LESSON 4- Ephesians
Chapter 3
The Mystery- Revelation
Our Inheritance in Christ Cont.’
Chapter 3:1-21
Eph.3:15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
3:15 Every family in heaven and on earth originate in Him; He remains the authentic and original identity of every nation. Mirror Translation
Gen. 1:26 is when our true selves were created, little spirits. We come from Him.
We are members of a family, the family of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ is “King of kings, Lord of lords, the Bright Morning Star,” His family is a royal family. In fact, we are “seated together with Him in the heavenly places” right now (Eph. 2:6), so that our union with Christ gives us a wonderful position as intimate members of Christ’s family, the church, the Body of Christ.
Rev 19:16, “He has a royal title written on His robe, `King of kings and Lord of lords.'”
WE HAVE HIS NAME:
Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Revelation 22:4 ESV They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
It is because a Christian has permanent position of solid authority as a member of the royal family of Jesus Christ that Paul can speak so confidently in these verses of the value and absolute necessity that believers be thoroughly rooted in the principles of the Christian life.
Eph.3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
3:16 I desire for you to realise what the Father has given you from His own limitless resources, so that you may be dynamically reinforced in your inner being by the Spirit of God. Mirror Translation
“Grant” is a New Testament Grace word. That for which Paul is praying is available on a grace basis. However, the subjunctive mood of the verb indicates that there is potential here. Whether a Christian receives the benefit of the “grant” depends on personal volition.
Paul prays that Christians will take advantage of that which God has provided. Verses 17 to 19 list the provisions of this grace gift: inner strength, Christ dwelling within, grounding in love, comprehension of the whole realm of Bible truth, knowledge of the love of Christ, and being filled with the fullness of God.
Paul, the Apostle, knows the source of true riches; and he directs us to that source. The believer learns to know God in His complete character (breadth, length, depth, height), His “glory”.”
“to be strengthened” – from the Greek, the passive infinitive of (krataiow), “to have an inner ruling power/authority”
The passive voices of the verb indicates that a Christian “receives strength”. Since this is by grace, it is on a non-meritorious basis. The infinitive indicates that this is God’s purpose for every believer.
“with might” – (dunamis), “inner power”.
“by the Spirit” – “by means of the Holy Spirit”
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to teach us spiritual truth, to make spiritual things understandable. The control of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for this to take place. The Spirit is the agent of perception and understanding.
“in the inner man” – in the human spirit and in the mentality, heart/mind of the Spirit and also, in the thinking apparatus of the soul.
2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
We are commanded to “grow” in grace, and to keep on growing. The growing is a process in the soul/mind, will and emotions. As mentioned before, the pruning and refining process is a MIND RENEWAL PROCESS. There are roots to that which grows; then that which is above ground produces fruit. Christian edification is that which is above ground. We must make positive decisions to be continually filled with the Spirit/ to Walk in the Spirit; to study daily His Word; and to believe sound teaching by faith applying the teaching in our hearts, minds/souls.
But the command to grow is accompanied by God’s giving us the ability to perform the command. We grow in grace and in knowledge. Our part is receiving the spiritual instruction of sound truth. God’s part, through the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, is to establish the roots and bring about growth.
How to Develop the Inner Man; Heart and Soul:
Your spirit is perfect, completely renewed, but as we have said, the soul is renewed daily.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
- Through the Word of God, fellowship with the Word of God through the illumination of the Holy Spirit Col. 3:10, Matt. 4:4, John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
- Meditation of God’s Word (muttering) Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
- Praying in the Holy Spirit -Jude 20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- Constant communion, fellowship, and prayer. John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
- Walking in the Spirit and led by the Spirit- John 16:13, Gal. 3:16
- Walking in Love, choose to love God’s kind of love (agape’)
- Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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