Bible study Daily, explanation and encouragement - Ephesians
Ephesians 1:16
Unfortunately, we believe that prayer is the means to achieve everything that only God can give us. This is an inheritance of religion, which has subtly imposed on man a selfish desire to relate to God only out of interest. And in a certain conformism he accepts the shallowest part, the gifts, losing the deepest, interesting and sufficient part, to know the Lord of gifts.
Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD Hosea 6:3.
The ultimate goal of prayer is not to get the things that have been asked for, but to know God, your mind and your heart.
Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD ... (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Have an excellent day!
LOVE GOES BEYOND KNOWLEDGE
Unconditional love has far-reaching eyes. It sees what people can become if only someone loves them.
Romans 12:21 says that it is with good that we must overcome evil.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Most people who are difficult to love, have suffered hard pain throughout their lives and this has altered their personality.
On the outside they look hard and bitter, but on the inside they are begging for love.
The problem we face today, is how we tackle the lack of faith.
The absence of faith, makes us see only giants and difficulties, hinders our progress and limits us.
The holy scriptures, in a clear and sharp way, offer us an alternative that guarantees victory in any aspect of our life.
We are living hard days (2 Tim 3.1.2).
The question arises, what is God's will for my life?
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom 12: 1-2).
As we scan the scriptures, we immediately find that God's will is good, pleasant, and perfect.
1- Present yourself to God as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is rational worship.
2- Do not conform to the world.
3- Transform yourself by renewing your mind.
And, this is not human work, but, rather, the Holy Spirit of God.
Man, by his strength or ability, can never please God, because all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment (Isaiah 64: 6).
Everything related to God can only be achieved through faith (Heb 11: 6).
Our pleasure has to be in God, for He is the source of all things!
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Ps 37: 4)
The blessings of fidelity
- In the world we live in, we are surrounded by unfaithful people, but the Bible assures us that if we are faithful to the Lord, we will be covered with blessings.
- There is a Biblical pattern, there is an exact model for imitating Christ.
- We must be imitators of God. The goal is to imitate our Heavenly Father.
- We must imitate as beloved children. God's infinite love revealed the pattern of behavior to be imitated.
- Why be faithful? Because God is faithful.
- Fidelity is one of its communicable attributes.
- Your fidelity includes temporal and spiritual blessings, helps in temptations and persecutions, gives direction in difficulties.
- Only God is faithful in Himself. We become faithful through the intervention of his mercy.
- At remorse. Thomas with his unbelief, Jesus commands; do not be incredulous, but faithful.
Unfortunately, we believe that prayer is the means to achieve everything that only God can give us. This is an inheritance of religion, which has subtly imposed on man a selfish desire to relate to God only out of interest. And in a certain conformism he accepts the shallowest part, the gifts, losing the deepest, interesting and sufficient part, to know the Lord of gifts.
Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD Hosea 6:3.
The ultimate goal of prayer is not to get the things that have been asked for, but to know God, your mind and your heart.
Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD ... (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Paul wants believing Gods children to live as children of THE LIGHT.
Jezus has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Col 1:13).
This language is reminiscent of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, and from the captivity of Babylon.
Paul contemplates mankind outside of Christ as being hopelessly under the “power of darkness”, Satan's evil rule.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11) (Ephesians 3: 1-3)
BELIEVERS ARE RESCUED AND BRINGED TO STAY UNDER THE DOMINATION AND PROTECTION OF THE SON OF GOD.
That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, AMONG WHOM YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD (Philippians 2:15)
The influence we have on the world is caused by our relationship with Jesus Christ.
The closer you are to the Lord, the MORE OUR INFLUENCE WILL BE!
There is a spiritual conflict that we face daily. OUR COMBAT IS AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES, AND NOT AGAINST MEN.
The protection and resources that God has given us to face this enemy are great.
- BE READY FOR SPIRITUAL COMBAT
Recognize that your demonic enemies are behind much of what happens, are to harm us. - EVERY DAY, CONSCIOUSLY PUT THE SPIRITUAL ARMOR THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.
- Learn and understand the nature of this divine protection Ephesians 6:14-17.
Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God Ephesians 6:17.
DO NOT MISS THIS WAR! GOD IS WITH YOU! Just TRUST HIM ... looking and confessing the Word!
Ephesians 6:10-13
WE ARE IN BATTLE - Spiritual battle is not an exclusive reality for “superspirituals”. According to Martin Scott: SPIRITUAL WAR IS LIVING FOR CHRIST IN THE CONTEXT OF A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.
Ephesians gives us insight into the nature of the spiritual conflict we face daily. OUR COMBAT IS AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES, NOT AGAINST MEN.
The protection and resources that God has given us to face this enemy are great.
We are seated together with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1.20-21) This is our position in Christ!
Ephesians 6:11 - FERVENT PRAYER!
God's plan for you is to move you into a position of impact, filling you with word and prayerful commitment.
1. Do not forget who the real enemy is.
2. Do not forget the ONE you are all hope without.
Through intentional, deliberate, and strategic prayer, you take hold of Jesus and take possession of all that He has done for him!
IN PRAYER YOU GAIN YOUR STRENGTH! The power to gird yourself with armor that extinguishes all weapons your enemy wields.
Ephesians 6:11 - FERVENT PRAYER!
God's plan for you is to move you into a position of impact, filling you with word and prayerful commitment.
1. Do not forget who the real enemy is.
2. Do not forget the ONE you are all hope without.
Through intentional, deliberate, and strategic prayer, you take hold of Jesus and take possession of all that He has done for him!
IN PRAYER YOU GAIN YOUR STRENGTH! The power to gird yourself with armor that extinguishes all weapons your enemy wields.
- Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14).
- I (Jesus) have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
- For the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholdss (2 Cor. 10: 4).
- Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand (Isa 41:10).
- The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them (Ps 34: 7).
- Those who love Christ are in direct opposition to satan, and must prepare themselves for war by developing warrior mentality in line with spiritual weapons.
- THERE IS NO POWERFUL WEAPON THAN GOD'S WORD AND TRUTH!
- We need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord, in His Power, the Bible knowledge and living under the control of the Holy Spirit.
- The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Ps 18: 2).
- Truth is like a firm foundation that sustains us in the face of any adverse situation.
The fuel that drives everything is prayer.
We pray because our solutions do not work and because PRAYER MOVES, ACTIVATES AND STRENGTHENS against the enemy's attacks.
We pray because we are serious about taking back the territory that the enemy has been trying to take from us.
The enemy will try to discourage you from prayer.
He wants you to be without prayer, without passion and without power.
Do not get carried away by negative circumstances!
ARM YOURSELF WITH WEAPONS OF WAR and appeal to the power of the Holy Spirit!
Ephesians 6:18
THREE MAIN PHASES OF INTERCESSION
Christ has entrusted the lives of all true believers with the same power and authority that reside in HIS NAME.
WHEN YOU INTERCEED AND PRAY IN THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE NAME OF JESUS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ASK ANYTHING YOU WANT AND HE WILL DO IT.
When we look at the role of Christ our great intercessor, we see three important phases in intercession.
- IDENTIFICATION
- SELF-SACRIFICE
- POWER AND AUTHORITY
- FIRST IDENTIFICATION
We have to identify with the homeless, the sick, the drug and alcohol prisoners, the prostitutes… - SACRIFICE - SELF-SACRIFICE The I-SELF must be crucified. We have to want to set aside our own desires and give ourselves sacrificially by prayer and fasting for the needs of others. Jesus said: unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24
- POWER AND AUTHORITY
When I-SELF begins to die and we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control to pray through us with inexpressible groans, we enter that dimension of power and authority that is ours in Jesus name.
This is what it means to enter the spiritual arena of intercession to win the battle first in PRAYER.