Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:1

“Make your calling and election sure,” Peter declared (2Pe_1:10). Paul was one who knew his calling. He was called by the will of God to be an apostle, prepared from the earliest days of his life. Growing up the son of a rabbi, seated at the feet of Gamalielthe foremost rabbinical scholar of the dayPaul eventually became a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court. And all of his studying, all of his efforts to be righteous in his own energy, all of his attempts to keep the law blamelessly would be preparatory to make him the minister of the gospel of grace. Not only did Paul know his callinghe also knew the Bible. With this knowledge came the absolute frustration of trying to live under the law. All of Paul’s experiences prepared him to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. The same is true for you. God wants to place each one of us in the spot for which He has prepared us from the beginning. God’s will is not heavy or difficult. His will fits perfectly with the personality and the experiences He’s given you. God sees where He wants you to serve Himwhether on a construction site, a classroom, or a courtroom; as a butcher, baker, or banker. We often make a mistake in thinking that what we’re doing is second best, that if we were really serious about our faith, we’d be in “full-time ministry.” Wrong. The Lord stations His men and women ingeniously where He sees they can minister most effectively and where people around them will be impacted eternally. What has God prepared and trained you for? Be content to do what God has called you to doto serve where He has placed youfor yours is just as holy and high a calling as that of any preacher or apostle. Paul writes to the saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. “That’s not me,” you say. “I’m no saint.” Yes, you are. We often think of saints in the terms of canonizationthe procedure where a group of cardinals or bishops analyze a person’s life to determine if it meets the requirement for beatification, or sainthood. But that’s not what the word “saint” means. “Saint” simply means “set apart.” Thus, because Paul writes to the “set-apart ones,” the saved onesif you’re a Christian, this letter is to you.

Ephesians 1:2

Paul’s salutation is common throughout his Epistles as he links grace to peace. He always places them in this order because one will never have true peace until he really gets a handle on grace. When it finally sinks in that we are blessed not because of our devotions, not because of our prayer, not because of our studying, but solely because of what Christ did for us, entirely because of gracethen we have peace. Then we can talk to our Father. Then we receive blessing. Not only do Paul’s letters begin with grace and peace, but they also begin and end with “God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” The question arises: Why is there no mention of the Holy Spirit? Didn’t Paul believe in the Trinity? Of course he did. But in Joh_16:13, Jesus said when the Holy Spirit came, He wouldn’t speak of Himself. Thus, I suggest to you that, as He inspired Paul to write this letter, the Holy Spirit purposely left His name out.

Ephesians 1:3

Here begins the longest sentence in the Bible, the beginning of the first stanza of the sweet, sweet song of salvation. The first stanza, verses Eph_1:3-6, declares the work of the Father in the past. The second stanza, verses Eph_1:7-12, celebrates the work of the Son in the present. The third stanza, verses Eph_1:13-14, trumpets the work of the Spirit in the future. Each stanza ends with the refrain: “to the praise of His glory.” “I am so blessed,” Paul says from inside a Roman prison. “Oh, maybe not physically, maybe not materiallybut spiritually, because the blessings found in Jesus Christ are spiritual blessings.” How the church in America needs to understand this. Many church meetings today sound like Amway conventions, with teachings based on Deuteronomy 28 about how to structure finances and how to manipulate the system spiritually in order to be blessed materially. But those who teach such things fail to understand that all of the Old Testament truths dealing with physical, financial, or military blessings depict New Testament truths that are spiritual, eternal, and heavenly. For example, David desired to break the bones and kick in the teeth of his enemies (Psa_58:6) and wished that the heads of the Babylonians would be bashed with rocks (Psa_137:9). Does this mean we’re to find our enemies, break their bones, and smash their skulls? No. Paul says all of these things are examples or types, for we’ll see in chapter 6 that our wrestling is not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers. It’s spiritual wrestling. All of the Old Testament storiesfrom Ehud sticking a sword into Eglon in Judges 3, to Jonathan and his armor bearer destroying an entire army in 1 Samuel 14help us understand how we gain spiritual victory. The Bible will be nothing but confusion and disillusionment for you if you don’t understand that all of the Old Testament pictures, stories, and precepts point to the eternal, spiritual life we have in Christ Jesus. Just as you don’t bring bulls and oxen to slaughter, just as you realize the sacrificial system was to paint a picture of the Lamb of God who took away our sinunderstand that the same principle carries through the entire Old Testament. We’re rich in heavenly places. We’re blessed with all spiritual blessings. “We’re blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places,” Paul writes jubilantly from his prison cell, “and they’re all in Christ"not from Christ, but in Christ. “Oh, Lord,” we say, “I need some bread.” “I am the Bread,” Jesus answers (Joh_6:35) “Show me the way,” we cry. “I am the Way,” Jesus declares (Joh_14:6). “Tell me the truth,” we pray. “I am the Truth,” Jesus proclaims (Joh_14:6). We think we need help in this area, or deliverance from that thing. We think we need satisfaction in a profession, or blessing in a relationshiplittle knowing that our heart’s desire will only be truly fulfilled in Jesus. “Yea, all the promises of God are in Him yea and amen” (see 2Co_1:20). All the promises of God are fulfilled in Him, in Jesus. One night, with Tammy away at a pastors’ wives conference, and the kids tucked in, I grabbed my Bible and had the best time reading Isaiah 54 while walking the streets of Jacksonville. God spoke to me through each phrase as I stopped under the streetlights to read another verse and marvel how it related to me. I returned home awed at how the Lord walked with me in the evening hour. Do I tell you this to impress you? No. I say it because you can find the same thing tonight. Turn off the TV. Put down the Time magazine. Grab your Bible, go for a walk, and I promise you God will meet you. “Draw near to Me,” He says, “and I will draw near to you” (see Jas_4:8). Does this apply only to people who seem to have everything together? No. God says, “Draw near to Meno matter who you areand I will meet you wherever you are,” even, as Paul discovered, in jail.

Ephesians 1:4

Here, we arrive at the interesting discussion of election. Try to figure out the doctrine of electionthat we were chosen in Him, yet we also have a choiceand you may lose your mind. But try to explain away the doctrine of election, and you will surely lose your heartfor as confusing as election may appear to be, the fact that God actually chose us warms and strengthens our hearts. God chose us. When? Before the foundation of the world. D. L. Moody made a statement with which I concur heartily when he said, “I’m so glad God chose me before I was born, because I don’t think He would have chosen me after I’ve lived!” Lev_19:2, where we are told that we shall be holy, is made possible by Eph_1:4, where we are told we are chosen. You see, wanting a holy people for Himself, God knew He would have to choose them Himself because, as Rom_3:11 declares, there is none that seeks God. “Didn’t Joshua say, ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve”’ (Jos_24:15)? Yes. “But I thought Paul says God chose us.” He does. How can God choose us but still give us the free will to choose Him? It’s as if, when a person decides to choose the Lord, he walks through a door over which is written the words, “Whosoever will, let him come” (see Rev_22:17). Yet the moment he walks through the door, he looks back and sees the words, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (Joh_15:16).

Ephesians 1:5

There is a predetermination concerning salvation. But guess what. God is never seen anywhere at any time in the Bible predestining someone to go to hell. He only predestines people to go to heaven. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.Rev_3:5 The implication of this passage is enormous, for it seems to suggest that every man’s name is written in the Book of Lifeuntil he makes it clear that he has no interest in the Lord, that he doesn’t want to walk with the Lord, and that he wants to turn his back on the Lord. Only then is his name blotted out. Thus, when the Book of Life is opened at the Great White Throne judgment, when all of the unbelievers are brought before God and discover their names absent from its pages, it’s not that their names were never in the book. It’s that their names were blotted out because they chose not to accept God’s plan of salvation for their lives. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Rom_8:29 Before the world was even spoken into existence, God saw the people who would respond to His love. Whom He foreknew, He predestined. He said, “I can see that Mitch is going to respond when I make Myself known to him, when the gospel is shared with him. Therefore, I predestine Mitch to be part of My eternal kingdom.” “Well,” you say, “then why was someone who God knew wouldn’t respond to Him allowed to live in the first place?” The answer is that if a person was not allowed to play his life out to the fullest extent, he could protest at the Great White Throne.” “I got rid of you early because I could see that you weren’t going to respond to Me,” God would say. “Oh, but I would have,” the unbeliever would protest. “No, you wouldn’t,” God would say. “Yes, I would have,” the unbeliever would insist. And there would be a perpetual argument. So even though it is His desire that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Pe_3:9), God lets Joe Schmo live his seventy years to prove that righteous and true are His judgments (Rev_16:7). Then why does hell exist? Jesus gave us the reason. Hell exists for Satan and his demons (Mat_25:41). It was never God’s intent to allow anyone on earth to spend eternity in hell. In fact, the only way anyone can get there is over the dead body of His Son. Huiothesia, the Greek word translated “adoption,” means “taking the place of an adult son.” Therefore, the Ephesians would think of adoption not in terms of bringing a baby into a family, but in terms of a slave becoming a joint heir in his master’s business. New Testament adoption speaks of a mature cooperation. As we saw in Galatians, spiritual adoption speaks not so much of our entry into the family of God, for we enter into His family by regeneration when we are born again. Spiritual adoption speaks not of how we enter into the family, but of our involvement with the family. If you’re a new Christian, you might be “young” in terms of regeneration. But when you were born again, you were simultaneously adopted (Rom_8:14-17)making you a mature member of God’s family. Therefore, don’t let the Enemy whisper in your ear, “You can’t do this or go there or be that because you’re too young in the faith.” No, when you were saved, you also were adopted and made a joint heir with Christ. You’re treated as an adult as you partner with the Lord and become involved in significant things for His kingdom. Here’s why God adopted you. Here’s why He predestined you. Here’s why He chose you. Here’s why He’s blessed you in Christ in heavenly places: Because it’s His good pleasure to the praise of the glory of His grace. Period. Knowing that we are elected, predestined, and adopted, we can have the tendency to think we’re pretty specialthat God knew what He was doing when He chose us. In reality, however, just as He did with another group of people, God chose us not because of who we are, but in spite of who we are… The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.Deu_7:7; Deu_9:4, Deu_9:6 Here, God says to the people of Israel, “The blessings you enjoy, the victories you’ll see are not because you’re a mighty people, for you’re small and weak. Nor is it because you’re righteous in heart, for you’re stiff-necked and stubborn. But I must drive the Canaanites from the land in order that they won’t infect others with their sinand I’m going to use you to do it.” Like Israel, we are called a chosen people. Why are we chosen? According to the verse before us, we are chosen to the praise of the glory of His grace. That is, we are chosen to showcase God’s grace. This means that in the ages to come, millions of angels, living creatures, and all of creation will look at you and me who have been chosen, who have been adopted, who have been elevated to be with Christ in heavenly placesand they will say, “Look at the people God chose to be joint heir with His Son. They’re just a bunch of ragtag renegades. Truly His grace is unbelievable, unfathomable, incomparable!” That’s why Paul said, “Look around you. There are not many wise, many strong, many noble among you” (see 1Co_1:26). When I was in high school, I thought the key to an effective ministry was to get the quarterback and the cheerleader saved, to go for the head honchos, the big guns, the beautiful people. But that’s not what Jesus did. He turned the world upside down with the street people, the outcasts, the forgotten folks. In other words, He used people just like us. The literal idea of the word “accepted” is “embraced.” I like that! We’re caught up in God’s embrace. Why? Read on. We are accepted because we’re in the belovedwe’re in Christ. It doesn’t matter how you feel about yourself. You don’t have to take your spiritual temperature hour by hour. You don’t have to wonder, Am I hot? Am I cold? How am I doing? You won’t have to go through the kind of introspection that will inevitably set you up for spiritual depression if you understand the simple principle that you are embraced not because of who you are, but because of where you are. You’re in Christ. And once you accept this truth, you will enjoy your relationship with the Father in a new way. You’ll throw away your spiritual thermometer; you’ll quit analyzing how you’re doing; and you’ll rejoice that you are simply, totally, wonderfully in Christ.

Ephesians 1:7

Here we come to another high point, another peak in this mountain range of spiritual truththe glorious doctrine of redemption. Jesus told us that he who commits sin is a slave to sin (Joh_8:34). Therefore, He came on the scene to buy us, to deliver us, to redeem us from the slave market of sin.

Ephesians 1:8

The Greek word translated “mystery” is musterion, or, “that which was previously hidden or obscured.” God has forgiven us, chosen us, predestined us, and elevated usbut He’s also made known to us, by His grace, the mystery of life. What is this mystery? Read on.

Ephesians 1:10

What is the big picture? What is the mystery? It is that in due time, everything in heaven and earth will be gathered together in Christ, around Christ, and for Christ. When my son Benjamin was seven years old, we went to Pappy’s for a pepperoni pizza. “This is the kind of pizza the Ninja TurtlesTM eat,” Ben declared. “They like it so much, they even steal it.” “They do?” I said. “Well, that reminds me of a story…” And I proceeded to tell Ben the sad story of how Achan stole from Jericho (Joshua 7). When I finished, Benny understood that stealing leads to problems and pain. And suddenly, sitting down over a pizza at Pappy’s had meaning, substance, and depth in a way it wouldn’t have had the moment not been brought together in Christ as we talked about the things of the Lord. You’ve found this to be true. Whether it’s talking to your kids or planting flowers in your garden, listening to a co-worker or practicing with a teammatewhenever you’re focused on Christ and bringing the moment under the authority of Christ, you’re right in the middle of the flow of what God says life is all about. Isn’t God gracious to make His will known to us? After all, He could have said, “There’s a mystery to life. Figure it out. Good luck.” But He didn’t. I’m so thankful I can live wisely and prudently because He’s made known to me the mystery that everything is in Christ and for Christ. Are you full of joy tonight? Are you at peace? Are you content? Do you have rest? If so, you understand the mystery of His will. Are you bitter, angry, frustrated, or upset? Then you don’t. On any given day, the extent to which you understand the mystery of His will, that will be the extent to which peace reigns in your heart.

Ephesians 1:11

We’ve obtained an inheritance not from Christ, but in Him. When Tammy became my wife, she received an inheritanceall that I ownedwhich was basically a house with a mortgage and a 1972 Volkswagen. But she didn’t marry me, as far as I know, for my house and Volkswagen. Those were just added benefits. So, too, when we get to heaven, yes, we will have all sorts of wonderful experiences and marvelous things that eyes haven’t seen and ears haven’t heard (1Co_2:9). But those things will pale in comparison to the inheritance we have in Jesus. When we walk down the aisle, so to speak, in that heavenly marriage scene to stand at the side of our Bridegroom, we will at last experience what it means to be absolutely, incredibly, wonderfully fulfilled because He is our inheritance. If you’re in a less than satisfactory marriage situation, hang in there because what you’re really craving is the Ultimate Bridegroom… As Nabal sheared his vast flocks in Carmel, David and his band of four hundred men protected him from the bandits to the south. David sent ten of these men to Carmel in order to replenish their provisions. But when the ten men found Nabal and asked for payment for their protection, his response was, “Who is David?” Upon hearing this, David said to his men, “Strap on your swords, guys. We’re going to show Nabal who I am.” However, as David and his men were en route to do Nabal in, they were intercepted by Nabal’s wife, Abigail, a woman of beautiful countenance and good understanding (1Sa_25:3). “Listen, you guys,” she said. “My husband is just living up to his name, which means “fool.” He’s one brick short of a full load. He’s just not all there. You don’t want to lower yourself to his level. You don’t want his blood on your hands. You’re bigger than that. I’ve been baking all day. Take this bread and wine and have a feast. But don’t touch my husband.” “You’ve spoken wisely,” David said. So he and his men ate the bread, drank the wine, and rode back. Time passedand when Nabal heard that David and his men had almost killed him, he fell over backward, broke his neck, and died (1Sa_25:38). Husbands and wives, maybe if you were in Abigail’s sandals, and you heard that David was going to kill your spouse, you would have said, “Oh, well. God’s will be done. Who am I to stop David and four hundred men?” But you know what? Had Abigail let events run their course, she would have missed out on being married to David (1Sa_25:42). Let me tell you how to miss out on what you could enjoy in the ages to come in the palace of the Son of David, your Bridegroom, Jesus Christ: Bail out. “But I don’t love him anymore.” “I can’t love her anymore.” On your wedding day did you say, “I’ll stay with you as long as I love you”? Marriage isn’t based primarily on love. It’s based on commitment. You said, “For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, until death separates us.” End of discussion. Anyone can find reason to walk out. You’re an only child. You’re afraid of heights. You’re allergic to seafood. If you go to enough counselors and read enough books, you’ll find a reason you can say, “In my case, I’m justified in walking away from my marriage.” But if you do, you’re going to miss out. Am I saying you won’t go to heaven? No. I am saying, however, that there is an inheritance, a special reward, a crown of life awaiting those who walk in obedience (Rev_2:10). The Son of David, Jesus Christ, is impressed by you, who, like Abigail, choose to simply hang in there, knowing that better days are coming. He finds you, like Abigail, to be a person of beautiful countenance and good understanding because you understand the shortness of life and the vastness of eternity. “Who hath counseled the Lord?” asked Isaiah (Isa_40:13). The answer? Most of us. “Now, Lord,” we say, “I don’t know if You’re seeing this right. I don’t know if You understand the severity of my situation. Lord. Did You see what he just did? Did You hear what she just said?“as if we expect the Lord to say, “No. Thanks for filling Me in! What should I do about it?” God works everything after the counsel of His own will. And although we might be tempted to ask what right the Lord has to do this, Paul asks the much more logical question when he says, “Who are youa lump of clayto question the plan of the Father?” (see Rom_9:20) I’m sure Jeremiah was confused when, after preaching forty years to the people of Judah, no one responded. So it was that at a certain point in his ministry, the Lord said to him, “Jeremiah, take a break. Go to the house of the potter and there you will learn a lesson.” When Jeremiah did, indeed, go to the house of the potter, he watched him place a lump of clay upon the wheel and position his foot upon the pedal. As the wheel began to spin round and round, the potter began to put pressure on the clay, skillfully shaping and molding it into something of beauty (Jeremiah 18). There are times when I feel as though I’m spinning my wheels, going in circles, feeling pressured. “Where are You, Father?” I cry. “Don’t You care about me? How could You allow this to happen in my life?” But then the Lord brings me back to the very simple realization that the hands that put pressure on my life, and the foot that spins the wheel have holes in them where nails pierced them as the Master Potter hung on the Cross to die in my place. That’s why Communion is so very important in the life of the believer. All of the questions and confusion I feel as I analyze my situation and question my circumstances are solved immediately when I remember Jesus’ unbelievable, undeniable love for me.

Ephesians 1:12

When we Abigails are by the side of our Greater than David, not only will we glory in Him, but He will be glorified throughout the ages to come because of His work in us.

Ephesians 1:13

“Sealing” speaks of ownership and would have been a term very familiar to Paul’s readers. It was at Ephesus that crates were sealed with the imprint of merchants’ rings before being shipped across the Aegean. “Sealing” speaks of commercial ownership. But “sealing” also speaks of commitment because the modern Greek translation of Paul’s koine Greek for the word “sealed” conveys the idea of an engagement ring. The picture is perfect. When you were saved, the Lord put the seal of His Holy Spirit on you, signifying that He would see you through not only your voyage across the Aegean but also your voyage across the storm-tossed ocean of life to bring you safely to His side as His bride.

Ephesians 1:14

If you wanted to buy my VW, I’d hold it for youif you put down some “earnest” money to show you were serious about it. That’s what the Holy Spirit isa “down payment” to show God will finish that which He has begun in us (Php_1:6). Think of the times when you have been most profoundly touched or impacted by the Lordthe times when the Holy Spirit welled up within you, or when you felt enveloped by His presence. Those are simply earnest money, a down payment, “sneak previews of coming attractions.”

Ephesians 1:15

Whether you’re sharing with a neighbor, working with your kids, or dealing with your spouse, I think a real key that is often neglected and overlooked is that which Paul models for us here in Ephesians 1. After talking to the Ephesians about the Lord, he talks to the Lord about the Ephesians. He prays for them. And what a difference that makes. After talking with someone who may be facing a difficulty or a challenge, I have found over and over again that if I don’t talk to the Lord concerning those to whom I’ve talked about Him, the loop never quite closes and frustration sets in. Even in my own home, after saying a word or two in a difficult circumstance, if I simply slip away and praya peace enters the situation that is not the result of my exhortation, but simply because the Lord moved in through a simple prayer of intercession. Mom and Dad, husband, wife, roommate, or co-workerwould you try this? When you feel tensions rise, slip away, step outside, and don’t just count to five. Pray. Because we wrestle against principalities and powers, there are forces at work seeking to cause tension in our homes, in our marriages, at school, or on the job siteand we need to wrestle against them. Paul lives this. Throughout his ministry, we see him sharing about the Lord and then following it up by talking to the Lord. Here, we come to one of two prayers in this Epistle. Two aspects of these inspired prayers of Paul surprise me. First, I am surprised for whom Paul prays. He says, “Because you guys at Ephesus are saints, because you understand the big picture, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord and your love for God’s people, I am motivated to pray for you.” Who do you pray for? I have a tendency to pray for those who are hurting, for those who are going through tragedies and difficulties, for those who are backsliding and failingand that’s fine. But here Paul is saying something very different when he says, “When I heard how well you’re doing, I was moved to pray for you.” I think a lot of times we have it a bit backward. We follow the American health program mentality when we should be copying that of the ancient Chinese. That is, in our culture, we don’t go to the doctor until we’re sick. But in ancient China, people paid a doctor an annual stipend to keep them well. I think we need to learn from Paul and pray for people who are doing well because Satan doesn’t use his heavy artillery on the guy who’s getting drunk and indulging his flesh. He saves it for those who are walking with the Lord, loving the saints, and believing in Jesus. Many times, we see strong people fall hard. Could it be that perhaps we could have propped them up, been a shield around them, a blessing for them if we had followed the example of Paul and prayed for them while they were doing well?

Ephesians 1:16

Second, notice not only for whom Paul prays, but notice when he prays. The Greek idea of “cease not” is the same as “a tickle in the throat.” In other words, Paul would be praying throughout the day as naturally and as spontaneously as if he were clearing a tickle in his throat.

Ephesians 1:17

All of us crave wisdom and revelation. Each of us longs for instruction and insight in knowing how we should walk, what we should do, and where we should go. But notice what Paul tells us. It is profoundly simple and simply profound, for he says that the wisdom and revelation you and I so desperately desire is found solely in the knowledge of Him. Peter and John found this to be true. The singular explanation for their ability to boldly and intelligently address the multitude was the acknowledgment that they had been with Jesus (Act_4:13). When people ask, “What should I do? What is God’s will in this situation?” the answer is very simple. The wisdom you need, the revelation you seek is found in knowing Jesus. How do we know Jesus? By spending time in the Gospels. You may be working your way through Ezekiel, or chewing on Romans. Make sure, however, that you daily take in something from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. I believe a real key to understanding God’s will for your life is to continually focus on Jesus. There’s only one Isaiah, only one Hebrewsbut there are four Gospels. Could it be that, in this, God is saying, “I don’t want you to miss this. Whatever else you’re learning, the key to it all is My Son”? Just as Jesus said on the Emmaus Road, all Scripture points to Him (Luk_24:27). If you’re spending time with Him in the Gospels, the rest of the Word will become clear.

Ephesians 1:18

Finally, notice how Paul prays. We so often pray about the fruit of issues. Paul prays for their root. We pray, “Lord, get Billy off drugs.” Paul would pray, “Lord, give Billy wisdom. Let him know You.” So often we want to change behavior patterns through pressure, counseling, or by reasoning. The change, however, doesn’t come until a person has revelation, until his eyes are opened. How are a person’s eyes opened? Through prayer. Be like Paul. Pray without ceasing for your kids, for your family, and for your friends. Pray that they’ll see Jesus. Throughout Scripture, the word “hope” always refers to that which is coming, to that which is ahead. I’m convinced the single greatest problem carnal Christians have is that they don’t know the hope of His calling. They don’t know the reality of heaven. Consequently, they constantly strive for material things and are continually caught up in carnal pursuits. They’re depressed and discouraged because they don’t see the big picture of eternity. If you’re not happy, neither will you be with a change of location, salary, or ministry. You’ll not be happy until you know the hope of His calling. That’s why Jesus said, “Let nor your hearts be troubled…I go to prepare a place for you” (see Joh_14:1-2). The key to overcoming a troubled, perplexed, stressed heart is to focus on the hope of His calling, on what’s ahead, on heaven. “But heaven seems so far away,” you say. “For years, I’ve been hearing Jesus could come at any time. But where is He?” “Beloved,” Peter said, “be not ignorant of this one thing: One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2Pe_3:8). A day is as a thousand years. Maybe you’re saying, “Is that ever true! Will this day ever end?” If you are in a strained marriage, a single person aware of your loneliness, or if you’re physically afflicted, a day can, indeed, seem like a thousand years. “Lord, where are You?” you cry. “I’ve been talking to You. I have total trust in You. But where are You?” This day is as a thousand years because in your day of difficulty and dilemma, pressure and pain, sadness and sorrow, you have the unique opportunity to share the fellowship of the Lord’s suffering, and to pray for others in a way you never would have been able to otherwise. We want to get out of the trial, solve the problem, move on. The Lord, however, says, “Not so fast.” I want this day to be as a thousand years for you. The discoveries you’ll make, the understanding you will glean, the gifts of praise, and the expression of even frustrated prayer will affect you for the next zillion years. Because My coming is near, and your heavenly account is small, I’m giving you an opportunity to make some huge investments in the few days that remain before you go to heaven.” You for whom this day has seemed as a thousand yearsrejoice. Savor each moment. Extract each minute. Take every opportunity in this long, long day you’re in to thank the Father for the opportunity to store up treasure that will make you rich for eternity. As saints, we’re God’s inheritance, His treasure, His prize. In Jesus’ day, men would bury their treasure in a field for safekeeping. But if a man died before he could tell someone where his treasure was buried, it would be left in the field until someone stumbled upon it. Such is the case in Matthew 13… One day a man is walking through a field. He trips over something, brushes the dirt from it, and discovers it’s a treasure. So what does he do? He does everything he can to buy the field in which the treasure is buried. Because he wants the field? No, because he’s after the treasure. Jesus said that’s the way the kingdom is. The field is the world. God the Father gave the world to Adam. But when Adam sinned, he inadvertently handed it over to Satan. That’s why there is rape, famine, pollution, corruption, and death on our planet. Jesus came to buy the world back. Why? Because He wants to hang out on the Columbia River? No. He’s not interested in the world. He bought the world to get the treasure. He bought the world to get you.

Ephesians 1:19

“I just don’t know if I can get over my smoking habit,” we sigh. “My temper just seems to control me,” we say. “These lustful thoughts will always be with me,” we decide. In response, Paul wouldn’t pray, “Lord, give them power over their sin.” He’d pray, “Lord, help them see the power they already have.” The dominating power of the resurrected Christ is already in us.

Ephesians 1:21

Principality, power, might, and dominion are all words that describe various categories of demonic entities and angelic beings. Jesus has power over them all, and the same power that caused Him to be resurrected is in you. Whatever you’re struggling with, whatever I’m wrestling through is infinitesimal compared to the power it took to raise Christ into heaven and give him dominion over all. Therefore, if I’m in bondage, it’s not because I need more power, but because I’ve failed to utilize that power that is already in me. We say, “I’m addicted.” God says, “You’re free.” We say, “I’m wounded.” God says, “You’re as whole as you need to be.” We say, “I need counseling. I need drugs. I need a program.” God says, “You have Me.” “That’s nice-sounding theology,” you say. “But how does it work out practically?” Read on.

Ephesians 1:22

All things are under His feet. What things? Dominions, powers, addictions, problems, pornography, profanity, gossip, depression, meanness, temper, sadness, lazinesswhatever it is you can’t get over. “But my problem is so overwhelming,” you say. It couldn’t be any more overwhelming than the waves threatening to drown the disciples. Yet even the waves that rolled over their heads were under Jesus’ feet, the very waves He walked upon to go to His disciples (Mat_14:25). Nothing is over His head. All things are under His feet. Jesus is in absolute control of every situation, be it financial, physical, relational, vocational, or parental. Whatever might seem to be rolling your way, ready to sink your boat and wipe you out is already under His feetand might be the very path He chooses upon which to walk to you. The name of the game is community. We need another. We need to be with brothers and sisters who pray with us and care about us because the more closely we’re linked to the body, the more clearly we’ll experience the authority of Jesus’ headship. That’s just the way it works. The church is the “fulness of Him which filleth all in all.” How can we be full of the Lord? The church is where the headship of Jesus will be enjoyed. You can say, “I can study the Bible on my own.” But that’s not the heart of the Father any more than if I went home and said, “Okay, kids, grab your plates, and each of you go into your room to have Sunday dinner by yourself.” If I did, they would still be getting nutrition. They would survive. But the heart of a true father is to see his kids togetherinteracting, loving, sharing, growing. Many a time, when I go to church for a meeting, a study, a prayer time, I find I am attached to the body once again. In a very real and practical way, I hear the voice of the Lord anew. I am reminded that the storm that threatens to intimidate me is underneath the feet of the One who is the Head of the body.