Ephesians is a powerful letter of Scripture for our times.
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| Paul writing his letters |
There are also some powerful truths in all the 10's of each chapter.
I thought I would break these and look at each one. They help paint a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God and some of the story line of eternity unfolding around us.
Hope it blesses and encourages you deeply.
Eph 1:10
"to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
Unity is not something believers make. Eph 4:3
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Jesus bought, brought, and provides paths for unity in the heavens and on earth. In him everything visible and invisible will be unified before the Father. He restored relationship to the Father and made a way for humanity to welcome and be transformed into His likeness. Eternity burst wide open in the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. Never to be undone, heaven is invading earth every moment with divine assignment and grace. Humanity is being swept up into the heart of the Father through the prefect work of our Lord Jesus.
Believers keep the unity. The fivefold ministers, on assignment and as gifts to the church, by fulfilling and walking in their calling and assignments, propagate unity among believers, churches and nations. Centering the Bride on Jesus, revelation and understanding of his NAME, on seeking the Kingdom and his righteousness first and engaging in habitation presence (prayer, worship, intercession, presence) as a way of life.
Key: Everything on earth and in heaven will one day come into perfect unity with Jesus.
Eph 2:10
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
We are the Father's poem written on the Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus our Lord. Just as Jesus walked in the good works the Father was doing, we walk in his good works. Led by the Spirit, we move in the same rivers of love and redemption that he set into the world. In the inheritance of Jesus, the completed work of eternal redemption with he accomplish in singular victory, we find our good works. Already planned. Designed with Spirit craftsmanship in such a way that as we walk in them we become his poem. He writes the glory of Jesus on us, in us, through us as we serve and love as co-laborers with Him. His yoke is certainly easy, resting on us in the Spirit's grace and calling out in us the transformation of love. God's love. A poem. Simple beauty set in powerful lyrics and calling out over the world's landscape, our poem gives testimony to his life changing power and love. 
"His intent was that now, through the church,
the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly realms,"
Paul, through the leading of the Spirit, points us to the Father's intentions in and through Jesus. Jesus is Head of the Church. The Church is his body, living and active in the world. A living expression of the Kingdom reality. His Bride, being shaped into his image and prepared for a Wedding feast, is his love assignment. He never looses sight of her. He is always working for her transformation. It is the Father's intent that through the church, the assembly of those called out of this world of darkness, that he would demonstrate something remarkable. Manifold Wisdom. Beyond the capacity of human minds, the mind of God takes these millions of sons and daughters and winds them and weaves them constantly into a confounding demonstration of his glory in the face of the fallen powers. These are all fallen powers and fading rulers of this world. A witness consistently is being made to their demise through manifold wisdom; many faceted harmonious and unified expressions of his grace, glory, love and power. He is doing this today through his church. Not linear, but manifold wisdom. All at once and not at all. Perfect motion and obedience unrecognizable to the powers. So who do we want to agree with about the Church? Jesus the Head? The Father, who intent is manifold wisdom here and now? Or the small minded flesh minded simple linear perspectives of the earth we all so easily assess?
Eph 4:10
"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things."
Just when we want to shrink back into a view of the kingdom we can contain, hold in ourselves and think we can build, Paul reminds us that Jesus has filled every element of creation. His love, work and obedience to the Father's heart and plans have completely altered the universe. Remember Jesus is the Unifying person of the universe. Reason. He obeyed the Father's will as perfect worship and love and that work went to every location of creation. There is no place outside the vision and story of redemption in Jesus. He has filled all things in every way. Hell is not beyond his presence. He sees it dark passages as if in daylight. Nothing is hidden from his gaze. Yet his gaze is upon us in love. He is seeking the good for humanity. Seeking our joy. He is in love with each person on the globe. He longs for each to come into the saving grace of Jesus. Jesus ascended from earth into Heaven. This is vitally important. And nearly forgotten in modern teaching. It was core for the apostles. He ascended before their eyes. Heaven and earth are forever linked. Heaven is open. Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father. Sat down. Means this whole thing is finished in him. As High Priest he is leading worship and prayer and interceding for our compete redemption. No one is going to bring him down from this lofty seat. No one on earth is going to change the reality of the Kingdom he is bringing into the world every day. It is finished. He made all things new. He makes us NEW!
In this authority and headship Jesus gave people to his Bride. He gave apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors and evangelists. He gave them so she could attain all the beauty and glory in his heart. He gave ascension grace and assignments to release that grace to men and women of his choosing to accomplish his inheritance today.
Eph 5:10
You can do this thing! He's got you.
"Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."
Each believer is set with a vital assignment. To prove with their life what is pleasing to the Lord. We were not set to prove to each other what is pleasing to God. We are set to prove to him that we understand his will in love. We test and prove and work and pray with all zeal and diligence in his will. We are not going to hear well done good and faithful servant from our brothers and sisters. We are going to prove the will of God unto Jesus. It is his worship. It is his grace pumping through our hearts and veins. It is his voice that calls us. It is his mission that fills us. It is his presence that lights endless fires of prayer and love and worship. The world is rotting away and fading as we seek to prove ourselves to each other. There is only one approval worthy of our efforts energy and worship, the approval of Jesus. Run after that. Set it first in your life. Never lack zeal to prove his will in your life. His smile is worth every pain. His eyes full of fire and love are worth the days of ambiguity and confusion. There is no one else to prove the will of God to but God.
The remarkable thing is, when we are walking in the Spirit and following Jesus, the yoke of his will is easy and light. It is peaceful and full of rest. It is magnificent in beauty and power. WE will find the way to prove what is acceptable in the steps of Jesus. We follow him today through the wisdom and understanding of the Holy Spirit. We follow Jesus. "Follow me," he said to Peter as the Dead, Resurrected, Ascended present and living Lord. John 21
Strong in the Lord. Being rooted and established in love, knowing the depths of the love of Jesus, abiding in his boundless presence, we can be strong in the power of his might. The Saints have not exhausted the power of his might. To move into the power of his might we have to abide in his strength. What was the strength of the Lord Jesus? To whom did he find his joy, power, strength, love, support and grace? The Father. The mystery of the Lord Jesus is open to us as strength. Strong in the Lord. Everything in the Lord will be gathered up in the strength of the Father and the perfection of the Lord Jesus. Perfect worship. Perfect love. Perfect abiding grace. Perfect peace. Perfect unity. Perfect wisdom. Perfect obedience. Perfect honor. Perfect habitation. This belongs to us in our strong Lord Jesus. His power is beautiful. It is not Lording or like the world. It redeems the world's corrupt understandings and control. It harvests a crop of beauty for every fallen thing. the power of his might is found in abiding in the strength of the one we love, Jesus. Finally....this is our continuous discovery and pathway. Knowing Jesus in the strength of his heart before the Father. Knowing him in the strength of his surrender. His body laid down for us. Knowing him in the strength of his forgiveness. Knowing Jesus in the strength of his grace. Knowing Jesus in the strength of his desire to please the Father. Knowing Jesus in the strength of his worship. Knowing him in the strength of his righteousness. This is the power of his might. This is what we are called into as strength. This is how we become strong in the Lord. When we let go of earthly understanding of strength and tap into the reality of Jesus' strength we can move freely in the power of his might.
Remarkable letter. Manifold Wisdom is being poured out today through the Church.
That's the intent of the Father in the Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Believe. And Run in his rest and joy!
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With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
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