Ephesians 4 - 2.25.26

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13, 16

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.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Observation

The title at the top of Ephesian 4 says, Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ. In verse 1, Paul opens with, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received, and throughout the rest of the chapter, he follows up with on instructions on how to live in unity and help one another grow in maturity in Christ. Before we explore the specific ministry gifts outlined in this chapter, I want to point out that Paul is writing to everyone when he references the calling you have received. We all have a calling on our lives – to love Him and make Him known, to continually grow in maturity in Christ, to live in unity, and to serve others. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Application

I wasn’t sure what the differences are between apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. I did some searching and although I’m sure this isn’t exact, I think it’s a good summary:

Apostles go out (think missionaries), establish and build churches, Prophets hear and reveal God's will and message, Evangelists preach the gospel to win souls, Pastors shepherd/nurture the local flock, and Teachers explain and instruct in the Word.

Paul says the purpose of these ministries is to equip the body of Christ. I contend that even though we might not be called to full time ministry in one of these areas, God has placed one or more of these giftings on many of us. I could name so many people in our church! And even if we don’t think we have one of these five specific ministries, God has given each of us unique gifts to serve the body of Christ. If your gift is to encourage others, then go all out – we all need encouragement. If you are a prayer warrior, support us in prayer. If you love to serve others, serve lavishly. We shouldn’t feel that God can’t use us because we aren’t a prophet or evangelist. And we definitely shouldn’t use that as an excuse to sit back! From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Prayer

Thank you that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, designed specifically by You with different strengths to be used to grow the Body of Christ. May no one feel less than, but instead learn to grow in their unique giftings and calling. May we all continue to grow in unity and maturity as we set our focus on You. Amen

- Debbie Dunn

Ephesians 3 - 2.24.26

SCRIPTURE:  EPHESIANS 3:14 - 21

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 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.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

OBSERVATION

I love how Paul goes into this scripture by kneeling – in reverence and worship – to God. He begins with prayer for the Ephesians that God, out of his riches, to strengthen with power in the Spirit, in our inner being, that Christ will dwell within us. He then moves to praying the Ephesians will be rooted and established in love, to have the power to understand the love of Christ. It’s not just to have the basic understanding of his love, but to fully grasp “how wide and long and high and deep” is the love of Christ. To me these words paint a picture of the cross that Christ endured to save us from our sins. His sacrifice on the cross was wide, long, high and deep. His love and sacrifice transcend all dimensions, heaven and earth, all people – Jews and Gentiles. Paul wants us to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Praise God!!

According to Expositor's Bible Commentary there is another understanding on the meaning of  “how wide and long and high and deep”:

“It is "wide" enough to reach the whole world and beyond (1:9-10, 20 Ephesians 1:20 NIV he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly...).  

It is "long" enough to stretch from eternity to eternity (1:4-6, 18; 3:9).  

It is "high" enough to raise both Gentiles and Jews to heavenly places in Christ Jesus (1:13; 2:6).

It is "deep" enough to rescue people from sin's degradation and even from the grip of Satan himself (2:1-5; 6:11-12). The love of Christ is the love he has for the church as a united body (5:25, 29-30) and for those who trust in him as individuals (3:17).

Paul ends his prayer giving God all the glory – highlighting that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or think. God’s ways are above anything we could ever imagine. The best part is it’s all  “according to his power that is at work within us.” God has completely equipped us with the power that we need to understand and live in the Spirit.

APPLICATION

It’s important to always begin prayer like Paul, in submission and worship to God. Kneeling is noted in this scripture but any posture of reverence (bowing your head, open hands up to God, etc.) is an important part of prayer.

This scripture highlights that we can pray for strength in the power of his Spirit to dwell in our hearts. We can also pray for power to grasp His great love. Our minds can’t really wrap around the depth of God’s love. It takes Godly power to really understand all aspects of His love. This scripture says his love  “surpasses knowledge” yet we can pray to “be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” I say YES to His love and to being filled of all the fullness of God.

Imagine for a moment that any thought or prayer that you ask, God can do immeasurably more. It’s all from the “power that is at work within us.” Positionally, God can do anything!  Recognizing and worshiping God for what he can do through us can take us to a different level of faith.

PRAYER

Lord, I bow down before your throne. You are the one and only God. You alone are worthy of all honor and praise. Thank you for this wonderful scripture and prayer from Paul to the Ephesians. You alone provide glorious riches, strengthen us with power through the Spirit, all to worship you, strengthen our faith, and truly understand your great love for us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Lord, fill us all with the fullness of God. Help us to live in your Spriit always. In Jesus name. Amen!

- Mary Oberg

Ephesians 2 - 2.23.26

Scripture

Ephesians 2:8-10 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Observation

Paul is addressing the Ephesian church by reiterating the Gospel message to them. He starts with their sin condition, their conversion by God’s grace through Jesus Christ and then the privileges that “both converted Jews and Gentiles receive from Christ.” (Reference: biblestudytools.com)

Grace is a FREE gift.

There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor towards us. It is a free gift (without conditions) that is available to all who would receive it. If we could earn this gift, then we would have a reason to boast about it, but because we cannot work for His favor, the only One we are able to boast about is Jesus Christ! 

Application

We do good works AFTER receiving His grace and Holy Spirit, not before. We are only as strong as our relationship with Jesus is.

I am reminded of the story of Jesus and Nicodemus. This story can be found in John 3.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a rule follower who believed that the only way to God was through works, but Jesus explained to him about being born again. He had to be born again by “water and the Spirit” and explained how God’s plan was to send His son to die to save the world from their sins. It had nothing to do with works, like Nicodemus was accustomed to. (The Apostle Paul, writer of Ephesians is very familiar with that way of living also, as a former religious leader and upholder of the law.)

God’s heart is that we put relationship with Jesus before rules. The good works we do as Christ followers is a fruit of our faith relationship with Jesus. 

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray we would all live in the freedom and enjoyment of being in relationship with You first and allow the rest to follow, by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that I don’t need to earn my way into favor or relationship with You because You already accomplished that on the Cross. Please forgive me for the many times that I forget that. Please help me to just rest and plug into Your amazing grace and love. Without You, I can do nothing. May You alone be praised and honored You for all that You have done and continue to do in my life. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi