers nothing but death and the hearafter? Can we believe that being saved really has nothing what-so-ever to do with the kind of persons we are now? Or that it somehow leaves our character untouched?
    I think Paul expresses what kingdom living is all about in many places, but especially in Ephesians 4:14 through 5:20 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
    That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
    Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
    Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.    
    Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
    But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.  This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    That’s a lot to read, but does all that sound to you like there’s more to the gospel than just getting a ticket to heaven? It sounds to me like God also expects change.