Category: Ephesians

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To the Uttermost

What a strange word. Uttermost.

As defined by Merriam-Webster: “most remote or outermost; farthest. the uttermost stars. 2. of the greatest or highest degree, quantity, etc.; greatest. The country’s art has reached uttermost creativity.“

Why would a word like that come up in my mind? I’m sure the Lord put it there this morning!

“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 7:24-27 NKJV

God, our heavenly Father, is able!

Able means He has the ability to do or complete the task set before Him. He is able to work on our behalf to save to the uttermost.

Because He is a loving Father he won’t force Himself on us and He won’t force us to take the benefits He has for us. But if we will allow Him to work in our lives we will see His ability working on our behalf.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 ERV

When we know God’s love, His power can work in our lives to bring Him glory.

“18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hebrews 2:18 AMP

He is able to help us immediately when we are being tempted because He was also tempted and suffered.

“God is strong and can (is able to) keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. 25 He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25 CEV

God is able to keep us! He is able to save us!

“But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 CEV

Maybe you’re one who feels you have been too far gone – gone like the prodigal son – gone to the uttermost. Not so, God’s love supersedes our sin. He is able to save to the uttermost.

Father, today I give you my availability so that Your abilities may work in me, through me and for me!

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Victory in Jesus…

…because of the cross!

Yesterday, I ended the blog with this verse: ““The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP

That my friend is a life of victory!

As a Christian we aren’t promised a life void of conflict or battles, but we are promised to emerge from those battles just like David in his fight with Goliath; we are promised victory. Today, we are going to run our cups over with victory.

“ In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love…” Romans 8:37-38 CEV

“ I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 CEV

“But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! 58 My dear friends, stand firm and don’t be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.” I Corinthians 15:57-58 CEV

“ Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong. 11  Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. 12 We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. 13 So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13 CEV

“ Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:4-5 CEV

Jesus said: “The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won’t be alone. 33 I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” John 16:32-33 CEV

“God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:14-15 CEV

The words of the Bible are very plain. We have the victory in Christ Jesus! We have been given the power to stand in the presence of our enemies! They HAVE BEEN defeated by Christ when He hung on the cross.

O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

That old hymn means more to me today than when I was a child. My life has been filled with victory because of His blood! Oh, victory in Jesus!!

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What Fills the Cup

A few weeks ago, I did a teaching on “My Cup Runs Over” from the verse in Psalm 23:5.

We know it is the Lord who pours into the cup but have you ever stopped to ask, “what fills the cup”.

“ Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this and drink it. 28  This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven. 29 From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:27-29 CEV

Christ told His disciples that His blood would be poured out for us. Poured into our cups, filling us with His forgiveness.

The Apostle Paul wrote to several of the churches about this “cup running over” filling we receive in Christ.

” God has put all things under the power of Christ, and for the good of the church he has made him the head of everything. 23 The church is the body of Christ and is filled with Christ who completely fills everything.” Ephesians 1:22-23 CEV

“I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.” Ephesians 3:19 CEV

“I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 ERV

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP

Now I’ll be honest with you, when I woke up this morning, I really didn’t want to read my Bible. But what I did tell the Father at the beginning of my prayer was that I wanted to have a greater capacity for Him in my life.

We can’t have more of God because God fills us completely when we become new creations in Him. What we can have more of is understanding and we can remove those things we selfishly hold on to and have a greater capacity to experience His love, power and forgiveness.

John the Baptist was the man of the hour. Everyone was coming to the river to be baptized by him. His ministry was becoming renown; his fame was spreading. One day his followers came to him and told him that someone else was preaching and baptizing and all the people were beginning to follow the new guy. John said:

“At a wedding the groom is the one who gets married. The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom’s voice. That’s why I am so glad. 30 Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.” John 3:29-30 CEV

That’s how we become filled and running over with the presence of God. He must become more important and I must become less. We all have the capacity to be filled and running over with the love of God!

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The Heart of God

We’ve all seen those little labels that are put on the products we buy. Made in U.S.A., China, Japan, Mexico, Canada…

Do you realize that we were made in the heart of God and He sees us as priceless?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. 4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. 6 And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6 ERV

We were conceived in God’s heart before He made the world! I know, it’s almost impossible to fathom that God had us in mind before anything that we know and see was created. He was thinking of us.

“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. 2 You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts.3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
5 and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. 6 I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.” Psalm 139:1-6 CEV

Our heavenly Father knows the words we will speak, where we will go and even the number of the hairs on our head. He has tattooed our picture on the palm of His hands.

“I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes” Isaiah 49:16 ERV

We are priceless to Him!

“ Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life” John 3:16 ERV

He gave the One He dearly loved so that we could be joined to them.

“Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything about me. 17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine.
18 I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.
And when I awake, I will find you nearby.” Psalm 139:16-18 ERV

God has spent eternity thinking of us. The thoughts He has toward us are immeasurable.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:19 ERV

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us. 9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger.” Romans 5:8-9 ERV

God, our heavenly Father, wants us to know Him personally. He wants us to know the depth of His love for us. He wants us to know that we are priceless to Him!

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Don’t Quit – Don’t Give Up – Don’t Give In

Don’t quit – Don’t stop – Don’t Give Up – Don’t Give In

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

We all feel like giving up at one time or another but with God’s strength we can and will go forward to victory.

God has given us His power to overcome and be victorious in the things of life. Not our power but His. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead has been made available to us.

“ God put everything under Christ’s power and made him head over everything for the church. 23 The church is Christ’s body. It is filled with him. He makes everything complete in every way.” Ephesians 1:22-23 ERV

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. 20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. ” Ephesians 3:19-20 ERV

“ I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 ERV

“ So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. 34 Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us.” Romans 8:31-34 ERV

We aren’t supposed to do life on our own!

God has made His power available to us through Christ. Don’t give up, don’t quit – lean into the power of God through your relationship with Jesus.

“ But the Lord said, ‘My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.‘ So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.” II Corinthians 12:9 ERV

The Father’s great love for us is more than enough to strengthen us in any situation. Don’t give up, Don’t give in, Don’t quit. His grace is sufficient!!

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Words of Life

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me! Where did that ever come from – it sure wasn’t the Bible!

I remember hearing that and saying that when I was a child but it’s far from the truth. Words can hurt or they can heal. Words can bring life or death, it’s up to us to decide.

Not every bad or dirty word is a cuss word. Words of criticism, gossip, ridicule, slander, embarrassment are all “bad’ words. Words that twist the truth to make me look better or less responsible for a wrong doing are “bad” words. Blaming someone else for my mistakes or faults are bad words.

“When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you.” Ephesians 4:29 ERV

Disagreeing with someone or correcting them aren’t bad words unless they are meant to hurt or ridicule.

“Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. 17 The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.” II Timothy 3:16-17 CEV

God’s words are useful and good. They instruct us, they encourage us and they correct us. The words we speak should be the same.

Have you been saying bad words? Have relationships been broken? Have you been hurt by words? Words hurt but words can also heal.

“By the power of his own word, he healed you and saved you from destruction. 21 You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us.” Psalm 107:20-21 CEV

“Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach.21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.” Proverbs 18:20-21 ERV

I need to remind myself daily to speak words of blessing and words of life! When I do, I show that I am learning from my Father!

Let your words be sweet and honest. Let them bring life. Have a wonderful weekend!

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“Walk” in Obedience

Have you ever been crippled? Maybe you’ve broken an ankle, a leg or had foot surgery. Perhaps you had a crippling fear that weakened you; possibly you were an emotional cripple or even financially unable to move.

Most of us have been crippled at one point or another. Imagine now that this wasn’t something you could get over and the longer you lived with limitation it began to steal away your hope.

That describes the man Jesus met by the pool side. He had been a cripple for thirty-eight years. 38 years! Thirty-eight years he waited for his miracle and quite frankly I think he had lost hope.

“Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some of them were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. 6 Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been sick for a very long time. So he asked him, ‘Do you want to be well?’ 7 The sick man answered, ‘Sir, there is no one to help me get into the water when it starts moving. I try to be the first one into the water. But when I try, someone else always goes in before I can.’” John 5:3-7 ERV

Do you hear him? “Nobody will help me, there’s nothing I can do about my situation, I’m stuck!”

“Then Jesus said, ‘Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ 9 Immediately the man was well. He picked up his mat and started walking.” John 5:8-9 ERV

The man thought there was no help but the power of the Word of God spoken over our lives is life changing.

“ With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

I’m sure this man sensed the power in Jesus’ words. This was no ordinary man, these were not empty words. They brought hope and hope brought action; this man went from a cripple to a person of determination and strength.

This isn’t just a nice story of healing that happened in the Bible long ago, it is an example to us for today. We have an open invitation to come to God’s throne and when we come, we find the help we need.

“16 Jesus was doing all this on the Sabbath day. So these Jews began trying to make him stop. 17 But he said to them, ‘My Father never stops working, and so I work too.’…19 But Jesus answered, ‘I assure you that the Son can do nothing alone. He does only what he sees his Father doing. The Son does the same things that the Father does.‘” John 5:16-19 ERV

Our Father never stops working! He is still working today and the things He does, He does because He loves us.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:19-20 ERV

Our part is to walk in obedience.

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Don’t Be Afraid in the Darkness

I feel this is the message of Psalm 23. Yes, I am still in Psalm 23.

Do you have a loved one, a dear friend, that maybe you haven’t seen in ages and then you get together and catch up on all that has been going on in your life and theirs?

That’s where I have been the past several days by camping out in Psalm 23 with my dear friend, Jesus.

I’ve heard the Shepherd say, “Come lay down in the pasture. Get a cool and refreshing drink. Sleep, rest. Be still. I am filling your life with goodness, up to the very rim and more – I’m running your cup of life over with My love”.

Then my heart has said, “Lord, there are dangerous things happening all around me. Hurtful, heartbreaking situations, physical dangers and emotional unrest”. Then comes this reminder.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:4-5 NLT

King David, before he was king, was a shepherd. He cared for his sheep, and he let his experiences be life lessons to teach him about the loving care of the Good Shepherd.

The Lord knows a lot about dangerous and frightening situations. Just ask Noah (the ark builder), David (the giant slayer), Daniel (the lion tamer), Peter (the water walker), Paul (the shipwreck survivor) and oh yes, Jonah (the fish bait).

These were all everyday people – there was nothing special about them except their willingness to obey God.

“ I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. 19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power 20 he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. ” Ephesians 1:18-20 ERV

The last few weeks I have had several people very close to me face some pretty tough stuff. As I was praying for each of them the Lord kept bringing me back these verses in Psalms and Ephesians.

In the darkest valley, don’t be afraid. Know the blessings God has for you. Know the mighty power of God.

“I, I am the one who wipes away all your sins. I do this to please myself. I will not remember your sins. 26 But you should remember me. Let’s meet together and decide what is right.” Isaiah 43:25-26 ERV

The Lord wants us to meet with Him, in the quiet places, away from the distractions where we can remember His power, His strength, His unfailing love. He wants us to be worry-free, completely trusting Him and filled with joy because His love never fails.

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It Takes My Breath Away

Sometimes when I am reading my Bible, it takes my breath away!

The capacity of Almighty God to love me – to reach out for me – to choose me, goes beyond my comprehension. There is only one answer to the “why” and it’s because He is God and He decided to do so.

But, not only did He decide to choose me but that is the decision He made for all of us.

“ My dear children, I am writing this to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, there is One Who will go between him and the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One Who is right with God. 2 He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1-2 NLV

God’s love and provision is not just for a chosen few but He has chosen everyone who has ever lived or is yet to be born, to be a recipient of His love and forgiveness.

“ Even before the world was made, God chose us for Himself because of His love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame as He sees us. 5 God already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done.

6 We thank God for His loving-favor to us. He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved Son. 7 Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich.”4-7 NLV

Before the world began we were chosen!

“What can we say about all these things? Since God is for us, who can be against us? 32 God did not keep His own Son for Himself but gave Him for us all. Then with His Son, will He not give us all things? 33 Who can say anything against the people God has chosen? It is God Who says they are right with Himself. 34 Who then can say we are guilty? It was Christ Jesus Who died. He was raised from the dead. He is on the right side of God praying to Him for us. 35 Who can keep us away from the love of Christ? Can trouble or problems? Can suffering wrong from others or having no food? Can it be because of no clothes or because of danger or war? 36 The Holy Writings say, “Because of belonging to Jesus, we are in danger of being killed all day long. We are thought of as sheep that are ready to be killed.” 37 But we have power over all these things through Jesus Who loves us so much. 38 For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! 39 The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 NLV

The love of God takes my breath away!

He has chosen us. So, now the question comes, do we choose to Him?

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Memory Loss

Last night Dave and I slept on our living room floor not because we didn’t remember where the bedroom was but because our mattress has lost its memory.

You see, we have a memory foam mattress but it isn’t as effective as it once was so we purchased a new one. However, the new mattress needs 48 hours to come to its full efficiency. So, we put the old mattress on the living room floor and slept there for the night.

It seems the Lord uses all my little daily nuances as teaching tools and this mattress was no different.

How many times do we let our memory of God’s goodness, His love and provision slip?

“ Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLV

“Let your minds and hearts be made new. 24 You must become a new person and be God-like. Then you will be made right with God and have a true holy life.” Ephesians 4:23-24 NLV

Our instruction is to have our minds, our memory, conformed to God’s goodness.

“ I have looked for You with all my heart. Do not let me turn from Your Law. 11 Your Word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:10-11 NLV

The Lord told Joshua: “ Only be strong and have much strength of heart. Be careful to obey all the Law which My servant Moses told you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. Then all will go well with you everywhere you go. 8 This book of the Law must not leave your mouth. Think about it day and night, so you may be careful to do all that is written in it. Then all will go well with you. You will receive many good things. 9 Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 NLV

Joshua’s memory, his heart, was to be set on all that God had promised then he would be strong, courageous and successful.

In one of Jesus’ last acts on earth, He celebrated Passover with His disciples and said this to them: “Then he took some bread and thanked God for it. He broke off some pieces, gave them to the apostles and said, “This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me.” 20 In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine and said, “This wine represents the new agreement from God to his people. It will begin when my blood is poured out for you.” Luke 22:19-20 ERV

This old mattress is leaning up against a counter right in front of me. Its memory no longer conforms to us. I pray that my memory of God’s promises remains strong, conforming me to the image of Christ.

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