Category Archives: Ephesians

2022, Ephesians, Gospel of John, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark, KWT Paraphrasing, Questions

What Evidence Do We Have?

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Ephesians 6 what a powerful chapter! 

How much difficulty do you have believing there are two spiritual realms? 
GOD and His angelic host. And
Satan and his hordes of unholy beings.

If you have read Chapters of the Gospels you have read JESUS and His disciples expelled demons from people.

Do you have difficulty believing people today are demon-possessed?

Consider this with me? 
Obviously, the demonic world was alive and active when JESUS was here in His flesh and bone body – He said so. 
They spoke to Him and He spoke back.  Mark 5:1-20,Luke 8:26-39

We also have JESUS telling us this: 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.   in John 10:10. Did He lie? That’s a ludicrous question, isn’t it?

So since they were then, what evidence do we have that they are not now? 

And if there are no evil forces to contend with, why did GOD move Paul to pen what He did in Ephesians 6?

Why did he instruct us to put on the full armor of GOD? 
For what do we need armor if there is no enemy?

Why does verse 12 tell us our enemies are not flesh and blood (meaning each other) but . . . principalities, . . . powers, . . . the rulers of the darkness of this world, . . . spiritual wickedness in high places.

Why are we told in verse 13 to take up every piece of war equipment GOD provides, if there is no enemy? 

What will it take to convince you there are real, live demonic beings on mission to steal, kill and destroy you? 

What will it take to get you to put on the ARMOR of GOD?

Verses 14 through 18 describe this Armor.

Let me give you a KWT paraphrase — you can get your own copy of the Bible and read or use one of the links on this page.

To our very CORE (gut) we must know the TRUTH – GOD’s Truth and to know His Truth we must know His Scripture. 
Breastplate – you know what a breastplate is, right?
That black heart we were born with must be replaced with RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The RIGHTEOUSNESS of JESUS. He must by His Holy Spirit be living, ruling on the inside of us. 
Feet. Our walking around life – our daily lives must be marked (buckled up, tied, velcroed) with the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST, the PRINCE of PEACE.
A shield. Not just any shield but the SHIELD of FAITH.
For what? To quench fiery darts!
Who is firing those darts? Demons.
Some translations say, the devil. Either way, they are evil and out to get us. 
Helmet of Salvation. How much explanation does this need? We have to know that we know that we know we have been saved (delivered) by The LORD JESUS CHRIST. 
And then there is our ONE defensive weapon The Sword – THE WORD of GOD.
Again we have to be well familiar with that SWORD to wield it well, defeating the demons with it and NOT our brothers and sisters. 

GOT IT? Good! 

A final thought: This is a real war with real enemies. How do I know when I encounter an enemy with no skin on his face? They are all the opposite of God. So as people who are trained to recognize counterfeit bills study the real thing, so we must study GOD if we want to recognize the enemy.

2022, Ephesians, Gospel of Mark, KWT Paraphrasing, Praying with my Sisters and Brothers in Holy Faith, Psalms

All Who Wait

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I encourage you to read Psalm 31 today. 
Mark 10 too. 

I hope you will read these passages. They may be just what you need today. 

And if your hearts are heavy with all the boasts you hear, if your soul cringes daily, allow verse 18 to remind you our Father is faithful and while He is full of mercy He is also JUST. 

18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. (KJV)

Psalm 31 closes with this:

“23 Love the Lord, all His godly ones! The Lord watches over the faithful But fully repays the one who acts arrogantly.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who wait for the Lord.”  source 

As Paul prayed for the people of Ephesus I offer this on our behalf today. 

Father GOD, I pray today You will empower us with inner strength by Your Spirit; so that JESUS will live through us as we trust You and that we will be rooted and grounded in Your love for You and all Your people; that we will be given strength as Your people to grasp the breadth, height, and depth of Your love; to know beyond all-knowing and be filled with You, Holy Spirit. For we know and are confident that You are able to do more, beyond anything, we could ask or imagine. Thank You, Abba, for always hearing Your children when they pray. 
Taken from Ephesians 3: 16-21

 

2021, Ephesians, Revelation, Thanksgiving 2021

More than an Institution

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Today I am giving thanks for Marriage, GOD Who gifted us with marriage, the survival of marriage as the enemy of mankind has done all within his power to adulterate it, mongrelize it, corrupt, distort and otherwise defeat this gift from GOD to men and women. 

And I am particularly grateful for my own marriage to the man who loves me like no other human on this planet! 

Marriage is intended to be a living testimony, a walking, talking, living demonstration to humanity of The CHRIST and His Bride – the Church. FEW and I do mean few marriages bring this reflection to this dark and hostile world.  

Ephesians 5:22-33 addresses this mystery. Click HERE if you are pleased to read the passage. 

Revelation 19 CJB

6 Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd, like the sound of rushing waters, like loud peals of thunder, saying,

“Halleluyah!
Adonai, God of heaven’s armies,
has begun his reign!

7 “Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb,
and his Bride has prepared herself —
8 fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear.”

(“Fine linen” means the righteous deeds of God’s people.)

9 The angel said to me, “Write: ‘How blessed are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb!’” Then he added, “These are God’s very words.”  source

 

And there’s more in this Chapter if you are pleased to read it. Click HERE.

Holy Matrimony.
I dare say without JESUS, there’s nothing holy about it.
And for many if not most, the fun wanes too without HIM. 

2021, Ephesians, Romans

Rise and Shine

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Rise and Shine. 

Excellent counsel!

Rise from your slumber – that reminds me of Scripture. 

Romans 13:12 New King James Version

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  source

Get this. I use an app to check my writing for grammar, punctuation, etc.  
And the verse above, the App suggested I reword it for clarity. 

That is so like the world!
The world is never satisfied with GOD’s Word.
But I am.
How about you?
Our verse for today says: the night is far spent, the day is at hand.
And it is time to cast off the works of darkness and shine the LIGHT OF JESUS!
We do that by wearing His WORD. 

Ephesians 6:10-18 Complete Jewish Bible

10 Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 
11 Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary.
12 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.
13 So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.
14 Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist, put on righteousness for a breastplate,
15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom.
16 Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
17 And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God;
18 as you pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people. source

Let’s do that today! Rise and Shine!