Your utmost ministry is to live in the light. “This is the Message which we have heard from the Lord Jesus and now deliver to you—God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness. If, while we are living in darkness, we profess to have fellowship with Him, we speak falsely and are not … [Read more…]
God’s wrath comes on unbelievers, for they are hostile toward God. “For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s Torah, neither indeed can it be. Those who are … [Read more…]
Our working together in one another ministry worthy of the calling is God’s doing. In Ephesians 1 thru 3, Paul shows God’s doing—the blessings God blessed us with in Messiah Jesus. Now, in view of God’s doing, Paul shows us our doing is God’s being thru us in Ephesians 4 thru 6. He begins by … [Read more…]
‘The LORD bless you, and keep you. The LORD make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 That Old Teastament blessing always lifts my spirit. May it lift yours. Kretzmann explains in his commentary The form of public blessing in … [Read more…]
Working together, each part (person) in the body of Messiah is given work to do. We work together best in the new man mode, relating with people we know and relate with personally. Paul gives us us practical advice on how to do it. Working together, we do the works of ministry as we “in … [Read more…]
Our kingdom view originates from God. Messiah Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and described the harmonious relationships we thrive in in His kingdom now and will thrive in when He ushers in the eternal kingdom of God in the New Heaven and New Earth. For “God has rescued us from the power of … [Read more…]
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Messiah Yeshua.” Philippians 4:7 Rejoice 4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and … [Read more…]
We are lively stones for God, living, active, quick, sprightly. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5 KJV Lively stone are built up as God’s home in the spirit. Paul contrasts the Old Testament … [Read more…]
Jews and Gentiles were divided by a wall of enmity until they were made one in Christ. The Ephesian church was mostly Gentile. Jews had an ingrained prejudice against them. It was rooted in their heritage as the circumcised, which the Gentiles did not share. The Jews were God’s people Israel and had God’s covenants. … [Read more…]
Gospel of the Kingdom—Introduction. One of the reasons I write is to help us see and live the way Jesus proclaimed in the gospel of God’s Kingdom. God our Father has created us to be to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:12). We can be to God’s glory because God has made us fit … [Read more…]