Sometimes in order to reach new heights with the Lord, we have to leave our past victories to reach new heights of understanding. For myself I have continually tripped over my past lessons how I’ve experienced God and these thoughts lead me to prideful thoughts, that lead to a comparison game. And then I stop growing and remain there in my thoughts.
I awoke early yesterday morning and felt led to open my Bible to Ephesians 3. Reading Paul’s writings about the Holy Spirit being revealed and bringing insight into the mystery of Christ, where the Gentiles are included in the divine promises through Jesus Christ. All this by the grace of God and receiving it as a gift. Paul wrote that we are to be filled with the fullness of God. Therefore, being strengthened with a mighty power in our inner man. And because Christ dwells in our hearts through our faith we can actually understand the depth of the love of God. And by experiencing love we will be fully flooded with God Himself! (v19)
Then I was led to read Ephesians 2 which speaks of our new life in Christ. Recounting the ways of our past lives before coming to the knowledge of Christ. But God so rich in His mercy, even while we were still dead in our sin made us alive and brought us into fellowship with Christ (v4-5). He demonstrated the immeasurable riches of His free gift of grace, not by our works He seated us in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus (v6-8). And through the Holy Spirit we gained access to the Father. We have a sure foundation that cannot be torn down because it is built upon Christ Himself. And as it continues to be built, grows as the holy temple of the Lord. As we fellowship we are built up in Christ through the Spirit.
This led me back to chapter 1 of Ephesians. Speaking of the grace of God and the blessings actually led Him to hand pick each one of us for Himself before the foundation of the world (v4). To display His grace through our redemption by Christs’ blood. Verse 10 says, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ [both] things in heaven and things on earth. Having received the down payment of our inheritance, the Holy Spirit, that the Father will grant to us relevation into the deeper knowledge of Christ. By having the eyes of our hearts flooded with light so that you can know and understand the hope which He called you and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones). And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength…Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named…And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church…Which is His body… (v18-23)
I was led to read the complete book of Ephesians, starting in chapter 4 and going through chapter 6. Verses that stuck out were 4:1 That we are called to live worthy of the [divine] calling which we have been called to…keeping unity in the Spirit and by that same Spirit manifest the gifts we were given to perfect and equip the saints. So that we will no longer be like the immature and fail to grasp the fullness of Christ. And as we’re renewing the spirit of our minds we can walk confidently in our new nature. We can be useful to God as we serve one another in love.
Chapter 5 begins that we are to imitate God. We are to walk as children of the Light. As we do this we reject immorality of every kind and produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we walk in the Light. Paul says in verse 14 Awake, O sleeper.. and Christ will shine upon us and give us His light. And he wrote how marriage displays the relationship of Christ and the Church; of love and respect between a husband and a wife.
Chapter 6 gives us relevation into the real battle in this life. Verse 12 states we fight not flesh and blood battles but spirits behind those battles. Spirits of darkness and wickedness is behind it all. Paul gives us a winning battle plan beginning with the use of our battle gear, beginning with the supernatural strength of our God. And placing over our entire person the Whole Armor of God that we be able to stand when the enemy comes at us.
Before I’d gotten up yesterday morning I began a conversation with the Lord concerning what was stopping me from moving to bigger and better things with my God. Something finally gave way in my heart.. Then I started singing a Travis Greene song Made a Way and repeating the verse:
Restore to me the joy of my salvation (Ps 51:12).
What about you? What will you do to receive the over flowing presence of God today? Don’t miss your opportunity. Use your time. Receive the grace of God completely. Ask for it.
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