Ephesians
Gifts From The Risen Messiah
This passage states that all men are not born equal (v. 7). Paul describes how Jesus Christ in his crucifixion and resurrection was victorious over Satan (vv. 8-10). When you were born into this world God gave you certain natural abilities. This could be in the area of mechanics, …
The Warrior’s Resource
Prayer is the energy that enables Christians to engage in the battle of life. We can never fight this battle in our own power, no matter how strong we may think we are. Remember that many men greater than we have fallen before us. Paul tells us how to pray in order to defeat Satan …
Walk As a New Person in Christ
The Ephesian believers were Gentiles. Paul tells them to make a clean break with their old ways of life and stop living by the standards of the unsaved people around them (v. 17). These pagan Gentiles had given themselves to a lifestyle without any personal standards. Their minds …
Prayer For Knowledge And Power
Faith and love are two great words. Paul commends the Ephesian Christians for their “faith” in the Lord and their “love” for all the saints (v. 15). Because of their spiritual growth, both as individuals and as a church body he goes on to say how he was re …
Redemption For The Believer in Christ
Redemption is deliverance from bondage by means of a price paid. There were six million slaves in the Roman Empire, and they were often bought and sold like pieces of furniture. However, a man could purchase a slave and set him free. In a sense, this is what Jesus did for us with…
Evidences Of a Spirit-filled Life
It is sad to see so many professing Christians who drift aimlessly through life and never really do anything worthwhile for the Lord. Paul presents the following reasons why we need to be making the right use of every opportunity we have for the Lord: Because it is the only sensi …
Armor of God
We are to be strong in the Lord because spiritual battles require spiritual strength (v. 10). Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks (v. 11). The word “wrestle†indicates hand to hand battle, not just being a&n …
How He Works in Us ’After’ Salvation
The first verse in this “after” section, places the focus squarely where it needs to be – “on God.” Paul mentions both God’s love and God’s mercy, and each are emphasized with adjectives – “great” love and “rich&rd …
We Are One Body in Christ
Spiritual birth must lead to spiritual growth as we become more like Jesus Christ (vv. 14-16). If we are maturing in Christ, we will show it by being able to speak the truth in love. Satan is a liar and a murderer (John 8:44) and has a difficult time being successful when believe …
Missionary to The Gentiles
Paul starts out this chapter by saying “I am a prisoner of the Lord so that I can help you Gentiles†(vv. 1-3). It is striking that nowhere does he ever refer to himself as a prisoner of Caesar. Would that we had the faith of this mighty apostle who understood so clea …