In the remaining verses of Paul’s prayer report, Ephesians 1:20-23, Paul expands on the third topic of insight he hopes that the Holy Spirit will bring to believers: the enormity of God’s power, which He exercises on their behalf. He begins by pointing to two salvation history events as the premiere illustrations of God’s power: (1) … Continue reading –>
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:16-17, ESV). In reporting his prayers, Paul records one central request that he places before the … Continue reading –>
Motivated by news that believers in Ephesus are thriving in faith toward Jesus and in love toward each other (perhaps news shared by Tychicus, Ephesians 6:21-22), Paul reports to them how he prays for them. Compare Paul’s two prayer reports in Ephesians — Ephesians 1:15-23 and Ephesians 3:14-21. What themes do the two reports share? Sometimes our default tone in prayer … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Ephesians 1:15-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Deuteronomy 9:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Psalm 110:1. Memory Text: Through the Holy Spirit, believers may know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and … Continue reading –>
Remarkable Path to Lebanon By Kathie Lichtenwalter Volunteer teacher Ruan Oliveira struggled to listen to the speaker at a “I Will Go!” mission training event at Middle East University in Beirut, Lebanon. “Where have I seen that guy before?” he wondered. Ruan had arrived from Brazil to serve as a volunteer teacher at the Adventist … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Does Ephesians 1:3-14 teach that God predetermines the futures of human beings, predestining some to everlasting life and others to everlasting death? Many people, unfortunately, believe this. Consider, however, these ideas: In the passage, the role of Christ is determinative, since the divine choice to adopt us occurs “through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV) or “in him” (Ephesians … Continue reading –>
In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul tells in brief the conversion story of his readers. What are the steps in that story? In exploring the importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, Paul uses two images or metaphors for the Spirit. He first pictures the Holy Spirit as a “seal,” identifying a sealing presence of the … Continue reading –>
“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, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12, NKJV). The believers in Ephesus seem to have lost a clear sense of … Continue reading –>
What is God’s “plan for the fullness of time,” and how extensive is its reach? Ephesians 1:9-10. Paul uses three labels for God’s plan. It is (1) “the mystery of his will,”(2) “his purpose,” and (3) “a plan for the fullness of time” (ESV). What is God’s ultimate, final plan? To unite everything, everywhere, in Jesus. The … Continue reading –>
Sin had been a dark, dominating force in the lives of Paul’s audience. Paul can describe them in their prior existence as the walking dead — “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1, NKJV) yet “walking” or living as Satan commanded them (Ephesians 2:1-3). Enslaved to sin and Satan, they had no ability to free themselves. They needed … Continue reading –>
