Bible Study - Priceless (4) - Strengthened by GOD'S Power - Ephesians 3:14-21 - December 27, 2014

Bible Study – Priceless (4) – Strengthened by GOD’S Power – December 27, 2015

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Priceless: Finding Your Value in GOD.”

Our focus scripture is Ephesians 3:14-21

GOD does not leave us on our own but empowers us through HIS Spirit.

The Apostle Paul likely wrote this letter while he was imprisoned in Rome about 60-62 A.D. The first part of his letter addressed the fact that Christians are saved by grace. Our selected scripture focuses on Paul’s prayer for the Christians in Ephesus. Paul was writing to both Christian Jews and especially the Christian Gentiles.

Let’s read Ephesians 2:11-22: (Background)

11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh -called "the uncircumcised" by those called "the circumcised," done by hand in the flesh. 

The “uncircumcised” were the Gentiles and the “circumcised” were the Jews. Paul being a well trained Jew pointed to the fact that circumcision was a ritual and has nothing to do with a changed heart. What matters to GOD is a changed heart brought about by encountering GOD and acknowledging HIM as your Savior and making HIM LORD of your life.

12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without God in the world. 

13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 

Recognizing and acknowledging JESUS as the promised Messiah and believing that HE gave HIS life for the remission of your sins by the shedding of HIS blood opens the path for an intimate, personal relationship with GOD through CHRIST.

14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 

The relationships of people on opposite sides of human ideologies are brought together through faith in JESUS.

15 He (JESUS) did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 

Those who place their faith in CHRIST are no longer under the law but are guided by the personality of the law or the original intent of the law which has been fulfilled by CHRIST.

16 [He did this so] that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. 

The ground at the foot of the cross is level and all people have the same opportunity to accept CHRIST by placing their faith in HIM. A step of faith in CHRIST is salvation from sin and eternal death but also the beginning process of being made into the image of CHRIST.

17 When [Christ] came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 

CHRIST preached to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. CHRIST reconciles all who come to HIM in faith to GOD. HE is the only way. Do you remember what JESUS told HIS disciple Thomas in John 14:5-6:

5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Back to our scripture in Ephesians 2:

18 For through Him (JESUS) we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 

19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household, 

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 

21 The whole building is being fitted together in Him and is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, 

This Holy Sanctuary is not the brick and mortar building but those who have placed their faith in CHRIST function by using the Spiritual Gifts given to them by GOD. Within this Holy Sanctuary each true Christian has a Gift or multiple Gifts of the Spirit. Then the Spiritual Body will function in unity and harmony to meet the needs of the body of CHRIST. CHRIST is the head of the Spiritual Body.

22 in whom you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit.

Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians are all welcome into GOD’S presence. CHRIST unifies and brings all peoples together under the same roof or Holy Sanctuary.

Let’s read Ephesians 3:1:

1 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles - 

Paul preached the unity of all peoples (Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles) and this was the reason he was under house arrest. But his arrest was immaterial to Paul because he counted it as a privilege and a joy to be about the LORD’S work of preaching CHRIST and unity in the Spirit.

Let’s read Ephesians 3:14-17a:

Prayer for Spiritual Power

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father 

Jews typically stood when they prayed so Paul bowing revealed his sense of urgency in praying for them.

15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 

His prayer was directed to GOD, The Father. The miracle of rebirth results in every Christian, regardless of their physical heritage or ancestry, has the same Spiritual Father, thus all GOD’S children are unified as family.

16 [I pray] that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 

17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Paul knew that CHRIST in a person and the indwelling Holy Spirit was the strength of a Christian walking in the Spirit by faith. If Satan can get a Christian to doubt the presence and indwelling power of CHRIST, that results in a weak Christian. A Christian’s relationship with CHRIST is vital to his or her Spiritual strength. How much strength? It is “according to the riches of HIS Glory.” How much is that? It is beyond our human imagination. What is the purpose? It is to strengthen the inner man or woman. Just as GOD does not discriminate between the Jew or Gentile neither does HE discriminate between male and female.

Let’s read Ephesians 3:17b-19:

[I pray that] you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

GOD’S love is vital to the life of a Christian. Paul used two terms to indicate the foundation that a Christian needs. One, the soil of his or her life must be well prepared to receive the seeds planted in his or her life by the Holy Spirit. Two, a healthy plant must have a well developed root system in order to be firmly established in GOD’S love. The flow of nourishment is vital for the plant to produce healthy fruit and its foundation well established such that when the storms of life come it will survive.

JESUS said it well in John 15:1-8:

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 

2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 

4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 

6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 

8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Let’s continue with Ephesians 3:18-19:

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth [of God's love], 

19 and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

A plant planted in good soil with a well developed root system is able to withstand the extremes of weather and can survive. Christians who are well established in GOD’S Word and in an intimate, personal relationship with GOD can comprehend the broad aspects of GOD’S infinite love.

This solid foundation results in Christians knowing the love of JESUS and why HE gave HIS life for all who will place their faith in HIM as their Savior. What are the benefits of this knowing? It is because when a Christian comprehends the fullness of what CHRIST did for him or her, he or she will trust the Holy Spirit to fill his or her life. The flesh wants to be in charge and will not relinquish its authority. However, when the pure light of CHRIST shines deep into the lives of Christians and they see truth and know they can trust GOD’S leadership, we can be filled. Why? It is because we relinquish our will into the hands of GOD when we trust HIM. It is no longer “I” but CHRIST.

Christians must keep in mind that we need to confess our sins. We must release or confess the things we harbor in our hearts that are not from GOD to make room for the filling of our minds and hearts by HIM. That is the process of sanctification.  

“To know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge” comes about from experiencing HIM through obedient service.

Being a Christian is about growing in the love of GOD as we build an intimate, personal relationship with HIM.

Our last week’s lesson was profound. JESUS is the light of the world. HE chose to come to earth as a human and was born of a virgin. HE was and is the true Son of GOD and the true light. Satan attempts to masquerade as light to confuse and defeat the saints of GOD.

Saints are those who have been set aside or sanctified to obediently serve GOD.

Let’s read Ephesians 3:20-21:

20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think-according to the power that works in you- 

21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

These verses reveal the awesome power of GOD. HIS power exceeds our wildest imagination. A word of caution: There are no limits to GOD’S ability or capability and Christians must be careful to discern between testing GOD and obediently serving HIM. Often, Christians want the power of GOD to demonstrate and authenticate their Spirituality and to be glorified. Obedience to GOD and HIS will and purpose for our lives is vital to bring glory and honor to HIM. It is not about us but about CHRIST in us.

Christians, as individuals, magnify GOD but when Christians gather as a body of believers they collectively glorify GOD. As they are in unity with GOD, they are in turn in unity with each other. When unity is broken the glory of the LORD is compromised.

GOD gives Christians Spiritual Gifts to function as One Body in unity and harmony to meet the Spiritual needs of the body. A healthy Spiritual Body in turn ministers to others as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Are you a healthy Christian functioning within the Spiritual Body? If not, why not? Ask the LORD JESUS to reveal it to you. Blessings!!!