how it is

Ephesians is another one of those letters Paul wrote that is just jammed packed with all kinds of stuff.

It's like it's his huge statement of faith! And it's just 6 chapters long!

Anyway, here's part of chapter 1 - read it slowly - every time I read it I'm impressed with something new




Ephesians 1

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms

     because we are united with Christ.

4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.

This is what he wanted to do,

     and it gave him great pleasure.

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.


7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son

     and forgave our sins.

8 He has showered his kindness on us,

     along with all wisdom and understanding.


9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ,

     a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.

10 And this is the plan:

        At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ;

        everything 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.


12 God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth,

      the Good News that God saves you.

And when you believed in Christ,

     he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit,

     whom he promised long ago.

14 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.


15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere,16 I have not stopped thanking God for you.

I pray for you constantly,


     17 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.

18 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.


19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him.

This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead  (dan note: boy! Howdy! Read that again!!!)

     and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.


21 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.

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.


23 And the church is his body;

      it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.


Did you pickup on one of the biggest power statements in a chapter full of power statements?

Paul says that the same power (i.e. the Holy Spirit) that raise Jesus from the dead IS INSIDE OF EACH OF US WHO BELONG TO GOD.

Think about that...

...the same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives in us...

So, anybody feel like a superhero as a result of that statement?! Talk about having superpowers!!!

And how many people tap into those superpowers?

How many of us acknowledge that they're there?

The Holy Spirit was sent to be a Comforter, but at the same time, He was sent to be an Empowerer.

And He lives inside of us...

Think about that today...