A wonderful book to read. It is virtually a Spiritual health check for us all.

Ephesians set out in memorable terms and vivid pictures, the practical consequences of what God has done in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4

Believers (followers of Christ) Chrisitians are chosen. But let’s read from verse 3: ‘Blessed by God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens of Christ’.

Verse 4: ‘For He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, to be Holy and blameless in His sight.’

You see there is an ‘US’ there. If we are in Christ Jesus, we are blessed with every spiritual blessing. We are chosen. There is a place God has made for us, and he will equip us. Believers have a new status.

Verse 7: ‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace.’

(Speaking of Riches why not take a read of Old Fellow John’s poem on riches here)

Believers are specially taught.

Verse 9: He has made known to us the mystery of His will.

Verse 13-14: Believers are given an inheritance.

All the wealth of heaven is made over to them, the Holy Spirit is a first installment or appetiser of all that God has for us in Christ.

Ephesians gives us hope. God is able to use even sinful human choices for His purposes and whatever God does for those in Christ, He does accordingly to a carefully orchestrated plan for their benefit.

Ephesians describes the eternal benefit of faith in Christ, it explains that our faith is a move from death to life.

In Ephesians, there is a focus on unity in Christ. We are members of the body of Christ. Ephesians compares the unity we have in Christ with a mantle unity. This book tells us to prepare for a fight not carnal, but spiritual warfare.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (Corinthians also written by Paul)

‘For although we are walking in the flesh (physical appearance), we do not wage war in a fleshly way. Since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but physical through God for the demolition of strongholds.’

Paul was writing Ephesians from a jail cell but he didn’t consider himself a prisoner of circumstance, he refers to himself as the prisoner of the Lord. It didn’t matter to Paul that he was in jail, where ever he was he knew he was to do the Lord’s work. Our ministry statement ‘WE MUST BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF OUR LORD AND FRIEND’.

Let us finish with Ephesians 2:17-18

‘Christ came and preached peace to you who were far away and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Holy Spirit.’

This is a brief study of Ephesians we would leave you to read. The whole book is refreshing for your walk with our Lord and friend.

We will leave you with a reflective thought: ‘It is never the cost of your ministry (or walk) that is inspirated, it is the fruit of your ministry (or walk) that is important to God’.

God bless.

OFJ

Psalm 1: The two directions.

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked?”   [holman study bible]

“Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly” [king James version]

The word happy, “blessedness of” refers to the joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing that one is right with God, even though at times conflict with the world may bring disagreements.

The poem written on our first post “Oh what it is`to be a Christian” refers to this kind of Happiness [blessedness of knowing]

The second part of this verse “the advice of the wicked” [hsb]

“Not the counsel of the ungodly” [kjv]

We need the advice of unbelievers through life on technical issues, such as doctors and lawyers [not all doctors and lawyers are unbelievers just examples of people we may need advice from] But with the things pertaining to God, moral issues, and faithfulness we need more than just the counsel of man. We need that joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing Him.

From the poem again: “the light real Christians follow is the everlasting Presence of God”.

Don’t be confused; the ‘happy’ refered to in the first translation [hsb]

                          is ‘thye blessed’ in the [kjv]

comes from the original Hebrew ‘esher, [eh’-sher] happiness, which literally means we have the Blessed assurance of who He is and that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Think about that over your morning coffee, think about that over those stress inducing moments, think about that when the giants around you rear their ugly heads and try to beat you into submission. He will never leave you or forsake you.

So today be Happy, and hold onto that blessed assurance of who he is!

Feels like a great day coming!

Everybody has a confession, everybody has a belief.

In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 16 verses 13 to 20, there is a wonderful gem of Truth.

Jesus asked those close to Him who do people say that He is. There are many opinions around today as well, but most exciting gem of truth from the scripture is not that Peter said it, it was what Peter said.

Verse 16 Simon{Peter] answered ” You {Jesus} are the Messiah the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus’s response was even more exciting, “Simon{Peter] you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal that to you but My Father in heaven.”

The reality of Truth is in all of us, but the awakening to that Truth that Peter said is available to all of us.

People, friends and clergy {ministers pastors priest] may tell us about Jesus and His teachings but until His teachings become alive to us, the revelation of who Jesus is just a belief or tradition.

Ask and keep on asking and God will reveal the fullness of Himself to you.

The Reality of the Christ {messiah] is the hidden Gem through all scripture, and is the bases of our confession My LORD MY FRIEND.