Ephesians: Lesson 6 - Day 1

Ephesians 4: 1 - 16

Do you like to know the "why" of things? Do you respond better to difficulties when you understand the "why" of it? So many of us do! We don't always get a "why" ... but we certainly like it when we do. As we move into Chapter 4 of Ephesians, we are going to be examining very practical, behavioral instructions. What Paul has done in chapters 1 - 3 is develop the "why" - why behavior, why ethics, why character all matter so much. Let's summarize what we have learned ...

In Chapter 1, Paul describes our possessions in Christ. And they are lavish and extravagant and eternal and far beyond our imaginations. He then prays that we "get it" - that we understand.

In Chapter 2, Paul describes our position in Christ. And it is truly amazing. Believers are seated with Christ. We have peace of heart and are truly at home. He then begins to pray that we "get it" ... and is distracted when he considers the place of the Gentiles ... so ...

In Chapter 3, Paul describes the mystery of God revealed in Christ ... the joining together into one new person Jew and Gentile ... both having access to God, both members of God's household. He describes the mystery of God that is the church. And he prays that we "get it" - that we begin to comprehend.

Now comes the gigantic ... SO WHAT? What difference does all this make in the way I live my life everyday, in ordinary circumstances - both good and bad, pleasant and unpleasant, exhilarating and devastating?

Enter Ephesians 4:1 ... walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Walk worthy ... Don't be concerned right now if you don't know what that means. Believe me, Paul is going to get quite specific so that we know exactly what he means. Walk worthy ... live your life in a way that is worthy (or suitable or valuable) of the position that God has placed you in - in Christ. Walk worthy ... live your life in a way that is suitable for one carrying the possessions that you hold in Christ. Walk worthy ... live your life in a way that is worthy for one who has received the mystery of God and has become a member of this new entity - Christ's church, His body.

One author (Max Anders in Holman's New Testament Commentary on Ephesians) tells of Princess Margaret, as a young girl, sitting beside her mother, Queen Elizabeth. The occasion was the princess's first presentation to the British public. She is called upon to walk to the microphone and say a few words to the gathered dignitaries. As she prepares to stand, her mother leans over to her and says, "You are a princess. Walk like one!"

Max goes on to describe another scene ...
Eighteen-year-old Chuck has gone through twelve of the toughest weeks of any one's life in Marine boot camp in coastal South Carolina. During the last week they are forced to crawl under rolls of barbed wire with live machine gun ammunition blazing just inches over their heads. Chuck freezes. He begins to sweat. His hands dig into the red clay beneath him as panic sweeps his soul. Just then, a friend crawls up beside him and says, "Get a hold of yourself, Chuck. You're a Marine. Act like one!"

Identity is linked with actions. Character is molded from chosen behaviors. In the first 3 chapters of Ephesians, Paul is intent on you understanding that, as a believer, you are a child of God. Now ... ACT LIKE ONE!

Lord, we place ourselves in Your hands.

We pray that out of Your great mercy and love,

You will give us the courage to look ourselves squarely in the eye.

Help us focus on our own behaviors, not those of spouses, or friends,

or fellow church members.

Give us wisdom to see ourselves clearly.

Give us the determination, through the power of Your Spirit,

to quit making excuses for careless and/or bad behaviors.

We DO DESIRE to walk worthy of the call You have given us.

And through Your grace and Spirit and power, we will do it,

to the praise of Your Name.

Ephesians: Lesson 5 - Day 3

Read Ephesians 3: 14 - 21

After Paul had revealed to his readers the great mystery of God for humanity, he is again moved to pray for these Christ - followers. Let's notice a couple of things together.

First, note his posture. The word that is translated as "bowing the knee" is more dramatic than kneeling. It actually means 'to prostrate ones self'. It reflects intensity and deep humility. Barclay tells us that the "ordinary Jewish attitude of prayer was standing, with the hands stretched out and the palms upwards." Don't you know this verbal description of being on your face before God caught attention! Have you experienced being in a totally helpless state where you could not even sit ... you just laid out flat before God? It gives us a glimpse into the depth of feeling and the intensity of emotion as Paul entreats God on behalf of these believers.

Secondly, I am moved by the use of the the word "Father". Jesus was not the first to call God Father. In both the Greek and the Roman pantheons of gods Zeus (Greek) and Jupiter (Roman) were considered the father of the gods and of men. However, the word meant paternity. Men can father children and never even see them, much less care for them. And it happens all too often in this broken world. What Jesus brings to the picture of Jehovah God is the inclusion of intimacy - true fatherhood - including love and care, discipline and nurture. However, this is not mushy sentimentality. We hear Paul speak of this Father as full of glory and incredible power - worthy of praise and thanksgiving and worship. H. L. Gee tells a story about a little boy in Britain whose father was promoted to the exalted rank of brigadier. When he heard the news and the accolades that accompanied the promotion he was silent for a bit. He then said, "Do you think he will mind if I still call him daddy?" And those in my generation remember well the picture that blanketed this country of little John-John playing in the well of the desk in the oval office ... while his daddy, President Kennedy, was at work.
Father ... our Father ... who art in heaven ... hallowed is Your Name.

Third, meditate on the things for which Paul prays. He prays for this Father ... to strengthen you in your inner self through His Holy Spirit. The inner self includes your reason, your conscience, and your will. That strength only comes when Christ "dwells" in your heart through faith. I must ask each of us ... has Christ been allowed to dwell, to settle in, to set up residence in your heart? Or, is He an invited guest on occassion? The secret of strength is the presence of Christ. There is no substitute. You may be able to fake it for awhile ... but the only way to sustain steadfastness of purpose and character and strength and perseverance ... is through the very life of Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit. Talk to Him about that.

Paul longs for us all to begin to comprehend the absolute vastness of the love of Christ. It seems that he had no descriptors that were sufficient. So ... I wonder if he looked at the universe itself ... and invited his readers to imagine the limitless sky above, the limitless horizons on every side, and the depth of the earth itself with its seas. Christ's love ... he so desired that these Christ-followers grow in their depth of understanding of this incomprehensible phenomenon.

It is THIS God ... to whom Paul ascribes glory ... forever ... AMEN.

Ephesians: Lesson 5 - Day 2

Read Ephesians 3 again today. This time, as you read, focus your attention on the language about "mystery". In your notebook, make notes to yourself about what you learn. Find the verse where the mystery is defined. Then return ...



First, let's consider the word "mystery". The word used by Paul is not the same as the word in English. When we think of a mystery, we think of something that we must figure out. Mystery novels are fun to read because they challenge our mind to put the pieces together and figure out the secret. The Greek word used in this text is mysterion. "In a Semitic context it refers to what is known only because God revealed it." (NIV Application Commentary on Ephesians) The mystery of God's will has been revealed to Paul. He didn't figure it out. God revealed it to him. Paul was not the only one. God had also revealed the "mystery" to Peter. You read about that in Acts 10. Paul explains the mystery in verse 6 so that we can know also ... "that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

And that defines Paul's entire mission and ministry. He goes on to say that God had made him a minister (a servant) of that mystery. His task was to share that amazing revelation to the Gentile world. He also felt that his work was a gift of God's grace. God's design to include all of humanity in His love was not an afterthought. Including the Gentile world did not come about because the Jews rejected it. It was His plan all along. What an incredibly beautiful revelation that is!

Is it only Paul's task? Verse 10 includes the church in that mission. That is our task as well - to communicate to a fractured world the inclusion that can come in Christ. Too often the church has added her own exclusivity and division to the mix. We cannot, we must not, perpetuate that idea and practice. Our world is in desperate need of a voice that speaks love, unity and community. It will require "incomparably great power" - the power of the Holy Spirit working in individual believers and in the church in all of her various places and styles.

Klyne Snodgrass says, "Christians in the pews as well as the pulpits need to protest the arrogance, the superficiality, and division that mark our churches. We do not have to agree on all points to respect each other, to be driven by God's love, to recover the meaning of faith, to exhibit life in Christ, and to worship God."

A tall challenge indeed! However, with the power of the Holy Spirit alive and active in and through us, it can be met in the name of our Lord. Will you join me in prayer for Christ's church? Include your own specific congregation of God's people ... and include the church at large all around the world.

We will examine the beautiful prayer that closes this chapter in our next day's work. As you read it ... Again I encourage you to write it out ... include the names of the people you love ... AND include Christ's church.

The mystery of God ............ revealed!

Ephesians: Lesson 5 - Day 1

Today we begin our consideration of Ephesians 3. So ... read Ephesians 3 and then come back to these thoughts.......

We will stay in this chapter for all three days of work in Lesson 5. I want us to reflect on 1) the man, Paul; 2) the mystery revealed; and 3) the prayer offered.

Today, let's think about Paul - this man of giant-sized faith. Notice from verse 1 that Paul describes himself as "a prisoner of Christ Jesus". We know from previous study that Paul is in Rome, as a prisoner, waiting a trial before Nero. He did have certain privileges. He was in a house that he had rented. Friends and supporters could come and go for visits and interaction. But do not forget that he was chained to the wrist of a Roman soldier who was his guard. As he wrote these words, I wonder if the chain continually swept across the parchment. I wonder if it made noise. I wonder how tight it was and if movement rubbed and hurt. I wonder if the soldier read as Paul wrote. But what I find most curious is that Paul does not describe himself as a prisoner of Rome. Why does he describe himself as a prisoner of Christ?

I believe we see a man for whom Christ was all and in all. Christ was his very life and his work. Listen to William Barclay as he says, "If a man is in prison for some great cause he may either grumblingly regard himself as an ill-used creature, or he may radiantly regard himself as the standard-bearer of some great cause. The one regards his prison as a penance; the other regards it as a privilege. When we are undergoing hardship, we may either regard ourselves as the victims of men or as the champions of Christ. Paul is our example ..." Paul is faithfully fulfilling the work that Christ called him out to do. And his steadfastness and faithfulness is indeed a model for us. It is why he can say in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."

What is it that Paul would have us imitate? In what arenas does he link himself with Christ? Listen to Jesus in John 17:4 ...

"I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." (NIV)

Read Paul's own words in 2 Timothy 4: 4 - 8.

Paul was unyielding in faithfulness. He would not allow set-backs, hardships, conflicts and controversies, mean-spirited people, opposition, tiredness, imprisonment ... he would not allow anything to lure him off course. He was singularly driven to share the message of grace and inclusion to the Gentile world.

Is there application for you and me? Remember what we read in Ephesians 2:10 ... "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." What have you been "called" by God to do? What good works do you believe that God has laid out before you? You won't earn your salvation through them ... Paul is painfully clear on that point! But are you faithful to them? Am I? Do you persevere in the face of hard times? Do I? Are you persistent? Or do you get discouraged easily? (I am writing for myself, believe me!) Let's learn from Paul.

We are indeed all prisoners of Christ Jesus ... if we are "in Him". So the challenge I leave with each of us today ... walk faithfully. The message, the good news, of the grace of God and the inclusion into the family of God is worthy of hardship and struggle ... it is worthy of perseverance and pain.

Keep telling the story!

Ephesians: Lesson 4 - Day 3

One more time ... read Ephesians 2: 11 - 22. Let your mind focus on the beautiful pictures in verses 19 - 22.



As Paul continues to encourage his readers to understand more fully the beauty and the inclusiveness of their position in Christ, he uses the images of citizenship and family in verse 19. In our country currently there are intense debates on the situation that exists with people who are in our land illegally - they are not citizens. Should they have the same rights and privileges that citizens enjoy? How far should our government go to help and support people here illegally? The debates are important, serious and intense. The problems are huge, costly and far-reaching. And I pray for the wisdom of those in authority to handle the difficult questions. But at its core ... this is an "inclusion" question. Move into the spiritual realm and you will better understand what Paul is saying. He is telling the Gentiles (you and me) that we can have citizenship ... we can be "legal"! So the arguments about inclusion and privilege and rights can be laid to rest. The rights and freedoms of this country belong to her citizens. We must never loose sight of the fact that along with privilege comes responsibilities. So it is with the Kingdom of God. Paul tells us that we are no longer strangers, illegals ... because of the blood of Christ, because of the cross ... we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Amazing!

But don't stop there. He then uses the picture of family. That picture is even more intimate. We are of "God's household." Again there are freedoms and rights and privileges that come with being a part of a family. There is a name to wear. And there are responsibilities to carry. The concept of being adopted into God's family is used often in scripture. (examples: Romans 8:15; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4: 5-6) We have already looked at some of what Ephesians says to us about inheritance. That language makes sense in the concept of family. God is my Father ... you are my brothers and sisters in the Lord ... Jesus is my brother ... I am a co-heir with Him. A very privileged position indeed! Let us not follow the human tendency to begin to act as if ... or to even think as if ... that position makes us better than anyone. Remember - it is by grace alone!

The final picture Paul uses in this discussion is that of a temple. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that we are the temple of God. Indeed - each of us that is indwelt by the Spirit of God is a temple. However, we are also part of a greater temple, Christ's church, and every Christian is a living stone built into that temple. Look again at the language in verses 20 - 22. Paul speaks of this temple "having been built" (the past), "being fitted together" (the present), and "growing into" (the future). As a part of the body of Christ, we are allowed to participate in the greatest work of God - showing Christ to the world around us.

You are the temple ................................. and You are a part of the temple.

Ubi Christus, ibi ecclesia

Where Christ is ... there is the Church.

Congratulations on walking through the first 2 chapters of Ephesians.

For our review ...

Remember ...

Chapter 1 - Possessions in Christ

Chapter 2 - Position in Christ

Spend some time in prayer over these most remarkable truths ...

Ephesians: Lesson 4 - Day 2

Read Ephesians 2: 11 - 22 again today. I find reading out loud helps my mind to focus. As you read this time pay particular attention to what Paul says about "peace". What do learn about this most elusive quality?

When the New Testament uses the word, peace, it means much more than absence of conflict. From the NIV Application Commentary: "Peace is not merely the cessation of hostility; it is a comprehensive term for salvation and life with God. The background to this use is the Old Testament concept of shalom, which covers wholeness, physical well-being, prosperity, security, good relations, and integrity." Isaiah 9:6 calls the coming Messiah, the "Prince of Peace".

Did you notice in verse 14 that Christ, Himself, IS our peace? Not that He brought it ... but that He IS it? "This suggests that not only ‘He alone’ but ‘He in His own Person’ made peace. It is not only that the peace was made by Christ and ranks as His achievement, but that it is so identified with Him that were He away it would also fail,—so dependent on Him that apart from Him we cannot have it.” (from: Wuest, K. S. Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader)

We learn in verse 17 that Jesus preached peace - to those near (the Jews) and to those far away (the Gentiles). The word used for "preach" here is not the usual one that means "to proclaim". A different Greek word is used that means "to bring good news". And it is good news, is it not?! There can be peace ... there really can be a hope for shalom among peoples.

William Barclay says, "It is in a common love of Him that people come to love each other. That peace is won at the price of His blood, for the great awakener of love is the Cross. The sight of that Cross awakens in the hearts of men of all nations love for Christ, and only when they all love Christ will they love each other. It is not in treaties and leagues to produce peace. There can be peace only in Jesus Christ."

Imagine using a telephoto lens and pulling back as far as possible so that you get a full view of our world. The brokenness, the warring, the hatred - it is overwhelming. The magnitude of the problems and the conflicts leave me speechless and dumb. I have no voice on that world stage. And so I begin to bring that lens in - focusing on a much closer world, my immediate world. I do have a bit of a voice in my immediate world and my immediate circles. When you focus your eyes on the world that directly surrounds you, what do you see? Is there any warring going on? Is there any hatred? Is there any brokenness and loss? Where do you need to experience peace more fully? Is it in your home, your family? Perhaps in your church? Maybe you long to experience peace in your workplace? Those are the practice fields my friends. That is where the "rubber meets the road" so to speak.

If you are "in Christ", He IS your peace. And in getting to know Him better (as Paul prays for us in Ephesians 1:17) we grow in our ability to experience peace. That will not mean that all conflict and controversy will magically disappear from your life. But it does mean that you will handle those things is a very different way. You will grow in your ability (through the Spirit of God) to handle them with love.

Remember - Christ is our peace. He has extended grace and forgiveness, inclusion and hope to us. We are called to extend that grace to others (not just the people you like!) in His name.

So ... this week ... practice with me ... living in peace, living in Christ.

Ephesians: Lesson 4 - Day 1

Ephesians 2: 11 - 22

As you read these verses today, watch again for the "before - after" scenarios. In your notebook, make two columns ... one side for the "formerly" and one side for the "in Christ". Spend some time reflecting on those things. Don't just write them down as an exercise or an assignment ... think about yourself ... how those phrases described you before you were "in Christ" ... and what it means to you to be "in Christ." It will lead you into a beautiful time of worship. Immerse yourself there! Are you not "in Christ"? Let me hear from you ... let's talk!

Now focus on verses 11 - 13. Paul tells us to "remember". This is the only imperative that Paul gives in the first 3 chapters of this letter - the only direct instruction. Why does it matter - remembering? We love to remember the good things, the joyful times, the successes. And they are important to remember because they remind us of joy and strength and victory. However, we are not as ready to remember the painful, the abusive, the failures. In fact, many of us may suppress those memories deep down never to be thought about again! But Paul calls these Ephesians to remember how bad it was! I can think of a couple of reasons to remember the painful ... First, it stands in stark contrast to the now, in Christ. The contrast keeps us from becoming so familiar with the current that we forget how far we have come! The contrast helps keep us from becoming jaded. Secondly, remembering the painful allows us to see the scars, and see how the hand of God held us or walked us or carried us through tough times and circumstances. So remember ... it is good.

Most commentators see a veiled reference to the Temple in Jerusalem in verse 13. The Temple had several courts before you came to the actual Holy Place. And the most outer ring was the court of the Gentiles. A Gentile could not go past that court. In Josephus's description of the Temple, he says: "When you went through these first cloisters unto the second court of the Temple, there was a partition made of stone all round, whose height was three cubits. Its construction was very elegant; upon it stood pillars at equal distances from one another, declaring the law of purity, some in Greek and some in Roman letters, that no foreigner should go within the sanctuary." (from: The Wars of the Jews) In fact, for a Gentile to go past the wall was his death sentence! This wall, this barrier, shut the Gentile out from the presence of God.

Imagine it ... shut out. No access. Paul knew that barrier very well. In fact, his final arrest in Jerusalem which led to his being in Rome and in prison, was because he was accused (falsely) of bringing an Ephesian Gentile, Trophimus, into the Temple beyond this wall. (Acts 21: 28 - 29)

But "in Christ" ... the barrier walls are down. You can be "brought near". No longer excluded because of country or culture or ethnicity or economics or education or history or sin or ... You can be brought near to God because of Jesus ... in Him ... through the Holy Spirit ... access to the very person of Jehovah God. Astounding. Remarkable. Awe-inspiring. Gratitude enhancing. And the "message" that our world desperately needs to hear. It is the "message" that our churches desperately needs to REMEMBER!

Do you need to remember?