...[N]o human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:1-12 

...[N]o human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8

I pause my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon to review text discussed by my Friday AM men's group - James 3:1-12.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V8: God alone can tame the tongue.  Our tongue is driven by our heart and our heart is dark and sinful without God.  Only God can transform our heart and life to align with His thoughts and desires.  He sanctifies (makes us more like Him) us, and cleanses us from the inside out.  See also Psalm 51:10 and Matthew 23:25-26.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Teachers (and other leadership positions within the church) are held to a higher degree of accountability than other church members. These are positions of influence.  V2: Pivots to how all people, including teachers, are apt to sin and stumble and James uses our words and speech as an example - in the text today he uses metaphors (bridle/horse, rudder/ship, fire/forest) of the tongue as being powerful and both positive and negative. V8: This is key because we need to understand that our sin, including our speech cannot be made more pure by human action.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid using speech and words to hurt.  Claim the promise that God alone transforms hearts and lives from the inside out - surrender to Christ as Lord and Savior.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who has transformed my heart and life to think and act more like You.  I know this is You alone.  Thank You Jesus for such a work that I know continues...and also for my salvation, and the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[W]alk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-7 

...[W]alk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 4:1-7  where Paul urges unity in the church.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Throughout the text vv1-7 God is represented as Himself (the Father), the Son, and the Holy Spirit - He is three identities in one. Attributes of God include - per v2 - humility, gentleness, patience.  V3 continues by describing Him as peaceful and seeking harmony among those in the church.  V4: He is hope.  Vv4-6: He is singular - there is none like Him.  V6: He is sovereign - "over all and through all and in all."  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Paul is both a literal prisoner - he is subject to house arrest in Rome, and he also captive/a slave to God (the latter of which is a good thing).  Vv1-3: Believers are called to follow the example of Him per the attributes described in v2 with an eye towards ensuring unity and harmony in the church.  Unity and harmony are key - otherwise the mission suffers.  V7: Although God is described as singular - God's image, likeness, and spiritual gifts are in each believer.  We are then ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) for Christ both representing Him and serving His mission - which is to bring others to Him and to bring Him glory. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid unsettled conflict in the church.  Claim the promise that the church is one body with many members all working together and all equally important - none are less important than others. We should follow the example of Christ who was humble, gentle, patient, and sought unity/harmony (see also Galatians 5:22).   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is worthy of all praise, honor and glory.  Even though You reign over all, You came to earth as a lowly baby and then suffered and died for all of humanity so that they can call upon Your name as Lord.  What a portrait of humility!  Thank You for your humility and Your demonstration of love, gentleness, patience, etc....and for my salvation, and the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[I pray that]...you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-21 

[I pray that]...you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 3:14-21 where Paul - from prison - thinks not of himself - and prays for the church in Ephesus.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V15: Every family is named from God - as Creator his imprint and image is on every human being.  This text calls to mind Psalm 139:13-16. V16: God's glory is a treasure - that we should treasure Him.  Vv18-19: Paul describes God's love as immense in metaphorically unlimited physical dimensions - in breadth, length, height, and depth - it surpasses knowledge.  Vv20-21: While we may feel Paul's prayer is seemingly impossible, Paul describes God as "able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us[.]"   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V14-19: Paul is in prison yet He prays for the church in Ephesus.  This prayer is the epitome of the 2nd greatest commandment to love others - denying self and praying for others that they (a) "be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (b) "may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge," (c) and that they "may be filled with all the fullness of God."  This is a powerful prayer indeed that someone may both know and be filled with the fullness of Christ.  This is a BIG (seemingly impossible this side of Heaven) prayer - one of course that I suspect God likes because it is a BIG ask that only He can fill and that He be loved and treasured is what He seeks. It is the first and most important commandment.  We should pray this prayer for non-believers to come to Christ and for all believers to have this love.       
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid underestimating God's love and power.  Claim the promise that You can never be separated from His love.  Follow Paul's example to love others so much that You pray such BIG prayers for them.  Pray for others!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God whose love surpasses knowledge and is beyond comprehension.  And You loved me while still sinning and hostile to You....Thank You for this love, for my salvation, and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 3:7-13 

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:8-10

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 3:7-13 where Paul pivots from the theme of unity between Jews and Gentiles to how God's grace worked within Paul to preach to the Gentiles to reveal the mystery of God and the gospel.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V7: God's grace is a gift.  Vv8-9: Christ's riches are unsearchable - similar in meaning to how they are a mystery and only revealed through the Holy Spirit.  We cannot fully fathom these riches on this side of heaven.  V9: God created all things.  V10: The church exists to share the "manifold wisdom of God." V11: God's eternal purpose was realized in His Son Jesus. V12: Christ is accessible and approachable - He wants a personal relationship with us.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv7-8: Paul recognizes that God gave him the spiritual gift to minister to the Gentiles and how he humbly accepted this gift. Vv9-10: Paul's mission is described as bringing "to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."  V12: Believers have "boldness and access with confidence" to Jesus.  V13: During his time under house arrest in Rome, although he was able to write letters (including Ephesians) and receive visitors, he did not enjoy freedom of movement.  As such, he wrote to the young church to encourage them despite how he was unable to be with them.  He was suffering on their behalf just as Jesus died for believers to be saved.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid arrogance that may lead you (if you are a church leader) to believe that you are anything but appointed and gifted by God for His purpose.  Claim the promise that God holds all things together and has an eternal purpose that is good.  Follow the example of Paul and serve humbly - loving God and others.  Approach God with confidence and live boldly for Him.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who not only created all things, but is in all things, and holds all things together.  You also are at work in all things for good.  I can rest in how my salvation is secure. Thank You for my salvation, for the peace that surpasses understand, and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:1-6 

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Ephesians 3:4-5

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 3:1-6 where Paul continues to emphasize the theme of unity between Jews and Gentiles.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: The mystery of God is made known through His revelation.  He hardens and softens the hearts of those according to His will - this is certainly a mystery - that He choose some to be saved and others not to be saved.  We should also be aware that there is both general and special revelation.  V5: This revelation of Christ was not made known to Israel in the Old Testament, but was through the apostles (including Paul) through the Holy Spirit.  V6: The mystery of Christ includes how Gentiles are "fellow heirs" of the Jews, "members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus[.]"  The text reinforces chapter 2 where Paul emphasizes the unity of the church - Jews and Gentiles together form the church.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Paul describes himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.  Another way of describing this "captivity" is how scripture describes us as either slaves to sin or slaves to God.  Some may believe that they - on their own accord - can produce an enlightened mind that is free from sin, yet this is a fallacy and wrong thinking.  Only God and the Holy Spirit can do this.  Romans 12:2 describes how the mind can be renewed, and this renewal is by and for God as the text shares how once our minds are renewed we are aligned with God's will. God thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8) but He will make them like His.  2 Corinthians 10:5 describes how we then take thoughts captive to "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God."  V2: Paul also describes himself as a steward of God's grace - implying that such grace is something to used carefully and wisely - for use in sharing the Good News and for building up the church.       
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid thinking that our human efforts can produce righteousness - no, Christ alone saves and renews our minds.  We should claim the promise that all believers are heirs to a rich inheritance (eternal life) that is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).  We should follow the example of Paul and be a good steward of the grace given to us by God.  In return we should share the Good News, and through our testimony show grace to others by working with God and the Holy Spirit to save others. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who revealed Himself to me and gives me mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Ephesians 2:11-22 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  Ephesians 2:19-21

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 2:11-22 where Paul emphasizes how Christ removed the "wall of hostility" between Jews and Gentiles and not only reconciled both to Christ, but to each other - bringing peace and unity.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv14-16: Christ is our peace - He died for Jews and Gentiles from all nations who believe, and reconciled not only both to Christ, but to each other - bringing peace and unity through the creation of the church.  He also abolished the Old Testament rituals - the ceremonial law.  Vv20-22: Christ is the cornerstone of the church, and the Holy Spirit knits the church together by living in each member of the church.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V12: Building on vv1-10 (see post yesterday on how we were all spiritually dead), Paul seeks for believers to understand that pre-salvation, we were "separated from Christ", alienated from the commonwealth of Israel," "strangers to the covenants of promise," and "having no hope and without God in the world." V13: God brought us near to Him - again not through our own efforts but through His death on the cross. Vv18-19: All who believe are united as one body with the same access to Him, and are "no longer strangers and aliens," "but are fellow citizens with the saints," "and members of the household of God[.]"  V22: God knits us together as a church and unites us through the Holy Spirit that lives in each of us.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid having no hope by remaining separated from God. Claim the promise that God brings all near who believe in Him, and unites us as a church.  We must remember our pre-salvation state and praise God for how He saved us and brought us near to Him.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who through Your death on the cross, saved us, brought us near to You, and united us together with the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-10 

...[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 2:1-10 where Paul shares how believers were saved while still an enemy and hostile to Him, and not through our own efforts.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv4-8: God is rich in mercy and He has great love for believers such that despite how we were sinful and an enemy of Him (see also Romans 5:10), He reached down into the pit to save us.  Our salvation (1) includes being raised up with Jesus to be with Him where He is saving a place for us; (2) was done to demonstrate "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;" (3) was a gift from God; and (4) was done for us to do good works prepared in advance for us that we could (emphasized by repetition of the same description from v7) be the Light of Jesus for others to see.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Before accepting Jesus, all believers were spiritually dead and condemned - slave to sin. This is a horrible state for anyone - and believers should have mercy on those who doubt and seek to snatch them from the fire (Jude 22-23).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid being dead in your sin - know Jesus and accept Him as Your Lord and Savior.  Claim the promise that God is saving a place for You in Heaven.  Follow the example of Paul who turned from His sin and allowed Christ to work through Him.  Remain humble as you should recognize that faith is a gift from God and to be used for His glory. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is rich in mercy and great love as You saved me while sinful and hostile to Him.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.