Today, I have much to share with you from my heart. I hope you did your "Action Step" from yesterday and read Ephesians so we can learn what this portion of scripture has packed for us. Ephesians 5:21 through Chapter 6 is what we will be looking at today. Many of you know that I just returned from Ghana yesterday. So, while this is fresh, please allow me to share something with you, as I want to encourage you.
No matter where you are in life, be a student of the word. With all my travels, the disciplines I have continued since the late eighties, have prepared me for where I am today, and what I am doing. No time in the word of God is ever wasted time.
The Word of God, specifically Ephesians was inside of me this trip. I packed it in me. So, no matter what part of the world we find ourselves, we have something in common with the people--the word of God. I was full of the word, so rather than worry or fret, about what I would do, or what should I say? I relied on the word of God that I had packed and that was inside of me.
What you dig out of the word of God for yourself never leaves you.
Many years ago I studied Names in the Bible. This trip to Ghana, I met a pastor named Dinah. I knew what her name meant, and we discussed it and it lead us closer to one another, and we are now friends and she is a student at the Bible College; we just opened in there in Ghana. That knowledge in the Bible was packed inside me long ago.
Then, I spoke with Pastor Christopher, and I asked him what he had preached on Sunday? He proceeded to share his message for the New Year which was the story of Gideon. I shared the meaning of Gideon's name and how God gave him a new name, and what those names meant. His face lit up with revelation. A new hunger to study the word of God emerged out of his spirit. That was packed inside of me for Christopher one day while I was studying.
No matter where you are in life, be a student of the word. With all my travels, the disciplines I have continued since the late eighties, have prepared me for where I am today, and what I am doing. No time in the word of God is ever wasted time.
The Word of God, specifically Ephesians was inside of me this trip. I packed it in me. So, no matter what part of the world we find ourselves, we have something in common with the people--the word of God. I was full of the word, so rather than worry or fret, about what I would do, or what should I say? I relied on the word of God that I had packed and that was inside of me.
What you dig out of the word of God for yourself never leaves you.
Many years ago I studied Names in the Bible. This trip to Ghana, I met a pastor named Dinah. I knew what her name meant, and we discussed it and it lead us closer to one another, and we are now friends and she is a student at the Bible College; we just opened in there in Ghana. That knowledge in the Bible was packed inside me long ago.
Then, I spoke with Pastor Christopher, and I asked him what he had preached on Sunday? He proceeded to share his message for the New Year which was the story of Gideon. I shared the meaning of Gideon's name and how God gave him a new name, and what those names meant. His face lit up with revelation. A new hunger to study the word of God emerged out of his spirit. That was packed inside of me for Christopher one day while I was studying.
Reminder about our study of Ephesians:
Chapters 1 – 3 are about how God has given us new life – what God has done for us.
Chapters 3 – 6 are about how God wants us to live in that new life and what we do in response to that new life.
Chapters 1 – 3 are about how God has given us new life – what God has done for us.
Chapters 3 – 6 are about how God wants us to live in that new life and what we do in response to that new life.
Paul talks about why it’s important not just to be saved, but to be transformed, to be "Reset."
He tells us that God is about saving people.
He shares with us that God wants to use us to help save others.
God wants you and I to be an example of what a child of God is like, so we can introduce others to the salvation available in Jesus Christ.
Then, Paul ends with a particularly important statement: “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.” This should overlay the statements he makes all the way through Ephesians right up to Chapter 6, verse 9, where Paul gives three examples of what it means to submit to one another.
These sections are somewhat controversial and, I think, misunderstood and misapplied by the church. Keep in mind Paul’s overlaying message and purpose, "how God wants us to live and our response to His desire."
We can not live as God wants us to live without submission. God wants someone He can hold accountable. He held Jesus accountable for our sins, because He loves us. Love submits. Love is accountability. Love knows how to treat others. On the Mission field it is life threatening to be un-submissive.
Paul’s final argument in the book of Ephesians is that we are in a war—this is not a drill—that the enemy is fighting unfairly and with real bullets. Therefore, we need to be prepared for the battle with tools God has already given us, but tools—weapons really—that we need to employ—the most important of which is prayer—God’s artillery.
Then in chapter 6:21 – 24, Paul signs off differently than other letters—not with “say ‘Hi’ to so-and-so but with a general benediction for peace and grace. In this life we need peace and grace. We need that assurance and God's ability to do through us what we cannot do through ourselves. To submit we need a "Reset." God's word resets our thinking to correctly see and treat one another properly and to use our time wisely. His Word packs our suitcases for our tomorrows.
Ephesians shows us we can take our messed up lives, and through the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ, return our ways of thinking, speaking, and acting, to the way we were created.
This is the “RESET” that God desires for our lives.
He tells us that God is about saving people.
He shares with us that God wants to use us to help save others.
God wants you and I to be an example of what a child of God is like, so we can introduce others to the salvation available in Jesus Christ.
Then, Paul ends with a particularly important statement: “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.” This should overlay the statements he makes all the way through Ephesians right up to Chapter 6, verse 9, where Paul gives three examples of what it means to submit to one another.
- wives and husbands
- children and parents
- bosses and employees
These sections are somewhat controversial and, I think, misunderstood and misapplied by the church. Keep in mind Paul’s overlaying message and purpose, "how God wants us to live and our response to His desire."
We can not live as God wants us to live without submission. God wants someone He can hold accountable. He held Jesus accountable for our sins, because He loves us. Love submits. Love is accountability. Love knows how to treat others. On the Mission field it is life threatening to be un-submissive.
Paul’s final argument in the book of Ephesians is that we are in a war—this is not a drill—that the enemy is fighting unfairly and with real bullets. Therefore, we need to be prepared for the battle with tools God has already given us, but tools—weapons really—that we need to employ—the most important of which is prayer—God’s artillery.
Then in chapter 6:21 – 24, Paul signs off differently than other letters—not with “say ‘Hi’ to so-and-so but with a general benediction for peace and grace. In this life we need peace and grace. We need that assurance and God's ability to do through us what we cannot do through ourselves. To submit we need a "Reset." God's word resets our thinking to correctly see and treat one another properly and to use our time wisely. His Word packs our suitcases for our tomorrows.
Ephesians shows us we can take our messed up lives, and through the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ, return our ways of thinking, speaking, and acting, to the way we were created.
This is the “RESET” that God desires for our lives.
ACTION STEP: Live the life of the Word of God. How? Get the Word of God in you and it will flow out of you! The journey is an exciting one, but you pack for it everyday, never knowing where your suitcase will be opened, nor for who the contents belong.
Love you! You are the reason I write and share my heart, my thoughts, my revelation, my travels... Together, we are better. A special thanks to Carol Otto Jones and Samantha Blevins for helping me get RPMDaily to you the last couple of days I was in Ghana. Internet in Ghana is not what it is here in the US.
God bless America! It is still the best country in the world! Pray for her, her president, her borders and her people in Jesus name. Until we meet again, live as if Jesus is coming--because He is!
Love you! You are the reason I write and share my heart, my thoughts, my revelation, my travels... Together, we are better. A special thanks to Carol Otto Jones and Samantha Blevins for helping me get RPMDaily to you the last couple of days I was in Ghana. Internet in Ghana is not what it is here in the US.
God bless America! It is still the best country in the world! Pray for her, her president, her borders and her people in Jesus name. Until we meet again, live as if Jesus is coming--because He is!
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