Ephesians 2:1-10

  Just going to let you know what has been happening since I've been getting this particular bible study ready.  I can tell God has been very much wanting this to be shared.  Wednesday and Friday of this past week I was working on this.  Friday I couldn't get Meredith Andrews song The Gospel changes everything out of my head.  Then Saturday I woke up with Beneath the Waters by Hillsong Live stuck in my head.  Sunday I was on face book and my friend Tristan posted Ephesians 2:8-9.  Saturday night I was getting a poster board ready to advertise for the Bat Cave at church when 2 certain verses kept coming to mind.  Isaiah 55:10-11 10"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."  God wants this study shared I'm not sure who he is going to change thru it I'm just being willing.  

  This is perhaps one of my favorite sections of the bible and if you are a Christian it will probably be one of yours as well.  These 10 verses are loaded.  It's like an onion or parfait it has layers. 

1.  ""once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins ."  Dead that's not good.  Like they say in the infomercials though "But wait there's more." 

2.  "You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world.  Obeying the Devil--the Commander of the powers in the unseen world.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God."  Make no mistake the Devil is real!  When you placed your faith in Jesus Christ he got mad because he no longer is your master. 

3.  "All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  By our very nature we were subject to God's anger just like everyone else."  We needed help and that's the biggest understatement in the universe.  We needed something only God can provide. 

4.  "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much."  Stop for a moment because some of you need to hear that.  See it's easy to say God loves you or for me to say to my wife I love her.  I agree with Christian musician Geoff Moore I think sometimes we lose the wonder and meaning of it.  Verses 1-3 said because of our many sins we were under God's anger but in verse 4 it tells of God's rich mercy and love.  That's cause for "praise flowing from a grateful heart. 

5.  Now let this sink in because God didn't have to do any of this it was a choice made from love and mercy.  That even though we were dead because of our sins he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.(It is only by God's grace you have been saved." 

6.  "For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."  That brings us to ask why would God do all this. 

7.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness towards us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.  We are his for the purpose of being examples of his grace and kindness. 

8-9.  This is the gospel in a nutshell it's all God.  we can do nothing to claim credit for Salvation. 

10.  We are new creations created for good works and we are masterpieces. 

The Gospel changes everything by Meredith Andrews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-U2KuQ2Sdc

This is a song called Way Beyond the Blue a very early Steven Curtis Chapman song but midway through he starts quoting Ephesians 2.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy1og9yELq8

Savior to me by Kerrie Roberts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMuGwO8j-4

Beneath the Waters by Hillsong Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTwA3NLEjY4

Ephesians 1:15-23

Before I get these bible studies ready I pray for God to teach me.  See I don't want to be the same.  I share this study with my wife and I pray for her.  Together we pray for the people that read it that they will be changed by God.  See this is e-mailed to 30 people and I share it on face book.  It also gets shared on blog spot thru google.  I say that because in the verses we will be looking at Paul is also praying for the believers who hear and read.  Because we the audience matter and he's concerned for us.  Like my dad reminded Marion recently about the bible.  "It is after all His Story."  He was refereeing to the fact that it is Jesus Story.

15-17. Paul thanks God for you and I and the Ephesians and our strong faith in Christ Jesus and our love for God.  He prayed for them that God would give them spiritual wisdom and insight so that we may grow in our knowledge of God.  It's like any relationship you must spend time with the other party in order to get to know them. 

18.  This verse is beautiful.  "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called--his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance."  Remember as a kid when teams were being picked and you became the one no one chose.  guess what as a follower of God you are chosen.  You are entitled to a great inheritance. 

19-20.  Paul continues to pray that we understand God's mighty power 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. 

21.  "Now he is above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--Not only in this world but also in the world to come."  Why do we doubt God when he has given this much power to his son? 

22.  "God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church."  Why is this good well read the next verse. 

23.  "And the church is his body. it is made full and complete in Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself." 

These songs speak directly about God's authority.

Overcome by Jeremy Camp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8AB0vUU038   

He holds the keys by Steve Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgM8Wy4SXGg

Upon this rock by Sandi Patty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_hSLLMamcQ   

Ephesians 1:3-14

I apologize for the lateness of this.  mine and Marion's lives have been very chaotic this past week and I've been dealing with an abominable cough that won't end. 

Ephesians 1:3-14

"But don't you know who you are?  You are more than the choices that you make.  You are more than the sum of your past mistakes.  You are more than the problems you create.  You've been remade.  Cause this is not about what you've done but what's been done for you.  This is not about where you've been.  But where your brokenness brought you to.  This is not about what you feel.  But what he felt to forgive you and what he felt to make you new."  

  Tuesday I was having a horrid day.  Work was bad.  I just kept praying a lot for God to calm me down,  Above are the lyrics to You are More by Tenth Avenue North.  I was trying to do my job and in my spare time read the bible for the Batcave.  A lot of what you get from this is my pain and learning thru the storm.  As followers of God we don't always understand God's love for us.  Psalms 18:19 has always been a jaw dropping verse for me and I hope it is for you as well.  "He led me to a place of safety, He rescues me because He delights in me."  God delights in you and me.  

3-4.  Paul is giving thanks to God for every spiritual blessing.  Then he reminds us even before the world was made God loved us and chose us to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  Now let that make sense in your head.   God is sitting on his throne in the heavens he looked thru time He chose to send his son to die for your sins and mine because of love.  It's the absolute greatest love story ever.  

5.  "God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ."  I'm not too familiar with the adoption of kids However I have friends who have.  I have seen adoption though played out in my wife's life.  I have watched my parents and the rest of the family adopt Marion as a member of the family and all who know her have gone out of their way to make her feel welcome.  They reflect God's adoption into his family by doing so.  

6.  "So we praise God for the glorious grace he poured out on us who belong to his dear son."  We better be thankful.  

7-8.  God is rich in kindness and grace with which he showered us.  We are forgiven by the blood of his son and our freedom is purchased.  Jesus blood was shed for my sin and yours.  Point of Grace did a song called Because you are.  It talks about all God has done for us thru Christ's death .  One line in the song says "The blood on my hands is what washes me clean."  My dad has told me this story of a sermon a man preached about this vision of a man who goes to heaven who is sent to a shower to be cleansed.  To the man's surprise not water but blood comes from the faucet symbolizing being washed clean by the blood of the Lamb of God.  

9-10.  God had a plan regarding Christ, a plan that was for his good pleasure.  The plan was at the right time.  God will bring everything under the authority of Christ both in Heaven and on Earth.  

11.  "Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance and he makes everything work out according to his plan."  That's good news right there but Katia Uriarte didn't mention that on channel 3 news.  

12.  God wants the Jews first to trust in Christ.  

13.  "And now you Gentiles,"  That's you and me we heard the truth that God will save us thru Christ.  He identified us as his and gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

14.  I have never heard a preacher speak on this verse.  "The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people.  He did this so we would praise and glorify him."  

You have been chosen by God!  You are loved and You have been remade.  

The Love of Christ by Point of Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENSm29eIBJw

What love really means by JJ Heller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWKkdgyJ_NI

Speechless By Steven Curtis Chapman because God's love should leave us Speechless   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH-1wj7_Q6k

Dying to Reach you by Point of Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZvJu2kuSQ0

 

Project Hope

Lately I've been reading a thing on Face Book that says "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle.   I don't know if any of you watch or listen to the music I add to bible study with you tube videos.  well on my way to work this afternoon I had an idea because at work Tuesday is usually my slow day when I can get bible study ready.  I had this idea though of picking a theme and sending out a group of songs that speak to this.  from personal experience something I often seek God in prayer for is hope.  I often have weeks where the only kind words I hear are from my wife or at church.  so I can't sing well so I'm letting others do this for me.  my dad said "if you can't sing good sing loud."  I prefer to make a joyful noise.  Here is my project hope to encourage you. 

In the Name of the Lord- Sandi Patty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS7pfabANE4

Hope Now by Addison Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwdXqDYfBYQ

Keep breathing by Kerrie Roberts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbDuM-f36Hs

He who began a good work in you by Steve Green    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNjZlHARnEk

I will Rise by Chris Tomlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa8w7mGug0c

God is faithful by Shelia Walsh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yI8UhnIn8s

God is able by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2exW2cUdC4

Stronger by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77WLqoazcuk

Adonai/ Back to the Rock/ Too Big to Fail by Petra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKp3cJ9WjLE

More power to ya by Petra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQT9ewjXt8U

One thing remains by Passion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EHw-92ntXQ

Your love never fails by Jesus Culture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2qG22SPwU

What a friend by Kathryn Scott and You are my King by Candi Pearson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2982PlGZSrs

You're not alone by Meredith Andrews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FXLo3aCkuQ

You will never walk alone by Point of Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiE0sZ0rzcs

Jesus will still be there by Point of Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAJ4y48MLXM

Overcome by Desperation Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEwq88_CPZY

That's when I'll know I'm home by Geoff Moore and the Distance.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vmcEQz1ny4

Galatians 5:16-26

5:16  "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide you lives, then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."  That is a powerful verse.  Only a Christian who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ can do this.  But to be guided by the Holy Spirit we have to do something our sinful nature doesn't want us to do.  I will admit not having control of things frustrates me but if I want the Holy Spirit to guide me I have to stop being in control.  I have to surrender. 

17.  "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions."  See Romans 7:14-25 for how this struggle affected the Apostle Paul.  The band Petra took a cue from classic literature describing it this way.  "Sometimes I feel like Jekyll and Hyde.  Two men are fighting a war inside."  Being a wrestling fan I think of it like two men are inside locked in a collar and elbow tie up locked arms struggling with no give.

18.  When you are directed by the Spirit however you are not condemned by the law or under obligation. 

19-21.  List the desires of the sinful nature and some of these come all too easy.  Paul warns us that these things keep us from the kingdom of God. 

Verse 22 though is where I begin to smile.  When I was about 18 it was a time when churches would try various things to get kids to memorize scripture.  At Camp Zephyr I was taught a song that was to help you learn the fruit of the Spirit and I did.  If you've heard this song too sing along with me.  "Oh the fruit of the Spirit is not a banana. No!"  Then you shout the next part.  "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control."  There is no law against these things. 

24.  "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to the cross and crucified them there."  It's not often people sing the third verse of It is well with my soul but if you understand your sinful nature you want to.  "My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought.  My sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.  Praise the Lord Praise the Lord oh, my soul." 

Read verse 25 in how many parts of our lives do we want to follow the Spirit?  EVERY PART!!!!!!

26.  "Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another or be jealous of one another."

It is well with my soul by Larnelle Harris, Steve Green and Steve Amerson  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGk0cO7q_E

I surrender all by Selah and Michael English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u73ed6AAyEY

Surrender by Lincoln Brewster  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oyHpLg32c8

Take from me my life.  by Third Day If you've never heard it they teach you the song.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTTaK3oc8-A

This is the song I referenced before Jekyll and Hyde by Petra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-E23qfUTUU