Ephesians 5:22-33 We have been called, chosen, adopted, redeemed, and filled with the Spirit of God.. so that we can walk the walk of love, as children of light.  As we learn to walk carefully.. making the most of the time God has granted us.. and we understand what God's will is for us.. we will be transformed.  Our lives will begin to look more like Christ and less like the world. We will put away and reject the things of the world.. the "deeds of darkness".   We will begin to give thanks in all things and sing praises and hymns and love one another. 

In these next verses, Paul teaches how this will effect our lives in a very practical and personal way..  in our marriages and families.  The relationship between husbands and wives, Paul teaches, is like the relationship between Christ and the church.. and should reflect that same dynamic:

As the church is subject to Christ, the Head.. a wife needs to be subject to her husband. 

As Christ is the head of the church.. a husband needs to act as the head of the wife. 

Lest we fall in to the trap of thinking like the world and complain about inequality.. we must look at the context and understand the grace and beauty of God's plan for the marriage relationship.  We must first look at Jesus!

First of all, we see the extent of Christ's love for the church.. He is as connected to the church as a head is to a body! He loves the church.. His body.. His people.. so much that He "gave Himself up for her".  He did this so He could "sanctify her".  He cleansed her so that she could be presented "to Himself... in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless." 

This is the kind of love a husband is to have for his wife.   It is a greater love than even a love for mother and father.. The husband who cherishes his wife like he would his own body..  has this kind of love... that begins to look like the love that Christ has shown us.  Most of the responsibility for this kind of relationship is then.. the husbands!  The wife's part is to "be subject".. to come under that covering that the husband provides as he loves her, sacrifices for her, and does all he can to make her glorious! 

What a beautiful picture of what Jesus does for each and every one of us who believe!  He loves us. He gave Himself for us.  He has provided everything we need.. so that we can be holy, blameless.. and glorious!

Father in heaven, how we thank You for this precious Word that washes us..and help us to  know You more.  Your love is so great! Your ways are so wonderful!  Your plans are so precious!  Thank You!  Jesus, our dear Savior and Lord.. we are Yours. We are willing to subject ourselves under Your authority and love.  Have Your way in our lives and relationships so that Your glory will be made known and your Name exalted. We ask this in Your Name. Amen. 

 Ephesians 5:1-20 The walk.. the life of one who follows Christ.. the child of God must be a "walk of love".  Paul tells us to imitate God.. as a child imitates his father.  Christ Jesus gave Himself for us.. "an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."  Likewise, we are called to walk in the same way.. "walk as children of light" (v8), Paul tells us.. "for the fruit of light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (v9). 

A walk of love and light takes effort.. " Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." (v15-16) Paul tells his readers to wake up! He wants us to understand what God's will is for us so that we do not act foolishly. 

Verses 3-5 show us the things that we must be careful of.. to reject.. for they have nothing to do with a life of love and light.. "do not let immorality or any impurity to greed... no filthiness and silly talk or course jesting which are not fitting, but rather the giving of thanks."  These things belong to those who walk in darkness, not light. These are the ways of those who are disobedient.. and all these deeds will be exposed by the light, for nothing is hidden from the Lord. 

To walk the way of love and light we need to be "filled with the Spirit" not with any other influence. When we are yielded to Him our words will be beautiful instead of coarse or silly.. we will speak in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.". it will be a joyful, heartfelt melody that accompanies our lives.  We will have hearts full of thanksgiving and praise for our Lord Jesus Christ and for our Gracious heavenly Father. 

Father, make me more like Jesus.  Give me a heart of love and help me to walk in Your Light.  Fill me, Spirit of God, that I might understand and do the will of the Father. Let the beauty and joy of the Lord fill me.. fill us, the children of God.. to the glory of His Name.  Jesus, You are our all in all. Shine in us, and be exalted we pray. Amen.

 Ephesians 4 "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called." 

Paul paints a very clear picture of a life lived in a manner worthy of our calling as the chosen, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven children of God:

A child of God will  have "humility and gentleness... patience, showing forbearance to one another in love... being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (v2-3) We are to speak the truth in love. (v15, 25)  We are to "be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (v32) 

We are called to be the church of Jesus.. "one body.. one Spirit.. one hope.. one Lord.. one faith.. one baptism.. one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." (v4-6) 

All of this is what He calls us to.. and what He equips us for.. giving each of us "grace.. according to the measure of Christ's gift.. " It is Christ who fills "all things".. who gives "apostles.. prophets.. evangelists, pastors, and teacher, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." ( v11-12)  He does not leave us on our own.. but puts us into a community of brothers and sisters, so that we can help one another grow.. in faith.. in knowledge of Jesus.. and become one.. a whole body.. a completely united church that glorifies God. 

Paul likes to give us the contrasting picture of life without Christ.. that which we leave behind when we follow Him .. " no longer walk.. as the Gentiles.." the unbelievers do "in the futility of their mind."  Leave the darkness.. leave the hardness of heart.. leave the sensuality.. impurity.. and greed. Leave falsehoods.  Leave all the ways of  the "old self".  Leave anger that leads to sin; leave stealing and "unwholesome" words.. leave "bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander.. and malice". These characteristics are not worthy of our God and we must not allow them in our daily lives.  

But, He does not leave us on our own to accomplish what He desires.. for we have been "renewed" in our minds.. we have put on the "new self" which is like God in that He made us new creations.. " in righteousness and holiness of the truth."  And together with our fellow believers.. we grow up "to a mature man of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ." 

Father in heaven, Your plan for us is amazing and wonderful..and we are so thankful that You equip us and fill us and provide for us so that we can be all that You call us to be.  Have Your way in us today that we might walk that worthy walk to the glory of Your holy Name and to the praise of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Holy Spirit, sanctify us, fill us with the love and grace of our God.. in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Ephesians 3 Three times Paul speaks of how God's grace had been given to him that he might bring the gospel to the church in Ephesians ( and elsewhere too!):

It was by God's grace that the "revelation" of the "mystery" was made known to him in the first place. (v2)

 It was by God's grace that he was given a ministry to the Gentiles..  and the understanding that both Gentiles and Jews are "fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel".  (v7) 

It was by God's grace that Paul was able "to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ."(v8) 

What had been "hidden in God" through the ages had come "to light" in Jesus Christ, bringing into being the church.. both Jewish and Gentile believers made into one body.  Through the church, Paul says, the "manifold wisdom of God" has been made known.. "to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places."  This was "the eternal purpose" of God "carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord." (v9-11)

It is in Christ then, that "we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him."  (v12)

Because of Jesus, we do not lose heart. But, we come before the throne of our Father and ask for what Paul asked for.. what we need more than anything:

We ask that God would grant us, according to the "riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man". (v16)  I like the Bible Knowledge Commentary's explanation of this request.. out of God's glorious riches believers can "be strong to overcome resistance".. this power is "dynamic living power; through the Holy Spirit".. resulting in an increased faith in Jesus... to dwell in our hearts.. affecting our "whole personalities". Christ is "at home in".. the very center of our lives... letting Him become "the dominating factor in [our] attitudes and conduct."

 Paul also prays that we know the depth of God's love.. that we are so "rooted and grounded in love" that we can begin to comprehend the greatness of this incomprehensible love.  We need God's power to grasp the immensity of His love... for it is immeasurable!  It is higher and wider and deeper and longer than what we can ever measure.. but He desires that we "know" it by experience.. for the more we experience His love the more we will understand about Him! And this is His purpose.. "that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (v19)

It is by God's power that the church.. in Paul's day dealing with the issue of Jewish and Gentile believers.. could be united into one body.. for it would happen as each believer experienced God's love and learned to love one another.  "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" What mankind could not do.. God would!

Father, we thank You for the riches of Your glory and the greatness of Your grace.. making  it  possible for Jesus Christ to be  at home in us by the Spirit who fills us. Strengthen our spiritual lives with greater faith and deeper love. May we experience and comprehend the greatness of Your love!  May we be so filled with Your love that we can truly love one another as You have commanded us to do.  Fill us up with Yourself, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Ephesians 2 "And you were dead... "   This is the condition of all of mankind without Christ.. "dead in your trespasses and sin.." 

Paul says that this is how we were.. this was how we walked.. how we lived, "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience."   We longed for whatever satisfied our flesh, we indulged ourselves in what ever we wanted, we were "by nature children of wrath.. "  The word translated "wrath" here is the greek work orge - violent passion, anger, indignation, vengeance..  We see this in our world today.. mobs, out of control; gangs killing each other over foolishness; shooters, randomly mowing down innocent people on the streets.  It is this very nature that we all have.. without Christ. 

"But God.. " !!!!  Hallelujah!  "But God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved)."  If Paul said nothing more it would be more than we could ever imagine.. but he is not done.. "... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus." Amazing grace!

Though all the "ages to come"  we will know "the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."   For all eternity we will praise Him because of what He has done for us! 

Verse 8 is one of those verses that we must know and cherish always.. " For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; " 

We were dead and unable to raise ourselves up.. but God.. out of His heart of love, showed us mercy and lavished us with grace.  It is all of Him.. not anything we have done or could do.. "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." 

We, who formerly walked in sin.. now walk a new way.. in Christ.  We have been "brought near by the blood of Christ".  We have found Him to be our peace. He has brought  us into a body, together with all believers. He had..given  us access "in one Spirit to the Father.."  We are now  "a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." We are new creations!

Father in heaven, we hallow Your Name and give You our praise and thanks.. for You have blessed us with every spiritual blessing.. far beyond anything we could ask or imagine. You have taken us out of a life that was full of darkness and death and given us a new life.. as new creations in Christ Jesus our Lord.  You have given us a song to sing and good news to share.  Let us be about the work that You have prepared for us to do.. Spirit of God, lead on.  In the Name of our Great Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

 Ephesians 1:15-23  "For this reason..."  Paul says.. because of these spiritual blessings that God has poured out on us.. because He chose us, adopted us, redeemed us, forgave us, gave us this great inheritance and filled us with His Spirit.. "for this reason"  we gives thanks!  O Yes!  Thank You Father!

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is one that we need.. 

Our Wednesday night prayer meeting is studying the book Praying like Paul by Jonathan Graf, and he teaches this prayer as a model "for seeking that kind of spiritual walk ( a deeper walk)  for yourself and those you love." 

Paul prays that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."    

Jonathan writes, "Wisdom signifies both knowledge -knowing things, facts- and good judgement."   Paul is praying that his readers would grow in their knowledge of Jesus.  We are all in need of  growing in this and allowing that knowledge to impact all that we do and say.  A spirit of revelation is also needed.. that we hear God and understand what He is telling us.  Jonathan writes, "To me it is asking for an attitude of seeking the things of God -and God Himself." 

Paul continues his prayer, " I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe."  It is God's work in our hearts that allows us to have this great hope.. to know that He has called us to something greater than we can even imagine.. to a life marked by His glory and His power. 

Paul sums up this prayer with a reminder of the greatness of the One we want to know more and walk with more fully.. "These are in accordance with the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. and He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, and fulness of Him who fills all in all." 

This is our God! We desire to love Him and serve Him with all of our hearts! Let us pray this prayer of Paul's for one another so that we might know Him more and more!

Yes, Father, do give us this spirit of wisdom and revelation that we might know You and Your Son who is our Savior and King... more and more fully..   Open our spiritual eyes and ears to hear Your voice and to know this great hope of glory in Jesus Christ. Fill us with Your Holy Presence and power that all we do and all we say will be to the glory and honor of Your Name. Amen.

 Ephesians 1:1-14   "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."   Paul writes to the Ephesian church about this wonderful grace of God that has been poured out.. lavished on "us"!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.. "   What spiritual blessings is Paul talking about?  

Well.. first of all the blessing of being "chosen".   Our Father chose us "before the foundation of the world."  That is so amazing!  That He chooses to make us" holy and blameless before Him"  is even more amazing!

Our Father "predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself... "  This is the kindness of His grace.  He chose us before we knew anything about Him.. before we knew anything at all. It has happened out of His heart of love!

Our Father has given us "redemption" and "forgiveness of our trespasses"  through the blood of the Beloved Son.. "according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us."   Nothing we could do to earn it.. nothing we can do to deserve it.. but He did it all! Glory to His Name!

Our Father has "made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.. " It pleased God to show us His purposes in Christ.. something greater than any man could fathom.. a great "mystery" of how God would come to dwell among men.. live a sinless life.. die a painful death.. and raise up out of the grave to purchase eternal life for those who believe!

Our Father has given us "an inheritance according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.."  We have a hope that is unlike anything the world can know.. and we sing praises to  the glory of our King!

Our Father has given us "the Holy Spirit of promise".. a "pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." 

Father in heaven, we praise Your holy Name! How can we thank You for the grace that You have lavished on us.. to  choose us, adopt us, redeem us, forgive us, make known to us Your Son, our Savior, and to give us a living hope.. an inheritance that will never perish.  You have given us Your Spirit to dwell in us as Your pledge.. for all that You will complete in us through Your great grace.  We look forward to that day when we see everything clearly.. "in the fulness of the times... the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth."   Thank You for these spiritual blessings. Glory to Your Name. Amen.