[T]he Father...has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 Colossians 1:1-14

[T]he Father...has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I move from Philippians to Colossians, where Paul seeks to encourage the young church (which he did not found nor had he ever been) and to defend against false teaching.  "Colosse’s mixed population of Jews and Gentiles, [which] manifested itself both in the composition of the church and in the heresy that plagued it, which contained elements of both Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism.*"  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv10, 12: God is the most infinitely valuable - above anything else and He is our treasure, worthy of all praise, honor, glory, and worship.  He has "qualified [believers] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."  This is a rich inheritance indeed!  Vv13-14: God "has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."  For more on this deliverance from enslavement to sin - see also Romans 6:6, and 17-20.  This deliverance gives us freedom from sin (justification in His eyes) and eternal life.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V3: Paul thanks God for other believers - this is a blessing of which we should often remind ourselves.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ worship and serve along side us - sharpening and encouraging us in our walk with Christ.  God designed us and intends for us to love, worship and serve God together - from the very beginning when God provided Eve to Adam saying in Genesis 2:18 that "[i]t is not good that the man should be alone[.]" Vv4-8: Paul encourages the young church, acknowledging their understanding of Truth and emphasizing "[their] love in the Spirit."  
• 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 are to guard against heresy and avoid falling victim to false teaching that leads us astray from Him.  We are claim the promise that we have a rich inheritance in Christ that gives us victory over sin and death.  We should follow the example of Paul who understood the importance of our brothers and sisters in Christ and to encourage (including prayer) and sharpen one another in our spiritual wisdom and understanding of Him.  Walk in a manner worthy of Christ. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for redeeming me and filling me with the "knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding."  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  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 MacArthur Bible Commentary 

[I am praying that God] may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that 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 rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:15-23 

[I am praying that God] may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that 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 rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:16-21

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 1:15-23 where Paul thanks the church at Ephesus for their faith and love of those in the church, and also prays for the church to have the wisdom to appreciate what their faith provides for them.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  V17: God is the source of wisdom and knowledge - all good and perfect gifts are from above (James 1:17) - we must pray that He help give us wisdom and knowledge.  Scripture gives us this wisdom and knowledge because it is the basis for our faith, and our relationship with Him.  He renews our minds through our knowledge of Him and aligns our thoughts and desires to be like His (Romans 12:2).  V18: God gives us hope and a rich inheritance - this same inheritance (e.g. eternal life, etc.) that is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. Vv19-20: God gives us power that is "immeasurab[ly] great" and it is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and "seated him at [God's] right hand in the heavenly places." V21: God does not just reign - He does so at a level that humanity cannot fathom - God rules "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named...." eternally.  V22: God put everything under Christ's feet and made Him head of the church and the church is His body.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv15-16: Paul thanks the church in Ephesus for their faith - once again - see post yesterday;  he also prays for them in vv17-23 that they have wisdom from God to appreciate what their faith provides to them. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Ultimately, as Revelation 2:4-5 points out, the faith of the church in Ephesus weakens and this happens to everyone - we must avoid weakened faith by remaining in Him and a focusing on spiritual disciplines of corporate worship, prayer, daily study of His Word, etc. We must claim the promise of our guaranteed rich inheritance in Christ. We should follow the example of those with faith and those who love God and others (most important commandments).  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God reveals Himself through Your Word and through the Holy Spirit who guides us and renews our mind. Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  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.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.]

Ephesians 1:1-14 

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.] Ephesians 1:13-14

Today, I start a study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Specifically, my study today examines Ephesians 1:1-14 where Paul writes to the church in Ephesus to highlight how believers there should appreciate how they have been "blessed...in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: God has blessed believers "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places[.]"  This is impossible to fully fathom on this side of heaven - blessed indeed!  V4: He chose "believers in [Christ] before the foundation of the world...[and views us as] holy and blameless before him."  We are guiltless and justified before Him!  V5: He "predestined us for adoption[.]"  God knows everything about us, including the sin that we will commit, yet He loves us and saves us!  Vv7-10: Expanding on vv5-6, Paul shares that we have "redemption" and "forgiveness," and these were provided as "grace" and he "lavished" these blessings upon us by "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him."  Any one of these alone describe lavishness, but together is again - mind blowing.  Vv11-12: These spiritual blessings are described as an inheritance, planned in advance (predestined), so that believers "might be to the praise of His glory."  We exist for His glory - we should understand this and act accordingly.  V13-14: God sealed our salvation by providing the Holy Spirit that "guarantees...our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.]"      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Paul describes himself as "an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."  No one can claim that they accomplished faith through their own works - on the contrary it is Christ alone who saves.  Paul then describes the saints - believers - in Ephesus as faithful.  
• 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 how it is our own efforts that save us and that anything other than Christ is our highest treasure.  We should claim the promise of our guaranteed inheritance of the riches of Christ.  We should pray that we can be faithful as described by Paul for the church in Ephesus (keeping in mind that later this church would be described in Revelation as "falling").  We should pray that God gives us the power to appreciate spiritual blessings He bestows upon us and remain in Him.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who graciously and lavishly bless me beyond my comprehension - including how You save and guarantee an inheritance.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  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.

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

I pause my study of Numbers, to read Ecclesiastes 5 in more detail as a follow up to my men's Friday AM group, and in the text today, Solomon shares how we should fear God in terms of what we say and do, and how God wants us to see wealth and possessions.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Our fellowship with God, and, in particular how we communicate in prayer (including vows) is something we should not treat flippantly.  Yes, God is accessible and approachable, and He wants a relationship with us but we should communicate with reverence, recognizing that God reigns and that we are completely dependent on Him for all things.  God also provides all that we experience, including wealth and possessions.  They come from Him and they belong to Him - James 1:17.  We can and should enjoy wealth and possessions, but we should first and foremost enjoy God as our most treasured possession, that He saved us and we can never be separated from His love - Romans 8:38-39.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Many, as Solomon points out, seek their own agenda when communicating with God - see also Matthew 6:7. We know also that many find contentment in their wealth and possessions vs God. 
• 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 seeking your own agenda when communicating with God and treasuring wealth and possessions more than God Himself.  Claim the promise that God provides for all our needs and we belong to Him and in Him we have a rich inheritance. Follow the example of Solomon who saw that devoid of God, all is meaningless.  Love God and seek Him with all of Your heart. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love, save, provide and never leave or forsake me.  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 the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Daniel 7

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Daniel 7:28

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 7:15-28 as I lean on my commentary for this text. The commentary outlines one primary division for this text: "God Is Sovereign in His Judgment" with three additional sub-divisions:

• God’s People Will Receive an Eternal Kingdom That Will Last Forever (7:15-18): the commentary emphasizes via v18 how although we inherited a sinful and fallen world as a result of Adam's sin in the beginning, we also inherit the eternal kingdom brought about by the second Adam - Jesus.
• God’s People Will Suffer in an Earthly Kingdom That Will Last Only a Short Time (7:19-26): Believers suffer (v22) until Jesus intercedes for them and in the process giving them the eternal kingdom; the commentary shares how the fourth beast is Rome and more as supported in Revelation 13:1-10 - this beast reigns only temporarily and ultimately this beast is defeated

The commentary wraps by sharing thoughts on how Daniel was alarmed and anxious (v15): "[p]erhaps Daniel’s perplexity might be explained like this: I know a great and wonderful and eternal kingdom is on the way, but there is a long and hard road of suffering before it arrives. Battles will be lost, but the war will be won when the Son of Man comes. Wow! What a wonderful and hope-giving promise!" 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and I know You never leave or forsake me - in the midst of chaos You are with me and I know no harm can come upon me because You have already defeated sin and death...for me and all the saints!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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 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.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

I pause both my study of Hebrews and Daniel to listen to and reflect on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional for today, where John Piper seeks to encourage believers to use Paul's words in Romans 8:32 as we struggle to "thrive, or perhaps even survive, as a Christian, in the pressures and temptations of modern life." Of course the takeaway is for us to trust God, have peace knowing that God never stops working for our good, even during the most challenging of times.  Piper goes on to share: "...God is taking every setback and every discouragement and every controversy and every pressure and every pain, and stripping it of its destructive power, and making it work for the enlargement of my joy in God." Be encouraged, trust God, and experience the peace of God knowing he gives us everything.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me everything - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You never leave or forsake me, and You are always at work giving me all that I need.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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 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.  

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.]

Ephesians 1

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.] Ephesians 2:4-5

I pause my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series, to study Ephesians for 3 days per week as I participate in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. This morning, my focus is Ephesians 1 in its entirety, with a specific focus as well on v1-14.  Chuck Swindoll provides this excellent overview of the book, and he describes how Paul writes this letter to the church in Ephesus from prison in Rome and how unlike other letters he has authored where he seeks to address a specific problem in a local church, here Paul is laying down foundational truths of the gospel with an eye towards encouraging growth and maturity of believers in Ephesus. In v1-14, Paul shares with us the spiritual blessings believers experience in Christ, including:

• how "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world" (v4)
• that He sees us as "holy and blameless before him" (v4)
• that "he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ" (v5)
• ..."In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (v7)
• ..."In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.]" v13-14

We must grab hold of these blessings and drive towards maturity, never forgetting them.  Chuck Swindoll reminds us also that fellowship with other believers in daily living is key towards achieving maturity. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who blesses us as believers with a rich inheritance You give us faith and salvation, You seal us with the Holy Spirit and guarantee our inheritance - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great...and it is 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 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.