EPHESIANS

1.Strengths and weaknesses in the church
Paul wrote this letter to encourage and assist the church in Ephesus. He points to the importance of that the Christian stays together and not to split up - we are all believing  in the same God!

The city of Ephesus was in this time on the coast of the Mediterranean in today's Turkey. Ephesus was a religious center as well as an important trading port and was known for its magnificent temple was built to honor Artemis , Zeus 's daughter from Greek mythology. Paul was familiar with the city and stayed there for three year

This letter is written while Paul was in prison, but the visit iin Ephesus is described Acts 19:1.

2. Main idea of this epistle

The heading of this letter could be "In Christ". The wealth that we as believers has in Christ, is a keynote of the whole letter. In Christ we are Gods children, we have redemption, forgiveness, wisdom and eternal inheritance. Christ is by whom the Spirit is given, grace and eternal life. Also pagan nations have the right to the message that provides part in this blessing.

Furthermore, Paul points out that responsibility it is to have these privileges (4:1-6:24 ). It is important to have a connection between believing in the Gospel and living out the Christian life in practice.

As believers should we no longer live according to the pagan life we once lived. We have been given a new life. We shall walk carefully and put on the armor of God to fight against the darkness, and to fight for the gospel (6:10-18).

Paul writes about the only way to get their things right with God, is by doing it God's way - receive salvation by God's grace. Grace is not something to be earned, and that is what Paul is communicating : You can be saved without merit it!

The things we do may be good and we can live as best we can, but there is only one way to eternal life and salvation. And that is by faith in Jesus and that He died and rose again for man's sake.

I think there is a very important verse in 2:8-9:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

3. Character and Nature of God 

1:9:     Saved by God’s grace
1:17:   God is the glorious father of our Lord Jesus Christ
2:4:     But God is so rich in mercy.
2:7:     God will show us His incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us
3:10:   God will use the church to show His wisdom in its rich variety
3:17:   Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Personal Application:

I think Paul very well knew that it is hard for us to understand God’s unlimited grace. Therefore he prays for us as believers that the Lord will give us spiritual wisdom and insight so we may grow in our knowledge of God.

This prayer in 1:17-23 have been very important to me in hard times of my life. For a period of 4 years I prayed this prayer every morning, and I put my own name in it.

In addition to this I also proclaimed the truth about putting on all of God’s armor in 6:11-18.

Proclaiming these two passages from Ephesians every morning heIped me to get through very tough times in connection with my first wife’s serious disease and death.

But in the years afterwards I have not so often proclaimed these, but by reading the scriptures again this time, I was reminded of the mighty power they content.

Therefore I want to start proclaiming these truths daily – even if the time nowadays is  tough in another way.

Point of passion:

My point of passion during my DBS is the Shan-people in Thailand:

When the 6 DTS-students in Chiang Mai now will be doing their outreach and be practising what they have been taught and got revelation about during the course. I will modify the prayer in Ephesians 1:16-23 a little and pray this over the 6 students when they in these days are leaving the school for their outreach:

I have not stopped thanking God for you - 6 DTS-students. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you – 6 DTS-students - can understand the confident hope he has given to you that He has called— you students as his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you – 6 DTS-students - will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for you who believe him. This is the same mighty power  that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.  

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Amen!