[B]e renewed in the spirit of your minds, and...put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:17-24 

[B]e renewed in the spirit of your minds, and...put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:23

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 4:17-24 where Paul pivots from discussing how church leaders equip us to both understand His Word but also grow in spiritual maturity.  In the text today, Paul sets and expectation that this maturity bears fruit that old ways of life are gone, replaced by more Godly ways.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V24: God is true righteousness and He is holy.  We are to be holy because He is holy - see also Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv17-19: Unbelievers minds suffer from futile thinking - believing in and worshiping false gods.  They are darkened (with hardened hearts) in their understanding because they don't have the light of God in them and do not see Him when He reveals Himself (although they have no excuse in Creation - Romans 1:20-23).  As a result, they have "given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity."  Vv20-23: Believers on the other hand, do have right thinking (assuming growing maturity in Christ).  They have already seen heart and life change in their own lives and continue to pursue Him as He sanctifies us and helps us shed our old ways of living - we are "renewed in the spirit of [our] minds."  See also Romans 12:2.        
• 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 hardness of heart and callousness.  Claim the promise that Christ renews our hearts and minds and creates a new self through heart and life change.  Acknowledge and confess sin and accept Christ is Your Savior.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that renews minds and regenerates new life through heart and life change.  I have seen Your hand in my life - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such blessings nor 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.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ[.]

Ephesians 4:8-16 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ[.] Ephesians 4:11-13

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 4:9-16 where Paul shares how God equips believers with church leaders that are able to discern and teach the gospel as it is intended - nothing more and nothing less.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv9-10: Christ both descended to the grave, then rose and then "ascended far above all the heavens" so that He would "fill all things."  I am reminded of Colossians 1:15-17 where Paul writes how all things are created through Him, for Him, and He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."  Christ reigns and is in all things and per Romans 8:28 "all things work together for good."  Vv11-13: Christ then gave us "the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ," so that we can attain "the stature of the fullness of Christ."  This is a stunning measure and an incredible thing that God would help us achieve such "stature" and "fullness."   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv14-16: We are given such resources - "the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers" - so that we can experience spiritual maturity and move from being a disciple to being a disciple maker.  We also are to mature to discern false teaching, and to endure through suffering, trials, etc. We are to build our house on the rock of Christ.  See also Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:47-49.  We are also part of the broader church where each of us has vital function in the Great Commission to bring the gospel to all nations.   
• 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 spiritual stagnation where you are tossed about by "every wind of doctrine, human cunning, and craftiness in deceitful schemes."  Claim the promise that God equips us to attain unity of faith in the church, and spiritual maturity and the stature and fullness of Christ.  Follow the example of those in your church who were once disciples but are now disciple makers.  Grow in your knowledge and love of Him.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who equips us in our journey with Christ so that we don't experience spiritual stagnation - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such blessings nor 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.

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:1-11, 3:14-16 

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

I pause my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - to review 1 Timothy 1:1-11, 3:14-16 as this is our text for Sunday school class tomorrow morning.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: 1:1: God commands us in our roles, and in Paul's case to be an apostle. 1:2: Grace, mercy and peace are from God.  From John 1:1, we know that God is the Word, so by extension, 1:9 implies that the law is for everyone - not just the just but for sinners - because we all sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8). 3:16: Faith in God is full of mystery - we rely on Him to reveal what it is He seeks for us to know about Him.  We also don't know how He works but that He is always at work (Isaiah 55:8, Romans 8:28). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: 1:3-7: Many desire to be teachers of the law (God's Word), yet they teach false doctrine by "promoting speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is faith."  1:4, 11: Believers are stewards of God's Word - we are to guard the Truth carefully by having a very good understanding (1:7) of the Word through study and revelation from God.  3:14: If you are teacher of the Word, you should be encouraged by Paul's words of guidance to stand on truth. 
• 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 swerving from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith.  Claim the promise that God is always at work for good. Follow the example of Paul who sought to be a good steward of God's Word.  Abide in Him to seek and maintain a "pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who gives me the Word and reveals Himself to me so that I can maintain "a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." You also give me salvation, and mercies that never cease - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such blessings nor 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.

...[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.