This Sunday, Pastor Adam closed out our study of Ephesians. During the past few months, we have focused on Paul’s letter to the people of Ephesus and how he wants them to see what God has done for them in Christ and how that should shape their lives. His letter while summarizing the Gospel story, also gave the people of Ephesus encouragement, strength, and a challenge all at the same time.
Pastor Adam shared a few examples of how with Christ Jesus, “you have the unimaginable richness of being Christ’s child.” When I listened to Pastor Adam’s sermon on Sunday, I just thought of the words “all-inclusive.” Once you have Jesus in your heart, you have “the full inheritance of God.” When you have Jesus, everything else is included, his blessings and his inheritance of spending eternity with Him. Even better than an all-inclusive resort, Jesus is all-inclusive.
In Ephesians, Paul gives us answers to the questions, “Who am I? What is my purpose? What’s the battle that I must face?” We are reminded that our identity is found in Christ and as His child, we have received his full inheritance. He will answer these questions for you; He has given you gifts with a purpose to be used for His glory.
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Monday: Praise Him
In the first Chapter in the Book of Ephesians, Paul began with praising God. One thing I have learned when I spend time with God in prayer, is that I always like to spend time praising my Father first. Just like in Philippians 4:6 (The Message), it reads, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 1:3 -7. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Spend time today praising our Father. Praise Him for His blessings. Praise Him for choosing us to be holy and blameless. Praise Him for making us His child. Praise Him for His grace. Praise Him, just like it says in the hymn “Blessed Assurance,” Praising my Savior all the day long.” You can spend time listening to praise music or just say your praises out loud. Allow God’s wholeness to come and settle you down as you go through your day.
Tuesday: Be Enlightened
At the end of Chapter one in Ephesians, Paul does not stop giving thanks for His Father. In his prayers, Paul continues to ask God to give them a “spirit of wisdom and revelation,” so that they would know their Father better.
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 1:18-19. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Paul wanted the people of Ephesus to know their heavenly Father better and know what comes with knowing and following Jesus. We have to open our eyes to see what’s right in front of us, but Paul is telling the people of Ephesus to open the eyes of their heart so that they be enlightened. Although you can’t see Jesus standing in front of you, you have to open your heart to Jesus to know His hope, to know the glorious inheritance that he can bestow upon you, and as a believer, know His greatness.
I really enjoyed reading the same scripture in the Voice version, which reads, “Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance.”
Spend time in prayer today. Ask your Father for the eyes of your heart to continue to be enlightened. Pray to receive His light so you will know His truth. Thank Him for all His blessings as you continue to allow Jesus to fill your heart with his love.
Wednesday – His Greatness is all-Inclusive
Paul continues his prayers to the Ephesians. He turns to God in prayer to ask the people to be strengthened through his Spirit and so that the Ephesians will understand the greatness of God’s love. As Pastor Adam reminded us on Sunday, God loves us so much He sent His only begotten son. That is how much He loves us.
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 3:16-19. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I’ll compare God’s greatness closely to the example that Adam shared on Sunday. As His child, you just don’t need to pack a lunch to eat a meal; He provides you an all-inclusive feast. In Paul’s prayer, he wants you to ‘see yourself as God sees you.’
Spend time in prayer today. Thank our Father for His power as Christ continues to dwell in your heart. Pray that you continue to be rooted and established in love, so that you understand how immense Christ’s love is for you. It’s a love that surpasses all knowledge. Thank Him for His unfailing, never-ending love.
Thursday – Your Purpose in Christ
As Paul opens in Chapter 4, he urges us ‘to live a life worthy of the calling you have received’ (Eph. 4:1). Paul continues on in Chapter 4 to give guidance on how to live, grow and mature. He gave gifts to His people when he ‘ascended on high,’ and He gave to equip apostles, teachers, and pastors, gifts to ‘equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” (Eph 4:11-12). He has given each one of us purpose, and as Pastor Adam reminded us on Sunday, “God doesn’t want you to miss any of the goodness that He desires for your life.”
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 4:11-13. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Pray about the gifts that God has given you today. Spend five minutes talking to God about your gifts and how you use these gifts for His glory. For example, if you enjoy talking with people, how do you use that gift for His glory? Do you talk to other people and share about Jesus? We are the body of Christ; pray about how you can help in building it up. How can you use what you have to serve others?
Friday – Be Strong in the Lord
Paul continues to focus on God’s mighty power as he ends his letter to the Ephesians. Paul reminds us how powerful our God is and that we need to be secure in Him and His powers. We don’t want to give the enemy any ground, nor let his sin enter your world. We don’t need arguments, division, pride, lust, or any sinful behavior that will separate us from Jesus’ love.
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 6:10-12. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Pastor Adam shared on Sunday that we need to “Fight deception with truth & righteousness.” Like the passage said, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan. We must use the word of God to stand up to the devil’s schemes.
Pray today that the Lord will continue to give you strength in Him. Don’t forget how mighty and powerful our Lord is. With the armor of God, you can stand against any of the devil’s schemes. Thank the Lord for His armor that protects you; thank Him for His word, righteousness, His truth, the gospel of peace, faith and salvation.
Spend time thanking Him for each one of these individually for the next few minutes and share with Him how His armor has strengthened you.
Saturday – Stand Firm
As we close the week, and end our study of Ephesians, we are reminded of all the guidance and directives that Paul wrote in this Book.
While our Sunday sermons have been focused on Ephesians, I also chose to complete a devotional on the bible App on Ephesians from the Bible Society of Australia. I really liked how they shared the closing of this book.
Put simply, with our identity assured (‘in Christ’), with the household of God gathered, with the rival to God beaten (‘the rule of the kingdom of the air’), nothing would please God’s enemies more than to see God’s household splinter. Like a headless snake who trashes around, and whose severed head can still bite, the devil is attacking. And God has given us the resources to stand firm as his assured household with our identity secure against him. So, walk fearlessly by standing firm!
Reflection/ Action: Read Ephesians 6:20-24. And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out. Tychicus, my good friend here, will tell you what I’m doing and how things are going with me. He is certainly a dependable servant of the Master! I’ve sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith. Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ.
We all struggle in our daily lives. Paul, himself, is asking for prayers; just like we all need prayers ourselves. We were reminded that we all need God’s help on our journey and need each other. Remember that God is with you on your daily walk. Just don’t forget to seek Him. Also, ask for prayer if you need it; people are ready to cheer you on in your faith.
Call or text a friend today and ask for prayer. If you don’t have someone to pray for you, go online to rockhills.com and go to resources, then Prayer requests. We are happy to pray for you today or anyday.