Our Nature Brought Us To Wrath…. Our Savior Gave Us Eternity With Him!
(Ephesians 2:3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 2:3
“Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Gracious Salvation Of Christ: Ephesians 2:1-10
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Paul begins to remind the church at Ephesus (and each one of us) the greatest grace that we can receive from our Lord… the wonderful grace of salvation from our sins. The more we come to understand His gracious salvation, the more we should appreciate Him and the more we should be motivated to serve Him out of a heart of love and appreciation.
A very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. The proof of our spiritual death – 1-3
II. The gracious God of mercy and love – 4
III. The gracious blessing of spiritual life and its results – 5-7
IV. The gracious giving of faith – 8-9
V. The gracious privilege being chosen to service for Him – 10
EXPOSITION:
In this morning’s devotional, Paul continues to explain the lifestyle of those who are spiritually dead…
(Ephesians 2:3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
The idea of “conversation” is translated from a Greek word that has the idea of “to abide”, “to behave”, “to live”. “to continue on as”.
Keeping this in mind, we can see that prior to salvation, the lives of God’s people are characterized by:
1. taking their place, and fitting in, among other lost men
2. following the lusts of the flesh as a way of life.
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
Their actions and goals of life centered upon selfishly satisfying the inward lusts that proceeded from their fallen nature and sinful mind.
A very important lesson about the commission of sin is found in this verse. For any act of sin to take place both our lusts and mind are involved in a four step process. Sin results when:
1. A sinful desire dwells within us (desires of the flesh)
2. An opportunity to fulfill that desire is opened to us (the enticement or temptation)
3. We recognize the opportunity, think about it, and choose to act upon it (the mind and will exercised)
4. This then, results in the act of sin being committed and the cause of Christ being harmed. (performance of sin)
By breaking this chain at any point will allow us to escape the temptation without sin…
1. if we avoid the opportunity to sin, or…
2. if we ignore the temptation and remove our thoughts from it, or…
3. If, after mental consideration, choose to not commit the sin, or…
any of the above result in our successfully overcoming the temptation.
Sin only takes place when DESIRE, OPPORTUNITY, MENTAL CONSIDERATION and DETERMINATION TO ACT align themselves.
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)
and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Prior to salvation, God’s people were just as separated from Christ, unforgiven, and deserving the Lake of Fire as any other lost individual. This was ll due to their fallen, sinful nature that had been passed down from Adam.
There was nothing in their physical existence on earth that set them apart from other lost men. There was no outward indicator that a person would come to Christ in the future. There was nothing in their life that merited their salvation, nor gained it of their own actions or worth.
Apart from the gracious intervention of the Lord they were exactly as any other lost individuals, a fallen creature, living a sinful lifestyle and destined for the Lake of Fire.
“Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:22-23)
APPLICATION:
What grace the Lord showed to us, loving us eternally, choosing to save us, and securing our eternal salvation through His working on our behalf. He did all of this, in spite of the fact that we were just like any other rebellious, sinful, individual that only deserved His eternal punishment at His hand.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/
SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/
SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
Our Life Without Christ….
(Ephesians 2:2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 2:2
Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Gracious Salvation Of Christ: Ephesians 2:1-10
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Paul begins to remind the church at Ephesus (and each one of us) the greatest grace that we can receive from our Lord… the wonderful grace of salvation from our sins. The more we come to understand His gracious salvation, the more we should appreciate Him and the more we should be motivated to serve Him out of a heart of love and appreciation.
A very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. The proof of our spiritual death – 1-3
II. The gracious God of mercy and love – 4
III. The gracious blessing of spiritual life and its results – 5-7
IV. The gracious giving of faith – 8-9
V. The gracious privilege being chosen to service for Him – 10
EXPOSITION:
In this morning’s devotional, Paul begins to explain the lifestyle of those who are spiritually dead…
(Ephesians 2:2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
Prior to the Lord’s saving intervention in the life of the saint, their walk (lifestyle, way of life) was in alignment with:
1. the “course of the world”… in other words, the path of the unrighteous. Prior to salvation, there was NOTHING in their actions or way of life of the saved that merited their salvation. Both the path and the destiny of the saved, prior to salvation, was identical to the path and destiny of the lost.
Once again this emphasizes God’s gracious dealings on our behalf as He brought salvation to His people in spite of the fact that they walking along the same sinful path as others. His intervention was based solely upon His love and mercy on behalf of His chosen people.
according to the prince of the power of the air,
2. “the prince of the power of the air” – in other words, the path laid by Satan.
Satan is described as “the prince of the power of the air” describing Satan’s authority over the ungodly forces of this world. That is why he is described as:
a. “the god of this world” – 2 Corinthians 4:4
b. “the prince of this world” – John 12:31, 14:30
c. “the power of the air” – in this passage. This is a phrase that limits his authority to this world and the atmosphere surrounding this world. His authority does not extend into heaven or other realms that lie beyond earth and its atmosphere.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].” (Ephesians 6:10-12)
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Satan is that spirit that works in the hearts and lives of lost mankind (Luke 22:3, John 13:2, Acts 5:3, 2 Corinthians 4:4)
“He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
APPLICATION:
The lifestyle of those who are spiritually dead are identical. It is the path of others who are lost, and the path of Satan himself. It is characterized by disobedience to God, submission to Satan and worldly desires, attitudes and morals. It is the way of death. But thanks be to our Lord He has graciously brought us out from the bondage of this sinful lifestyle to a new eternal relationship and way of life with Him!
May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/
SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/
SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
Christ is our Gracious Lifegiver…
(Ephesians 2:1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 2:1
“Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Gracious Salvation Of Christ: Ephesians 2:1-10
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Paul begins to remind the church at Ephesus (and each one of us) the greatest grace that we can receive from our Lord… the wonderful grace of salvation from our sins. The more we come to understand His gracious salvation, the more we should appreciate Him and the more we should be motivated to serve Him out of a heart of love and appreciation.
A very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. The proof of our spiritual death – 1-3
II. The gracious God of mercy and love – 4
III. The gracious blessing of spiritual life and its results – 5-7
IV. The gracious giving of faith – 8-9
V. The gracious privilege being chosen to service for Him – 10
EXPOSITION:
In this morning’s devotional, Paul begins to explain our condition before salvation…
(Ephesians 2:1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
And you hath he quickened,
“and you hath HE quickened” – Paul reminds us that we have been “quickened” by an act of the Lord not of our own ability or actions.
What is meant by the term “quickened”?
The term “quickened” was not found in the older Greek manuscripts, it was inserted by the KJV translators (please note that is why we find the term quickened written in italics in most KJV Bibles.)
Although this term was inserted by the KJV translators, it is clearly appropriate based upon its context (vs 5). In verse 5, we find that “quickened” comes from a word that means “to vitalize” or “to live”. We should apply this definition for “quickened” to our verse for today. By using this definition, we find that we have been given spiritual life by our Lord through His workings on our behalf.
Paul continues his teaching by explaining why we needed to be given spiritual life by the Lord…
who were dead
It is because we were spiritually dead, and therefore needed to be given spiritual life. Why was our condition before salvation described as spiritual death? Two reasons…
1. We need to remember a basic, fundamental principle concerning death. Death, when spoken of in the Bible, ALWAYS describes a type of separation. Please take notice that there are three types of death mentioned in the Bible…
a. PHYSICAL death which is a separation that takes place between our physical bodies and our immortal spirit.
At physical death the spirit leaves the body and returns to God while our bodies are buried and return to dust….
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
b. SPIRITUAL death which is a separation of the spirit from the Lord due to sin.
Because of our fallen, sinful condition we are conceived in a state of alienation from the Lord…
“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
c. SECOND death which is separation of the sinner from the Lord throughout eternity.
The lost man enters into this state following the final judgment when he is cast permanently into the Lake of Fire…
Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years… And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death… But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
Prior to their physical death, all of mankind is found in a state of spiritual death. In other words, all of mankind is alienated from the Lord and totally lacking communion with Him. Apart from God’s gracious intervention in their lives, they are awaiting entrance into the second death (eternally placed into the Lake of Fire).
This principle is brought into clear view when the father of the prodigal son makes the statement…
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:24).
He saw alienation and physical separation from his son as a type of death, while restored communion with him was a type of restoration of life. This is just like our separation from the Lord (spiritual death) and our restoration of communion with Him (giving of spiritual life at salvation).
2. But not only does death teach us of separation, it also teaches us of inability. A spiritually dead person cannot do anything to give himself life. He is dead. The only possible way that he can receive life is through the direct intervention in his life by another (Hebs 2:14-15).
Think of it as a man who has physically died. He cannot resuscitate himself, his only hope is for someone to come along, administer CPR or give to him cardio shock.
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23)
in trespasses and sins;
Man’s condition of spiritual death is directly linked to their sin nature and their sinful acts. Man is spiritually dead as the result of sin that has touched their lives (Romans 5:12).
What is the difference between “trespasses” and “sins”? These are simply two terms that describe the aspects of our disobedience against the Lord:
1. trespasses – is a term that means “to fall aside”
It emphasizes that disobedience can be an act. It is actively “crossing” boundaries prohibited by God.
2. sins – is a term that means “to miss the mark”
It emphasizes that disobedience can by a condition or state. It does not meet up with the standards God has given to us.
Our spiritual death is directly linked to the fact we were conceived in a fallen, sinful condition and we are continually committing acts of disobedience before God.
APPLICATION:
“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21)
May we all enter this day with grateful hearts, knowing that our Lord, in spite of our alienated condition, saw fit to intervene in our lives and remove us from the bondage of sin to communion and eternal life with Him.
May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/
SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/
SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
Christ Reveals Himself Within His Local Assembly In Very Special Ways…
(Ephesians 1:22b-23) and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
For The SIH devotional on this subject:
The Names Of Christ: “The Word Of Life”
Jesus Reveals To Us Life
1Jn 1:1 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
What a fitting title to close this series. Over the past year we have looked at more than 100 different names given to our Lord. Each name has expressed to us a different aspect of our Lord’s person or work. May we all honor and glorify Him for who He is and what He has done for us!
To review all of our postings…
https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/category/sih-series/the-names-of-christ/
SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 1:22b-23
“Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Gracious Revelation Of The Truth To The Saints: Ephesians 1:15-23
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;…
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:…
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,…
And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,…
and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:And hath put all [things] under his feet,…
and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul now shares with the church at Ephesus the content of his prayers on their behalf. By doing this Paul is declaring his motivation for his great love, concern, and desire for their spiritual welfare and receipt of various blessings of God. Please keep in mind, all of these blessings would be given to the believers at Ephesus only through the gracious intervention of the Lord. They did not deserve these wonderful blessings nor could they earn them in any way.
A very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. Paul’s motivation for desiring and praying for gracious blessings on behalf of the church – 15-16
II. The gracious blessing of a knowledge of the person and work of the Lord – 17
III. The gracious blessing of a understanding of their eternal blessings that await them – 18
IV. The gracious blessing of awareness of the Lord’s power exhibited in in all aspects of salvation – 19-20a
V. The gracious blessing of a comprehension of the exaltation of Christ – 20b-22a
VI. The gracious blessing of the exaltation/Lordship of Christ – 22b-23
EXPOSITION:
In this morning’s devotional, Paul continues to explain the Lord’s person and work…
(Ephesians 1:22b-23) and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
In this text the Lord’ relationship to the local assembly is brought into view.
and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
God the Father handed to Christ the authority, and great responsibility, to be the “head” of His local assemblies.
What does it mean to be the “head” of His assembly? He is the “Leader”, “Guide”, “Instructor”, “Protector” and “Supreme Authority” over every aspect of the church’s ministry.
(Just a quick note… if the Lord is speaking of local assemblies, why does He say “church” instead of “churches”. The idea of “church” here is used in a generic sense. What is being spoken of applies to every church. For example if I say “The giraffe has a long neck”. I am using the term “giraffe” generically, what I am actually saying is “any and all giraffes have a long neck”. This is how the term “church” is used in this context. Christ is the head of any and all local assemblies of the Lord.)
For more information on how we can know that the term “church” always speaks of a local assembly and never of an invisible universal body please see my 5 part series entitled “The Church: Local, Universal, Or Both”. You can find part one here: http://wp.me/pU88A-32l
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Each and every local assembly is an individual body with Christ as its head and each of its members making up the different parts of the body. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
The “fullness” (the completeness of His person and attributes) fills each and every local assembly in a very special way. Some examples of these attributes include His love, mercy, grace, wisdom, justice, knowledge, strength, the list goes on and on. Each and every one of these attributes Christ is displayed in the midst of the local assembly of believers in the form of His teachings and His workings in their individual lives and in the assembly proper. Truly, His fullness is on display throughout the assembly, as we watch the Head of the assembly at work on behalf of His local church for His glory.
This is the very principle presented John’s vision of Christ and His attributes displayed in the midst of His local assemblies….
“ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:9-20)
APPLICATION:
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Psalms 22:22)
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Folks, do we take membership in a local assembly seriously? If we are negligent in serving in a church we are missing many great blessings and displays of Christ and His glory. There is nothing like coming together with the people of God who are unified to honor the Lord and serve Him with their whole hearts.
May we all seek out one of the Lord’s assemblies which are characterized by the truth being taught, Christ being followed, and the spirit of love for the Lord and our fellow man being displayed.
May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/
SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/
SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
Christ Rules!
(Ephesians 1:20a-22a) …and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet,
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Names Of Christ: “The Word Of God”
God Has Spoken To Us Through Jesus
Rev 19:13 – And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com
http://settledinheaven.org
SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 1:20b-22a
“Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Gracious Revelation Of The Truth To The Saints: Ephesians 1:15-23
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;…
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:…
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,…
And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,…
and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:And hath put all [things] under his feet,…
and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul now shares with the church at Ephesus the content of his prayers on their behalf. By doing this Paul is declaring his motivation for his great love, concern, and desire for their spiritual welfare and receipt of various blessings of God. Please keep in mind, all of these blessings would be given to the believers at Ephesus only through the gracious intervention of the Lord. They did not deserve these wonderful blessings nor could they earn them in any way.
A very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. Paul’s motivation for desiring and praying for gracious blessings on behalf of the church – 15-16
II. The gracious blessing of a knowledge of the person and work of the Lord – 17
III. The gracious blessing of a understanding of their eternal blessings that await them – 18
IV. The gracious blessing of awareness of the Lord’s power exhibited in in all aspects of salvation – 19-20a
V. The gracious blessing of a comprehension of the exaltation of Christ – 20b-22a
VI. The gracious blessing of the exaltation/Lordship of Christ – 22b-23
EXPOSITION:
In this morning’s devotional, Paul explains his desire for the church to come to a greater understanding of the Lord’s person and work on their behalf…
(Ephesians 1:20a-22a) and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet,
Paul continues to request that the Lord graciously reveals Himself to us. In this case, he asks the Lord to show us truths about Christ exaltation and great authority…
and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Following the His obedience unto death and His victorious resurrection, God the Father exalts Christ to a high position of authority and rulership. This is symbolically shown to us by Christ being given the seat of honor at the right hand of His Father…
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:32-36)
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named,
The exaltation of Christ has given Him all authority over:
1. principality – those who hold top rank in a spiritual body, governmental body, religious body or social body
2. power – those who possesses authority over others
3. might – those who possess physical strength
4. dominion – those who control or rule others
5. every name that is named – those who possess worldly titles, honor or reverence
In other words, all types of powerful, authoritative, and honored individuals both in the spiritual and physical realm.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2:8-10)
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
The Lord rules over all types of powers in both this temporal world and in the eternal world to come.
And hath put all things under his feet,
To be placed “under his feet” carries with it two ideas:
1. to control – Psalm 8:6
2. to gain victory over – 1 Corinthians 15:24-27
Our Lord Jesus has been exalted by the Father to possess absolute control over all things and to gain the ultimate victory over all His enemies. None shall rule over Him, nor shall they be victorious over Him!
APPLICATION:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
Let’s praise the Lord for showing Himself to us as Ultimate Victor and Sovereign Lord Over All!
May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!
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Just A Glimpse Of The Strange Fire Conference…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Z2K0fsKOg
Christian Maturity…
Christian Maturity Is Not Living A Sinless Life… It Is Possessing The Ability To Recognize Sin In My Own Life And A Willingness To Admit To It’s Existence.
8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(1 John 1:8-10)
Only The Lord Can Give Us True Peace, Rest and Security…
“[There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:5-8)
For The SIH Lesson On This Subject:
“…But David Encouraged Himself in the LORD his God.” (Part #2)
Have you ever felt as if the whole world was against you?
Did it ever seem as if, no matter how hard you try, everything you touch goes sour?
Did you ever feel responsible for bringing misery and harm to those whom you love?
Do you ever feel as if you are a complete and utter failure in your service to your Lord?
Then to make matters worse…
Did you ever feel as if NO ONE understood, nor cared about what you were going through?
In our lesson for this morning, we will be looking at how David handled these feelings and how he found spiritual peace and refuge in the presence of his Lord…
THE SCRIPTURES:
“And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; And had taken the women captives, that [were] therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried [them] away, and went on their way. So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, [it was] burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)
“To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long [will ye turn] my glory into shame? [how long] will ye love vanity, [and] seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:1-8)
THE STUDY:
6a) And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters:
Here we are told that David was “greatly distressed”. The phrase “greatly distressed” is translated from a Hebrew phrase that means to feel tremendous, overwhelming, unbearable pressure on all sides. What was the source of all this pressure? …
Why type of pressures was David experiencing?…
1. the nation of Israel, being led by King Saul, was against him;
2. the other Gentile kingdoms he had invaded now knew of his hiding place in Ziklag, and would surely be out for revenge;
3. when King Achish would hear that David’s deceptive invasions caused the Amalekites overthrow of Ziklag, Achish would, most certainly, turn against Him;
4. He had lost both of his wives, and to his knowledge were probably had been tortured, raped, and enslaved or, possibly, dead;
5. David’s own men, rightfully, blamed him for their great loss and they wanted him to be killed;
6. Worst of all, he knew that he had sinned against his Lord several times, leading him down this path to loneliness, sorrow and heartache…
a. he had failed to trust the Lord with his safety, but had sought refuge from the enemies of God;
b. He chose to compromise his integrity by lying. He had chosen to remain on good terms with the Philistine King, by deceitfully concealing his invasions into the surrounding Gentile nations;
c. Finally, he agreed to lead his men from Ziklag to accompany the armies of Achish, thus leaving those in his care without any military protection.
(He knew that he was derelict in his God-given responsibilities and was now experiencing the chastening hand of the Lord.) For a detailed look at the events that brought David into this condition please see Part #1 of our study.
6b) but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)
What was David’s solution to this entire situation? He found encouragement in his Lord.
In other words, David reflected on the person and work of God that gave him hope for deliverance and strength. In the same way, when we are faced with these situations in life, we too, can find solace in truths about our Lord.
We will now look at Psalm 4:, and we will learn how David found this wonderful encouragement in the midst of such horrible trials…
Psalm 4: is a Psalm that may have been written at this exact time in David’s life… let’s take a moment to study Psalm 4 with an eye to understanding the Scriptural principles that gave David such great encouragement during this devastating time in his life….
Introduction To This Psalm (vs 1a)
1) To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.
This Psalm was written by David and meant to be played on a stringed instrument during times of worship.
David Addresses The Lord: (vs 1b)
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness:
David immediately looks to the Lord for his deliverance
thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress;
David remembers past deliverances from his trials
have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
David approaches the Lord humbly, realizing he does not deserve the help of the Lord.
David Addresses His Tormentors (vs 2-3)
2) O ye sons of men, how long [will ye turn] my glory into shame? [how long] will ye love vanity, [and] seek after leasing? Selah.
David recognizes and verbalizes the trials set before him.
3) But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:
David recognizes the Lord’s special relation with His people
the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
David exercises faith that the Lord will forgive him of his failures and hear his prayer
David’s Addresses The Worshippers (Applying The Lessons Of The Psalm). (vs 4-5)
4) Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
David reflects upon the significance of the Lord’s mercy and hearing us in times of difficulty:
It encourages us to recognize the greatness of the Lord
It encourages us to live holy lives
It encourages self-examination
It encourages us to wait upon His intervention and not take matters in our own hands.
It encourages us to give of ourselves in His service
It encourages us to place our faith in Him is deal with these issues for our good.
David Addresses The Lord (vs 6-8)
6) [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
David requests the Lord to show Himself to those who believe they are beyond His grace and mercy.
7) Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased.
David now affirms the gladness and encouragement he has received. This gladness transcends any gladness that this world has to offer.
8) I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
David now affirms the peace and security that he has been given by the Lord.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
No matter what may have taken place in our lives, no matter how impossible a situation may seem, when we think upon the person and work of our Lord, we can find grace, comfort and peace in the midst of our storms.
In this lesson, we have seen some basic principles that will aid us in finding the comfort that only the Lord can supply….
1. Recognize immediately look to the Lord for his deliverance, avoid panicking and acting from fear.
2. Remember past times of Divine deliverance from trials in an effort to increase our faith.
3. Retain a humble spirit within us knowing that we do not deserve His help nor intervention.
4. Remind ourselves of the hopelessness of our situation without the Lord.
5. Reflect on the Lord’s special relation that He possesses with us as His chosen people
6. Respond in faith, trusting the Lord entirely for His intercession, our wellbeing, and our future.
7. React accordingly to His merciful intercession:
a. Recognize the greatness of the Lord
b. Live holy lives
c. Examine ourselves in light of His Word
d. Wait upon His intervention and not take matters in our own hands.
e. Give of ourselves in His service
f. Place our faith in Him is deal with these issues for our good.
May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth, in these difficult times in which we are living.
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May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”
Our Salvation is An Act Of The Lord’s Power…
(Ephesians 1:19 -20) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Names Of Christ: “The Word”
Jesus Reveals God To Us
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
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SIH’s Think On These Things: Ephesians 1:19-20a
“Reflections Of His Grace”
“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
The Gracious Revelation Of The Truth To The Saints: Ephesians 1:15-23
Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;…
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:…
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,…
And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,…
and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:And hath put all [things] under his feet,…
and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul now shares with the church at Ephesus the content of his prayers on their behalf. By doing this Paul is declaring his motivation for his great love, concern, and desire for their spiritual welfare and receipt of various blessings of God. Please keep in mind, all of these blessings would be given to the believers at Ephesus only through the gracious intervention of the Lord. They did not deserve these wonderful blessings nor could they earn them in any way.
A very basic outline of this section of Scripture:
I. Paul’s motivation for desiring and praying for gracious blessings on behalf of the church – 15-16
II. The gracious blessing of a knowledge of the person and work of the Lord – 17
III. The gracious blessing of a understanding of their eternal blessings that await them – 18
IV. The gracious blessing of awareness of the Lord’s power exhibited in in all aspects of salvation – 19-20a
V. The gracious blessing of a comprehension of the exaltation of Christ – 20b-22a
VI. The gracious blessing of the exaltation/Lordship of Christ – 22b-23
EXPOSITION:
In this morning’s devotional, Paul explains his desire for the church to come to a greater understanding of the Lord’s person and work on their behalf…
(Ephesians 1:19 -20) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,
Paul continues to request that the Lord graciously reveals His work to us. In this case he asks the Lord to show us His great power He exercises towards believers…
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
Our gracious Lord reveals to us the magnitude of His overwhelming power that He exercised on behalf of those who have come to faith in Him.
The Greek word for “power” used here is the word “dunamis”, it is from this word that we get our English word “dynamite”. The idea behind this word is the power that is necessary to accomplish the given task. In other words, our verse is teaching us that the Lord has more power than is needed to accomplish any task at hand… in this case it is bringing the lost to a saving faith in Him.
This is why we say He is the Almighty …
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
according to the working of his mighty power,
This great “dynamite power” at our salvation was exercised according to His “mighty power”.
Here, the word for “power” is a different Greek word. It is the word “kratos”. This word is commonly translated “dominion” and speaks of the ability to absolutely control and bring into submission.
In other words, because He is in absolute control of every aspect of salvation (His kratos power), He then worked overwhelmingly (His dynamite power) in the lives of men to bring to them that salvation. Put another way, His reign as Sovereign over salvation (kratos), was the basis for His successful intervention in bringing men to faith in Him (dunamis).
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,
Proof of His possession of these great powers was proven to us when He raised Christ from the dead. He not only has dominion over sin and death (kratos), but He also displayed that dominion for all to see when He actively intervened and raised Christ from the dead (dunamis).
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:10-15)
APPLICATION:
The greatest blessing that we receive from our gracious Lord is the blessing of salvation. it is through this blessing that all other eternal blessings flow. All of the work needed to secure our salvation was performed by the Lord and based upon His dominion over salvation.
May we all with thankful hearts bow before our Sovereign Lord as we think about His overwhelming powers He exercised on our behalf when He brought is to salvation and submission to His Lordship.
May we all get a clearer picture of our Lord and Savior, and the great grace He has shown to us. Let us be always watchful to keep His great acts of grace on our behalf in the center of our attention… In doing so, may we be motivated to LOVE Him more, APPRECIATE Him more and SERVE Him more!
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/
SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/
SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
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