The Letter to the Ephesians

Today we enter into worship with the simple reading of God’s Word, something many of you have expressed to be very enriching. Paul actually exhorted the evangelist concerning this idea of “the public reading of Scripture” in 1^st Timothy 4:13. Our focus this day will be on the letter to the Ephesians, since that is where our theme verse is found. What follows is an attempt to highlight some amazing things God reveals to His church. When was the last time you thought about how God has:

ü “. . . blessed us [you] with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

ü “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth . . .” (Ephesians 1:13)

ü “. . . you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance . . .” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

ü “. . . made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions . . .” (Ephesians 2:5)

ü “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus to do good works . . .” (Ephesians 2:10)

ü “And in him you too are being built together to become a

dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

ü “His intent was that now, through the church [US!], the manifold

wisdom of God should be made known . . .” (Ephesians 3:10)

ü “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that IS AT WORK WITHIN US . . .” (Ephesians 3:20)

ü “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7)

ü “. . . to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,

created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:23-24)

ü “. . . just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

ü “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children . . .” (Ephesians 5:1)

ü “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8)

ü “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

ü “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

ü “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” (Ephesians 6:24)

The Lord’s church is an amazing group of people because God has made us to be that way through the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. My prayer for us all is that we learn to live the life which our Lord has given us to be now as we wait for His amazing return to bring us home. If you are in Christ, may you this day hear with clarity the spiritual reality of what Christ has done and continues to do for you.

Dennis