Unity of Believers

 Eph 4:3

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Unity. The state of being united or joined as a whole. I have no illusions that it is possible to be united in every facet of life. We were not created to be robots, programmed to all think alike. God created us with unique personalities and with a will to think for ourselves and make decisions that we believe to be right. Having unity among believers is made possible when there is a common goal to live our lives to please the Lord, but it may not come without effort. Because we are uniquely made by God, we will no doubt not view every situation and problem in the same way. We may be unified in our goal, but not unified in how it is achieved. Maintaining unity is always a work in progress. It is an endeavor that requires intentionality. Unity does not just happen because we all love Jesus. Chances are, there will be many times that we will not see things eye to eye. What is important is to maintain the spirit of Christ in our hearts.  We may not all think alike, but our hearts can be united to keep our spirits in the likeness of Christ. Love and peace can still abide when Christ dwells among us. The Spirit of Christ that lives within each believer compels us to live with an attitude to preferring one another, not allowing strife and contention to arise. There will be times when things are said and done that can lead to division, but Paul says to work hard, make every effort to keep peace and be kind in our spirits. Keeping the unity of the Spirit is essential if we are going to see the Kingdom of God accomplished. 

Spiritual Blessings

Eph. 1:3
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Often, at the end of a written communication, the salutation of the writer ends their writing with, “God bless you.” To be blessed by God is to have the favor of God and His good will. Many view the blessing of God as the material possessions that they have been given, or the good health they may have. It is true that every good thing comes from the Father above. James writes, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” We are to be thankful for these gifts that are given to us. But, the abundance of material health does not indicate God’s favor or blessing. The most important blessings that are given to us are spiritual blessings.  The blessing that comes to us from the Father through Christ. The forgiveness of sin, being free from guilt of sin, the peace that passes understanding, and the unfailing love of God. The Spiritual blessings are not of this world and are not seen by those who are spiritually blind. This is why a person who has lost everything this world has to offer can say, “God is good, and He is blessing me.” Our blessings transcend the treasures of this world, for our treasure is set on things above in heavenly places. So, even when life is difficult, and you don't see God working, He is there, and His spiritual blessings are all around us.

Edify the Church

 Eph.4:11,12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

As Christians, we are charged to spread the gospel of Jesus, and to share the grace of God to a lost world. It is the great commission given to us by Jesus before He ascended back to the Father. But, we have also been charged with edifying the church, the body of Christ to grow and learn to be more like Jesus. It is given to each one of us to ask God what we can do to help edify the church. It is not enough to just go to church and sing the hymns, lift our hands in praise, and soak in God’s presence. God calls each one of us to be a part of the ministry of building each other in Christ. The old days of looking out for self have been put away. God’s Spirit now pushes us forward to be partakers of this ministry. I believe that is why it is so important to be a part of a body of believers who are like-minded in heart and desire to live according to God’s word. Yes, the church is more than just a building or an organization, and the label on the church door is not so important as the label that God has stamped on our hearts. Edification, or the building up of faith and love, is not done in isolation. The Lord may call some to make the world their mission field, and spend their life sharing the good news, but their call is no greater than those He has called to serve in the local church to edify believers to live holy and learn to love. What this will look like is different for each of us. Find that calling, ask God, “What will you have me to do to help edify the body of Christ, the church.” 

The Power of His Might

 Eph 6:10
 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

We are no match for the devil. He is deceiving and cunning. He is a powerful foe that seeks to destroy our lives and our souls. He is not all-knowing, but he knows our vulnerabilities and our constitution. In the human, we don’t stand a chance. We dare not think that human resolution and determination is enough to stand against him. Such efforts are important, but fall short when standing up against the evil of this day. When the evil days come, and we are faced with a situation bigger than us, we are not alone. We serve a mighty God who knows exactly what we need. In the power of His might, we can stand and be strong. For, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Ps 46:1). We do our part and God does the rest. Our part is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. It is to stand for what is right and good. It is to allow the Holy Spirit to take control and have His way in our lives. When we allow the Holy Spirit to abide in our hearts, Jesus said, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49). His power will enable us to be strong in the face of evil. His power will give us the ability to be a witness to others, and let our light shine in the darkness of this day. His power will give us the determination to live a life that is holy and blameless. Let us submit ourselves to the power of His might, and be strong in the Lord.

Power of God in Us

 Eph. 3:20
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

We recently lost power to our house during a windstorm. The energy transformed into electricity gave light in our house when darkness came. It provided power to the fans that blew warm air through our home, and kept the refrigerator compressor running to keep our food from spoiling.  Without the power, we were left in the dark to make the best of it. Power is defined and demonstrated in various ways. It can also be seen as the ability to overcome or command a situation. Jesus said, “You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” What was this power? Why would Christians need to have this power? The work that God has given each one of us is not done with human ingenuity or power. We offer God ourselves as an empty vessel to be used by Him. He fills us with the power given to us by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work of the Kingdom. God is able to exceed abundantly all that is needed when we allow HIm to work in us. Without His power, we are like a house without any lights, we wander in darkness trying to figure things out through our human means. God gives us power to live a life of holiness. There is power in the blood of Jesus. He gives us power to be witnesses to a world lost in darkness. Power to pray that the Holy Spirit will convict men and women of sin. For the Christian, the power to overcome trials, tribulation, and hardship. The power works in us as we open our heart to God believing that He is able to do all things according to His purpose. 

Rooted and Grounded

 Eph 3:17
 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. 

Like a tree planted close to the river banks, our spiritual roots go deep into the ground of God’s love. Because Christ lives in our hearts, His abiding presence is what allows us to live a life that is surrounded by His love and grace. The dwelling presence of Christ is not made possible by adhering to church sacraments, or intellectually agreeing with the teaching and doctrine of the church. The church plays a vital role in the building up of our faith, but it is our faith and belief in Christ that we have been saved from sin and made right before God. This firm belief is the ground on which we grow and become established in God’s love. Love is the ground that we begin to truly grow healthy in being what God wants us to be. Our roots take up what is good, giving us the strength and power to live each day in Christ. Living a Christian life goes beyond the formality of conforming to a religion. Our religion holds us to Bible doctrine, but it is not the ground on which we are rooted to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus requires that we be saturated in His love and allow the roots of our life to take up His love and be manifest in the way we live our lives.

The True Church

 Matt. 6:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; Eph. 2:20) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A Church is born. Not a building or edifice, but a body of believers that unite together in one spirit. Born of the Father, made through the death of Christ on the cross and the resurrection, that the gates of hell could not prevent. This Church is a spiritual structure bringing together all who put their trust in Jesus Christ. He is the foundation, the chief cornerstone that all who claim Him as Lord and Savior can stand firm. Regardless of our origins or birthplace we are fitly put together to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. We gather together on the Lord’s day, we come to church, a physical building, a place we have dedicated as the house of God. It is not the Church, but a church where a group of believers come together as part of the Church for the purpose to worship, grow in grace, fellowship, and share our burdens. Some have said that the church is a “hospital” for the sick, a place for sinners to find Christ, and for those who need spiritual and physical healing. Therefore, the doors of the church are open to all who desire to know or find God. The church is not exclusive, but inclusive to both sinners and saints. Membership into this physical church varies from church organizations. To guard against heresy, statements of faith are put in place to maintain the doctrine of Christ and moral values of the church that are taught in scripture.  Such statements should not preclude or restrict worship of God according to the dictates of one’s heart. All are welcome, especially the child of God who is part of the Church that is built on the chief cornerstone. In the house of God, the wall of division are broken down and all come together as one in Christ to honor and glorify Him. He is the Rock, His church will prevail.

Grieve Not

Eph. 4:30
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Distressing, or causing  the Holy Spirit to be sad happens when we do something or say something that is contrary to the nature of God. Our renewed vessel was made to bring honor to His Name. When we say things that hurt or demean others, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we allow bitterness, anger, and evil speaking to dwell in our vessel of clay, the Holy Spirit will not abide. He will depart from us if we don’t take action. It is true that a vessel that is fully consecrated and sanctified to God will be sensitive to the checks of the Holy Spirit, and will guard against things that will grieve Him. But Satan is out to destroy what God has made new, and will bring temptations that will play with our emotions and humanity. We are still human, and subject to the temptations of the flesh. We are admonished to put off any behavior or actions that would cause the Holy Spirit to depart. God will never leave us or forsake us, but His Spirit cannot abide where sin abides. He will continue to deal with us and call us back to Him.

Power of Prayer

 Eph 6:18
​​ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
Satan is the enemy of our soul. He hates God and everything that is good. He wants to destroy that which God has made. Man, the apple of God’s eye. Those who have been delivered out of darkness into the light of God must be prepared to resist the attacks of Satan. He will throw darts of  temptations, accusations, and doubt to weaken your resolve. Putting on the whole armor of God will prepare us for these attacks. Prayer is our connection to God, and our resource to access the power of God. We need each other to pray for one another. We can’t do it alone. Let us stand firm in our faith, pray for God to go before us, and uphold each other before the throne of God.

Our Vocation

 Eph. 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Not everyone that is a believer is called into full time ministry. Someone needs to pay the bills and support the work of the kingdom. As part of the body of Christ, we all have a part and function within the body.  Beyond the work that God has called us to in the church, He also has given us a vocation, work that will not only support the livelihood of one’s family, but support the church and other ministries around the world that are spreading the Gospel. God has given each of us a talent, an ability to learn and acquire specific skills to work. All work is honorable if the work is honest and does not violate the scripture. We are to always give 100% of our efforts to the job that is given to us. Whether it is rolling out pizza dough, or doing heart surgery, we glorify God in what we do. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” words given to us by Solomon. We are ambassadors for Christ, let our vocation and work ethic reflect the life of Christ.

Redeeming the Time

 Ephesians 5:16
 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil

What does it mean to redeem the time? We have 24 hours in a day, and much of that time is spent doing things to keep our bodies alive and functioning. We work to buy food and provide shelter over our heads. We sleep, eat, and socialize with those around us. We who love God know that we need to take time alone with God and have a quiet time to pray, meditate, cultivate a relationship with our Creator. There is no time to waste with things that are meaningless. As it was in the days of the Apostles, so it is today. The days are evil and sin and wickedness abounds. What is good is now evil, what is evil is called good. We are living in perilous times, our nation is at another crossroad. It has turned away from the commandments of God and has made a new law. A law that makes evil good and degrades anyone who stands for God’s word. Redeeming the time is to take time to pray and call on God to deliver us from evil, because the days are evil.

Thrrough the Blood

 Ephesian 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
We all were born in sin and are far off from knowing Christ. All our human efforts to draw close to God are made impossible because of the enmity of sin in our hearts toward God. There is nothing we can do to break down the wall of partition that separates us from God. He is holy, we are unholy, He is just, we are unjust, He is righteous, we are unrighteous. We are all unclean things, what righteousness we have are as filthy rags. It is all because of God’s amazing grace that we can draw close to Him. Christ, who came to earth, gave His life on the cross, paid our debt of sin when He made the supreme sacrifice for sin shedding His blood. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb, He removed the middle wall of partition and gave us access to the throne of God. Through the atoning blood of Christ we have been set free from the bondage of sin. We now have fellowship with the Father, His Spirit ever makes intercession for us, and through His blood we have been born again and are made new creatures in Christ.

Spiritual Darkness

 Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
.
We often see our enemies as those who fight against us. People who have little regard for the Holy Scriptures. They see God’s word as some relic of fables, or stories that have been twisted over the years to fit someone’s philosophy of life. It is challenging for the believer to see past their spiritual blindness and see a lost soul in need of God. Yes, they fight against the truth and resist God, but they are controlled by an unseen spiritual wickedness that has darkened their hearts to believe a lie. There are those who have allowed this spirit to infiltrate their lives to the point that they embody the very spirit of Satan. Jesus, who has power over darkness was able to rebuke such spirits from people and cast out such devils. We, who are filled with the Holy Spirit are told to put on spiritual gear that will protect us from the enemy’s attack. It is the source of our defense and offense as we fight against the rulers of the darkness of this world.  Satan is out to destroy all who name the Name of Jesus. We must be ready, we must put on the whole armor of God. Prepare for battle, God is with us!

He is Able

 Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

What is God able to do? Paul was convinced as he prayed to God that He was able to strengthen the believer in the inner man, that faith would fill the hearts of all that followed Him. He prayed for God to establish all who name the Name of Christ to be grounded in love and to know of His love, and be filled with the fullness of His presence. God is able to open our understanding of who He is and what He is able to do if we ask. Maturity in Christ comes as we walk daily with Christ, live each day asking the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. Everyday is a new day to show others the love of Christ that dwells in our heart. It starts with a heart that desires daily to do what is right and live each day with love in our heart toward God and others.