That you might comprehend

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3.16-19

This is such a beautiful passage of scripture. It follows up on being ‘rooted and grounded in love with a prayer that we might comprehend with all the saints:

The breadth of God’s love
The length of God’s love
The depth of God’s love
The height of Gods love
To know the love of God that can’t be fully comprehended

As we finish 2019 it is good to be reminded of God’s love. None of us know what 2020 holds. Its kind of a scary thought – or would be if we didn’t have the knowledge of the love of God.

If I could just well and truly comprehend the love of God and fully grasp that God loves me I would trust. Not only does He love me, but He is the One who can do something to help. Just like children don’t always understand what parents do or why the do or why they don’t get what they want we won’t always get it. Its even better for us. We as parents can and do make mistakes and fail despite our best efforts God never will.

O may I grasp the immensity of His love and what His love can mean to me.

Rooted in love

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3.16-19

What a great way to end 2019. The last couple of days are focused on the love of God. Paul writes effusively about love. He begins  here with the notion that our faith must be rooted and grounded in love.

Love is the foundation of all else that we do. All of our thoughts and action and deeds and notions and ideas and plans must take root in love.

This is a concept I am still learning. For many years churches I attended were so busy ‘earnestly contending for the faith’ that love was shunted into  the background. Love was preached about but I don’t think I ever heard a message about doing everything in love or about being established in love. My preaching was the same way for a long,  long time.

I am only now beginning to see the vital importance of Bible love. I have often acted out of fear of being called a liberal or being called soft or whatever instead out building on roots of love for God and love for others.

I don’t see how we can miss it. Jesus said all of the Law summed up with ‘love God and love others.’ ‘Do everything on love’ Paul wrote to the Corinthians. He wrote to the same church ‘now abides faith and hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.’

What determines what I think and say and do? If it is not love then I need to reconsider my motives.

Christ dwelling in me

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3.16-19

Part of Paul’s marvellous prayer for the saints is that we would allow Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith. Faith opens to door for Christ to move into our lives. The word ‘dwell’ means more than just to stay here. It means that He has moved in to stay.

We talk about the ‘indwelling Christ.’ Once I am saved I am a whole new man. I am not alone. Christ dwells in my heart and gives me the power to live like Him.

That’s a powerful thought. I heard some preachers, including myself, use that as a scare tactic to illicit right behaviour. That’s true and we can’t just ignore it, but I don’t think that’s the most important thing any more. The whole context here is love.

That means that Christ, the essence and epitome of love, is dwelling with me despite my failings and flaws and failures. He doesn’t leave – Jesus is at home in my heart.

Now, if He dwells in me and nothing is too hard for Him, what do I need to fear? Things may not and probably will not go according to plan, but the all knowing Creator and God will get me through it.

As a believer it is never just be alone. It is me and Him.

Strengthen

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3.16-19

How do we get the strength we need to keep on keeping on in this troubled world? How do we find the strength to ‘bow the knee’ in submission to the will of God? I am so weak and my faith can be so small that I often find myself battling doubts and fears. How do we ‘keep on keeping on’ when our strength is gone?

That’s just it. The problem is ‘our strength’ and our reliance on that. My strength is always going to fail – every time. I am weak and the sooner I realise that the sooner I can learn to depend on His strength instead of mine. That is the only place I am ever going to find success.

We read verse like ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ and ‘nothing is impossible with God’ and because they are so familiar, we can forget what they really mean. A lot is too hard for me, but nothing is too hard for God.

It makes no difference what we face. It’s easy to say but tough to live. No matter what we face today we can rest in the confidence that even if we can’t do it, God’s strength gives us the power to get through it. All the riches of God’s glory insure it.

I bow the knee

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, - Ephesians 3.14-15

Do you ever come to a time in your life when you just don’t know what to do? You’ve tried everything and looked at all the angles and still can’t see what God is doing and why things are going the way they are.

What should our response be then?

Honestly, it should be what in good times we bow the knee to worship God with heart felt praise and adoration and thanksgiving. It is easy then.

But that’s the same thing we should do when times get tough. It’s a lot harder then, but that is also the times to bow our knees to worship God with heart felt adoration and praise and thanksgiving.

That’s when our faith and trust is tested. That’s when we step back and trust that God is love and He loves me and He knows what is best in the eternal scheme of things.

Chris Machen words it perfectly in marvellous hymn ‘Bow The Knee.’

There are moments on our journey following the Lord
Where God illumines ev'ry step we take
There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us
As we try to understand each move He makes
When the path grows dim and our questions have no answers, turn to Him

Bow the knee
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see
Bow the knee
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity
And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan
In the presence of the King, bow the knee

There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall
The cold and lonely winds won't cease to blow
And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel
We are tempted to believe God does not know
When the storms arise, don't forget we live by faith and not by sight

Bow the knee
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see
Bow the knee
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity
And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan
In the presence of the King, bow the knee

Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

Made known through the church

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. -  Ephesians 3.11-12

God could have chosen a myriad of ways to reveal Himself and His plan of salvation to the world. We could have made a morning announcement from Heaven. He could have emblazoned it across the skies. He could have carved it into the mountains. 

God didn’t do that though. God chose another method to make it known. God chose His body, the church, to make known the manifold wisdom of God and that it is according to His eternal purpose. 

He chose you and me. 

Think about that for a second – God chose flawed vessels like Peter and Paul and Roger and Mary and indeed all of us to make know the way of salvation to the world around us. 

I may never meet the people you know. You may never meet my friends and neighbours.That’s why God uses the church and its member to get His world out. We are everywhere. 

Are we doing what Jesus has called us to do as members of His body? 

The grace of God has appeared

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; - Titus 2.11-13

There is a lot we could talk about this Christmas morning. We could focus on the name Immanuel. We could focus on the physical incarnation of God. We could focus on gifts and the ultimate gift.

This Christmas though I want to focus on the phrase ‘grace of God that brings salvation had appeared to all men.’

The word used for the appearance of Christ is the Greek word epipheneo. It is a word which means appearing like a light in the darkness. It is a sudden appearing of the grace of God that happened the night that Jesus was born in the manger.

Suddenly Light came into the darkness. The birth of Christ brought the light that the world needed.

Sadly though the world rejected the Light. The coming of the Light has been rejected by the darkness. Today the appearance of the the true Light has been replaced by a winter carnival of gift giving and parties.

I like the secular aspects of the Christmas celebration. I am sitting here looking at our tree and enjoying Christmas music.

In the midst of all that fun lets remember that true reason for the season. In a little bit we will gather together for a true celebration of the day.

The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to bring salvation to all men. Lets use this time to share that good news!

Less than the least

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; - Ephesians 3.8

When most of us think of Paul we think of the greatest Christian, or at least the great missionary who ever lived. He was converted from a violent and virulent and vicious hater of The Way obsessed with their destruction spewing out venom and hatred and trying to arrest and kill ant Christian he could find into a man with a bold passion to preach the gospel. He went to Antioch to seek out believers and ended up preaching the gospel in the very synagogue where he was to to find them.

He wrote most of the the New Testament. He started churches all over Asia Minor and the Middle East and even travelled to Europe with the gospel. His credentials certainly would put him on the list The Missionary of the Millennia.

How though, did Paul see Himself?

The chiefest of sinners

Less than the least of all the apostles

Paul never really got over what he had done to God’s people. We laid the past aside but it was always there niggling at Him. He was amazed that God could use him. He had no room for pride – he knew that only God made him worthy to serve Him.

There is no room for pride today. We are blessed that God counted us worthy of doing His work. His work – to preach the unspeakable riches of Christ to those around us.

Sadly most us take that grace lightly, kind of like we take the grace of giving. God can use any one us – even the less than the least – to serve Him.

A minister by grace

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. – Ephesians 3.6-7

Paul thanks God for the ministry God has given him to the Gentiles. That would have been quite a change of attitude for this ‘Jew of Jews’ because to the Jews Gentiles were seen as not worthy of God, or even life, were the truth to be known

Paul says that he was made a minister to them by the grace of of God in order for God to show His power through him.

The grace of God to minister for Him is not just for Paul or just for anyone else. God gives all of us the ministry of reconciling man to Him. He has counted us worthy to serve Him and given us that wonderful privilege.

Paul certainly knew how to use the ministry God gave him the Gentiles and he did it with a fervour. The question we must ask is if we are willing to us the privilege to reach those whom He has given us. God has given us family and coworkers and people we see on a regular basis and people we just happen to bump into who may never meet another Christian.

Paul was obsessed with his ministry as much as he was obsessed just as much as he was obsessed with his former persecution of The Way.

How seriously do we take the ministry that God has graciously given us to reach those people in our lives?

The household of God

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. – Ephesians 2.19-22

‘I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…’

So starts a great old gospel song about just what the family of God is and why we are so blessed to be a part of it.

I love familyship. I understand that not every family situation is great and some are terrible situations and that is a great tragedy. A good family is such a wonderful blessing. Even when we have difficult relatives and sad situations we still have each other.

One of the greatest of blessings of the faith is that we become part of God’s household – His family. Where even the best of human families had weaknesses and flaws God’s family is perfect. He is the perfect Father so He fathers perfectly which no human father has ever done.

I am blessed to have brothers and sisters in Naas, all over Ireland and all over the world. The branch of family in our church has brothers and sisters from Ireland, England, Romania, Moldova, the US, Angola, Poland, the Philippines, Nigeria, and South Africa. Skin colour, ethnicity, languages, and accents mean nothing in our family. We are nor perfect, no family is, but I love being a part of the household of God. We all fit together and we are growing into a holy habitation.

And it’s all because God broke down the barriers, ended the enmity, and drew us all close to Him.

Thank God for His wonderful household.

Abolished the enmity

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. – Ephesians 2.15-18

Before Christ man was in a desperate shape. Not only were the Jews and Gentiles at enmity with each other, but all men were at enmity with God. Man was at war with God.

Sadly we couldn’t go to the bargaining table and try to work out a peace settlement. We have nothing to offer the peace talks. We have no hope and can only come to the table willing to surrender to God.

What we need to realise though is our situation we have a God who wants to love us and to draw us close to Him and draw us into to Him.

Our sin separates us from God. Sin makes it impossible for us to walk with Him in this life our the next. Only God can end the enmity between Himself and a sinful world. He sent His sent to make that peace. All we can do is to accept that peace offer and become His friends instead of His enemies.

In one act God struck down the barriers between us and Him. The enmity was caused by sin and man could not solve it. God Himself became ‘God with us’ when He took on human flesh. He went to the cross and paid for our sin with His life. There is no enmity for those who will accept that gift that allows us to draw nigh to God.

Made nigh

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2.11-14

This section of Ephesians is Paul’s attempt to mend the rift between those who felt that those of The Way must also still be people of The Law and those who rejoiced in the the fact that the gospel was for all.

In telling us that Gentiles were saved the same way as Jews He tells is something even more important. He is saying here that all who were once far off from God can now be made close to Him.

Our sin separated us from God. He lives in a high and lofty place an inhabits eternity. He is far above the man and no one can approach Him. But He also lives with those of broken and contrite hearts. We can be close to Him, but not by anything we can do. It is all His work. God wants all of us, who were once far off to be made close. He sent His Son to us because we had no way to get close to Him. Now all we have to do is to call on Him.

Ordained to good works

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. - Ephesians 2.8-10

Paul has made it abundantly clear that good works can do nothing to save us. Religion tends to teach just that – we must do something to placate God. When this was written devout Jews were still trying to keep the Law to earn their way to God. Paul spends vast amounts of time in his letters telling us that this is not true. Works can do nothing to save us.

Yet we still read Jesus words about caring for the poor and doing good an other good works. So what is the balance. We are not saved by works, but we are told to do them.

Paul makes that clear here. Were are not saved my works but it is ordained by God that we should walk in good works.

Faith and works do go hand in hand, not for salvation but as a result of salvation. Faith works and it works clearly in the lives of believers. Faith changes us and our works evidence that change.

I’ll admit it is tough thing to see and I don’t understand it all. We know we are not perfect. We know that not all Christians are doing as well as others. Some are backslidden. Even Lot was called righteous. I’ll have to leave that to God.

There is not doubt though that God has ordained that His people do good works. We all fail at times – but our goal ought to be to fulfil what we are ordained to do. I can’t answer for anyone else, but I can check my life and see if my daily works reflect the great work that God has done in me.

His workmanship

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. - Ephesians 2.8-10

Years ago, when master craftsmen still crafted their Waterford Crystal masterpieces down in Waterford, we were fortunate to be there on a day when they allowed us into the workshop of a master working on his masterpiece.  It was to be the epitome of everything else he has done. This is his ultimate workmanship and the piece we saw was astounding.

I can’t grasp that in the light of the passage. I can’t grasp the truth that I am Jesus’ workmanship. In me He is moulding a masterpiece. I am the work of His hands. It’s a bit of a mixed metaphor He is the Master Potter and I am the work of His hands.

I have to ask myself though – do I look like His masterpiece to the world round me. Do I reflect The Master’s master work, or do I keep His masterpiece hidden behind my own flesh? Would I rather reflect God’s work or reflect the world around me?

I have the chance to draw others to Christ by showing them what God can do with a lump of clay or a handful of heated dust.

Will I let Christ me seen in me?

Lest any man should boast

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. - Ephesians 2.8-10

Salvation is God’s great gift. The thing about. Gift is that it can’t be earned and if he could be earned we would surely brag about how great we were in order to achieve it. We would be like the Pharisee who bragged about how he paid this tithes and observed the sacrifices and did his good deeds as a way to enter the kingdom of God. The poor sinner, on the other hand, simply said ‘be merciful to me a sinner.’

It would be easy to brag if we got to heaven based on how much good as opposed to how much bad we had done, and, to be honest, we would deserve it. God’s standard is perfection. Sadly, that just ain’t gonna happen so no one is going to be able to take credit for getting to heaven.

Our only hope is the cry of the sinner we saw above. ‘I can’t do anything Lord. I am a sinner unworthy of You. Show me Your mercy.’

As the old song put it ‘boasting excluded, pride I abase, I’m only a sinner saved by grace.’

The Gift

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. - Ephesians 2.8-10

We are in the midst of the Christmas season so this is a good time to come cross this verse. We are all thinking about gifts and giving. Hopefully our thoughts are more on what we can give than what we can get, but this is not the time nor place for that. We are speaking about the most precious gift of all.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. He gave – a gift. Gifts are free or they are not gifts. If they could be earned they would be rewards.

Salvation though is not a reward. It is not a paycheque. It is not a prize for our good effort. It is not a trophy for a victory.

It is a free gift, pure and simple. It lays there, if you will, under the tree. For the gift to be our all we have to do is to take it.

Once we have it it is ours. A true gift won’t be taken back.

Praise God for that greatest gift!

By grace through faith

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. - Ephesians 2.8-10

Ephesians 2.8-10 might be the best single mini-lesson on the doctrine of salvation in the entire word of God It summarises, in just a few short words, how we got saved and what we ought to do about it.

It all starts with ‘for by grace are you saved through faith’ and we could really stop there in many ways. That summarises what salvation is all about.

If we weren’t for the grace of God there would be no hope for salvation and if I were not for the gift of faith we could never exercise it.

Salvation is all of God. We’ll look at this a lots more in the next couple of days but it is clear even in these few words.

By grace we are saved
Through faith we are saved

And as a result
To God alone be the glory

There is no room there for works. There is no room there for our own effort. Even is there was we would all for short of the glory of God.

So we rely on grace alone, through faith alone. And that makes al the difference for all eternity.

Abounding with thanks

rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving – Ephesians 2.7

Established in the faith.

That goes along with the rooting and built up that we saw yesterday. Paul makes is clear that we have a rock solid foundation for all the rest of this passage.

We are called though to do much more than just be established. Once we are established we are called to abound in our salvation with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving and salvation go hand in hand. If all else fails we can still give thanks because we still know that our eternity is secure and we can abound with thanksgiving.

It seems like there are times when I abound in the just opposite – frets and worries and concerns.

Abound with thanksgiving. In every give thanks. Offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Giving thanks for all things. Don’t be full of cares but pray with thanksgiving.

Now, the truth is that unless we are properly rooted and properly built up, we can never see why we should always give thanks. We miss the point.

So be rooted and built up, and when we are we can abound with thanksgiving!

Rooted and built up

rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving – Ephesians 2.7

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

We find this verse near the very beginning of Psalm 1. The word of God is so perfect and so complete that they tie perfectly into these words from Paul in Ephesians.

Because of our rooting we can be assured that our work will bear fruit one day if we do not quit. One day God is going to honour our service because we are rooted in Him and not on our abilities.

My roots are set deeply in Christ and nothing else. In Him I find my stability and my daily sustenance that allows me to bear fruit with abundance.

Rooted deeply I have all the the strength I need to be built up and growing in Christ.

With Christ

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: - Ephesians 2.5-6

Again – we were dead in sin, BUT GOD quickened us in His grace and and not only that He raised up together with Christ and allowed us to sit in heavenly places in Christ.

There is so much here. We could pause and look at ‘for by grace we are saved’ but Paul is going to cover that in more detail later. We’ve talked about being raised up.

The words I want to focus on are words ‘with Christ.’

Raised up together with Christ reminds us that our new life is in Him. It is no longer just about me. My life is now with Christ no matter where I go or what I do. My new life with Him means that my life is going to be different.

I am with Him at work and at play and church and at home. I am with Christ in good times and bad. I have to ask myself if my life reflects that my new life is truly with Christ.

I do all I do with Him by my side. Do people see that life in such a way that see Christ with me?

But God

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), - Ephesians 2.4

But God.
But God.
But God.
But God.
But God.

I could type those words all day long for their impact and importance. I can get teary eyed every time I read them. They are amazing, astounding, astonishing and awesome. Those two words make all the difference in the world, and by the way, in eternity.

We all walked according to the course of this world and our sins had condemned us to a godless eternity. This was our course of life and we could do no other. We were captive to our lusts and passions and our transgressions and our sin. We had NO HOPE in this world. We were doomed here and  for eternity.

BUT GOD!!!

Rich in mercy!
Because of the great love with which He LOVED US!

…even while we were dead in our sins MADE US ALIVE together WITH CHRIST!!!!!

How?

For by GRACE you are SAVED through FAITH.

Those truths, pardon my vernacular here, blow me away, but they are all precipitated by those two wonderful words – let me say then again – BUT GOD!!!

Where would I be without ‘but God?’

Children of wrath

in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. – Ephesians 2.2-3

Verse one ended with the words ‘your trespasses and sin’ and verse two picks up with the words ‘in which you once walked’ and it goes on to describe what it means to walk in trespasses and sin.

It says that we walked the way the world walks. It means that we walked the way the devil wanted us to walk. It means we walked as children of disobedience. We means we acted according to the lusts of our flesh and did what our flesh and mind wanted. It means that tragically we were by our very nature the children of wrath.

This explains why the world around us functions the way it does. It explains why we see such terrible crimes and horrendous actions and disregard and rampant open sin. While mankind is capable of great advances and we benefit from those advances man still is capable of great sin and destruction.

We were all that day one day. We can’t look at the world with pride or arrogance or disdain for such were all of us. There is hope for them just like there was for us and that hope starts with tomorrow’s passage – but God…

Quickened

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; - Ephesians 2.1

I love words. I wish I has studied them more than I did. I love looking up the origins and early usage of words. I listen to podcasts about them.

Quicken is on of my favourite words that is now considered archaic. I guess it is, but I still like it. The word is a great old word that means ‘made alive’. An old word for the metal mercury was quicksilver because it looked like living silver.

Anyway, enough of that.

Quickened means ‘made alive.’ Jesus took us who were dead in our trespasses and sins and made us alive.

This quickening power of the Holy Spirit is the only thing that could give us new life. We could not stir up life in our own. Without the drawing of the Holy Spirit no dead so could receive life and would be lost in their sins. It is the quickening ray that Charles Wesley wrote about.

Made alive. Quickened. Wow! Thank you Lord.

His body

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1.22-23

Jesus is the head – okay. We are His body – okay. We’ve seen that and we’ve heard that dozens of times, but what does it really mean? How does this apply to me on this Sundays the 8th of December 2019. We are in the early stages of this Christmas season. We celebrate Jesus’ coming to be the Head of the Body. We know He is in control, how do we be His body? We are called the fulness of Him. We show Jesus to the world.

How are we supposed to do that? There is a song that comes to mind when I hear that. I don’t remember the words exactly, but it asked question like ‘if we are the body why aren’t His feet going? Why aren’t His hands reaching? Why isn’t His heart loving? Why isn’t His mouth speaking?’

Jesus put us here as His body to do His work. It is up to us to do the physical going and giving and sharing and speaking. As His body we have the chance to reflect Him to the world in a real tangible way.

We are His body. He is the head. If our bodies disobey our head something is wrong – the same is true with the Body of Christ,

Under His feet

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1.22-23

He has put all things under His feet. That’s an interesting phrase and we westerners can basically understand its meaning, but we don’t get the full meaning of it to those who first heard it.

In that eastern culture the foot is the ultimate symbol of authority. You have to very careful about what you do with your feet in those societies. You never point your foot at a person. When someone threw a shoe at President Bush it was a terrible insult. When Khrushchev pounded the podium at the UN with the shoe the west chuckled while the east was in shock at his brazenness. The foot says ‘I am over you.’

So when we read that ‘Jesus put all things under His feet’ any Jewish readers would have know the full impact of what they read. They claim is that everything is subject to Jesus’ authority, and that’s exactly what he means.

Indeed today Jesus has put everything under His authority. While this broken world goes on its way we can be assured that one day Jesus is going to exert that authority.

Then why doesn’t He do it now? The answer is pretty clear – He wants all men to be saved. Eternity is more important that here and now. One day it will be done. One day Jesus will come in His authority and judge the world, but then it will be too late for the world’s chance for eternity will be over.

All things are under His feet. We must rest in that assurance.

Far above

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. – Ephesians 1.17-21

Christ has raised us up and seated us at His right hand far above all governments and powers and everything that is named in this age and in the ages to come.

He has raised up.

That’s past tense.

We are already raised up so that we are able to walk without getting entangled in the nasty affairs of this broken world. We must walk amongst them them, but we can our focus on heavenly things and with a heavenly perspective. Instead of seeing those around us as mere people walking in such a destructive way we can see them as souls who need the Saviour.

It also means that we can walk with the confidence the prophet Habakkuk showed in the midst of great struggles and confusion:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive shall fail,
and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
and he will make my feet like hinds' feet,
and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

In the midst of our worst struggles we can be assured that God will ‘make us to walk upon the high places.’

THe exceeding greatness of His power

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. – Ephesians 1.17-21

Is God strong enough to handle this? Can He do it? Can He sort it out? Is it beyond His power? Is anything too hard for God?

All of these questions can be answered by the simple phrase ‘the exceeding greatness of His power.’

I far too often underestimate the exceeding greatness of God’s power in my own situations. I far too often fret over things I can’t handle. I can’t handle this so I can tend to think that nobody, including God, can.

When I do that though I ignore the exceeding greatness of His power. I forget that He has all power. We call this theological truth the omnipotence of God – He has all power in heaven and in earth for here and now and for all eternity.

Is anything to hard for the Lord? Nothing is impossible with God.

It pretty much comes down to that. Whatever ‘impossible’ situation you and I find ourselves in today is not impossible with God. We can rejoice in the exceeding greatness of His power to do what we can’t

Glorious inheritance

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. – Ephesians 1.17-21

An inheritance is a wonderful thing. I’ve only been through receiving an inheritance a couple of times and neither was worth a whole lot of money, but it was still special. Some relative had left something for me and I received it. I think nearly everyone has that little hidden desire that there is some rich relative somewhere is going to leave us a fortune that will turn everything around.

We have looked at the inheritance here before, but since the Bible says so much about it I don’t think it hurts us to talk about it over and over. It is a vital truth and a great encouragement and blessing.

Here we read about the reaches of the glory of His inheritance. A lot of us may not have much in this world. We may have have the nicest car or biggest home. Some of us may struggle to make ends meet. We know that our God is here but we don’t all get all the material things that seem so important now.

When we get the inheritance though, and this is not a doubtful inheritance, it will change. Once days we are going to share in all the glories of its riches as we spend eternity with Him free from sin and cares and illness and sorry and woes.

What a day that will be!

The hope of His calling

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. – Ephesians 1.17-21

Here we have that wonderful world ‘hope’ again. We read it a lot and I think the reason is obvious. If we only looked at the mess this world and the mess that it is in we would not have much reason to have any hope for the long term future. Things do look hopeless. I recently was speaking to someone whose life seemed to be in a particularly hopeless situation.

Everyone needs hope. If there is no hope we might as well give up. But we have hope – not the kind of halfhearted hope like ‘I hope it doesn’t rain’ - but deep settled hope that gives us full assurance and carries us through our day to day struggles. It is the hope of heavens glories that fills our souls. It is this hope that carries us through our most difficult days and our darkest hours. It is hope not only in our security in heaven, but of His presence in the here and now. In a world with no hope we have hope in who we are because of Who Jesus is and because of what He has done.

Don’t face today without hope. No matter how dark it seems as a believer Christ is there with you. You don’t have to go though it alone.

Hope in Him.

Enlightened eyes

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. – Ephesians 1.17-21

We can read in the psalms that ‘the nations walk in darkness and don’t know what they are stumbling over. As we look around us it is obvious to see that the world is still lost in the darkness of sin. We read that the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe.

We though need not walk in that kind of darkness. We are not blind. As a part of our salvation we have the knowledge that the eyes of our understanding have been enlightened. We have a light that the world cannot see. That’s why Paul can write that we don’t need to look at the temporal things that we can see. Instead we can look at the eternal invisible things that the world can’t grasp. We have a heavenly vision that should lift us up about the trials of this world. God opens our eyes so that we learn to see things in an eternal perspective.

The problem is that we have to choose to use our enlightened eyes. Lift up our eyes and see that our help comes from the Lord. The Jews had a slightly different perspective as they travelled. We know through the psalms that when they approached Jerusalem they had hope because they knew God lived there.

We know our God is there. He has enlightened our eyes.

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.

The knowledge of Him

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come. – Ephesians 1.17-21

There is an entire theology chapter on the doctrine of salvation and what salvation brings in these few verses.

The first thing we read about here is that salvation brings us wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. We saw a recent section on the knowledge of God and here it is combined with the words wisdom and revelation of that knowledge.

God wants us to not only know about Him, to not only know him, but he wants us to have a super-knowledge of Him. God wants us to know Him totally and intimately and with all our hearts and minds and souls.

The blessing is that the more we know God the more we see Him for Who He is. We see Him and His love and mercy and grace and power and compassion. We see that He is in control and that He is all powerful and all wise and all-knowing and that He is everywhere and at all times. If we have this super-knowledge we learn that we can depend on Him in every situation. When we know Him we know His will.

Knowing Him requires first of all that we know Him through His word, that’s how He tells us about Himself. Knowing His requires the on going work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Knowing His also requires that we see Him working in our lives and learning to trust Him always. He has revealed Himself to us and given us all the wisdom we need to deal with this world.

Our eyes are enlightened – let’s open them and look to Him.

Thanks and prayers

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: - Ephesians 1.15-16

Paul’s deep affection for the Ephesians was obvious. When he heard about them and their testimony he had two simple but wonderful responses – he did not cease to thank God for them and he always prayed for them.

There seems to be a lot of conflict in the church today. In some countries social issues and politics are seeming to rip the church apart and if we are not careful we can get involved in the same things.

How different it would be if we focused on what Paul says here. Paul made sure to give thanks for the Ephesians and to pray for them.

It is easy enough to be harsh and critical of others. Sometimes there are people, even fellow believers,  that we just don’t like. Because of that sometimes we’d rather gossip or complain about them and they peculiarities or get frustrated with them and deal unkindly with them.

I realise that Paul was praying for and giving thanks for people because of their faith and their love, but I think there is the basic principle that we ought to give thanks for all those who are saved and all those who have the love of Christ.

At least, that’s what I get out of this for me.

It is kind of hard to hate on someone who you give thanks for and who you are truly praying for.

Faith and love

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: - Ephesians 1.15-16

Paul had a great relationship with the people in Ephesus. He had spent a long time ministering to them and serving with them He must have been thrilled when he heard the testimony of them that he had left behind. Particularly he had heard about their ‘faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints.’

What a wonderful testimony they had and what an  example for all of us.

I wonder sometimes what people think of me. Not in that way, but I wonder how my testimony appears to others. I wonder if people would think of me as a man of faith and love, or would something else come to mind?

Faith and how it helps us deal with trials and love and how we deal with people are two key ways for us to be a good testimony. People watch us to see if we believe what we say. Our faith in God and our love for each other will demonstrate to others the reality of or relationship with God.

My guarantee

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1.13-14

I’ve been saved a while now and been to Bible college and seminary and preacher’s meetings and I’ve had loads of theological discussions. I’m at a disadvantage there because I don’t consider myself a true theologian. I don’t know all the ins and outs and outs. I don’t know. For example, what a kind of lapserian I am or if I am one.

Therefore I don’t know enough to discuss or debate a lot of issues. There is however one topic where try as I might I can’t see the other side.

I can’t understand how people think that we can lose our salvation once we genuinely have it. We are held is Jesus’ hand, he says, we are held in the Father’s hands, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of my salvation, and mot just for now. He guarantees my salvation till my redemption is complete. He does this for the praise of the glory of God.

If I had to keep my own salvation I would have failed a hundred times over. I know my faults and weaknesses. When I realise that my salvation is secure I realise that it is only because God saved me and His Holy Spirit seals my inheritance and preserves it in heaven without spot or blemish.

Thank God for this wonderful that saves me now and forever!

To the praise of His glory

that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1.10-12

Why?

Why did all of this happen. Why the love and the outpouring of God’s infinite grace and the adoption as sons and all of the other wonders written about? Why?

That we, who trusted in Christ, should live to the praise of His glory.

When you first read that, if you were lost or a critic of God or were looking for a reason to mock God could say that this makes God sound like He is selfish and only did what He did to make Him look good.

I know because I have read it and been told it. What kind of god would do all this to bring glory to Himself?

That seems like a fair enough question – if we are looking at God the wrong way. Sure, God expects all things to be done for His glory. He desires to be lifted up and He alone is worthy of our praise.

God, though doesn’t need our glorying in Him. I think there is a whole nother purpose. I God is love, right? God wants everyone to be saved so that everyone can avoid the penalty of sin.

Our living to the praise of His glory is to draw men to Him so that they too can find deliverance from sin and eternity with Him. We glorify God so He is seen in us. We show the world all the glory of Christ to reveal His love for the world that led Him to send His only begotten son.

We do glorify God because He is God – that is enough. However, we also glorify God to draw men to Him so they too can enjoy His love and fellowship for all eternity.

In Him

that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1.10-12

In this midst of this most amazing passage about all the wonders and joys and glories and salvation there are two words that we could miss being caught up in all of the glories of God.

Those two little words?

In Him.

Why are they so important? Because everything that happens here happens because of Him. There is nothing whatsoever that we have to do with. We can’t claim credit or build ourselves up or bring glory to us because we are all going to fail and because we were not good enough to do anything about it. All that happens is in Him and through Him.

When Paul writes to Corinth he writes that God uses the most unlikely people to do His work. If He used them people would look to them and miss the importance of seeing Christ. Those who glory have no cause to glory in themselves – only in Him.

It is only in Him that people have hope – that why we live to the praise of His glory.

The mystery of His will

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, - Ephesians 1.7-9

Redeemed through His blood. The forgiveness of sins. The riches of His grace abounding in His wisdom.

Made known to us the mystery of His – according to His please which He planned.

Indeed there is a mystery of God’s will. There is a truth which is there but it is not always easily seen I like a good mystery. At one point I was on an Agatha Christie kick and read dozens of her novels. I like the classical 19th century mysteries. I like some of Arthur Conan Doyle. I even like ‘Murder She Wrote.’ In fact TG4 are showing them now and Mary and I watch an episode most evenings. It is fun to try to see the truth before it is revealed.

Salvation is like that. It is a great mystery. In the Old Testament the clues are there. The gospel can be seen. There are little things and even great things, enough in fact that many people were saved before Jesus came by faith in God’s plan.

We though are blessed to have the whole mystery revealed to us. God will is for us to be saved and conformed to His image. The riches of His grace have revealed the great mystery to us and we see the simple plan of salvation through faith in His Son.

Now it is our job to show that mystery to others.

The riches of His grace

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace – Ephesians 1.7

Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin.

If God’s grace is the storehouse for all He does we can be assured that it is a storehouse that will never run dry.

Our redemption is not limited by what we do or how. It won’t be taken away or cancelled because we don’t act worthily. It is ours and it is built only on all the riches of His amazing grace.

I can’t think of a better description of God’s infinite grace that the words of this great old hymn:

1.    Marvellous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

o   Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

2.    Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

3.    Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

4.    Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Redeemed

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace – Ephesians 1.7

Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.

What amazing and powerful words about one of the key aspects of salvation. Before Christ I was trapped in the slave-market of sin. My redemption price was so high that no man could ever pay it. The wages for sin was death so the price of redemption is the shedding of blood- but it had to be the blood and the perfect unflawed sinless One.

We are redeemed by the blood of Christ. We are freed from the captivity of sin. We are bought back and brought into a proper relationship with God. My redemption is a great gift. The word reminds  that my salvation had a cost, but that God chose to pay the price.

I’ve been redeemed by the blood of Lamb. I’ve been redeemed and I know am. I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb saved from sin and I know I am.

In love...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1.3-6

…in love having predestined us to adoption as sons…the good pleasure of His will…the praise of His glory…

What amazing words we read here. I feel bad not pausing on every word, but one things really sticks out in my mind. There are two words here that are the focus of why God does what He does. What are these two marvellous words? In love.

God acts in for love for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.’ We love Him because He first loved us. God is love.

His plan, from before everything else and anything else was precipitated on His great love.

In love God predestined that those who put their in Him would be adopted as sons into His family. Adoption is an amazing thing. It is even amazing in human terms. When a couple chooses to adopt a child that child becomes theirs and they become the parents in every sense of the word. Birth certificates can be changed so that the birth parents are replaced by the adoptive parents. Names are changed to reflect the new parentage.

In this case our adoption means that we have been accepted into the family of Jesus, the Beloved, and that His family lasts forever.

In love. Are there two more amazing words in God’s lexicon?

Holy and blameless

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1.3-6

He has chosen before the very foundation of the world that we who are in Christ should be holy and without blame before Him…

Holy and without blame surely does not sound like me today. It seems like a place I could never reach. My flesh keeps getting in the way and I too often yield to it instead of to holiness and blamelessness. I soon realise that I can’t keep myself holy and blameless. I just simply can’t do it on my own. I will fail every time I try it.

But I can be holy and without blame. In fact even though I still struggle with sin today I can be assured that I will be presented that way before God because of the work of Jesus Christ and His shed blood. He stands and will stand in my stead. God’s looks on Jesus and pardons me. I have all holiness and blamelessness of Christ imputed on me.

Now I need, by His strength and mercy, to show those truths in my life to the world around me. I can make holy and blameless choices because of Christ in me. May the world see the holiness of Christ and His blamelessness in me today.

Every spiritual blessing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. – Ephesians 1.3-6

Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Wow. Just wow.

A lot of us may not see much in the way of physical or earthly blessings. We may not have much of what world would call a blessing. Even Christians can get caught in the trap of saying we are only blessed when we are see physical success and good health and things going our way. There is nothing wrong with giving thanks to God for those things, but they are not a sign of what is really a blessing.

The real proof of our salvation is the eternal spiritual blessings both now and for all eternity. Of course we have the assurance of our heavenly eternity in God’s presence. Now though we have the spiritual blessings of love and hope and peace and rest and assurance and the knowledge that we have all that because Jesus is with us day by day by day.

It is these spiritual blessings that get us through each day in this broken and troubled world. My need is to focus on these spiritual blessings and not on the broken world around me.

Crucified the flesh

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

All those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its lusts and passions and desires. Paul says the same kind of thing to the Romans in Romans 6. In Christ we are dead to the old world. Our flesh has not power. Our lusts have no power. Our passions have no power. When they win out it is because we chose to let them win. It is because we choose that over holiness and righteousness living.

Why does the flesh give us so much trouble when we have already crucified it and put it to death and mortified it and it has not power and no dominion over us?

There is only one answer when we do that – we prefer the rotten old flesh to the blessings of the Spirit.

Only when we truly realise that we are truly dead to the flesh can we begin to have any know of victory of it. It can only win when we choose to let it win.

The fruit of the Spirit is self-control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, temperance. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5.22-25

Forgive me. I just realised that I left out a part of the fruit of the Spirit a week or so ago, but its too important to skip.

The fruit of the Spirit is…self-control, or temperance. One evidence of the fruit of the Spirit is that we are not out of control.

When I think of ‘out of control’ I think of children. I love them and I especially love my grandchildren, but sometimes they all can get out of control. That’s because they are young and immature. You expect it.

We don’t have the excuse for being out of control though. We are not children whose emotions overpower or reason.   ‘I couldn’t help myself’ juts doesn’t work.  If we bear the fruit of the Spirit we don’t lose control.

‘I just can’t handle it any more. I am going to lose the head’ may very well be true – but we don’t have to handle it. We can rest on the Holy Spirit and His power and might to give us self-control. Not losing it in tough situations it truly a mark that He is in control and not us.

God forbid that I should boast

But God forbid that I should boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. – Galatians 6.14

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

This is a sobering thought. It takes all of us out of the picture and it makes it all about Jesus. There is nothing in our salvation that we can take credit for – nothing.

May it never be, ever, God forbid that I should boast about anything.

Why is that such a big deal. Why such strong language?

The reason is that if I boast in anything dealing with my salvation I demean the work of Christ. All I can do is to accept His pecious gift. I am saying that I shared in His work on the cross. I say that what He did was not enough.

So indeed God forbid that I boast in anything. It is enough that Jesus died.

My faith has found a resting place,
  Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
  His wounds for me shall plead.
 
I need no other argument,
  I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
    And that He died for me.

Do good

And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6.9-10

Do good to all – how simple does that sound? Why is it so hard then to do good?

There can be a lot of reasons. For one thing we may be so occupied with ourselves that we don’t see the others who needs our good. We also may just be selfish with our time or money or resources. The person we like doing good to the most is us.

Because we are not to get weary in well doing we ought always seek to do good and do it at every opportunity to the best of our ability. Of course this includes doing good by sharing the gospel, but it is much more than that - it is just doing good by being there for people and meeting needs and being Christlike in our dealings. He always went about doing good.

We are to be doing good to all men – but especially to those who of the household of faith. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who need us. We need to be aware of that and be there for them in their time of need. None of us should ever have to suffer or do without when we have each other to do good.

Don't be weary...you will reap

And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6.9-10

Don’t grow weary in doing well, for in due season you will reap if you do not not faint.

I can’t begin to describe how much this verse has meant to me through the years. I remember one time in particular back in 2002. We are been struggling along here in Naas for about four years. We had a small group of believers – but in one weekend we lost everyone but our family.

Of course I was down, discouraged, despondent, and even depressed. I was ready to pack up and go back to Alabama.

Then I did my morning devotions and came across Galatians 6.9 – ‘don’t grow weary…you will reap.’ Mary and I did our devotions. Part of the devotions was ‘don’t be weary…you will reap.’ In our family devotions we read 'don’t be weary…you will reap.’ In the evening I did bedtime devotions and, well you can guess it.

That verse has never lost its impact. We have had many tough times since then. Over and over my heart and my mind go back to that day. It is a milestone. It is a pillar of stones in the midst of the Jordan. It is my Bethel. It is my memorial stone.

We will reap. When? Who knows. It may be soon. It may be years. It may not be till I get to heaven.

But we will reap – if we just don’t quit.

Reap what you sow

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. – Galatians 6.7-8

God will not be mocked. The world that seems to be gleefully mocking God today will not always get away with it. One day the world is going to reap the reward of its sinful sowing. Sowing the flesh will bring a reaping of fleshly corruption.

It’s really only natural. If you sow green beans you are not going to reap corn. If you plant an apple tree it is not going to grow pears. A grape vine won’t grow watermelons.

In the same way people are going to reap what they sow as well. Those who sow the works of the flesh are going to reap the works of the flesh (corruption). Those who sow the fruit of the Spirit are going to reap the effects (everlasting life).

I can’t imagine two things in greater contrast. Corruption or everlasting life are as diametrically opposed as you can get. You reap what you sow. You get what you grow.

One day it is all going to clear. We are all going to look back and this old world and it’s all going to make sense. We are all going to reap what we sow.

Oh yeah, there is one thing more – only those who are in Christ can truly sow in righteousness and only those are going to reap eternal life in Him.

Share in all things

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. – Galatians 6.6

There is a lot of debate about payment of pastors and other Christian workers. There is a pretty strong movement about that says there is no need for pastors and teachers and other who say they need to support themselves and ‘let God take care of them.’

The Old Testament and the New have a different notion though. God’s people are responsible to take care of those who teach and shepherd them. ‘A workman is worthy of his hire’ the Bible says.’ God gives us pastors and teachers to equip us to do the work of the ministry and we need to make sure that our equippers have their needs met.

While this does means that I think it means a whole more. The context here is that of bearing and sharing burdens. If we are judging by context this passage says that those who are taught and shepherded by a pastor/teacher need to help bear his load of the ministry. It means that the work of the church is not the pastor’s alone. That doesn’t negate the need to meet his physical and financial needs, but it is also to lighten is load in general.

It means that all the church and the pastor share in all things to make sure that all of the Lord’s work is accomplished.

If you think you are something

If you think you are something

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. – Galatians 6.3-5

‘If anyone thinks he his something.’ That really says a lot doesn’t it? It is something we are all prone to do at times. We can really think that we are something special at times. We can look at us and others and start to think that we are so much better than others.

Thinking highly of ourselves is a dangerous thing to do. We read in another place ‘let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.’  

Pride is a terribly destructive thing. Ultimately pride will take us to the place where we think we don’t need God anymore. When we think we don’t need God anymore and try to get by on our own strength – when we think we are something – we are going to fail.

Burden bearing

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6.2

This is an interesting passage about burdens. In another verse we read that every man should bear his own burdens and in verse two we read that we should bear each other’s burdens.

Really though it is pretty simple and pretty practical.

The word of God is clear. He does not want any of us to be a burden to others because of our laziness to deal with our own needs. God expects us to work and do what we can to meet our own needs and burdens relying on Him.

There are times though that our burden just gets too heavy and we can’t do it. It is those times that we need to look out for each other and share those burdens. Jesus knew that when we told us to let Him help carry our burdens. It is those times that we must be aware of the needs of others and be there to help them carry their loads. Bearing those burdens fulfils the law of Christ when He tells is to love other. We are also told to love others as we love ourselves. We should carry our own loads, but we also must love others enough to help them carry their loads.

Don't provoke each other

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5.26

Right after the description of the fruit of the Spirit we have this short little list of instruction that apply some of the aspects of the fruit. I can easily miss this section because it comes after such a ‘famous’ passage.

Let’s not be conceited
Let’s not provoke each other
Let’s not envy each other

All of these concerns are based on pride. Pride makes me conceited. Pride makes me provoke others so that I can look better. Pride makes me envious. It can be kind of ‘fun’ to get a rise out of someone. It can make us feel better about ourselves. It takes the focus off of us.

Provoking another is childish. Some children just seem to take great joy in getting a response out of another. This is more true that even with the rise of social media. Everybody like a good fight it seems. So much of what I see on Facebook is Christians picking and prodding at each other. That may be a bit of fun for a while, but rarely do we know when to stop and someone always gets hurt.

I played a stupid game with my friends as a young adult. We would ‘discuss’ an issue or ‘debate’ as we liked to call to call it. It seemed like harmless fun but in retrospect I am not so sure. The rule was that if you responded with an insult you lost the debate.

I am not convinced that there is no profit in provoking a brother to anger to the point where he resorts to personal attack.

Our purpose is to edify and build each other up.

Don’t provoke. It wont do any good and only has the potential for harm.

The fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit… Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. – Galatians 5.22-25; 6.1

Somehow, at least in the circles I have been involved in for a good chunk of my Christian life, gentleness is one of the least mentioned fruits of the Spirit. I have spent a lot of time learning how, men especially, are supposed to be tough. The mark of a man is what a tough guy he is. Men who are gentle are often looked as with suspicion. I once was talking to a pastor about how much I appreciated another man and the pastor I was talking to said some about ‘oh, that limp wrist.’

I know we are supposed to be soldiers and warriors and athletes in the faith. I know we are to part of the army of God and to earnestly contend for the faith.

Jesus called Himself gentle. The servant of God must be gentle. The requirements for pastors includes gentleness.

Not too long ago a razor company did an ad which attempted to present this aspect of true manhood. It was lambasted on many fronts, including a lot of Christians who felt like it downplayed the toughness required of a ‘real man.’

I thought though that they had a point. The ‘macho’ man, the tough guy, and the bully type are the men who seem to be admired and elevated. It would be bad enough if it was just the world, but the church has adopted that same attitude in many ways.

Of course ‘men must be men’ and we have a masculine role in society. We do have to fight the good fight of faith and we do need to be strong.

But at the same time there does need to be a gentleness about us. One of the characteristics of a pastor is that he must not ‘be a brawler’ looking for a fight. The fight may come, but godly men are not to be looking for the fight.

I think gentleness and meekness go hand in hand. Meekness has been defined as ‘power under control.’ Just because the power is there doesn’t mean we always have to use it. The Holy Spirit shows Himself through us  in a gentle, loving, compassionate life.