A Child of God 12.03.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are beginning our studies on the book of Ephesians, please read Chapters 1-3 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this one into your browser:biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%201-3&version=9

Today we are reading about Spiritual blessings in Christ; prayers of Paul; the unity of believers; and Paul's mission to the Gentiles. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that all who accept Jesus are children of God and no matter what happens no one can take that away.

The book of Ephesians is the 10th book and 5th epistle of the New Testament, it contains 6 chapters and was written by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus. The purpose of the epistle was to inform believers of their wealth in Christ and instruct then concerning their walk in Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that all Christ's believers are heirs to both the blessings (the wealth) and the responsibilities (the walk) of their calling in Christ.

The God who created all mankind has chosen us to be His children, in fact He has chosen us even before the world was form. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:3-6). The book of Ephesians is the key for the believer who will settle for nothing less than God's will.

What an amazing discovery to know that God has chosen us well before we were even thought of to be His children. It was no coincidence that we know the truth, He knows exactly what time in our lives we will be able to handle the truth and the responsibilities that He has given us along with it. No person or power can cheat us out of the very best that God has planned for our lives. As we daily read and study His Word with a desire to do His will, we can then pray and depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide our lives along the path that He has destined for us.

Before Christ came to earth, only the Jews had a Covenant relationship with God, but by the grace of God Jews and Gentiles alike who receive Christ as Savior and Lord now have a Covenant relationship with Him. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 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: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (2:1-7).

In A.D. 70, God used the Roman general Titus to destroy the Temple, the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice, and the functions of the high priest. These merely foreshadowed the Messiah Jesus who is the only Means through which anyone can approach the One True God to worship Him. "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; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 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." (3:8-12).

Is it any surprise that Satan will deceptively seek to keep us too busy doing even good things in his effort to keep us from reading God's Word which will make our prayers effective? Because of our love for the Lord, the true believer looks forward to a daily dialog of prayer and reading His Word. "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, 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." (3:14-19).

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
You gave first and foremost as you selflessly gave of Yourself through the person of Jesus Christ. Your gift of grace exceeds human description, for the far-reaching effects in our lives is truly indescribable. It’s too wonderful for words, but it brings unspeakable joy and glorious hope that makes our spiritual journey so worthwhile. We receive Your indescribable gift that brings forgiveness for our sins and reserves for us a home in heaven for all eternity. In Jesus' name..........Amen.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
God Bless,
Christina

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