Tag Archives: Ephesians

We are at war! – July 16, 2018

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For the next few weeks we will look at the fight we are in. If you don’t feel like you’re in a fight for your live, be careful. You might be in the enemies clutches. Remember, the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. If you’re not on his menu, you might already be in his digestive track. If you’re a Christian, you should be up to your eyeballs in the fight.

I read a good example of what we are up against a few days ago. If you’re standing on the 20 yard line of a football field and you’re the only one on the field, it’s pretty easy to run into the opposite end zone and score an unopposed touchdown.

But change to picture a little. Now you’re that same halfback and the quarterback passes that football to you. In front of you are eleven really big men with one thing on their mind. Crush the guy with the ball. I’m 5’9”, 185 pounds, and 64 years old. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t make it back to the line of scrimmage without a few broken bones and a probable concussion. I don’t know what kind of shape you’re in, but can imagine that since less than one percent of all the high school football players can make it into the pros, you would probably not make it to the line of scrimmage either.

Keep that picture in your mind. Without God on our side, that’s what it’s like facing the world every day as a Christian. We are in a fight every day. Those football players get on their battle ground once a week. We face that enemy every day we wake up and put our feet on the floor. There is an enemy out there that wants to destroy us. Satan does not want us to make it to heaven. He wants company in the hell God has prepared for him. He wants to capture the souls of as many as he can.

And he’s not just out there waiting for us to bump into him. John and Peter both describe him as a lion on the prowl. He’s hungry. He’s hunting us. He wants to eat you, devour you, destroy you. I’ve never seen a lion in the wild and I really don’t care to. I’ve seen enough wildlife to know that I don’t want to face a lion, the king of the beasts. Lions are give that title for a reason. They will take on just about any other animal and usually win. They are vicious when they hunt. Not many get away from them. Even those that do, often leave scarred, damaged, never the same.

That lion is searching for as many as he can until the Jesus returns. He wants company. He wants you! So in this fight, what are we to do? That’s what we will explore over the next few weeks. We will look at Sampson. How did he succeed? How did he fail? What can we learn from his sordid life? We can discover some things to do and not to do as we look at this Judge in Israel’s past. He was a hero and he sometimes let his position, his talents, his strength go to his head. He forgot the important things of life.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Paul knew we are in a battle. Jesus told us that if we followed him we would be at war with the world. It’s time we accept the fact if we carry his name, the world will hate us. The enemy will try to devour us. We will be at war. We must fight. But if God is on our side, he cannot be defeated. If you follow him, you’re on the winning side.

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Will you be among the few? (Ephesians 1:15-23) December 4, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 1:15-23

Set – Ephesians 1-2

Go! – Ephesians 1-4

Ephesians 1:15-23
15 This is why, when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is present in your community and of your great love for all God’s people, 16 I haven’t stopped thanking Him for you. I am continually speaking to Him on your behalf in my prayers. Here’s what I say:
17 God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. 18 Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. 19 Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.
Friends, it is this same might and resurrection power that 20 He used in the Anointed One to raise Him from the dead and to position Him at His right hand in heaven. There is nothing over Him. 21 He’s above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next. 22 God has placed all things beneath His feet and anointed Him as the head over all things for His church. 23 This church is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus reminds them and you of the power at your disposal. Many Christians today forget what I told you while I was with you in the flesh. I told My disciples that when I went away and sent My Spirit in My place that you would do miracles on My behalf and you would do more than I was able to do while I lived alongside you. It’s an important promise to remember. And it is absolutely true.

Because so few really experience what Paul experienced in his life, you don’t see the things that happened in Paul’s day on a wholesale basis. I can still do those things through you, and do around the world. I still perform miracles of healing, feeding, financing, driving out unclean spirits. I still heal broken relationships, mend confused and broken minds, guide decisions. I still save you from the penalty of sin.

You see, I chose men and women to carry out the tasks in My plan for the world. I chose you to share the message of My good news. I chose ordinary people to do extraordinary things through the power of My Spirit within them. And all it takes is letting Me have control of your life and then letting Me work through you.

Paul talks about the power available to you. Do you ever think about that power? The power I give you? The resurrection power. So many of you try to do things in your own strength. Consequently, you do so little. Your strength gives out. Your muscles, intellect, and spirit are never strong enough to do the work I have for you to do. You might try, but you just can’t do it alone. You’ll never be strong enough by yourself. No matter how much you try, you’ll never have the strength to complete My tasks.

Paul knew that the power that raised Me from the dead is available to you when you give yourself completely to Me. Paul gave himself to Me and let My Spirit control him. He saw what My power in you can do and so he penned those words in very opening of his letter to the Ephesians. “Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.”

It only takes believing. It only takes letting go of self. It only takes dying to your will and letting My will live out through you. It only takes being resurrected a new creature in Me, being reborn into My kingdom. It only takes becoming what Paul called a living sacrifice for Me. It only takes becoming an instrument for My bidding. Then, like Peter and Paul, you’ll do things you never imagined. You’ll tap into My power source. You’ll use the strength of the Creator of the universe.

When you do My will at all times, letting Me really live in you, you will experience remarkable things. Your schedule will turn upside down as you live for Me. Your journey will take you along paths you never imagined. You will know the full extent of My power at work in you as you do My will. Others will be amazed, but others will want to know more about the power in you.

Few will pay the price to know My power within them. Few will really die to self to let Me truly live within them. Will you be among the few?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Get to know God – pray (Ephesians 6:10-23), June 10, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 6:10-23
Set – Song of Songs 1-2; Ephesians 6
Go! – Song of Songs 1-4; Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:10-23
10 Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. 11 Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. 12 We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.

13 And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground. 14 Yes, stand—truth banded around your waist, righteousness as your chest plate, 15 and feet protected in preparation to proclaim the good news of peace. 16 Don’t forget to raise the shield of faith above all else, so you will be able to extinguish flaming spears hurled at you from the wicked one. 17 Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed. 19 And please pray for me. Pray that truth will be with me before I even open my mouth. Ask the Spirit to guide me while I boldly defend the mystery that is the good news— 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains—so pray that I can bravely pronounce the truth, as I should do.

21 I am sending to you Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord. He will tell you everything that has been going on here with me 22 so you will know how I am and what I am doing. He’s coming with news that will hopefully comfort your hearts. 23 Brothers and sisters, let me leave you with a blessing:

May peace and love with faith be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Anointed.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul admonishes you to talk to Me, to pray. He tells you to pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how. Paul demonstrated prayer and interrupted his short letter to the Ephesians with short interludes of prayer written into his letter. Paul believed in prayer.

Why is it so hard for you to grab hold of that concept and understand the importance of prayer in your life? Why is prayer such a battle for you? Why do My children struggle so to spend time talking with Me, sharing their thoughts with Me in quiet times of prayer and meditation?

All My saints discovered the importance of the discipline as part of their growth in their spiritual maturity. You can’t get close to Me without it. It’s a natural progression in maturing your relationship. Just like talking with your friend is important in maturing your relationship with your friend.

Can you imagine a friendship growing if you never spoke to each other? Can you imagine a marriage surviving if you never shared your inner most thoughts? Communication is vital to the success of any relationship. So how can your relationship with Me grow and abound if we don’t talk with each other? Pray is vital to your spiritual life.

So pray. Pray about everything. I’m interested in the smallest items in your life. I’m interested in your joys. I’m interested in your children. I’m interested in your hurts. I’m interested in your job. I’m interested in your phone calls. I’m interested in the clothes you buy and the food you eat. I’m interested in everything about you. So talk to Me.

It’s the only way we really get to know each other.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Watch what you say and do, but smile…a lot! (Ephesians 5:1-10), June 9, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 5:1-20
Set – Ecclesiastes 12; Ephesians 5
Go! – Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalms 94; Ephesians 5

Ephesians 5:1-20
1 So imitate God. Follow Him like adored children, 2 and live in love as the Anointed One loved you—so much that He gave Himself as a fragrant sacrifice, pleasing God.

3 Listen, don’t let any kind of immorality be breathed among you. Any demoralizing behaviors (perverse sexual acts, uncleanliness, greediness, and the like) are inappropriate topics of conversation for those set apart as God’s people. 4 Don’t swear or spurt nonsense. Don’t make harsh jokes or clown around. Make proper use of your words, and offer them thankfully in praise. 5 This is what we know for certain: no one who engages in loose sex, impure actions, and greed—which is just a form of idolatry—has any inheritance in the kingdom of God and His Anointed.

6 Don’t be fooled by people whose sentences are compounded with useless words, empty words—they just show they are empty souls. For, in His wrath, God will judge all the children of disobedience for these kinds of sins. 7 So don’t be persuaded into their ignorance; and don’t cast your lot with them 8 because, although you were once the personification of darkness, you are now light in the Lord. So act like children of the light. 9 For the fruit of the light is all that is good, right, and true. 10 Make it your aim to learn what pleases our Lord. 11 Don’t get involved with the fruitless works of darkness; instead, expose them to the light of God. 12 You see, it’s a disgrace to speak of their secrets (so don’t even talk about what they do when no one is looking). 13-14 When the light shines, it exposes even the dark and shadowy things and turns them into pure reflections of light. This is why they sing,

Awake, you sleeper!
Rise from your grave,
And the Anointed One will shine on you.
15 So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise! 16 Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times. 17 So understand and be confident in God’s will, and don’t live thoughtlessly. 18 Don’t drink wine excessively. The drunken path is a reckless path. It leads nowhere. Instead, let God fill you with the Holy Spirit. 19 When you are filled with the Spirit, you are empowered to speak to each other in the soulful words of pious songs, hymns, and spiritual songs; to sing and make music with your hearts attuned to God; 20 and to give thanks to God the Father every day through the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed for all He has done.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I’ve found that sometimes you take Paul’s words a little too far when he says don’t make harsh jokes or clown around. In other translations, it says to be sober and you really take it to heart. So much so that people around you think you’re eating lemons all the time. That’s not who I want you to be. Why would anyone want to be around you if you never have a smile on your face?

Can you imagine Jesus attracting children to Him if he never smiled? It’s the friendly face that fascinates children. It’s the smile that draws others to that singular personality. The dole and dreary expression drives people away, it never attracts them to you. Is it any wonder My church has trouble growing when its members look like they had spoiled prunes and leftover mush for breakfast?

I do want you to guard your speech. I do want you to watch your behavior. I do want you to control yourself and keep yourself far from the behavior of the world, but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy life. It doesn’t mean life isn’t fun. It doesn’t mean you don’t smile and play and even act silly sometimes. Remember you are My children. And at times it’s even okay to act like My children.

Jesus, while He walked with you, sat and played games with the children. He sang songs with them. He played hide-and-seek with them. He ran in the fields with them. He enjoyed life like they enjoyed life. He told you that unless you approach life the same way children approach life you cannot enter My kingdom. Children approach life with curiosity, faith, trust, joy, peace, contentment – all those attributes that make life enjoyable and put a smile on your face.

Paul tells you when you are filled with My Spirit you are empowered to speak to each other with the soulful words of pious songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. You know where you find those? The Psalms that speak of My joy. The Wisdom books that tell My story, strength, and glory. The Prophets that promise the riches of heaven to those that follow Me. Those pious songs are filled with the joy of following Me. There are no funeral dirges in those songs, but rather hymns of praise to Me.

Life can be full of fun and laughter and joy without crossing the line of bad behavior or speech. After all, I created all good things. Why wouldn’t they bring a smile to your face?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

You have a higher purpose (Ephesians 4:14-32), June 8, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 4:17-32
Set – Ecclesiastes 7; Ephesians 4
Go! – Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:17-32
17 Therefore, as a witness of the Lord, I insist on this: that you no longer walk in the outsiders’ ways—with minds devoted to worthless pursuits. 18 They are blind to true understanding. They are strangers and aliens to the kind of life God has for them because they live in ignorance and immorality and because their hearts are cold, hard stones. 19 And now, since they’ve lost all natural feelings, they have given themselves over to sensual, greedy, and reckless living. They stop at nothing to satisfy their impure appetites.

20 But this is not the path of the Anointed One, which you have learned. 21 If you have heard Jesus and have been taught by Him according to the truth that is in Him, 22 then you know to take off your former way of life, your crumpled old self—that dark blot of a soul corrupted by deceitful desire and lust— 23 to take a fresh breath and to let God renew your attitude and spirit. 24 Then you are ready to put on your new self, modeled after the very likeness of God: truthful, righteous, and holy.

25 So put away your lies and speak the truth to one another because we are all part of one another. 26 When you are angry, don’t let it carry you into sin. Don’t let the sunset with anger in your heart or 27 give the devil room to work. 28 If you have been stealing, stop. Thieves must go to work like everyone else and work honestly with their hands so that they can share with anyone who has a need. 29 Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them. 30 It’s time to stop bringing grief to God’s Holy Spirit; you have been sealed with the Spirit, marked as His own for the day of rescue. 31 Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—these are poison. 32 Instead, be kind and compassionate. Graciously forgive one another just as God has forgiven you through the Anointed, our Liberating King.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Something evil happens today that spoils My greatest creation. A vicious rumor spreads like wildfire that says you cannot suppress the natural desires of humankind. That rumor says every teenager will engage in illicit sex. Every child will steal and lie. Every adult will dabble in lust and pornography to satisfy their desires outside of their marriage vows.

The rumors are not true! I created humankind above that. To say you will succumb to the basic desires of all animals means you are the same as every other animal on the planet. You are not! I created you as higher beings. I created you with the ability to choose right from wrong, good from bad. I created you to choose to follow the path I lay out before you.

If you say you cannot control the base desires of your body, you lower yourself to the level of the creatures I commanded you to control and care for. You lower yourself to the level of your pets, the cats and dogs that run your streets and live in your homes. You are better than that. You can choose your actions. You can discipline your body and refuse to bow to the actions that will cause discord and dissension within society.

The other animals across the globe exist as part of the global ecosystem to provide food for the rest of My creation. From the smallest protoplasm to the largest sea and land creatures, each becomes a meal for another of My creation…except for humankind. I created you to care for the rest of creation. You sit at the pinnacle of creation.

All other creature exist for you. You use their hides for warmth and shelter. You eat their flesh for nourishment. You use their strength to assist in your labor. You train them and keep them for companionship. You control the rest of My creation because you have the ability to refrain from acting on the base desires and instincts that drive the rest of the animal kingdom.

When you fail to constrain those desires, when you act without restraint, when you selfishly fulfill whatever drive you please, you reduce yourself to the level of the rest of creation instead of maintaining your place at its head. I did not give you intelligence to waste it. I did not give you the freedom of choice to watch you abuse others for your selfish desires. Go back to the basics of why I created you in the first place and you’ll find your real purpose.

I created you to care for My creation and to maintain a right relationship with Me. Take off the old garments of selfish, animalistic behavior. Understand that I want more from you as My greatest creation. Know that you exist for something much better. Let Me help you become the person I meant you to be. Put on the new self, modeled after Me so that you can fulfill the work I planned for you from the beginning of time.

You’ll not be disappointed. I promise.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

The power of His Spirit is love (Ephesians 3), June 7, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 3
Set – Psalms 18; Ephesians 3
Go! – Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalms 18; Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3
1 All this is exactly why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus the Anointed, His representative to the outsider nations. 2 You have heard, haven’t you, how God appointed me to bring you His message of grace? 3 And how the mystery was made known to me in a revelation? I briefly wrote about it earlier. 4 When you read what I have written, you will be better able to understand the depth of my insight into the mystery of the Anointed One, 5 a mystery that has never before been shown to past generations. Only now are these secrets being revealed to God’s chosen emissaries and prophets through the Holy Spirit. 6 Specifically, the mystery is this: by trusting in the good news, the Gentile outsiders are becoming fully enfranchised members of the same body, heirs alongside Israel, and beneficiaries of the promise that has been fulfilled through Jesus the Anointed.

7 I became a servant and preacher of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace as He exercised His amazing power over me. 8 I cannot think of anyone more unworthy to this cause than I, the least of the least of the saints. But here I am, a grace-made man, privileged to be an echo of His voice and a preacher to all the nations of the riches of the Anointed One, riches that no one ever imagined. 9 I am privileged to enlighten all of Adam’s descendants to the mystery concealed from previous ages by God, the Creator of all, through Jesus the Anointed. 10 Here’s His objective: through the church, He intends now to make known His infinite and boundless wisdom to all rulers and authorities in heavenly realms. 11 This has been His plan from the beginning, one that He has now accomplished through the Anointed One, Jesus our Lord. 12 His faithfulness to God has made it possible for us to have the courage we need and the ability to approach the Father confidently. 13 So I ask you not to become discouraged because I am jailed for speaking out on your behalf. In fact, my suffering is something that brings you glory.

14 It is for this reason that I bow my knees before the Father, 15 after whom all families in heaven above and on earth below receive their names, and pray:

16 Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit 17 so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together 18-19 with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. God, may Your fullness flood through their entire beings.

20 Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring things, immeasurable things, things greater than we ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in us, 21 to Him be all glory in the church and in Jesus the Anointed from this generation to the next, forever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Once again I want you to examine Paul’s prayer. He understood what makes My children different from the rest of the world. He asks that I fill your souls with the power of My Spirit and make love the rich soil where your lives take root. And that you will have the power to understand that My love surpasses anything you have ever experienced in your lives.

You see, the old song that says love makes the world go ‘round got it right. The phrase really is true. Everything I do comes about because of My infinite love for you. The discipline I must give to help you mature, the good gifts I bestow on you, the sacrifices I make for you, everything that I do comes from My spirit of love that drives Me. I am love.

You can experience that love and even demonstrate that love to others when My Spirit lives in you. Some will tell you it’s not possible to live that kind of life, but My word tells you different. My word tells you to be holy, because I am holy. I don’t give you commands you can not keep. But you can only keep them by the power of My spirit in you.

I told you when I was with you I would send My Spirit to live with you and live in you to empower you for right living. So many want to let My Spirit live with them, but not in them. Don’t let that be you. Let Me take control of your life. Listen to Me constantly. Let Me guide your every move. Let Me direct your thoughts. As Paul talks about in his letter to the Romans, let Me transform your mind so that you think like Me.

The transformation comes by letting Me fill you completely. Dying to self and living for Me. It’s that becoming a living sacrifice Paul tells you about in that same letter. Letting go of the selfish desires that come to you and listening to what I have in store for you. Pushing away the desires that the world says you should just automatically satisfy and disciplining yourself to live as I would have you live.

Can you do it? Yes, with the power of My Spirit in you. I will help you succeed. I will strengthen you. Just stop and ask Me. I will show you how. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Building a place for God (Ephesians 2:11-22), June 6, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 2:11-22
Set – Ecclesiastes 3; Ephesians 2
Go! – Ecclesiastes 1-3; Psalms 45; Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:11-22
11 So never forget how you used to be. Those of you born as outsiders to Israel were outcasts, branded “the uncircumcised” by those who bore the sign of the covenant in their flesh, a sign made with human hands. 12 You had absolutely no connection to the Anointed; you were strangers, separated from God’s people. You were aliens to the covenant they had with God; you were hopelessly stranded without God in a fractured world. 13 But now, because of Jesus the Anointed and His sacrifice, all of that has changed. God gathered you who were so far away and brought you near to Him by the royal blood of the Anointed, our Liberating King.

14 He is the embodiment of our peace, sent once and for all to take down the great barrier of hatred and hostility that has divided us so that we can be one. 15 He offered His body on the sacrificial altar to bring an end to the law’s ordinances and dictations that separated Jews from the outside nations. His desire was to create in His body one new humanity from the two opposing groups, thus creating peace. 16 Effectively the cross becomes God’s means to kill off the hostility once and for all so that He is able to reconcile them both to God in this one new body.

17 The Great Preacher of peace and love came for you, and His voice found those of you who were near and those who were far away. 18 By Him both have access to the Father in one Spirit. 19 And so you are no longer called outcasts and wanderers but citizens with God’s people, members of God’s holy family, and residents of His household. 20 You are being built on a solid foundation: the message of the prophets and the voices of God’s chosen emissaries with Jesus, the Anointed Himself, the precious cornerstone. 21 The building is joined together stone by stone—all of us chosen and sealed in Him, rising up to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In Him you are being built together, creating a sacred dwelling place among you where God can live in the Spirit.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Prejudice never seems to go away among My highest creation. For some reason, humankind in all its array of colors, sizes, and shapes knows each of its individual race obviously attains the highest level among the races. But that’s just not true. I made them all. Some races have had more advantages than others through the centuries. Some races because of prejudices tried to destroy others. It didn’t work because I won’t let it, but they tried nonetheless.

The cross puts and end to all that when you let it. My love reaches across the racial boundaries and once for all sets aside the petty differences humankind sets in place to distinguish between nations, races, sects, and other groups. The cross makes clear My love for all races. All men and women. Everyone, everywhere.

When I split the veil in the Temple at My death and became the perfect sacrifice for all humankind, I ended the divide between Jews and non-Jews, olive-skinned, dark-skinned, pale-skinned, whatever colored skinned. I died so everyone could be forgiven. All that needs happen is you accept the gift of My forgiveness. Like any gift, though, it must be accepted before it is yours.

When you accept My gift of salvation, you become part of My new kingdom. You become part of that building Paul talks about. Person by person, you act as the stones that build upon the sure foundation of the cross that build a mighty temple in which My Spirit can live and act.

So imagine yourself as one of those stones in a mighty castle or temple. Imagine what happens if you crumble or remove yourself from your place in the wall. The wall weakens. If enough of those stones decide they no longer want to remain faithful to the task of doing their part of maintaining the strength of the wall, the wall crumbles and falls and other stones fall with you.

You see, your part in the structure is important. You might be part of an outer wall for all the world to see or part of a basement supporting wall or one of the inner walls that few will ever notice, but your part in supporting My structure is important. I need you to fulfill the task I’ve given you. And as you’ll remember in ancient structures, every stone is different. No two stones are cut exactly alike. The master mason carefully places each stone to optimize the strength of the wall. That’s what I do with you. I place you where and when I need you most.

Don’t think your placement is accidental. Don’t think I didn’t know what I was doing when I created you. Don’t think My plan is too hard for you or beneath you. My task for you is the one best suited for you at this moment and brings the most glory to Me. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Pray before you read (Ephesians 1:14-23), June 5, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Ephesians 1:14-23
Set – Proverbs 31; Psalms 33; Ephesians 1
Go! – Proverbs 30-31; Psalms 33; Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:14-23
14 as the guarantee toward the inheritance we are to receive when He frees and rescues all who belong to Him. To God be all praise and glory!

15 This is why, when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is present in your community and of your great love for all God’s people, 16 I haven’t stopped thanking Him for you. I am continually speaking to Him on your behalf in my prayers. Here’s what I say:

17 God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. 18 Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. 19 Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.

Friends, it is this same might and resurrection power that 20 He used in the Anointed One to raise Him from the dead and to position Him at His right hand in heaven. There is nothing over Him. 21 He’s above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next. 22 God has placed all things beneath His feet and anointed Him as the head over all things for His church. 23 This church is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is a good one to start your devotions. I hear your prayers. I want to answer them. When you open your heart the way Paul suggests in his prayer for the Ephesians you will begin to understand who I am and what I can do for you. Listen to his request again.

“Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.”

When you open My word, pray that prayer. Before your pastor begins his message, pray that prayer. When you meditate on Me and what I have for you, pray that prayer. But instead of them and their, make the prayer personal. Replace those words with your name.

I want to open My word to you. I want you to understand what I have to tell you through My word. I don’t keep secrets from you or make My interests in you or my tasks for you difficult to find. I want to have a personal relationship with you that you know is real and vibrant. That only comes if you spend time with Me and you let Me make My word clear to you.

Paul understood the confusion that abounded in the city of Ephesus. These new Christians were surrounded by false prophets who said they needed to abide by the traditions and laws I laid out for the Israelites. That’s not the command I had for them.

Gnostics tried to spoil the gospel with their belief that the spirit and body were wholly separate and you could behave in any way you wanted with your flesh as long as your spirit remained pure. That isn’t true either. You are one entity until you die and your spirit finds itself in one place dictated by the behavior you exhibited in your earthly shell.

Animists tried to convince these new Christians that God was in everything and the idols they worshiped had supernatural powers and so deserved their worship. Again, not so. I am everywhere, but not in everything. I am God with three personalities, functions, manifestations – Father, Son, and Spirit.

I am beyond understanding, but My message to you is not. So pray for understanding. Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray that My truth will flood your mind, soul, and spirit so that you will revel in glory of My presence with you and in you. Understand I will guide you if you let Me. I will lead you into perfect peace, if you will follow Me. I will give you riches the world doesn’t know, if you will be My child.

Put Paul’s prayer in your place of devotion. Put it in the Bible you carry to church. Put it in your prayer journal. Put it in a place you will refer to it often and pray that prayer for your self and those around you whenever My word opens before you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.