1. Opening (Your Zone - 2-3 sentences)
What was your Bible reading like this morning?One line: Why this chapter hit you today.
2. Point 1: Chosen (Verses 3-6)
Chosen before the founding of the world Adopted as sons through Jesus Your take: What does it mean to be chosen, not earned?
3. Point 2: Redeemed (Verses 7-12)
Release by ransom, forgiveness of trespasses Sacred secret: gathering all things in Christ Your take: How does redemption change how you see your past?
4. Point 3: Sealed (Verses 13-23)
Sealed with the promised holy spirit Eyes of heart enlightened, hope + inheritance Christ far above every authority, head over Congregation your take: What hope do you need to see clearly right now?
What was your Bible reading like this morning?One line: Why this chapter hit you today.
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through God’s will, to the holy ones who are in Ephʹe·sus+ and are faithful in union with Christ Jesus:
2 May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in union with Christ,+
This probably means different things to most people, but to me it has taken on many meanings. Like for instance, at one time, in my youth, I felt, because God's spirit was with me so strong, felt could it be possible that I could be one of the members of the little flock, co-rulers with Christ, but in time I became underside, because the pull of the fallen flesh was strong, trying it's best to pull me back to Satan's side. Then marriage, fall from grace and back, finally trouble in paradise, separated and divorced, now the paradise earth is all I can hope for. The cruel and unfair treatment, during the marriage break up, left me feeling nailed to a torcher stake, with people believing I did a lot of bad things to deserve it, but the truth of the matter the only thing I was guilty of is keeping up appearances. It appeared that the nurse helping me with my wife was my mistress, because we got to close to each other, but my step children used it to their advantage because they had to get control of her money. In the after math, I concluded, I can't be one of the chosen ones, because to be hung on a torcher stake, did not sit well with me. I remember feeling, if this was a real stake, I would get those nails out of my feet, and out of my hands and come down off that stake, and both my bloody feet is going up someone's behind.
So I would not make a very good Jesus! Lol 😂😆!
Chosen before the founding of the world Adopted as sons through Jesus yYour take: What does it mean to be chosen, not earned?
4 as he chose us to be in union with him before the founding of the world, that we should be holy and unblemished+ before him in love. 5 For he foreordained us+ to be adopted as his own sons+ through Jesus Christ, according to his good pleasure and will,+ 6 in praise of his glorious undeserved kindness+ that he kindly bestowed on us by means of his beloved one.+
Yes, Jesus has given us all a lot, by his example, however looking back on our lives, how much have learned to appreciate it? For instance, when I was faced with a difficult season, I didn't think I could make it, at one point I just got so tired and said, since I can't be back with my wife, I can't stand being alone so if I have to find someone to just have sex with so be it. I need to find someone so I can feel good again, or I'm going to die! Well Jehovah said no, because it didn't happen and I'm not dead, because God knows that it was not what I really wanted, and definitely not what God wants. I'm sure it was Jahs plan, because if the devil had his way he would have made sure I had some one to fornicate with. God has got this!
Release by ransom, forgiveness of Trespasses sacred secret: gathering all the things in Christ Your take: How does redemption change how you see your past?
7 By means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one,+ yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses,+ according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.
8 This undeserved kindness he caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding* 9 by making known to us the sacred secret+ of his will. It is according to his good pleasure that he himself purposed 10 for an administration at the full limit of the appointed times, to gather all things together in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.+ Yes, in him 11 with whom we are in union and were assigned as heirs,+ having been foreordained according to the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things as he decides according to his will,+ 12 so that we who have been first to hope* in the Christ should serve for the praise of his glory.
Here, we are all represented, the little flock, and the other sheep, or great multitude, without number! The things in heaven, the little flock, Christ brothers, and the things on the earth, the great multitude, that inherit the earth.
Sealed with the promised holy spirit Eyes of heart enlightened, hope + inheritance Christ far above every authority, head over Congregation your take: What hope do you need to see clearly right now?
But you also hoped in him after you heard the word of truth, the good news about your salvation. After you believed, you were sealed+ by means of him with the promised holy spirit, 14 which is a token in advance of our inheritance,+ for the purpose of releasing God’s own possession+ by a ransom,+ to his glorious praise.
15 That is why I also, since I have heard of the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus and the love that you demonstrate toward all the holy ones, 16 never stop giving thanks for you. I continue mentioning you in my prayers,+ 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him
These verses, really help us to do some soul searching, and actually be honest with our selves. The holy Spirit is a token sent to us in advance as to what ever our inheritance would be. In the heavens, or on the earth in paradise. The holy Spirit testifies what we are by the things we look forward to in God's plan. So if we truly have God's spirit, we know what we are.
Von Bro'
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