“You Are Wrong!”
“You Are Wrong!”
Blessings folk!
Read these verses again…
Mar 12:24
Jesus said to them,
“Is this not the reason you are wrong,
because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Mat 22:29
But Jesus answered them,
“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Jesus told a portion of the religious leadership that they were wrong.
They were wrong!
How?
Why?
Because they did not know the Scripture.
They did not know the Power of God.
Nothing has changed.
If anything, this lack of knowledge and experience in the Scripture and the Power of God has increased.
Supposed “leaders” put on a faux-front.
A bit of a scandal has embroiled the Southern Baptist Convention the past few days.
Seems that the new president tends to “borrow”, “plagiarize”, etc. some of “his” sermons.
Here is an example…one of many, many…and growing daily… (Litton is the new president of the SBC. Greear past president. Litton really likes Greear’s stuff… He also likes to obfuscate, etc. He actually admits that he use to “lie” about the amount of “time he put in sermon preparation”…these type of folk are big on that.)
Litton parroting Greear
https://bit.ly/3dtdfps
People!
This is nothing new.
Things have been “borrowed” from the beginning.
There are several points of problem.
- personal pride of the speaker
- lack of knowledge of the Scripture
- lack of the Power of God
Most of the time the speaker/preacher is more than willing to receive all the accolades and adoration for the “word” that was brought…when it was not “his”.
(I have often seen this. I have personally experienced it. It unfolded this way. The speaking style was different every Sunday. The vocabulary was different from week-to-week and different from regular day-to-day speech patterns. The thoughts and reasoning were far beyond the usual daily encounters. I began to do a simple internet search after a few words of a “sermon”. And, there ya go! The sermon would pop up…word for word. Done by someone else. I found copied versions of copied versions of copied versions.)
There is nothing wrong with seeking help.
Pro 11:14
Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
I have seen speakers call a friend and a say “do you have a sermon on…?”
Nothing wrong with this, if there is proper attribution.
One can go to the local christian book store and find a year’s sermons on the shelf.
Fine.
As long as there is proper attribution.
But, there is a greater problem.
Vanity is one thing.
Not knowing the Scripture…
Not knowing the Power of God…
That is another thing.
“Is This The Reason That We Are Wrong?”
“Is This The Reason That We Are Wrong?”
Blessings folk!
It is really simple.
Believers are to live and manifest the Kingdom of God.
The problem arises in that we do not know “who we are in the Lord” nor do we know “what He has told us to do”.
We search for strategies to “build the church”, while refusing to simply read His Word and do it.
We search for techniques to “communicate the gospel”, while denying the Power of God.
We do many, many…many!…”good” things in the name of the Lord, yet do not seek Him.
I suspect that we have become as the religious rulers that often confronted Jesus…
Mar 12:24
Jesus said to them,
“Is this not the reason you are wrong,
because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Mat 22:29
But Jesus answered them,
“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
They were wrong,
They did not know the Scriptures - though being highly versed in the Word, they knew it not.
They did not know the Power of God.
I suggest that we “not do anything” until we know the Scriptures and the power of God.
Begin there…
“Great Crowds Came to Him…”
“Great Crowds Came to Him…”
Blessings folk!
As many of you likely know, I do a daily podcast in addition to this daily blog.
You can find it here - https://www.dalemoore.tv
Usually the blog subject and podcast subject are different.
But today, I want us to look at something and consider.
On the podcast today we covered this passage…
Mat 15:29-31
Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee.
And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.
And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them,
so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking,
the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.
And they glorified the God of Israel.
Does this “say” anything to Believers today?
Does this give us any insight…guidance?
Are we as Believers suppose to be doing as Jesus did?
Selah!
“Power Belongs to God”
“Power Belongs to God”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God.
We have looked at many passages in the Word related to the Power of God.
When it is all said and done…
Rev 19:1
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
Salvation belongs to our God.
Glory belongs to our God.
Power belongs to our God.
Not to us.
To the Lord alone!
Do not reject the power the Lord desires to release within you.
1Th 5:19-20
Do not quench the Spirit;
do not despise prophetic utterances.
Choose to walking in the manner and power of the Lord.
“Are You?”
“Are You?”
Blessings folk!
A simple, concluding thought for the day.
We have been looking at many passages of the Word which speak of the “power of God”.
Think on this.
Are you living in the Power of God?
Are you manifesting the Power of God?
Do you believe?
Or, are you living in the power of the world?
1 Jo 5:19
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
True Believers are of God.
The world lies in the power of the evil one.
We live in the Power of God.
If you are not, examine yourself.
See if you be of the faith.
“The Outcome of Your Faith”
“The Outcome of Your Faith”
Blessings folk!!
Believers!
Read the entire sentence.
Note the truths about true Believers…
1 Pe 1:6-8
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
By definition, True Believers believe.
We believe in Him.
We believe what He said.
We believe what the Word says about Him.
Even though we do not see Him now, we believe.
Believe!
Believers love Him, though we have not seen Him.
Believers rejoice with joy that is inexpressible, with joy full of glory.
The outcome of all this is the salvation of our souls.
Love!
Rejoice!
“Praise, Glory, Honor”
“Praise, Glory, Honor”
Blessings folk!
We have seen that as Believers we greatly rejoice that we are protected by the Power of God.
Even if times of trials and tribulations are necessary.
1 Pe 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice,
even though now for a little while,
if necessary,
you have been distressed by various trials,…
“If necessary”?
Read more…
1Pe 1:7
so that the proof of your faith,
being more precious than gold which is perishable,
even though tested by fire,
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Proof of faith.
Greatly rejoicing in/through the Power of God in the midst of trials is proof of faith.
It is more precious than gold.
The result is “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”.
Who receives this “praise/glory/honor” when Jesus comes?
Good question, no? 
“Greatly Rejoice!”
“Greatly Rejoice!”
Blessings folk!
In what do you rejoice?
Yesterday we saw that Believers are protected by the Power of God…
1 Pe 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
Read the next verse…
1 Pe 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice,
even though now for a little while,
if necessary,
you have been distressed by various trials,…
“In this you greatly rejoice..”
What was Peter referencing?
We rejoice that we are protected by the Power of God!
Even though…
- now
- for a little while
- if necessary
- you have been distressed
- by various trials
Why trials?
Why distresses?
Why for a period of time?
We will see.
For today, greatly rejoice that you are protected by the Power of God.
“Protected By the Power of God”
“Protected By the Power of God”
Blessings folk!
We continue to look at what the Word says about the Power of God.
Read this!!
1 Pe 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
Peter is blessing the “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
What has God done?
- caused us to be born again, by His great mercy
- caused us to be born again, to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
- caused us to obtain an inheritance
- imperishable
- undefiled
- will not fade away
- reserved in heaven for each believer
- protected by the Power of God
- through faith
- for salvation
- ready to be revealed
- in the last time
Think on that.
As a Believer you are protected by the Power of God.
Protected through faith.
For salvation!
A salvation that is ready to be revealed…in the last time.
Selah!
“Power. Purpose. Grace. Appointment”
“Power. Purpose. Grace. Appointment”
Blessings folk!
Let us finish the sentence/thought by which Paul was exhorting Timothy…and us.
Watch for “power”.
2 Ti 1:8-11
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
God’s power…
God’s purpose…
God’s grace…
Have now been revealed!
Revealed by the appearing of Jesus…Our Savior…Our Christ.
What did Jesus do?
He abolished death.
He brought life.
He brought immortality to light.
Immortality!
Through the gospel
The Power of God.
Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle and teacher.
Each true Believer is given an “appointment” by the Most High.
What is yours?
Are you fulfilling it?
“Saved. Called. Purpose. Grace”
“Saved. Called. Purpose. Grace”
Blessings folk!
Read a little more of the sentence…
2 Ti 1:8-9
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
Do not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord.
Do not be ashamed of OneAnother, especially those that are suffering for the Kingdom.
Join in suffering for the gospel…according to the Power of God.
God Who saved us.
God Who called us.
God Who called us, not according to our works.
God Who called us, according to His Own purpose.
God Who called us, according to His grace.
All this is granted to each true Believer in Christ Jesus from all eternity.
Granted - free.
In Christ Jesus - only through Him.
From all eternity - without beginning, without ending.
Exhort OneAnother with this truth.
Begin with yourself.
This is who we are in the Lord.
This is our calling.
This is our purpose.
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“Do Not Be Ashamed…”
“Do Not Be Ashamed…”
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday that Paul was exhorting Timothy.
He continues…
2 Ti 1:8
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…
Paul exhorted Timothy…
- to not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord
- to not ashamed of Paul, the prisoner of the Lord
- to join him in suffering for the gospel
Then, this interesting phrase “according to the power of God…”
When tempted to be ashamed of the testimony or OneAnother, remember the power of God.
When suffering, remember the power of God.
The power of God does not abandon nor forsake us, regardless of circumstance.
Join with OneAnother in the power of God.
There is more in the sentence …later…
“Power. Love. Discipline.”
“Power. Love. Discipline.”
Blessings folk!
Paul was writing Timothy.
He was “passing the baton”.
Paul wanted to remind Timothy of some things.
One thing was about the Power of God.
2 Ti 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Paul exhorted Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God.”
Timothy had the gift of God.
He was to kindle it…afresh.
This tells us some things.
All Believers receive “the gift of God”.
We need to kindle it.
Timothy received it by the laying on of Paul’s hands.
Interesting.
Then Paul tells us something about Believers.
We are not given a spirit of timidity.
We are given Power.
We are given Love.
We are given discipline.
Fear not!
Fret not!
Press on in the kindled power of the Spirit!
“The Glory of His Power”
“The Glory of His Power”
Blessings folk!
The Power of the Lord!
Read what is said about the power of the Lord…
2 Th 1:9
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction,
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
The Power of the Lord is glorious - His glory.
Now read more of the context.
Pay close heed…
2 Th 1:6-10
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
dealing out retribution to those who do not know God
and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction,
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day,
and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
The Lord will repay with affliction those who afflict us.
The Lord will give relief to us.
When?
When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…in flaming fire.
The Lord will deal retribution to…
- those who do not know God
- those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus
They will…
- pay the penalty of eternal destruction
- pay the penalty of being away from the Presence of the Lord
- pay the penalty of being away from the glory of His Power
What about those who believe?
The Lord will be glorified in His saints on that day.
Think on that.
The Lord glorified in us.
We will marvel.
Ya reck’n?
“Power! Spirit! Full Conviction!”
“Power! Spirit! Full Conviction!”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God!
These verses are so important.
Read.
Note what had occurred to the Thessalonians.
Note how.
Note what they were doing.
1 Th 1:2-5
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind
your work of faith
and labor of love
and steadfastness of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
knowing,
brethren beloved by God,
His choice of you;
for our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
They were chosen by God.
This is a clear, concise, explicit teaching of the Word.
God’s choice.
People want to debate this.
Simply believe the Word.
The Thessalonians/we know this.
How did the gospel come to them?
Through Paul.
But, not just through word.
Word!
Power!
In the Holy Spirit!
With full conviction!
Proven by the life of the men proclaiming it!
This is a great need of the Body and world today.
True Believers that move in the Power, Spirit and full conviction of the Lord.
Men that are the manifest Presence of the Most High God!
The Thessalonians were doing good.
They had a work of faith.
They had a labor of love.
They had a steadfastness of hope in the Lord.
So should we.
Paul will exhort them to excel even more.
So should we.
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“Power! Spirit! Full Conviction!”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God!
These verses are so important.
Read.
Note what had occurred to the Thessalonians.
Note how.
Note what they were doing.
1 Th 1:2-5
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind
your work of faith
and labor of love
and steadfastness of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
knowing,
brethren beloved by God,
His choice of you;
for our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit
and with full conviction;
just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
They were chosen by God.
This is a clear, concise, explicit teaching of the Word.
God’s choice.
People want to debate this.
Simply believe the Word.
The Thessalonians/we know this.
How did the gospel come to them?
Through Paul.
But, not just through word.
Word!
Power!
In the Holy Spirit!
With full conviction!
Proven by the life of the men proclaiming it!
This is a great need of the Body and world today.
True Believers that move in the Power, Spirit and full conviction of the Lord.
Men that are the manifest Presence of the Most High God!
The Thessalonians were doing good.
They had a work of faith.
They had a labor of love.
They had a steadfastness of hope in the Lord.
So should we.
Paul will exhort them to excel even more.
So should we.
“Striving According to His Power”
“Striving According to His Power”
Blessings folk!
For what purpose do you labor?
Where is your hope?
Hear the Word of the Lord through Paul…
Col 1:24-29
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Paul suffered for the sake of the saints, for the sake of the Body of Christ.
The “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” does not mean that Christ’s sufferings fell short.
It does not mean that Christ afflictions were lacking something.
Paul is saying that Christ afflictions will carry on through believers.
We will be afflicted as He was.
Paul states that he labored in purpose.
He preached the Word of God.
He preached the mystery of God - the Jew and Gentile as One Man/Body in Christ.
A mystery full of riches still yet to be plumbed.
The mystery that Christ is in us.
The mystery that this is the hope of glory - Christ in us.
Paul labored and strived according to the the Power of God that worked mightily within him.
Do we allow the Power of God to mightily work in/through us?
Delighting in the Names of God - Session 2/Elohim
“Saints In Light”
“Saints In Light”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God!
True Believers have the very Presence of the Most High God dwelling within.
God the Father.
God the Son.
God the Holy Spirit.
Read.
Note what the Lord is leading Paul to call forth in them…
Col 1:9-12
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it,
we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,
for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Ask that you:
- be filled with the knowledge of His will
- in all spiritual wisdom
- in all understanding
- walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
- to please the Lord in all respects
- to bear fruit in every good work
- to increase in the knowledge of the God
- to be strengthened with all power…all power!!
- to attain steadfastness
- to be patient
- to joyously give thanks to the Father.
This is who we are a saint in Light.
This is what we are to do as saints in Light.
Are we?
“To Be Found In Him”
“To Be Found In Him”
Blessings folk!
How do you want to be remembered?
Read this passage again.
How does Paul say that he desires to “be found”?
Phl 3:7-11
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Is this your desire?
To be found in Him…in the righteousness of Christ.
Or, do you depend upon your own righteousness?
We must be found in His righteousness…by faith.
We must know Him.
We must know the power of His resurrection.
We must know the fellowship of His sufferings.
We must be conformed to His death.
All in order that we might attain to the resurrection from the dead.
It is by these that we are to be remembered.
Not by the ways and manners of the world.
“Attain!”
“Attain!”
Blessings folk!
Paul knew that his righteousness did not derive from the Law.
Do we know this?
Really?
Listen to what we say.
So many speak of only “their church”, “their denomination”, “their” patron father of denominationalism.
We are in trouble when we hear more about Calvin, Wesley, Luther, McArthur, Jeremiah et. al. than we do Jesus Christ and Father.
Read this passage again, it will do you no harm.
Paul wanted to know Christ.
Paul rested in Christ, not in the attainments of religion nor the Law.
Phl 3:7-11
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Faith in Christ.
Righteousness from God.
Power of His resurrection.
Fellowship of His sufferings.
Conformity to His death.
Yes!
This!
“Whatever Gained, Counted As Loss”
“Whatever Gained, Counted As Loss”
Blessings folk!
Read the passage again…
Phl 3:7-11
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Know these truths.
Reflect on these truths.
Live these truths.
Whatever we have “gained” in this life is nothing compared to being “in Christ”.
Paul had reached the pinnacle of religious leadership.
He had just described himself this way…
Phl 3:4-5
although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.
If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:
circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;
as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
He was a Hebrew of Hebrews.
He was righteous…in his own eyes and deeds.
As to the Law, he was found blameless.
Yet, he says that all this is to be “counted as loss” as compared to what is gained in Christ.
Have you gained Christ?
Or, are you still living in religion?
“To Know Christ…
“To Know Christ…”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God!
Read very closely.
What did Paul desire to “know”?
Phl 3:7-11
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul desired to know Christ Jesus.
Do we?
He considered this knowledge to be of “surpassing value”.
To know Jesus.
To know the Power of His resurrection.
To know the fellowship of His sufferings.
To be conformed to His death.
Why?
To attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Is this what we see in our lives personally?
Is this what we see corporately?
No wonder we are in the state we are in…
“He Is Able!!”
“He Is Able!!”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God.
It works within each and every True Believer.
Read these verses closely.
Read with eyes of faith, not eyes of flesh.
They are a doxological closing of Ephesians 3.
Grasp what is being said!
Gasp at what is being said?
Eph 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The Lord is able to do anything.
Far more abundantly than what we ask.
Far more abundantly than what we think.
How?
According to HIs Power.
His Power that dwells within us.
Think on that.
Reflect on that.
Rejoice in that.
The Power of the Most High God dwells within us.
The Power of the Most High God works within us.
Quench Him not.
To Him be the glory!
Glory in the church.
Glory in Christ Jesus.
Now.
To all generations.
Forever…and ever.
“Do We?”
“Do We?”
Blessings folk!
Read these verses again…
Eph 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Why was Paul asking the Lord to strengthen the Ephesians/us with Power in the inner man?
So that Christ might dwell in our hearts, through faith.
So that we would be rooted and ground in love.
So that we can comprehend the breath, the length, the height, the depth of the love of Christ.
So that we can know the love of Christ…love that surpasses knowledge.
So that we may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Are we?
Filled with the fullness of God.
Do we?
Know the love of Christ.
Do we comprehend?
“Power In the Inner Man”
“Power In the Inner Man”
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday that Paul “bowed the knee…”.
Eph 3:14-15
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
Paul bowed his knee before the Father…Father from whom…
Whom who?
Every family in heaven.
Every family on earth.
From whom every family derives its name.
“Family in heaven”?
Is this speaking of those who have preceded us to glory?
Perhaps.
It might be a reference to divine beings…?
Anyway, Paul humbled himself before Father.
Why?
Eph 3:16
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Paul was bowing the knee before the Father of all the families of creation in intercession on behalf of the Ephesians!
He asked the Lord to grant them something.
To grant them something according to the riches of His glory.
To grant what?
That they would be strengthened with Power through His Spirit int he inner man.
This is significant.
This is powerful.
We should pray for OneAnother.
We should pray this for ourselves.
Lord, grant us!
- to be strengthened with Power
- through Your Holy Spirit
- in the inner man
Such is the way of the Kingdom!
“Bow the Knee"
“Bow the Knee"
Blessings folk!
For today, read…slowly…another extended Pauline sentence.
There is so much here.
Yes, note the “power”.
But, there is more…
Eph 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Bow the knee.
“God’s Eternal Purpose”
“God’s Eternal Purpose”
Blessings folk!
Ephesians 3:16 speaks of being strengthened by the the Power of God.
But, before we go there, read this.
Eph 3:11-13
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf,
since they are your glory
“This”.
What is “this”?
Something was in accordance with the eternal purpose of God.
God carried out this eternal purpose through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 3:10 tells us.
Remember, always give close attention to context.
Eph 3:10
so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
The wisdom of God, multifaceted, is made known through the church.
Through true believers.
It is made known to rulers and authorities.
Not rulers and authorities of human beings.
Rather, rulers and authorities in the heavenly places…divine beings.
This is God’s plan.
The church manifesting the wisdom of God to the heavenly realms.
How are we doing?
“…To The Working Of His Power”
“…To The Working Of His Power”
Blessings folk!
Paul is an example of the working of the power of God in a believer.
Read this passage closely.
Look at the truths related to the mystery that the Lord showed Paul.
Note where/how the Power of God worked in Paul.
Eph 3:1-10
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ
which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit
to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel
of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ
and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things
so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
So, so much understanding here.
Ask the Lord for revelation.
For our purpose today, it was the “gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power” that empowered Paul!
The same is true for each True Believer.
We are empowered by God.
It is by His grace.
It is to His purpose.
Rejoice!
“Boundless Greatness of His Power”
“Boundless Greatness of His Power”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God.
It is “boundlessly great” toward those who believe!
Think on that!
Paul was writing to the Believers in Ephesus.
Watch how he prayed for them…
Eph 1:15-19a
For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints
do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe.
We should do likewise.
Let’s do this for OneAnother.
Give thanks for OneAnother.
Pray for OneAnother.
Ask the Father of Glory to give…
- Spirit of Wisdom
- Revelation in the Knowledge of Him
- Enlightenment
…to OneAnother.
That we who believe will know…
- what is the hope of His calling
- what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
- what is the boundless greatness of His Power toward us who believe.
God’s Power is poured forth without boundary to Believers.
Reflect on these verses.
There will be no end to the revelation that the Lord will give.
Then, live in the Power of God toward OneAnother.
“Power of God in Him”
“Power of God in Him”
Blessings folk!
The Power of God.
It brought Jesus forth from the dead.
The Power of God.
It enables us to live within Jesus.
The Power of God.
It is directed toward/through True Believers.
Read…
2 Co 13:4
For indeed He was crucified because of weakness,
yet He lives because of the power of God.
For we too are weak in Him,
yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
Jesus was crucified “because of weakness”…He had a physical body that could be killed.
Yet, He lives because of the Power of God.
The Power of God resurrected Him from the dead.
We too are weak…in the flesh…in our body.
But, we are “weak in Him”.
We are “in Him”…In the Lord.
We will live with Him because of the Power of God.
We live “in Him” by the Power of God.
What then should we do?
The next verse tells us…
2 Co 13:5
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith;
examine yourselves!
Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test
Test yourself.
Examine yourself.
Are you of the faith?
Do you manifest the Power of God?
“The Power Will Be of God”
“The Power Will Be of God”
Blessings folk!
The power of God!
This is what the current Body of Christ needs.
We have it.
We simply do not know it.
Too many reject who they are in the Lord.
Too many reject what the Lord desires to do through them.
Too many live a life of religion.
Few live a life of Power.
“But”, many say, “I’m just a human. Power?”
Heed the Word of the Lord.
2 Co 4:6-7
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,”
is the One who has shone in our hearts
to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ
But we have this treasure in earthen containers,
so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves
God has shown in the heart of every true believer.
He gives the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Read that again.
This is the treasure that we have in our “earthen containers” - our bodies.
God does this for purpose.
“So that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God”.
So that the manifest Power of God will be evident as His.
Power, not of ourselves, but of Him.
Power that flows, not of ourselves, but from Him.
Power, that is not of man, but of the Most High God!
This is the Power that He desires to release in/through us.
Are we willing?