The church is Christs body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. 2123). Perhaps you can remember three words to capture this message: resurrection power now. When our hearts are set to obey the Lord, He confirms His call in a variety of ways: godly counsel, natural gifting, fruitful results, Scripture, and a sense of rightness that does not conflict with any of the other confirmations. Ecclesiastes A muscular mans big muscles display his might, even if he doesnt use them. CD players dont have needles, he said, laughing. As Paul puts it (2 Tim. He is able! All of which is a parable. For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. Do you think your faith will bring you riches? We are not in heaven yet; but we are as safe as if we were. 36.2; 59.3). 2:9; 2 Thess. He told them they could do anything God wanted them to do through Christ who would strengthen them (Phil. 4:4, 6). Blessing upon blessings! Literally this verse reads, The eyes of your heart being enlightened. We think of the heart as the emotional part of man, but in the Bible, the heart means the inner man, and includes the emotions, the mind, and the will. The same continuous current of His mighty power stands available to the faithful, to all who will believe. It is a great truth that God does choose the inheritance for his people. He implants Biblical truth into your thinking so that your responses become more and more like Christs. Eph 3:20+ 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 (speaking of the power of the Spirit that continually energizes us - see Php 2:13+, cp the prayer in Eph 3:16+!). Leaning his head on the seat in front of him, he trembled. The ultimate hope for Christians is to be with their Lord (Rom 5:45; 8:20, 2425; 12:12; 15:13; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5; Titus 1:2) and they eagerly wait for his coming, unlike the heathen who have no hope (Eph 2:12; 1 Thess 4:1318; 5:8; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3). Too many people are trusting Christ for the power to save their souls and not trusting Him for the power to live day by day. It is Christs coming to take His own to be with Himself. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. 5:2) and motivate you to godly living (1 John 3:3). As we step into the lifts which are attached to so many factories and offices, and expect them to bear us upward, never doubting for a moment that they will do it if only we keep in the line of their ascent; so, if we would keep in abiding fellowship with the Holy Spirit--i.e., if we would not wilfully step out of the range of his blessed help--we should find ourselves mounting with wings as eagles, and going from strength to strength. The first dealt with the past, where the hope was produced by the calling of his people to himself. 15:56). The boy responded, "I wasn't shy. David wrote, Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Thine is the dominion, O Lord, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all. 1986. But heaven seems so far away, you say. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. 1:16). Calling (2821) (klesis) (Click for more in depth discussion of calling; see related word kletos, and discussion of who are "the called") refers to an invitation as to a banquet, a summons to court, and was a call for attention in Greek. Rather, He is trying to appear to the eye of our soul through an inner consciousness. What a battle He had in us before we would be won! Our dear Father "has blessed (past tense - it is a completed act!) In following the call of God, we must be sure to obey His instructions in Scripture. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He sees fit and then calls us into a field of service that utilizes those gifts (1 Corinthians 12:111). How might the believer have certainty in the hope mentioned inEphesians 1:18? God glories in his saints. God gives usspiritual giftsto aid us in our call to service. "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." Such is the case in Matthew 13. The " heart " is the inner man, including the emotion and will; it is the whole self, man's inward being. The Christian Church is precious to God. F B Meyer writes about THE SAINTS' INHERITANCE IN GOD (Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 5:5). The present glories of the ascended Christ are glories possessed by a Man, and, that being so, they are available as evidences and measures of the power which works in believing souls. you may know (eido) that you have eternal life. Paul describes unbelievers as (Eph. Acts 16:14+ A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened (dianoigo) her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 1QS 11:36). New Testament scholar F. F. Bruce writes (The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians [Eerdmans], p. 270), That God should set such high value on a community of sinners, rescued from perdition and still bearing too many traces of their former state, might well seem incredible were it not made clear that he sees them in Christ, as from the beginning he chose them in Christ., Why did God do this? All rights reserved. Whereas the first and second concepts to be understood dealt with the past and future respectively, the third deals with the power of God in the present time toward believers. How does the Spirit enlighten you? A ministry that is College-trained but not Spirit-filled works no miracles. (Bible Knowledge Commentary), In another note Hoehner writes that "The word kleronomia occurred in Eph 1:14 and basically means property, possession, or inheritance. All believers have been called by grace, out of darkness into His glorious light. A day is as a thousand years. When we are saved we receive all of Gods grace and all of His power, and that assures us of the realization of our eternal hope. I was just waiting on him. Leon Tucker wrote the following words back in 1917: "Power is the one thing the church of God needs most and has least. That we might know God better (Ep 1:17). Eph. The hope of your calling is grounded in Gods promises and in Christs accomplishments. Ive been talking to You. Have you ever wondered why church prayer meetings tend to have low turnouts? The inability to see and understand spiritual things is not the fault of the intelligence but of the heart. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? . Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! How could they have more than what they had? But Ephesians emphasizes God's inheritance in the saints. Also, the parallel passage (Col. 1:12) refers to our sharing in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Other Scriptures also refer to the inheritance that is stored up for those who are Gods children through faith in Christ (Acts 20:32; 26:18; Heb. Ephesians 1:18-19 The Message 15-19 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for youevery time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. 1:9), God 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. Knowing that you are saved because in eternity God purposed to save you and that His purpose is certain, will give you assurance you when youre struggling with doubt or failure. The invitation goes out to everyone: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. But many ignore the invitation or make up excuses for why they cannot respond. We need to go back and read the manual carefully, asking God to give us His wisdom and understanding. -- when His heart shall be fully satisfied in His inheritance, for His glory shall be perfectly manifested in the saints. He finally disembarked his troops from a lack of support at home. 1:19). Ischus is used of angelic power in 2 Peter whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord. In accordance (2596) (kata) not out of but according to. Because he wants the field? Just as His calling (Eph 1:18) issued from Him and was received by believers, so His inheritance issues from Him. Compatibility Mechanical: 64 Bit (x64) Why? The deadline for submitting an application for a higher pension has been extended to May 3 from March 3.. Employees who were in service prior to September 1, 2014, and continued to be in service . God demands that we obstinately oppose Satan, as those Romans untiringly harried Hannibal. There are enemies who want to rob us of our wealth (Eph 1:21; 6:11; 6:12 see notes Ep 1:21; 6:11; 6:12). There stood that awful obstacleand it is still the great obstacle that stands between all men and Goddeath in sin and nothing but the power of God could deal with such a situation. He said, "It's not like you to be shy." The difference that obtains between Christians is not one of grace, but of the use we make of grace. She loves small children, and what she learns pricks her heart as nothing else has. It always has the meaning of an effective power which does things and which any man can recognize." The Holy Spirit reveals truth to us from the Word, and then gives us the wisdom to understand and apply it. One demon says to the other, "Demon, if those liberal theologians ever really let Jesus Christ out of that tomb, and those so-called Baptist preachers begin to preach itwhew! Either way you interpret this phrase, whether we are heirs to a vast fortune in heaven or whether we are Gods special inheritance (both are true), the application is the same. The text is clear! At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The real work of a Church depends upon the power of the Spirit." 1 Peter 4:11 (note) Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Paul is praying for the Ephesians to be able to supernaturally grasp the truths in Ephesians 1:3-14 where we see that saints are (1) chosen (Eph 1:4+), (2) predestined (Eph 1:5+,, Eph 1:11+), (3) adopted as sons (Eph 1:5+), (4) accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6+- see article Accepted in the Beloved), (5) redeemed through His blood (Ephesians 1:7+), (6) forgiven (Eph 1:7+), (7) sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ep 1:13+) and (8) given the earnest of our inheritance (Ep 1:14+). This magnificent accumulation of words for power underscores the magnitude of Gods great power available to Christians. This is the miraculous power each believer has experienced at the moment of salvation and surely there is no greater manifestation of God's power than this. When He is seated at the right hand of God, so are we, in Christ. Rab. Note that Paul writes to living saints (not dead ones), people who have put faith in Christ. He will fully gain His inheritance when the saints are removed from this earth and come into his presence. 1:3; 2:1; 3:9; Hab. He bought the world to get the treasure. Ischus is used as an attribute of God in the Revelation saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power (dunamis) and riches and wisdom and might (ischus) and honor and glory and blessing." Will this day ever end? If you are in a strained marriage, a single person aware of your loneliness, or if youre physically afflicted, a day can indeed seem like a thousand years. Believe or not! (Ro 11:2+), Jesus is speaking to unbelieving Jews about His Father in Jn 8:54, and declares to these Jews that) "you have not come to know (ginosko) Him (GOD THE FATHER), but I know (eido- BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT) Him; and if I say that I do not know (eido) Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know (eido) Him, and keep His word. Calmen had expected her former teacher to say, "I knew you could do that.". In Ephesians 1:18, Paul wrote, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling (NASB). But I do more than thank. Gods calling of Israel was to showcase Gods salvation to the pagan world. In them we see the possibilities of humanity, the ideal for man which God had when He created and breathed His blessing .upon him. The "bad" news is that it doesn't have anything to do with money. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. When he began to share his wealth with others in great philanthropic endeavors, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man Gods power enables us to use Gods wealth. (Eph 2:12+). He rarely had a good nights sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. Is it not in the resurrection of those who were dead in trespasses and sins from their spiritual stupor and separation from God, releasing them from the shackles of sin and subservience to Satan and setting them free in Christ? (Ephesians- Life In The Heights), THOUGHT - Remember that believers are called to be imitators of Jesus (1Cor 11:1+, cf 1Jn 2:6+, 1Pe 2:21+) and in that light we need to recall that during Jesus' earthly ministry, He lived out His life in the power of the Holy Spirit. The effectual call is given by God only to the elect. Ephesians 1:18. - Jn 15:5!) Even true believers greatly want heavenly wisdom. In 1:18-19, he elaborates on what that means, namely, that God wants us to know three essentials about our salvation that will give us assurance about our high calling as God's people. It is available. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. Memorize Ephesians 1:3 and 2 Peter 1:3 and recite them often as anthems of praise for the Lords abundant grace. They are also his by conquest. Exodus 28:1). So if youre having problems in your Christian life, if things dont seem to be working as they should, maybe its time to go back and read the owners manual! Note the ESV rendering "what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints." It is a source of strength and stability amid the trials of life (1 Peter 3:1415). Paul is praying for the Ephesians understanding of Gods work on their behalf. Observe, Those who have their eyes opened, and have some understanding in the things of God, have need to be more and more enlightened, and to . Just before His ascension Jesus assured the disciples, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8), an enduement every believer receives at the time he is saved. May His Spirit enable us to worship Him Monday - Saturday (not just on Sunday) in spirit and in truth. Note: This discussion of kleronomia is the same explanatory note that is found in Ephesians 1:14-note (if you have already read that one). I dont blame you for feeling that way. In verse 18 he prays that we will comprehend those great truths, which he summarizes in the phrase, the hope of His calling.. Josephus, Antiquities 11.3.4). But where are You?. But there's no hidden message in the National Research Council's verdict on such techniques. It is God who is at work in you, Paul assures us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil. Ephesians 1:1920is discussing Pauls earnest desire for the Ephesians to attain knowledge regarding the power of God toward the believer. John MacArthur - RECEIVING SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened (Eph. But I do more than thank. Modern maps containing the results Of the explorations of Livingstone, Stanley, Burton, tell another story of river, Savannah, tableland, and of myriads of inhabitants. Ischus therefore conveys the sense of endowed power or ability. QUESTION -What does it mean to be called by God? And not just for the time being, but. Christians are not like the Gentiles who have no hope (Eph 2:12+), but are those who have hope or firm assurance (cf "full assurance of hope" Heb 6:11) that God will do good to us in the future because Christ has purchased salvation for us on the Cross in the past (see notes below on Ro 5:1-2), sanctifies them through His Spirit in the present (Gal 5:16-25-note), and will lead them to glory in the future (Col 1:27+; 1Jn 3:2,3+ ). The fact that God exerted such mighty power to save us implies that His same mighty power will keep us. 2 Thessalonians 2:16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace. ", Ephesians 1:19 (note) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Mark 12:30+ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. 3:8; 4:13; 5:4; 7:16; Nah. 3:9 = "and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery"; 2 Tim. If youre not happy at this moment, neither will you be with a change of location, salary, or ministry. What he prayed was that they be given a divine awareness (eido = intuitive knowledge) of the power they possessed in Christ! What did Paul ask? 31:10; Ezek. 15-19 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for youevery time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. In 1:18-19, he elaborates on what that means, namely, that God wants us to know three essentials about our salvation that will give us assurance about our high calling as Gods people. The power which raised Christ from the grave, lifted Him to heaven, put all things under His feet and made Him the Head over all to the Church, is to us-ward who believe. 4:13). Ephesians 3:20+ Now to Him Who is able (dunamai) to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that works (energeo- present tense - continually working) within us. 1:3-4). This certainty is provided in Jesus Christ. She discusses her burden with her pastor and her spiritual mentor. The second dealt with the future when God will gain his inheritance at the coming of Christ. That there are diversities of gift is manifest; and there always will be a vast difference between those who have five talents and those who have two, in the amount of work done for the kingdom of God. Kratos means strength or might, the power to rule or control or exert dominion (power to rule, supreme authority, sovereignty, the right to govern or rule or determine). The surpassing greatness of Gods power is given to every believer, not just to those who believe and then have a mystical experience, second blessing, or some other supposed additional work of grace. --DJD. F B Meyer (takes view #1) here sees Paul as referring to believers as God's inheritance! His power is to us-ward who believe (Eph. It gives off light, but it doesnt strike anything in particular. Listen to his arguments here. Isaiah But, as we do with so many owners manuals, we read it superficially or hardly at all and then wonder why the Christian life isnt working the way its supposed to! Help me tounderstand the confident hope I have in Christ Jesus my Lord. | GotQuestions.org, What does the Bible say about the power of words? Greatness (3174) (megethos from megas = strong, great) refers to magnitude (great size or extent), greatness. Dunamis - 119x in 115v - Here are Paul's uses of dunamis in Ephesians Eph 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Rader said that without Christ people are in a moral and spiritual cave, blinded, darkened, and unaware of the glories God has in store for them. 15:13). (Galatians 5:16-note) Obeying that command would settle the matter of walking in the flesh verses walking in the Spirit. In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul provided a wonderful starting point. So we, being raised from the dead, go not back to our dead works nor to our old corruptions, but we live unto God.
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