21 Day Transformation – Day 5 – Ephesians Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest right? I’m sorry I didn’t get my reflection for day 5 posted yesterday. Between serving at church, attending church, spending time with family, and planning for the new projects for each coming week; Sunday and Monday’s are actually my most eventful days. Not to worry though I always find time to spend with God and in his word. So here is a reflection from Day 5 and 6. I hope you don’t mind. I have a testimony to share from Sunday…This weekend we actually finished up teaching the students a verse from Ephesians. We’ve been spending the past four weekends discussing being protected by the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-13. As I woke up this past Sunday, I knew I had to serve and it seems that the devils always ready to attack me right as I first awake. He tried to get in my mind on Sunday morning by telling me I was not smart enough, I couldn’t teach these students, I am not worthy, and that I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t about to fall for this trap and start doubting. I prayed and relied on God. I went to God for knowledge, peace, and strength to do his work and you know what…He showed up for me in a big way. Usually when serving you serve with one or two other people but this weekend no one showed up I was alone and left to myself so I needed the spirit to provide for me. Well we were able to get another volunteer to help but I was determined still to be led by the spirit. Every spoken word and prayer that was said over those students on Sunday were God and I am so glad he didn’t leave me alone and helpless. I love that the book of Ephesians discusses God’s power, the power of prayer, and gives us guidance in many areas of our lives. Haven’t we all heard that saying, “Life doesn’t come with a manual.” Or what about when a child is born, people say, “Children don’t come with instructions.” Well actually it does, the bible teaches us how to live and as students of the bible we can learn many things and start applying them to our lives. TaDa…we do have an instruction manual for our life. I mentioned before the 21 books that we are reading are called the letters, they are written to new churches and new Christians guiding and teaching them with Direction, Correction, and Training. If you can’t find the time to read or skim through the entire books that’s fine but please read and journal your thoughts as you read these main verses I point out that stuck out to me. Ephesians 1:19-20 says, “I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in 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.” This verse applies to all of us who believe in Christ. We have God’s almighty power available to us if we proclaim in to do work in our lives. By taking the leap of faith and believing with all your heart Jesus is Lord you can have this power transform your life. All it takes is Faith and Prayer. Ephesians 3:17-21 says, “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Scripture guides us in understanding the true power of the spirit and continuing growth in the spirit that really creates life change in our lives. I love that the bible tells us that we don’t change our selves but it is God in us that allows us to change. All Glory to GOD! I told you Ephesians offered us a lot of guidance in different areas of our life and we can consider it an instruction manual for our lives. Here in Ephesians 4:21-32 we are given many directions on how to behave as a Christ follower. Ephesians 4:21-32 says, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” I have to share with you another personal story from my life… Honestly I never went to church as a kid. I think I might have gone a few times with friends but it wasn’t something I grew up in or that my family was strong in. I grew customer to the things of this world and it wasn’t until recently that I began my journey in Faith and Spiritual Growth. I can honestly say it is God working in my life and it all started with my desire to have a strong marriage. Truthfully after dealing with issues and struggling in my marriage, I just wanted to know how to have the best marriage possible and how to be the best wife to my husband. One day I decided to turn to God and seek his wisdom in the bible about marriage. I found a plethora of guidance not only in my marriage but in other areas of my life too. And, so it is here in Ephesians that we are offered guidance and training for Husbands and Wives, and Parents and Children. These relationships between one another in the family need to be spiritually guided. Ephesians 5:21-32 gives each the husband and the wife instruction on what God desires from you. Put your marriage under the blessing of God and you will start to have the best marriage possible. I want you all to read this part of the Ephesians and really examine your marriage and ask God to be a part of it. I have to especially point out Ephesians 5:22 because many women and men get confused about what this means. Ephesians 5:22 says, “For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” This doesn’t mean what everyone thinks it means…being submissive is being forgiving and understanding that no one is perfect and still love them anyway. It’s like if you’re driving and someone cuts you off you can get all mad about it and act like it’s a big deal or you can forgive them and realize that we are all sinful, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, but we love them and give them second chances. So don’t get confused by the word submit. It’s really saying be submissive in understanding that your husband isn’t perfect and hey neither are YOU! Ephesians 6 starts right out of the gate discussing relationships among parents and their children. I don’t have children so it is hard for me to relate this but I believe one day when I am a parent I will be teaching my kids this very first verse. LOL, Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.” How many of you are saying THAT’s RIGHT! I love that we can again sense God’s parental guidance as he is the Father! How many times do you have to tell your kids if they would just listen, or if they would do what they’re told, they’d be just fine right?? Well even God is telling them this in Ephesians 6:3 he says, “If you honor your father and mother, Things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” LOL, they will live long considering if your mom doesn’t ring your neck first. I’m just kidding though but I just love these verses and I encourage you to read them more thoroughly in your bible if you are a parent. Finally, this is the last scripture I am going to discuss from Ephesians. Ephesians 6:10-13 says, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” This is the scripture we have been teaching the students at my church. I like to think of our lives like cell phones. We buy protection cases for them to keep them from getting destroyed and we have to plug them in to the power source to keep from going dead. We do all of this for a phone but our lives are much like this. The world will destroy us, the devil schemes try to wreck our lives, and people tend to suck the life right out of us; but we must stay connected to our power source, GOD, in his might power we are protected and are victorious in life. WHEW…Ephesians was relatively long but it has so much to offer and say about areas of our life that we need counsel and guidance in. I hope you all have enjoyed reading the past few books and have been encouraged to allow God to transform your life. youtube/watch?v=L_7Ws78qCR4
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:27:54 +0000
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