A Daily Devotional – Ephesians – Personal Meditation (11)

A Daily Devotional – Ephesians – Personal Meditation

Comment: Let me say up front, that I will be on vacation from Monday, July 03 until July 07, 2017 so there will not be a devotional during that week. This would be a good time to review chapters 5 and 6 of Ephesians. Learning how to navigate on the foundation of life in Christ is spiritually important, as many are saved but do not seek to mature as saints. This failure leaves us vulnerable to the spiritual war we face. A war that most of us do not even know that we are in, and instead of being a victorious warrior, we become defeated saints. As an afterthought, I am reminded that there may be someone who read these devotionals but do not attend a local church. If this is the case for some, may I encourage you to find a local “Bible believing church group”. There is a command from Hebrews 10, the context of verses 19-25 that we should have a place of fellowship with other saints as this will help us to hold secure our faith in God through Christ alone.

Devotional: Ephesians 4:17-32 – We have been re-born in the image and likeness of God. Now we are no longer to live in the image and likeness of Adam who sinned. There is much to say about this, beginning in Genesis 3 through Genesis 5 we see that Adam although made in the image and likeness of God, marred his image by committing sin and in Genesis 5:3 we see that Adam begot sons and daughters after his image; the image of ‘sin and death’. See Romans 5:14 and 1 Corinthians 15:2 and see how this condition is very much alive in everyone, even those who are saved by grace.

So, Adam learned sin and walked in sin and all who were born after him did the same. Even though we believe that Adam and Eve were redeemed back to God’s image, by God’s sacrificial offering of lamb skins for their clothing; Genesis 3:21, Adam still resembled sin and death; his own image and so it is with all who come to faith in Christ/Messiah; we are reconciled back to God through faith, but we still carry our fallen image like Adam. Ephesians 4:17-24. In this section of Ephesians, we are basically challenged to do two things. To “put on the New man” and to “put off the old man”.

We were born in sin and death, through Christ we are begotten again (1 Peter 1:3); this ought to be our way of life, but sadly; if we are not trained in holiness and righteousness we will grieve the Spirit of God who is living in the temple of our physical body that God has reserved as His place in us; called the SOUL. In the remaining section of Ephesians 4 we are warned by Paul under the direction of the Holy Spirit of certain sins that easily grieve the Holy Spirit and render our walk as useless to God. Think on these things and have a good week; enjoy the independence of our nation. 

A Daily Devotional – Ephesians – Personal Meditation (10)

A Daily Devotional – Ephesians – Personal Meditation

Comment: It is no small matter to chip away at the foundation of any building. Recently in our state of Connecticut the foundations of private homes and some public structures have come under scrutiny for having a poor concrete base. Foundations in these homes and structures are literally crumbling and weakening, making unsafe conditions and increasing the risk of human safety. In Ephesians 2:19-22 we seen earlier that The Christ/Messiah is the ‘Cornerstone’ the Chief Cornerstone of His Church. He along with the founding fathers (Only the apostles and prophets) and I seek to be CLEAR with this; ONLY THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS. These are the ones who fully established the doctrines of the New Testament Church. These doctrines given by God to men are divinely sufficient whereby one can personally come to faith and maturity in Christ. All other attempts to reform what is written in New Testament Scripture is false and any attempt by man to reconstruct the grace of God to conform to man’s system of works is Anathema! 

Devotional: Ephesians 4:7-16 – the apostle Paul in his discourse of this truth in Ephesians is clear. Frist, as we looked at briefly “unity” this is required, it is not an option; there is but “ONE” The God and Father of us all, Who is above all, He is through all and He is in “ALL”; as someone from the south recently said, “All you all, get it?” The Living Word of God is not like any other book, it does not need to be revised. Nothing needs to be added to it and nothing needs to be taken from it.

As we begin this brief look at the verses above, it is Christ alone (He is God) who descended into the lower parts of the earth and it is Christ alone who ascended into heaven. No one can duplicate what God alone has accomplished as it is He alone who gave the MEASURE of gifts given to the His Church. How can anyone seek to believe that they personally have a gift of apostle or prophet from God these days. If the measure is already measured, then it is completed, these were foundational only; for the church of today.

Today; Messiah has provided ongoing gifts to His church with MEN, who are; Evangelist, pastors and teachers. These are the ongoing gifts of God, in Christ for the following purpose. To equip the saints as they grow into maturity in Christ and in the work of the any local church for the edification the body of Christ. If one who is in this capacity steps out and beyond this gifted calling, he is stepping away from the unity of One Faith (vs 13). Take the moment and read through verse 16 and you will notice that the ministry of any local church is fully established, in Christ and in the His revealed and written Word.

The trickery of men is to be exposed, while the truth of God is to be spoken in love. That we might all grow up in all the doctrine of the New Testament into Him, as Christ alone is the Chief Cornerstone. This is the unity of the whole body and when joined together accordingly, along with the prophets and apostles the church of our Christ/Messiah will prosper.

A Daily Devotional – Ephesians – Personal Meditation (9)

A Daily Devotional – Ephesians – Personal Meditation

Comment: The church that belongs to Christ/Messiah is made up of men, women and children who have a personal faith in Christ. The church is not, nor will it ever be a product of man. In Matthew 16, Jesus asks Peter a question, (to get the understanding you must read from verse 5 to 20) “but who do you say I AM’? Peter has this reply ‘You are the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the Living God’. This personal conviction of Peter was that all sufficient moment in Peter’s life for Jesus to reply; “Blessed are you, Simon-Bar-Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Jesus builds His church on a foundation of “personal faith” and this faith is the ROCK that Hades (the total force of Satan) has no power over. If you have personal faith in Jesus/Messiah, it did not happen by any means or religion of man. Your faith became a solid rock in your soul by the grace of God in accord with God’s will; Ephesians 2:8-10.

Devotional: Ephesians 4:1-6 – The life changing work of God to you and I is ongoing, the apostles Paul, John, James and others; along with the Messiah and the Holy Spirit will begin to conform us into the image of Christ. Romans 12:1-2 for example; we the church are to be transformed into Christ, a unity that is identifiable to the world that we belong to God; in this, Hades has no permanent power over us. This unity is revealed to us in the following discourse of Paul.

“I beseech (plead with you) walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, it is of the LORD that you do this. With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” This is not an effort of the flesh, we cannot muster up enough lowliness and gentleness of heart, nor can we be longsuffering or abiding in the love of God. Humanly (in the flesh) we will fall short.

This unity comes from the Holy Spirit, our only hope of revealing to the lost world around us is the bond of peace which comes only from the Peace Maker Himself. There are a multitude of man-made efforts to please God; none of which work. There is but one body and One Spirit (again you and I) make up the church, just as you were called in ONE hope of your calling. ONE LORD, ONE personal faith, One baptism; ONE GOD and FATHER of all. It is HE who is above all, and through all, and in ALL, you all!