Tuesday Thought – June 9, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Without Christ, we used to be:

Spiritually dead – “You were dead in your transgressions and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1)

Following Satan – “You followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” (Ephesians 2:2)

Destined for God’s wrath – “We were by nature objects of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3)

Far away from Christ – “You were separate from Christ.” (Ephesians 2:12)

Not a part of God’s people – “You were excluded from citizenship in Israel.” (Ephesians 2:12)

Excluded from God’s promises – “You were foreigners to the covenants of the promise.” (Ephesians 2:12)

Without hope – “You were without hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12)

But, in Christ, we are now:

Spiritually alive – “You have been made alive with Christ.” (Ephesians 2:5)

Saved – “By grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:5)

Given power and position – “You have been raised up with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 2:6)

Saved – “By grace you have been saved, through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Close to Christ – “You have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)

God is available to us – “You have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18)

A part of God’s people – “You are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God’s household.” (Ephesians 2:19)

A part of God’s Temple – “You too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

Now that’s a big change! And it all has happened, “because of his great love for us.” (Ephesians 2:4)

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought – June 8, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:19-23)

Our connection with God really is all about Jesus!

God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection was the stamp of God’s approval on Christ’s sacrifice. It was God’s way of saying with an exclamation point that He accepted Christ’s sacrifice as completely adequate for our salvation.

God seated Jesus at His right hand in the heavenly realms. God did not relegate Jesus just to work that was to be done on earth. Jesus’ position is not an earthly position. Jesus has been given the position of greatest honor in heaven, next to the Father Himself! The work of Jesus was not complete when He left the earth, He is still working on our behalf in heaven in the best place possible from which to work on our behalf.

There is no one who can challenge the position or power of Jesus. He is not just above all rule and authority, but far above it. We’ll never have to be afraid that someone more powerful will come along to wrest Jesus’ place from Him. We can always count on Jesus being there for us.

And it’s not just in our lifetime, nor in the lifetime of the creation that Jesus has power and authority. His position and power will not change, even in whatever ages are yet ahead!

Everything is under Jesus. Nature is under Jesus. Government is under Jesus. Demonic powers are no match for Jesus. Angelic powers submit to Jesus. Psychology, medicine, law, you name it, and it is under the authority of Jesus.

And all the power that Jesus has. And all the authority that is His. All the position to which He can lay claim. All the work that He has done and continues to do. It’s all for us, for His church. As a head never thinks just about itself … all that it does is for the good of the whole body. So, all that Jesus does is always for the good of His whole body, the church that He loves and leads.

It really is all about Jesus. And Jesus is all for us!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought – June 5, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:17-19)

It’s interesting to compare Paul’s prayer requests with our own. When I pray for myself and for others, I’m likely to be praying for health issues, financial issues, job-related issues, family issues, or some other issue related to what is happening in life. And there is certainly nothing wrong with those prayer topics. Paul told the Philippians to “present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Whatever concerns our hearts is appropriate for our prayers. God is concerned about what is happening in our lives.

However, what strikes me about Paul’s prayers is that they are typically focused on spiritual issues, not issues of this life. It’s not that he wasn’t interested in this life, but it was that he knew spiritual life was far more important. The issues of spiritual life and growth were at the front of his mind and were his deepest concerns for himself and for those he cared about.

When he prayed here for the Ephesians, he prayed that they would know God better – see the hope He has given them, understand more fully the inheritance awaiting them, and experience the power He desired to exhibit in their lives.

I don’t want to be discouraged or discourage anyone else from bringing the issues of life to God in prayer. However, I do want to grow in my ability to see the truly important issues that transcend this life and are of the Spirit. I long for my prayer life and yours to be reflective of a heart that understands what is important and is set on those things that truly matter!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Thursday Thought – June 4, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

Do you realize how many wonderful blessings you have because of Jesus? How often do you stop to think about all that God has done for you -- just because He loves you?

Chosen to be a holy and blameless, not because we are, but because He makes us so in Christ. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)

Adopted as sons of God. “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5)

Freely experiencing God’s grace. “He has freely given us of his glorious grace in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:6)

Redeemed by the blood of Christ, forgiven for all of our sins. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)

He revealed His marvelous mystery of grace to us, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. “He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:9)

Made a part of the body of Christ. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth.” (Ephesians 1:13)

Marked and protected by the Holy Spirit. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13)

That ought to be enough to get the praise started!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- June 3, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  Amen.” (Philippians 4:21-23)

Paul had been sent to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. At least that’s what the Jews and Romans thought. But that’s not what God had in mind by allowing Paul to remain in prison and be sent to the highest court in the empire. God’s plan included the salvation of some people, even within the very household of the emperor!

At many times in the early history of the church there wasn’t a place that would represent a greater enemy to the church than the house of Caesar. But even in that place, the gospel penetrated and impacted people’s lives.There is nowhere on earth that is impenetrable by the gospel!

The most liberal university, the most hostile government, the most immoral city, all of them can be and have been penetrated with the gospel. The gospel has the power to go anywhere.

So, don’t think anyplace is beyond God’s reach. He may have to send someone to prison to get the message of the gospel somewhere, but God can reach even the most difficult place. He can even reach people in your family, your neighborhood, your school, your workplace. He may even have you there just for that reason!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Tuesday Thought -- June 2, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:14-19)

The Philippians were generous people. They helped Paul in his missionary work time and again. And they helped the churches of Judea when they suffered through a famine. Paul used the example of their generosity to encourage other churches toward giving (see 2 Corinthians 8:1ff). They were generous even though they were not a wealthy people.

Paul said of them, “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:2)

The giving of the Philippians was good for them. It wasn’t just good for those with whom they shared, it was good for the Philippians, too. Their giving was “credited to their account.” The Bible says that God will be no man’s debtor. When the Philippians gave, God blessed them in return. The blessings may not have been material, but God did bless them.

Their giving pleased God. That’s why they gave. They didn’t give for what they would get in return. They gave because they loved God and wanted to please Him.

Their giving did not deepen their financial poverty. Instead, Paul promises God’s provision for their needs because of their generous giving.

They were a good example to the Corinthians, an encouragement for them to give generously, too. They’re a good example for us, too.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- June 1, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:10-13)

Contentment doesn’t come naturally. Paul said he had to learn it. I’m not sure how he learned it, but it probably had something to do with experiencing going without and finding out that he could live through it and learning to trust the Lord in the midst of it.

Contentment doesn’t require plenty. Paul learned to be content in plenty and in need. Contentment is not based upon how much you have, but about your attitude toward what you have.

Knowing Christ doesn’t guarantee that all your needs and desires will be met, that you will live in prosperity. Paul lived in prosperity sometimes and sometimes he lived in deep need. He knew what it was like even to go hungry.

Here was Paul’s bottom-line: it’s not so much what you are going through, it is Who you are going through it with! Paul had learned to handle any situation, because he had learned to rely upon Christ. Christ’s presence was enough to make every kind of situation bearable.

No matter what kind of situation you are in right now: in plenty or in need, hurting or feeling good, with a great job or unemployed, healthy or sick, or whatever your situation, lean on Christ, rely on Him, trust Him. That’s where we’ll find contentment!

His, by Grace,

Steve