EPHESIANS 1. ( Seed thoughts Blessings in Christ Jesus ; V 1. Faith in Jesus Christ. What a tremendous verse this is.

Paul a persecutor of the Christians Jews met Jesus on the road to Damascus and the power of Jesus came upon him. Paul was later to become a great evangelist for Jesus and died for his faith. ACTS 26 v 15-16 ; And I said, Who are you Lord ? Paul's dynamic faith in Jesus played a major part in the establishment of the early Church. What a character reference was his when he was noted for his faithfulness to Jesus Christ. REVELATION 17 v 14 ; These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them for He is Lord of lords and King of kings and they that are with him are called , chosen and faithful. May our faith in Jesus be strong and permanent. V 2. A peace that can never be annulled. Peace from God and our Lord Jesus Christ. John 14 v 27 ; Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. Whatever gifts God gives us must be wonderful gifts to use for His glory, and honour. It is up the Christians to use these gifts wisely and well in Christ's service. PHILIPPIANS 4 v 7 ; And the peace of God that passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Let us seek the peace of mind which Jesus offers to all who seek it. V 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. All blessings are derived ; Their Source ; God the Father. Their character ; spiritual blessings. Their location. In heavenly places. Their blessings are described. V 4-6, The plan of love ; V 7. The price of redemption. V 8 -10. The purpose of God. V 11-12. Position of believers. v 15-18. The power of prayer. 19-23. The power granted to Jesus. God has promised all Spiritual blessings for all true believers and followers of Jesus Christ. V 4. Chosen of God before the foundation of the world. Right from the start God had a plan whereby He would have a Son who would become the promised Messiah, to save repentant sinners who sought forgiveness of their sins and access to God. With the Spirit of God within us and the word of God available to us we should become righteous and holy before God. THESSALONIANS 4 v 7 1; But God has not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness. 1 PETER 2 v 9 ;But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His glorious light. A choice that cannot be regretted. If God has chosen us and we have answered His call to holiness and obedience, we have an eternal home with Jesus and other Christians. V 5-6. A relationship that is most desirable. God has foreordained all children of God to be in His family by Jesus Christ. But who goes in to the family of God is left for the Individual to choose to accept or reject the precious gift of God. GENESIS 6 v 3 ; And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with men for that he also is flesh , yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years. EPHESIANS 2 v 11-13 ; Wherefore remember that you being In times past Gentiles in the flesh, whom are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh that is made by hands. That at that time you were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now In Christ Jesus who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Let us sing the praises of God for we have something to sing about. V 7. Redeemed, a title that can be with us for eternity Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and

whose sins are covered. Blessed Is the man to whom the Lord will not Impute sin. What a burden is lifted from us when our sins are forgiven and forgotten and we are brought into the family of God. EPHESIANS 2 v 4-5 ; But God who is rich in mercy for His great love wherewith He loved us . Even when we were dead in sin, has quickened us together with Christ, (By grace are you saved ) PSALM 107 v 1-2 ; 0 give thanks unto the Lord for He is good, for His mercy endures for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy. V 8. A love that will not be withdrawn. God is showing us some of the acts of His mercy which He bestowed upon Israel and will also show love and compassion on Christians today. JOHN 3 v 16-17 ; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him may be saved. Rejoice, rejoice 0 Christian. lift up your voice and sing. Eternal Hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King. The hope of all who seek Him the help of all who find, None other is so loving so good and kind. V 9. Made known to us His good purposes. PSALM 19 v 7-11 ; The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. he testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. the statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever. The Judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether, More to be desired are they than gold, yes than much fine gold, sweeter also than the honey and the honeycomb . Moreover by them is your servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward. .God has given us His plans for a bright new world and a new way of life. The reward comes when we are reconciled to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. The choice is ours to accept and obey. 2 Timothy 3 v 16-17 ; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works. V 10 . A union that can never be dissolved. He might gather together in one, all things in Christ. At the rapture of Christ's church we shall all be taken to heaven and there presented to God. Christians of all nationalities, one in Jesus Christ. All because God so loved the world and Jesus was willing to shed His life's blood to redeem us from the bondage of satan. Then we shall know in full the love, mercy and grace of God. JOHN 8 v 31-21 ;. 36 ; The said Jesus to the Jews which believed on Him, If you continue in My words then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free . If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. Let us draw closer to Jesus and confirm that we are His and recognise Him as Lord of lords and King of kings. V 11. An inheritance that will never be withdrawn. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance. Our minds may have some difficulty in understanding just how much there is in this inheritance for us but let us rejoice and accept gratefully all that Jesus has secured for us. And let us worship God and praise Him for His mercy and grace, towards us. 1 PETER 1 v 3-4 ; Blessed be the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy , has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you. V 12. That we should be to the praise of His glory. By their firm stand and witness to the Lord Jesus Christ, the disciples were the first of an ever increasing body of Christians who praise God for Jesus and His glory which was a reflection of the glory of God.

Genuine trust is a wonderful thing. PSALM 18 v 30 ; As for God, His way is perfect, the way of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. Proverbs 3 v 5-6 ; Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. V 13. In whom you also trusted after that you heard the word of truth The Holy Spirit of God seals the true believer with the earnest of the inheritance promised. The Holy Spirit of adoption is given to everyone who truly repents of their sins and turns to God in all sincerity. PSALM 31 v 1 ; In You 0 Lord do I put my trust, let me never be ashamed , Deliver me in Your righteousness. JEREMIAH 17 v 7 ; Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. There should be praise to God and joy in our hearts as a result of trusting in God. How much greater will be our worship when we see our heavenly Father in heaven. Where He will lead me I will go, for I have learned to trust Him so. And I remember it was for me He was slain on Calvary. Onward I go nor doubt nor fear, happy with Christ my Saviour near. Trusting that I some day shall see Jesus, my friend, of Calvary. V 12. A pledge that will not be dishonoured for the Christian. God has placed His seal, the Holy Spirit upon us. What God has placed upon us is the first instalment of our inheritance in Jesus Christ. EPHESIANS 4 v 30 ; And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Our salvation and inheritance comes from our receiving Jesus as our Redeemer and Lord. People of all nationalities can take up the offer of salvation in Christ and reconciliation with God. Acts 4 v 12 ; Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. ROMANS 1 v 16 ; For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek. V 15. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love unto all the saints. What a grand character reference and what a joy it would be if people said that about us. ROMANS 6 v 17-18 ; But God be thanked that you were the servants of sin but you have obeyed from the heart, that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. V 2 ; But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. V 16 ; Making mention of you in my prayers. The power of prayer means much to the Christian, who should be praising God regularly and interceding for his friends. JAMES 5 v 13-15 ; Is any among you afflicted ? Is any merry ? Let him sing psalms . Is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. V 16b ; The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Two things the Ephesians were noted for were their faith in Christ and their love for the saints. Let us also be known for the same things and have the blessings that God give us to enjoy. V 17 ; The gifts of God will never be annulled. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The more we meditate upon the word of God and obey its statutes, the more wisdom and

understanding of God we will have. The more we will understand the workings of the Godhead. ROMANS 1 v 20 ; For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. COLOSSIANS 2 v 9-10 ; For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power. V 18. That you may know what is the hope of His calling. How desperately we need to know more about the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and how can we counsel wisely if we do not know what God says in His word, about various circumstances and problems. EPHESIANS 3 v 2-6 ; If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward.. How that by revelation He made know unto me the mystery. ( As I write afore in few words whereby when you read you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.) Which in other ages was not made know to the sons of men , as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit . That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of His promise Christ by the gospel. V19 And what is His exceeding greatness to usward who believe We only use a fraction of the gifts He has bestowed upon us to use for His glory. The more we use these gifts the more souls we will bring into his family through the Lord Jesus Christ. EPHESIANS 2 v 8 ; For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. We see the power of God in creation and acknowledge His greatness. e can praise and worship God that His Holy Spirit strived with us until we came to God for forgiveness and to Christ for reconciliation to God. EPHESIANS 2 v 13, 20 ; But now In Christ Jesus you who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. V 20. Which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. This same great power will raise the Christians from their graves at the rapture of Christ's church. 1 THESSALONIANS 4 v 16-17 ; For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Let us make sure that we give God the honour and glory that is due Him. V 21. Not only in this world but in that which is to come. Not only will the Christians be watched over by the Godhead but we shall see thousands of guardians angels also caring for us. There will be rewards and blessings for the family of God for the service given to God while on earth. LUKE 18 v 29 ; And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you there is no man that has left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the world to come, everlasting life. We shall recognise our loved ones who have gone or are going to heaven. MATTHEW 12 v 32 ; And whosoever speaks a word against the son of man it shall be forgiven him, but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world nor in the world to come. V 22. The Lordship of Jesus shall never be annulled. He came to earth to be Lord over all and In due time He will recognised as that. He came to give His life a ransom to redeem us from satan's hold over us and to reconcile us with God.

ROMANS 14 v 8-9 ; For whether we live we live unto the Lord, whether we die we die unto the Lord. Whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that He might be the Lord both of the living and the dead. REVELATION 11 v 15 ; And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever. Let us make sure that we are going to be in that multitude praising God and our Lord. V 23. Which is His body the fullness of Him that fills all in all. 1 CORINTHIANS 2 v 16 ;For who has know the mind of the Lord, that He may instruct him ? But we have the mind of Christ. JOHN 14 v 20, 23 ; At that day you shall know that I am in My Father and you in Me and I in you. Jesus answered and said to him, If a man love Me he will keep My words and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. We are in Christ and He is in us by His Spirit. God will make His abode in us with Christ by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to indwell the new convert and help and guide him in worship and prayer to God. We should have so much of the agape love within us that we cannot help but to let it flow out to others as we strive to help them in their circumstances. Days are filled with sorrow and care, hearts are lonely and drear Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near. Cast your care on Jesus today, leave your worry and fear Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.