Joshua-Ephesians part 1

The transcription is a prayer and a Bible study on the book of Ephesians. The main ideas discussed include the importance of seeking guidance from God, the concept of peace and blessings in Christ, the idea of being chosen by God, the mystery of God's will, and the purpose of believers in Christ. The speaker emphasizes the need for a willing heart and the importance of accepting Jesus as Savior. The transcription also mentions the concept of predestination and the grace and forgiveness found in Christ. Overall, the transcription focuses on the spiritual aspects of the Christian faith. Heavenly Father, by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, we come to you and we seek your guidance in this Bible study. We ask that you would fill us with your Holy Spirit and just provide us with all the tools that enable us to live a life pleasing to you and just to shine the love and the life of your Son in our walk daily. I just thank you for this family and the opportunity to share with my family and just this server and this community. We just praise your name on high. You are so worthy of our praise, Father. We just thank you for your gift through your Son, Jesus Christ. We ask these things by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, amen and amen. Okay, so first off I want to say this is just one man's perspective of a study based on where I'm at in my life and things that I've seen, so this is in no way, shape, or form the final word, you know, it's just one man's perspective. So here we go. Ephesians chapter 1, verse 1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus. Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ by the will of God? Paul is here using himself as an example to start off his letter to the church at Ephesus by pointing out that it was God's will that Saul be transformed into a new man with a new purpose and to reinforce this God gives him the name Paul. Paul has died to serving Saul and his understanding and his self-serving ways and is now, as Paul, willingly laying down his life at the feet of Jesus for the benefit of his King and those who will and do love the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. And he writes this letter to not just the church at Ephesus, but also to all the faithful in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 1, 2-3. Peace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. So grace, the free unearned love and favor of God, the spring and the source of all benefits we receive from him, and peace is a state of quiet or tranquility, freedom from disturbance or agitation, freedom from war, internal commotion, quarrels, fear, terror, anger, and anxiety. Psalms 119.165 says, Great peace have those who love your law and nothing causes them to stumble, the willing bondservant out of love. True peace only comes to those who are willingly out of love, laying their lives down daily at the feet of Jesus and dying to the lust of the flesh, receiving the gospel truth into their heart, their core, in full agreement of the message that Jesus preached to us. Listen all about the heart as we see that we are in a battle against the selfish flesh and the things we desire to do we do not do, but the things that we do not desire to do we do. Oh, wretched man that I am. Ephesians 1.3-4. Blessed, adored, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Blessed, adored, greatly beloved, worshipped as divine, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So just as Jesus is the head of us, or just as our brain or our head controls the function of our bodies, God the Father is the one who directs the actions, the movements of Jesus, his body. Therefore, he is the Godhead of and Father of Jesus who is in the bosom of the Father. So the definition of Lord, Husband, Master, so Jesus is our husbandman, the one who by way of eminence, elevated position, is the mediator, the divine intercessor, the go-between, who sinners must be reconciled to an offended God. God has blessed us, prospered us, through his word, his son, with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. God is the author and the giver of all blessings, and the us spoken of being blessed are those who realize we deserve to be cursed, that only by grace given freely we have been called, elected to be his saints and faithful in Christ Jesus, and includes both Jews and Gentiles. And the blessings with which we have been blessed are not of the flesh, temporary, but of the Spirit and eternal, just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. This choice is not based on nationality, as Israel of old was chosen by the Lord, nor does Paul address all the inhabitants of Ephesus, but only the saints and faithful in Christ, those who abide in Christ Jesus, chosen before the foundation of the world. Psalm 102, 25-28 says, Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, they will grow old like a garment, like a cloak you will change them, and they will still be changed, but you are the same, and your years will have no end. The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you. Matthew 13, 34-35 says, All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables, and without parable he did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things secret from the foundation of the world. And these things that Paul is preaching about here have been hidden in Christ Jesus since before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, not that we are chosen because we were holy or righteous of our own accord, but that we are chosen because he saw before the foundation of the world that our hearts would be willing to be bound to him and his will and purpose, and agree that we should be holy, pure in heart, temper, and disposition, free from sin and the affections of sin, a sanctified heart that is drawn to love and pure things, not drawn toward evil sinful things. Ephesians 1.5 Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Strong's G.4309 Pro Oriso, Predetermined. John 1.12-13 says, But as many as received, accepted him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Romans 8.29 says, For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. So what is the definition of predestined, predetermined, foreordained, decreed, appointed before the foundation of the world to be adopted as the children of God, through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will? Our simple minds make this hard to be understood, because we don't fully understand what it is like to have all knowledge of all things from before the foundation of the world. We reside inside time, not outside time, and therefore cannot see what has not happened. We cannot surprise God and choose him, without him already having the knowledge of us choosing him and choosing us first. Some would argue that because he chose us, then he also chooses who will be lost and this is not fair or loving. But this is not what the Scriptures teach us. The fact that God has foreknowledge of those who willingly choose him, does not preclude anyone from coming to him and willingly accepting his Son as their Savior. Revelation 22.17 And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who thirsts, Come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. So the choice is up to you. And God already knows what you will choose. There is no blaming God. We all have been given free will to choose. Ephesians 1.6-9 To the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he made us accepted in the Beloved, in him we have redemption through his blood. The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself. How glorious and gracious it is that we, who were living in sin as wretched sinners, would be called into the adoption, that we could be grafted into the body of our God through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and become heirs to his kingdom and all the glorious blessings attached to it. And by his blood we have been granted forgiveness of our sins unto redemption. We have been purchased by the most valuable life ever to be born into the world, and sealed with his Holy Spirit as proof of that transaction, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, abound like a fountain, to have or possess in great quantity. But his grace would pour out like a fountain on us and through us in exceedingly great amounts in our understanding of him and our discernment to see and avoid the evil things of this world. Having made known to us the mystery of his will, 1 Corinthians 15.51-52, behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, die, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This mystery that Paul speaks of was not discovered by reason, nor was it any man who revealed it. This was a secret that was revealed by God, possibly when Paul was caught up into the heavens, and is for the most part only spoken of by Paul to the church, who are the main subject of this great mystery, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself. So if Christ Jesus was the one who framed the worlds, the dimensions, the eons, the physical and the spiritual realms, the worlds, before time, and is eternal, and in eternity, then we are there with him, and he gave us all a purpose in him, before the worlds were framed and before the foundation was set in place. Ephesians 1.10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, in him. That when all the worlds, the eons, the ages, and economies have come to completion in his perfect time, that he might gather together everything in the universe, the one spoken word, as one in Christ Jesus, all things in heaven and all things on earth, in him. Ephesians 1.11 In him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, in him. Only those who are in Jesus receive any of the promises that come to us from God, and what does it mean to be in him? John 15.1-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. And what is this fruit? Galatians 5.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And in him we have obtained. This is past tense, not going to obtain, but have already obtained. This sentence only works from a perspective that is outside time, in eternity. How can we already have what we do not currently have, unless we are already with him outside time? Being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. Again, having foreknowledge of all things and knowing what we would freely choose, he determined what would happen in every person created, and according to his purpose he works all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes. Ephesians 1.12 That we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory. So this is our confidence and where our faith is exhibited and displayed, that we understand and believe without a shadow of any doubt that we are already seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, that nothing can snatch any of us from his hand, that we are rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus, and nothing can separate us from the truth. That we who first trusted in Christ should be, should be, should be what? That we should be in Christ, as Christ, that we should be walking in our confession of faith, that our lives would bring about and stir up praise from all things created to Jesus Christ, the Father's glory. Ephesians 1.13-14 In him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. So after having heard the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, who are you trusting? Are you now trusting man, or nationality, or self? No. We now, having accepted and received the truth of the gospel of Christ Jesus, who is risen, we trust in him fully, confident that what he said is the gospel truth. And having believed this, we are sealed with his Holy Spirit of promise, our guarantee of the inheritance, until we are redeemed and the transaction is fully complete. Ephesians 1.15-16 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. So were these people burying their faith and not walking in it? How would Paul hear about their faith if they were not walking in it? As James states, show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works. This is the evidence that proves our confession of our faith, that we are walking in it, that we are living a life that proves we believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And because Paul, having heard of their good works, and their continuing in the faith, he gives glory and praise to God for them, and is constantly lifting them up in prayer and praise to God Almighty. Ephesians 1.17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his mighty power. Again, Jesus does nothing of his own will. God the Father is the head of Jesus, and Jesus is in full submission as a bondservant to his Father's will and purpose. And therefore his walk, his actions, his message are exactly what God the Father would do if he could be seen, and is seen, in the person, the man, Jesus Christ. That the Father of glory may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. So without having the knowledge of him, it is not possible to receive the spirit of wisdom or revelation. But those who have received this truth of our triune God are capable of being blessed by these gifts of the Holy Spirit, that we may know what is the hope of his calling. So what is the hope of his calling? That all men created in the image of God would find eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A personal, intimate walk with Jesus that leads to the knowledge and the wisdom and the revelation of his will and purposes for the saints, and the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And to see the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe based on what we have seen him do in our lives and the lives of others. Ephesians 1 20-23 Which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. And he put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. First Corinthians 15 28 says, Now when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Philippians 3 21 says, Who will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself. Who can raise the dead? Only God the Father has the power, and he shows us this power through Jesus Christ in his resurrection, and by the miracles that he performed while he was in the world. And again, Jesus is the head, the brain that controls or directs the actions, the movement of his body, the church, who being his body, are the fullness of God the Father in a body who fills all in all. So if we are the body of Jesus, and Jesus is the body of God, who is in the bosom of the Father, then we are in the bosom of the Father with Jesus from the beginning of the world before the foundations were set in place. How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure, that he should give his only Son to make a wretched pitch treasure. How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns his face away, as wounds which mar the chosen one bring many sons to glory. Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon his shoulder, ashamed I hear my mocking voice call out amongst the scoffers. It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished. I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, nor wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer, for this I know with all my heart. His wounds have paid my ransom. Amen.