We Follow Jesus. Ephesians 1NIV
The knowledge of the Lord is what Ephesians, chapter 1-3, is all about.Ephesians 4-6 is known as the doing chapters. First the reader gains critical knowledge of their rights in this heavenly inheritance. Their position, their anointing, their Sonship.
Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on Ephesians, tells about Hetty Green, who left an estate valued over $100 million dollars. That’s not unusual, except she died in 1916, and she lived like a pauper. She ate cold oatmeal in order to save on heating cost. She would not take her son to get medical help until she found a free clinic. And when she finally found a free clinic, it was too late to save her son’s leg, so his leg was amputated. Was Hetty Green wealthy? You can argue both ways, but she certainly didn’t live as if she were.
Paul prayed at least 5 prayers for believers. 2 of the 5 are found in, Ephesians. These prayers are extremely important because they were inspired by the Holy Spirit and capture the will of God for our transformation into the image of Jesus Christ.
Our transformation into the image of Jesus Christ is extremely important in your christian journey.
The 5 prayers are, Ephesians 1:17-19 Ephesians 3:16-19; Colossians 1:9-12; Philippians 1:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.
There are 6 key concepts Paul prayed for:
Experimental faith for the believer. (What God has done).
Spiritual knowledge for the believer. (Vital throughout life).
That you are full and complete through Jesus Christ. -Colossians 2:10KJV And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
That you continue to grow in Christ to get stronger.. (Life can’t keep you down, because you have a greater source of strength).
The lifestyle of a Christian. (Paul understood the importance in walking out what we believe and speak).
Walk and demonstrate Christ love. (Love is the key ingredients throughout life).
Ephesians 1:1-2 The church of the Lord Jesus Christ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
-The faithful in Christ Jesus!
Ephesians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice, Grace and peace to you, from God!
Ephesians 1:1-2TPT Dear friends, My name is Paul, and I was chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus, the Messiah. 2 I’m writing this letter to all the devoted believers who have been made holy by being one with Jesus, the Anointed One. May God himself, the heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, release grace over you and impart total well-being into your lives.
Notice, Your oneness with Jesus made you, holy.
Ephesians 1:3- 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.
Being blessed in the heavenly realms! -Earth has no say, “this is a blessing from the eternal.” P.H
You have been given every spiritual blessing.
Proverbs 10:22NIV The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
Say, “Every Spiritual blessing.” To me that means whatever I face, I have the spiritual fortitude, to endure, and even overcome!
Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight in love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Understand this, You were chosen. In fact the entire world has been chosen, John 15:16.
If you skip out on Jesus, you’re still chosen, you just want reap His spiritual benefits. And His spiritual benefits will take you all the way to heaven!
Ephesians 1:7-10 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
When God created you, He had greatness on His mind.
Again verse 7, Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Listen to, Ephesians 1:7TPT Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace.
Song- Amazing Grace, equals redemption through His blood.
According to, Ephesians 1:8 Jesus lavished upon you all wisdom and understanding.
Again, Ephesians 1:8TPT This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing all forms of wisdom and practical understanding.
Verse 9 states, You have been given the mystery of God’s will for us. -
The Bible says that the mystery of God is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Ephesians 1:11TPT Through our union with Christ we too have been claimed by God as his own inheritance. Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny; that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart.
Your life is a praise of glory! -Your destiny is to fulfill the plan of God.
Ephesians 1:13a And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Think back to the time that the gospel (Gods word) really stuck). You were included!
Verse 13a is stating, Because of you believing, in-turn, you become a full participate to His blessings and inheritance! P.H
Your words become a reflection of your thoughts, and of what you truly believe.
Ephesians 1:13b...When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 1:13TPT And because of him, when you who are not Jews heard the revelation of truth, you believed in the wonderful news of salvation. Now we have been stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.
Being stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit is where prayer is established by a new relationship with God; It is prayer that leads us into God’s presence; It affirms on Gods priorities: It is focused on a new submission to God and His will; It affirms our dependence on God for His provision; It is praying on the basis of a new pardon. Having been forgiven we extend forgiveness to others. It is prayer trusting in God’s protection from the enemy; and finally it is a prayer which climaxes with God’s glory.
Again, Ephesians 1:13b-14 ...When you believed, you were marked by him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Again, The Holy Spirit is Gods deposit guaranteeing you full inheritance.
First prayer of the apostles Paul.
-Ephesians 1:15-17 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 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.
Hear Paul’s prayer all because he had heard of these believers faith and love.
How can others hear of your faith and love?
The apostles Paul states, I have not stopped giving praise for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Paul’s prayer for the church of Ephesians was for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Notice the whole objective is for them to know Jesus better! -He wants us to know Him better!
Hear more of Paul’s prayer for all saints:Ephesians 1:18-21 I pray 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 his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
In these 4 verses, Paul uses the words, He has called you...He exerted resurrection power as He rose His Son from the dead...His holy people... His incomparably great power!
Here’s the truth, It was because of God's great power, and great love for humanity, that He rose His only Son from the dead, bringing resurrection life to all who will believe. P.H
Listen, the resurrection changed everything. Ephesians 1:21TPT And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming!
Testimonies: Have you used your inheritance lately? Did you know that you can speak His name, and demons obey.
Ephesians 1:22-23AMP And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].
Jesus is our head. -We only have one head. Anything with more than one head is considered a freak.
Ephesians 4:11-13 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
All things under His feet... And He (Jesus) is the head of the church.
Matthew 16:13-19NIV When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
What about you? -“Who do you say I am?”
In closing, its important to ‘say' only what you know.
You have a rich inheritance.
You are blessed in heavenly places.
All principalities are under my feet.
Grace and peace are yours.
Wisdom and understanding come....
You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
We follow Jesus, we follow Jesus in words, in mannerism, we love everyone, we judge no one, -We follow Jesus! -And if you did not hear me. -We follow Jesus. P.H
Benediction.
