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CHAPTER 1
LESSON ONE
WHERE DO YOU BELONG?
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
Ephesians 1:11 NKJV
REFLECTION
Paul opens his letter with a glorious anthem of praise for all the blessings that believers have "in Christ." One blessing is that they belong to God's family — a community of faith. Think of a time when you felt a true sense of belonging to a community or group of people. Consider the atmosphere, circumstances, and purpose of the group. What did it feel like to belong?
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SITUATION
The apostle Paul had much invested in the church of Ephesus. For three years he had lived in the city, built relationships with members of the community, and provided a strong foundation for the church. Now, even though he was in prison, he wanted to encourage believers in the church (and in the surrounding region) to recognize the blessings God had given them by adopting them into his family. Paul also wanted to compel them to stay true to the message of the gospel he had taught them in the face of false teachings in their midst. He begins with an expression of praise to God — a reminder of how God has set the believers apart for his service.
OBSERVATION
Read Ephesians 1:1-14 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.
New International Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.
New King James Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
EXPLORATION
1. What are some of the spiritual blessings you have in Christ?
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2. God offers the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ. What difference should that make in your daily life?
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3. What is special about the fact that God deliberately chose to adopt you into his family?
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4. For what reason did God choose to make you a member of his family?
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5. What does Paul say that God makes known to his people? What does this mean to you?
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6. In what way is the Holy Spirit God's mark of ownership on you?
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INSPIRATION
And you thought God adopted you because you were good looking. You thought he needed your money or your wisdom. Sorry. God adopted you simply because he wanted to. You were in his good will and pleasure. Knowing full well the trouble you would be and the price he would pay, he signed his name next to yours and changed your name to his and took you home. Your Abba adopted you and became your Father.
May I pause here for just a minute? Most of you are with me ... but a couple of you are shaking your heads. I see those squinty eyes. You don't believe me, do you? You're waiting for the fine print. There's got to be a gimmick. You know life has no free lunch, so you're waiting for the check.
Your discomfort is obvious. Even here in God's living room, you never unwind. Others put on slippers, you put on a front. Others relax, you stiffen. Always on your best behavior, ever anxious that you'll slip up and God will notice and out you'll go.
I understand your anxiety. Our experience with people has taught us that what is promised and what is presented aren't always the same. And for some, the thought of trusting a heavenly Father is doubly difficult because your earthly father disappointed or mistreated you.
If such is the case, I urge you: Don't confuse your heavenly Father with the fathers you've seen on earth. Your Father in heaven isn't prone to headaches and temper tantrums. He doesn't hold you one day and hit you the next. The man who fathered you may play such games, but the God who loves you never will. (From The Great House of God by Max Lucado.)
REACTION
7. What are some situations in your life where you have vividly felt you didn't belong?
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8. How did you discover you were highly regarded by someone? What did that feel like? In what ways did it affect your actions?
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9. What is the problem with comparing God as your heavenly Father with an earthly father?
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10. What conclusions can you draw from the statement that God chose you "before the creation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4)?
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11. In what ways do you bring praise to God's glory?
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12. Who in your life has exemplified God's grace to you? How did the person do this for you?
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LIFE LESSONS
We experience "belonging" in many ways in modern life: playing on a sports team, participating in community at work, or joining any number of different types of clubs. The attraction of these connections illustrates just how badly we all long to belong. Yet what these earth-based groups offer in part, our heavenly Father offers in whole. We long to belong because we were designed to belong. However, until we know to whom we belong, life will always lack a sense of ultimate purpose and direction. In Christ, we can experience true belonging. Acknowledging that God has chosen us and "owns" us begins a great adventure of freedom and service for Christ.
DEVOTION
Thank you, God, for choosing us. May we be spurred on by your love to do great works, and yet never substitute those works for your great grace. May we always hear your voice. Keep us amazed and mesmerized by what you have done for us.
JOURNALING
How does it affect you personally to know that you are valued and chosen by God?
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FOR FURTHER READING
To complete the book of Ephesians during this twelve-part study, read Ephesians 1:1-14. For more Bible passages on being a member of God's family, read John 1:11-13; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26-4:7; and Hebrews 12:8-11.
CHAPTER 2
LESSON TWO
THE POWER OF YOUR FAITH
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you ... and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18-19
REFLECTION
Power and faith rarely appear together in the same sentence. We tend to think of faith as a trait that creates endurance, comfort, and perhaps influence with God. But powerful faith? Yet those who spend time with authentic faithful people discover there is power in faith — or, more accurately, power released by faith. Who are two or three people you know who exhibit a powerful faith in God? What is the evidence of their faith?
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SITUATION
Paul has just reminded his readers of all the blessings they have received by being members of God's family. In this next section of his letter, he goes on to pray for their ability to fully appreciate these truths and recognize the power their faith in Christ has provided to them. In most of Paul's letters, we find his common practice was to pray before, during, and after he wrote to a particular congregation. He often described the way he prayed for his readers — not casual or canned prayers, but deep longings expressed to God on their behalf. In this way, Paul provides us with wonderful examples of how we can also encourage one another in prayer.
OBSERVATION
Read Ephesians 1:15-23 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.
New International Version
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
New King James Version
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
EXPLORATION
1. What do you learn in these verses about the way Paul prayed?
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2. Why should having faith in Christ make a difference in your life?
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3. Paul prayed for the believers to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God better. How would you describe the process of knowing God better?
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4. What promises of rich and glorious blessings from God do you hold on to in your life?
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5. The same power that raised Christ from the dead works through your faith. In what way should you be using the power of your faith?
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6. If God is over all authorities and powers in this world, why do you think evil rulers still exist?
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INSPIRATION
When you believe in Christ, he works a miracle in you. "When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13). You are permanently purified and empowered by God himself. The message of Jesus to the religious person is simple: It's not what you do. It's what I do. I have moved in. In time, you can say with Paul, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). You are no longer a clunker, not even a clean clunker. You are a sleek Indianapolis Motor Speedway racing machine.
But if that's true, you may be asking, why do I still sputter? If I'm born again, why do I fall so often? Well, why did you fall so often after your first birth? Did you exit the womb wearing cross-trainers? Did you do the two-step on the day of your delivery? Of course not! When you started to walk, you fell more than you stood. Should you then expect anything different form your spiritual walk?
But I fall so often, you reply. I question my salvation. Again, return to your first birth. Didn't you stumble as you were learning to walk? And when you stumbled, did you question the validity of your physical birth? Did you, as a one-year-old fresh flopped on the floor, shake your head and think, I have fallen again. I must not be human!
Of course not. The stumbles of a toddler do not invalidate the act of birth. And the stumbles of a Christian do not annul his spiritual birth.
Do you understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It's not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings! ...
Think of it this way. Suppose you, for most of your life, have had a heart condition. Your frail pumper restricts your activities. Each morning at work when the healthy employees take the stairs, you wait for the elevator.
But then comes the transplant. A healthy heart is placed within you. After recovery, you return to work and encounter the flight of stairs — the same flight of stairs you earlier avoided. By habit, you start for the elevator. But then you remember. You aren't the same person. You have a new heart. Within you dwells a new power.
Do you live like the old person or the new? Do you count yourself as having a new heart or old? You have a choice to make.
You might say, "I can't climb stairs; I'm too weak." Does your choice negate the presence of a new heart? Dismiss the work of the surgeon? No. Choosing the elevator would suggest only one fact — you haven't learned to trust your new power.
It takes time. But at some point, you've got to try those stairs. You've got to test the new ticker. You've got to experiment with the new you. For if you don't, you will run out of steam. (From Next Door Savior by Max Lucado.)
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Life Lessons from Ephesians"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Max Lucado.
Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
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