LESSON 4- Ephesians
Chapter 3
The Mystery- Revelation
Our Inheritance in Christ Cont.’
Chapter 3:1-21
Eph. 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
3:10 Every invisible authority and government in the arena of the heavenlies is now confronted with the display of the wisdom of God. The church acts like a prism that disperses the varied magnitude of God in human form. Mirror Translation
What is the Manifold Wisdom of God?
The manifold wisdom.—The word “manifold” (properly, many-colored, or wrought in many details) is used here (and nowhere else) for the wisdom of God, as “fulfilling itself in many ways” (the “sundry times and divers manners” of Hebrews 1:1-2).
Heb. 1:1-2 God, who [a]at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the [b]worlds;
It is manifested, therefore, in the infinite variety both of the teaching and the life of the Church—manifold, yet one, as embodying but one life, the life of Jesus Christ.
The book of Revelation is a summation of the Bible of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Church, the Body of Christ, teaches God’s wisdom, His plan, His perfection, by being His exhibit to heavenly beings of the work of Jesus Christ in humankind.
And the ” lead minister”, the apostle, prophet, pastor/shepherd, the teacher, evangelist has the all-important function of communicating the information to Christians and equipping them for ministry.
Eph.3:11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
3:11 Jesus Christ our Boss and Owner gives definition to God’s timeless pre-determined thought (pro-thesis) Mirror
Definition of -Greek próthesis a putting before.
In other words, His eternal purpose was pre- determined from the foundation of the world.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE INCLUDE:
The Lord wants every individual to accept Christ as Savior. John 3:16
The Lord’s desire is that every Christian believer grows in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, by means of the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet .3:17-18
God the Father intends to use growing Christians to demonstrate His Grace to the whole cosmos, including even angelic forces of darkness. Ex. 9:16
This is not all inclusive.
The Body of Christ (the church) is a university. 5 -fold leaders are equippers/administrators. Christians are the professors, the world and the angels are the students. The curriculum is the “wisdom of God.”
Notice Christians are not just learners, but teachers. My philosophy is “each one teach one!”
You, perhaps, have a different stream than myself, yet we are One!
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
We are all priests forever according to the ministry of Melchizedek, not Levitical.
Heb. 7:17 For he testifies, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Ministry/ Priesthood of the Believer
Christ was declared as a priest “forever.” Heb. 7: 17 “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Heb. 5:7 -10 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. [8] Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him [10] and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek is the Priesthood of Jesus. It is the priesthood of every believer. Found in Gen.14:18, Heb.5:6, 10;6:20 7:1 10,11,15,17-Melchizedek means king of righteousness, king of Salem, (peace) If we are “in Christ” and Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, then it follows that we also are as Christ because we are “in Christ”. What Christ gets, I get. As He is in the world so are we.
(1Jn 4:17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (crisis): because as he is, so are we in this world.
Perfection comes through the Melchizedek priesthood. Jesus wants us completely sanctified. Salvation ultimately comes by accepting the whole program and enduring to the end. Those who are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. We are not to be in the judgment and condemnation as our enemies that fight against us are, but rather in grace, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Analysis of Hebrews 7
Ministry of King Jesus- Ministry of Melchizedek
1. Ministry is of a prophet, priest and king
2. This ministry is unlimited
3. This ministry is energized by the source of an endless life
4. This ministry is eternal
5. This ministry is unchangeable
6. This ministry is universal, flowing to all
7. This ministry springs from Judah, praise
8. This ministry bring perfection
9. This ministry puts away the curse of the law, sin, sickness poverty and death.
1. State of royalty
2. Sacred, priestly
3. Steadfastness
4. Similitude of Jesus
5. Springs from praise
6. Superior order
7. Singleness of eye, not prejudice
8. Separated from sin, sickness, poverty and disease
9. Servant to man
Some scholars say Melchizedek was Jesus Christ, Himself, a theophany. As He is so are we. To repeat, we have the priesthood of Melchizedek.
While the Greek language embraces abstract concepts, Hebrew words are rooted in the muck and mire of real life. They are always built on applicable ideas that concern what life is all about.
The first part of the Hebrew word Melchizedek (Gen. 7:1) is melch, which means “king.” A king has rule and dominion over a kingdom, over a dominion, or jurisdiction.
If we are in the order of Melchizedek, we must ask ourselves, WHERE do WE RULE? Over WHAT? Melchizedek ruled over a specific KINGDOM that was of tsedek (the 2nd half of his name). In most translations, tsedek, (tsdeq, zedeq) was translated as either “JUSTICE” or “RIGHTEOUSNESS.” However, further research shows us a much greater meaning.
Tsedeq originates from a Semitic word which means to be straight, firm, “steel-like determination of integrity in one’s inner being. The Arabic equivalent means to be mature, balanced, and fully developed.
Tsedeq, though often translated as “judgment,” never implied legal judgment or evil retribution. Each believer can rejoice because God’s Tsedeq (righteous justice) also means RIGHT LIVING, prosperity, health, bounty, and equity.
The clearest literal translation of Tsedeq is to rule and live a LIFE OF BALANCE and full PROSPERITY.
Tsedeq is the force that brings the right alignment of all things into the created order. Therefore, Melchizedek is a total reign over prosperity (finances, fullness, and wholeness, spirit, soul and body) which balances the world.
Wholeness/Wellness in spirit, soul and body
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[a] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Wow!
Did you get this?
Says:
“in Christ lives all the fullness of God in (your) human body.”
And also says you are “complete in Him.”
Of course, we know you have the fullness of God in our spirit, and our soul is receiving that/ the mind renewal process and our body is also receiving that. Be healed from inside out!
We will continue with Lesson 4 next week.
The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22
David & Mary Sue