Ephesians 1:20

Ephesians 1:20

he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

So picture the scene. The eternal throne room of the Almighty. The Son of God, our hero, our savior The Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of The Father. Also on the scene is the accuser of the Brethren the enemy of our souls, the devil himself. The topic of conversation? You and your sinful dalliances as you wrestle with the flesh and the world down here. The enemy points to your failures accusingly and haughtily with relish. Yet Jesus resolutely confirms that you are one of His as He intercedes for you extending His covering over your shortcomings. This is what you can count on, the enemy accuses, the Son covers and the Father forgives. How then should we reflect this awesome dynamic that is continually played out in heaven? When our words are accusatory with who are we rhyming? When our words consider the best in others and focus on what is good about others and not their shortcomings, who are we imitating? As His children we ought to resemble the One we are named after...Christian.

application

I will be more conscious of my words today, seeking to be a vessel of grace for others. Today I choose to rhyme with Heaven and not hell.

Ephesians 1:19

Ephesians 1:19

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

So what is it that makes this divine power incomparable to all other powers?

Divine Power alone can forgive sin.

Divine Power alone is how our spirit communicates with God’s Spirit.

Divine Power alone removes the sting of death.

Divine Power alone reveals truth.

Divine Power alone reveals the God of all Comfort.

Divine Power alone engages the provision of God.

Divine Power alone gives us access to grace through which we learn to say no to sin.

Divine Power alone convicts us of sin.

Divine Power alone grants repentance where we turn from sin and turn to God.

Divine Power alone sets the captives free.

Divine Power alone is our redemption.

Divine Power alone is where we find our peace.

Divine Power alone is the fuel for our love of the unlovable.

Divine Power alone qualifies us to be children of God.

Divine Power alone is faithful, when we are not.

Divine Power alone is stable while all else is prone to be shaken.

Divine Power alone is the wellspring of all that is good.

Divine Power alone the only hope of this world.

No other source of power in the spirit realm or on the earth can claim any of these attributes reserved for Divine Power alone. Anything close is a cheap trick, facade, or decoy of the enemy whose power is not worthy of comparing to this truly incomparable Power.

application

To be rooted and conscious of the influence of Divine Power available to me and to allow that Power to flow through me to others today.

See my wife Margaret's insights on this very same verse here:
Margaret's Blog -Just So You Know-

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesians 1:18

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,

This area of Scripture is renown for the way that it gives us a front row seat to witness how Paul discipled these Ephesian believers.

How awesome it is to peer into the heart of Paul as he is cultivating these beloved children. What a model he sets forth in seeking the Lord on their behalf in this way. What a glorious prayer to pray for the dear ones this Apostle is nurturing into maturity in Christ. His great concern for their souls and the furthering of their knowledge and understanding of all that is theirs in Christ.

application

I am inspired by Paul as I am nurturing new potential disciples always I am physically away from those who I have poured out my life and developed into maturity. I have been praying for them but according to this verse I will recommit to pray even more fervently for their continued enlightenment and growth in Him.

Check out Margaret's take on this same verse

http://mrsd4him.blogspot.com/2014/04/ephesians-118.html

Ephesians 1:17

Ephesians 1:17

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Like Solomon before him, Paul is seeking after God by requesting wisdom. The desire for wisdom springs from the heart of maturity. Among the many requisite elements that surely accompany this noble desire the heart of humility will be found, along with the realization that without God we cannot accomplish God’s plans for us. You see it takes a humble character to recognize that one is not capable of functioning effectively in Kingdom business on ones own strength.

Paul, as a learned scholar of the Scripture surely recalled this verse from the Prophet Jerhamiah

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

And furthermore Paul would go on the scribe this passage eventually to the church at Philipi

Philippians 3:3

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--

So we learn that humility comes before honor. Paul sought after the Lord to bestow His wisdom on his dearly loved disciples in Ephesus. No longer able to be there with them in person He beseeched the Father to pour out His Spirit of Wisdom on them for the task at hand was indeed great.

application

Today I will seek the Lord for wisdom.

Check out Margaret's take on this same verse Ephesians 1:17

Ephesians 1:16

Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

It appears that Paul is overjoyed at the knowledge of his group of new believers have been further cultivated and are thriving in Ephesus. Paul was the co-founder of this church and dearly loved by the congregation and the elders there. Paul lived in Ephesus for three years nurturing the believers and discipling the elders. This group was most near and dear to Pauls missionary heart.Though he was away from them in body he was with them constantly in prayer.

application

I need to consider my prayer life for the friends and believers I have nurtured over the years.

Ephesians 1:15

Ephesians 1:15

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,

These two principles are inseparable. When we put our faith in the Lord Jesus our lives will reflect an outpouring of love for others. It is not always automatic nor is it in any way easy. However as we grow in our faith and realize the depth of love that has been shown us and the forgiveness we have been given and the grace that has been extended toward us our capacity to love others will grow. That capacity is like an indicator on our dashboard measuring how much fuel is left in our fuel tank. It rises and falls in conjunction to our faith. Our faith will rise and fall in conjunction to our level of input of the Word into our hearts. We are vessels that contain the Holy Spirit yet we are made of clay and as any potter will assert clay pots leak. This is why the disciples needed their feet to be washed by the master as depicted in that glorious 13th chapter of the gospel of John. We are in constant need of filling, cleansing, checking and rectifying again and again. This is the journey, this is our lot. We are holy beings in our innermost part yet our spirits are draped over with the corpse of our flesh which is corrupt. Oh until we are translated on that magnificent day of the Lord where our spirit is fully emancipated and set free from this body of death, we will struggle to be filled with the spirit, be renewed in the mind, be enlightened by the word and to be finally and fittingly as is His will be loved by one another.

application

I will deliberately seek ways to love others today that I have never done before.

Ephesians 1:14

Ephesians 1:14

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

It is almost like we are in one of those “in between” periods. We are His posession, and in the heavenly realm we are redeemed. But we wait for the fullness of that redemption. Our Lord has paid the price for our redemption. The blood of Christ paid in full the price of our souls to be completely restored back to the original state. However in the meantime we are still here on the earth with all of it’s brokenness and sin. Waiting for our Redeemer to come for us. The key is to occupy the land and to be busy about the work of ministry in anticipation of His imminent return. It is a transition period. And all transition periods are problematic. Like adolescence or any other “in between” stage when we are about to be “there” but we are still “here” we are not quite adults but we are no longer children, in adolescence we yearn to be fully grown yet we sometimes act like we are not ready at all, and so the age old problems of that awkward “in between” stage persists. Our souls are holy and we yearn for heaven yet we are vexed with the sin and corruption of this world. We are bound to this earth yet we belong to eternity.

application

today I will meditate on this verse:

Colossians 3:2-4

New International Version (NIV)

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Consider reading my wife Margaret's devo on this verse as well -

http://mrsd4him.blogspot.com