Category: Bible Bite

"and [God] raised us  up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:6-7 [ESV]

This morning I paused here and read it over and over again. One of the things that we have been learning in Biblical Counseling class is that our counselees must have a renewed inner-man before the teachings of God in His word have any impact or effect. When we genuinely accept Jesus into our hearts and surrender our lives to Him, it is God raising us with Christ from spiritual death. The togetherness with the resurrection of Jesus cannot be understated. The concept of our accredited glory is forever linked to who Christ is and what He did for us.

The second thing we must acknowledge here is that God seated us with Christ in the heavenlies. Remember in chapter 1:21-22 where Paul tells everything that has been put under Jesus and for all time….well, that is the heavenly place that we spiritually sit with Jesus and is a piece of the full redemption to come. There is nothing in the earth, heavenly places, principalities, domains, or anything else that is not under the feet of Jesus and we are IN Him. All that we have today in our Salvation, has secured for us the immeasureable riches to come; through the lavish kindness and grace we have because of our position IN Jesus.

Application:

Two things – 1) I need to remember that those who are not raised in Jesus from their spiritual deadness, cannot be expected to respond to biblical teaching or counseling. God must call them to Himself and they must accept the free gift of God’s grace through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. 2) My situation, my circumstances here on this earth are not the end. What awaits me at the end of this age is unthinkable joy and togetherness with my Savior in the light of His glory. What I have to endure here is nothing in comparison. My plight while I am here is to draw as close as I possibly can to my Lord and Savior and be sure that I am taking every opportunity to be used by Him to draw others to or back to Himself.

Today’s Psalm:

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Psalms 33:10-12 [ESV]

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ephesians 2:4-5 [ESV]

All throughout these first 2 chapters of Ephesians, Paul uses “You” and “Us” as separated groups of people. ‘You’ refers to the Gentiles and when he says ‘Us’ he is referring to the Jews. Next time you read Ephesians, pay close attention when he uses these pronouns and how they are applied.

“But God…” – this is my call out for today. Reading through yesterday’s passage about where I was in my trespasses and sin as well as by my nature being an object of wrath, this is such a huge statement – ‘But God’. In the NIV it is translated, “but, because of His great love for us, God…” However, I prefer, for my own reading to read the ESV version of this passage. Before, I was spiritually dead, being entirely separated from God. I was in a state of depravity that oozed into every decision I made because the desires of my heart were inherently sinful and due to my nature as an object of wrath, I had no means to look to things a different way. But then, God called me to Himself and saved me in the ugly place I was…why? Because of His great mercy and overwhelming love for me…a sinner. He MADE me alive in Christ. “Made” is such an important word because it means only God Himself could do it. Nothing I could have done; no work of my own hands or mind could change my situation, I needed the loving God of the universe to save from from the depths of my sin.

Application:

When I ask myself ‘Why, why would God do this for me; for a creation of his who sinned against Him so much? I am so undeserving of being saved in such a powerful way as being ‘alive’ in Christ.” I am led to the final stanza of this passage -> it is ‘by Grace’ I have been saved. I didn’t deserve what He extended to me; but God in His great love for me…did it. This is the mindset I must walk into every day of my life with. When I think and dwell on these truths, all pride is removed. All entitlements are negated. And I am filled with a gratitude and outlook that makes me like a well oiled tool ready to be used by God to do His work.

Today’s Psalm:

For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

Psalms 33:4-5 [ESV]

​ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3 [ESV]

This weekend, Marianne and I attended the 2024 Biblical Counseling Conference at church. The main subject was “Life Enslaving Additictions”. It was such a great conference and we were given so much information and help in our desire to help others out of exactly what Paul calls out here in the beginning of Chapter 2 of Ephesians. The question that sometimes pops up in discussion is the doctrine of ‘Total Depravity’, meaning – that our situation before Christ is a 100% inability to ‘not sin’. This doesn’t mean that unbelievers don’t do good things, it just means that without being reborn, the ruler of our heart is not the One Who has the power to give us strength to choose rightly. Our hearts are inherently evil. Until the object of our worship becomes the Savior of our souls, we live in a state of ‘lostness’.

Every human being made in the image of God, worships. Yep, you heard that right…we are made to worship. Some worship money, some people worship themselves, and some worship creation. Until we direct our worship to God (the God of the Bible) alone and turnover the kingdom of our hearts to Him, our desires will always be toward the idols we worship. The deliberate choice of anything over the Creator, is in itself ‘Evil’. So, more simply put – until someone realizes their depraved situation and accepts the perfect gift of Salvation by turning their lives over to Christ, every single one of their choices is wrought with danger since they are blind without the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Application:

3 thoughts come to mind as I dwell on the Words of God through Paul.

• I can never forget from where I have been saved. I must daily preach the gospel to myself so that I am not tempted to feel above those who are in situations of life enslaving sin or other suffering induced through worship of fleshly desires. We are all equally evil in the sight of an Almighty Holy God.
• God is the Caller of souls. I cannot personally help anyone who is dealing with the bondage of sin in their lives. Only God has the ability to redeem them from their situation and make them ‘new’.
• I must not get so confident or proud to think that I don’t have to search my own heart minute by minute and listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice in my heart, and obey what I hear Him saying. Daily structured time in God’s word and a prayer life that cultivates my relationship with the Almighty God of the universe is required if I am to run well, the race set before me.

Today’s Psalm:

​Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Psalms 33:1-3 [ESV]

"[That you may know] what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, for above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." 
Ephesians 1:19-23  [ESV]

This prayer is all about what we as believers have in Christ. Through the second half of this prayer, Paul is describing how much power is available to us now that we are in Christ Jesus. Its the same type of immeasurable power that God the Father used to raise Jesus from the dead.

So, theres this power, but not only that, the Person this power is given through is above any conceivable authority or power we can think of and more. This rule is personal, spatial, and eternal… over everything, everywhere, for all time. God has placed everything under the feet of our Savior, who we are IN when we accept the gift of grace by believing in Him! Paul then says how much the ‘Church’, or the ‘assembly’, plays a part in Christ’s rule and power. We, the church, His body, are the fullness of Him. As’ our (the church) Head, He works in and through us to accomplish His will.

Application:

What do I have to fear after reading this prayer of Paul over the church at Ephesus? NOTHING! Those of us who genuinely believe, are recipients of all that Paul talks about here. The only thing that can get in the way of this power being used by Jesus though me, is me; and my fleshly heart. When I submit my entire being to Jesus, I remove all the potential blocks to being use by Him power­fully in His ministry through me!

Today’s Psalm

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.”

Psalms 32:8-11

"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (For I always pray to) the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation (of insight into mysteries and secrets) in the (deep and intimate) knowledge of Him.  By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)."
Ephesians 1:15-18 [AMP]

Paul just got done telling the Ephesians about the guaranteed hope we all have in anticipation of the full implementation of our inheritance. Paul sees his unceasing prayer as a reinforcing thankfulness of the impact of the Ephesians churches love and service to the people around them.

I have so much I can learn from the prayers of people in the bible and Paul is a big one. Paul’s prayer for wisdom and revelation of the know­ledge of God is an amazing prayer he could pray for them. If they receive from God what Paul is asking for, they will have not only a more full ministry but also a deeper relationship with the only one that matters. Paul says here, that the wisdom and revelation he asks for them will flood their hearts with the light of knowledge and under­standing of God’s will on their lives… all the while increasing their appreciation of the glorious inheritance yet to come.

Application:

Each night I go into our master bedroom closet, shut off the light, close the door, and pray in the quiet stillness of the evening. I have a prayer list that I pray through and also take a majority of that opportunity to just gratefully sit in the presence of my God, revealing to Him my struggles and desires to know Him better. Reading through this passage today I am reminded of how to pray for those on my prayer list. 1) pray in thankfulness for them, 2) pray for spiritual wisdom for their lives as the live to serve Christ before He returns, and 3) deeper knowledge of the transcendent God of the universe.

Today’s Psalm:

I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

Psalms 32:5-7 [ESV]

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:13&14

These 2 verses are such a great rooting for us as believers. In my study of this passage this morning, I learned that the words for ‘hearing’ and ‘believing’ are linked to ‘sealed’. Essentially the action on our part and God’s response. God plans and elects, Jesus redeems, and the Holy Spirit seals and guarantees…that is so awesome and how this end of the passage is so appropriate –> “to the praise of His glory”!

One interesting thing about these 14 verses of Chapter 1 is that in the first 12, Paul uses ‘us’ and ‘we’ but in verse 13 he switches to ‘you’. This points directly to his speaking to the Gentiles (me). He is reaffirming what is now available to us in ‘our’ salvation through Christ Jesus.

Finally, we come to the ‘seal’ that ‘guarantees’. In biblical times a seal was a stamp that identified someone or authenticated something. When we hear and believe the gospel message, we immediately received the seal of the Holy Spirit that is the down payment for eventual inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a foretaste of what is to come and keeps us until the end. If there was ever a set of verses that establish “once saved, always saved”, wow!

Application:

My salvation is complete and when I think about God the Father electing me, the Son redeeming me, and the Holy Spirit sealing me, I have a deeper joy and desire to seek Him more! I now look forward to that full redemption when my body is also glorified in heaven and I am welcomed into my forever home with my Savior and King. There is a hope and freedom that is enjoyed when I preach this to myself. Thank You Lord for the gift of Your Word!

Today’s Psalm:

“Oh love the Lord, and you His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully pays back him who deals haughtily. Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!”

Psalms 31:23&24

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth." 
Ephesians 1:7-10 [ESV]

As I study Ephesians, I am finding I have to spend more time than in other books, wrapping my head around Paul’s train of thought. For this first chapter so for I am getting 3 principles he is making.

• In verse 3, God Blesses us – In Christ
• In verse 5, God for ordained us – Through Christ
• In verse 9, God revealed the mystery of His will – Set forth in Christ.

As you can see, everything is in and through Christ. Everything is about Christ. Access to the Kingdom of God is through Christ. The end of time will come about under the headship of Christ. This is the secret that Paul is talking about – the fulfillment of what God told Abraham (Genesis 12:3). This promise is now seen and realized in what Christ has done.

Application:

When I read again here what I have written, the evidence is overwhelming. My life, my direction, my focus, my work – must all be about Christ. His teaching, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His place in heaven should be the reason behind every decision and act I take in not only my life, but my headship of my family, my ministry, and my service to others. Ultimately it is the focus on what He has secured for me in eternity that gives me the freedom in Him to love like He has loved me. Following, worshipping, and obeying Jesus is what my life as a Christian is all about.

Today’s Psalm:

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

Psalms 31:19-20

"For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]-[so that we might be] to the praise and commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." 
Ephesians 1: 5 & 6 [AMP]

[Catching up on some posts]

So many Christians struggle with the doctrine of predestination because of the implication that would remove our personal will to accept Christ of our own conscience. However, what Paul tells us here is that the important ‘will’ is that of God Himself (“in accordance with the purpose of His will”). Gods existence is outside of time; my brain can’t exactly comprehend the aspect of God ‘choosing’ and me having my own decision. But, over and over again, we see in scripture that both these things exist. I choose Christ and God predetermined that I would. It also says that ‘anyone’ who seeks God will find Him. So, the place that the Lord has brought me in my understanding is that God knew before this timeline we under­stand, that I would choose Him. In the same way He already knows those who will not.

Application:

I believe that God’s Word is very clear on this topic. I also feel that everyone is on their own road of sanctification and there are doctrines like this one that take some time before the Lord not only reveals this truth but also gives confidence through the Holy Spirit on the fact of this truth (some of you reading this might have recoiled a bit here). I believe that Jesus gave us insight into this aspect of our growth when we seek after and follow Him…more and more will be revealed as the Lord increases our knowledge of Himself. Here is what Jesus has to say in Mark 4:22-25.

For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

Ephesians 1:4 [ESV]

We must read verse three as we look at this verse above. “Praise be to the Lord and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.“

• We receive every spiritual blessing IN Christ
• The Father chose us IN Christ
• We are holy and blameless IN Christ

It’s all about Christ and being IN Him.  Our journey into blessing, began in eternity past. There is nothing we did to generate His decision to choose us. No entitlement. The link to verse three is that He blessed us even as He elected us. This makes our God a relational God. He picked us out for Himself. 

This whole idea is that this is what makes us (the church) a specifically called group, we are called the “in Christ“ group. My position in Christ leaves me blameless and holy because of the work of Christ. Love is the sphere that comes from God’s act of election. It is a moving toward another with his or her best interest at heart; not an emotional response.

Application:

When I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I received all of the spiritual blessings I could ever have because I was born into Christ. It is only through a deep study of God‘s word and a relationship with God through prayer, that I can unlock all of the things that are already inside of me that God has for me.  the key is to realize that the Holy Spirit is the activator. When someone colors their hair they could put just the color-dye in their hair but until they mix in the activator/developer, the color just sits there; it doesn’t penetrate.  The Holy Spirit acts through a pure heart, a heart justified through salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.  My growth happens through meditation on God‘s word and dedicating my life and service to Him.  The other way that I have spiritual growth is through persevering through trial and leaning into God’s strength in the midst of it. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 1:3 [ESV]

Today I am starting Ephesians. I of 3 books in the New Testament I have yet to do a deep study of. I will continue to read through Psalms but I am lacking a little meat to my daily meals.

These first several verses of Ephesians did not disappoint as Paul jumps right in to 1) What we have in Jesus and 2) that we have been chosen before the earth was created. I am focusing on number 1 today and will launch into number 2 over the next couple of days as there is so much there.

Every spiritual blessing: what jumped out at me about this was the totality of blessing (spiritually) that we have when we accept Jesus as our personal LORD and Savior. Not some, not all eventually, but everything now. These spiritual blessings are already secured when we believe. There is such freedom and hope unlocked when we embrace this truth.

APPLICATION:

Lately, I have been living a day-by-day life. Now, this is not bad within itself; Jesus calls us not to be anxious for tomorrow and that God’s grace is new every morning… but my outlook should be further than today and my hope should be in more than today. I need to transition my thinking in my personal ministry to be taking into consideration all the spiritual blessing God the father has given me IN the LORD Jesus Christ, I am realizing there is untapped potential in what I am capable of doing as far as impact for the Kingdom through what I have been give IN Christ. My prayer life must include more -> asking of the Lord to reveal how I can say yes to the Kingdom work He is preparing before me. In this context I have to be looking out further than today.