Ephesians 3 ~ God's grace

Jesus and the New Covenant, painted by Nicolas Poussin 1594 – 1665 a French painter.


COURAGE OF CONVICTIONS

• Pray for a bold Christianity.
• Pray for obedience, discipline and alertness in daily spiritual battles.
• Pray for your child and his/her friends to be prepared.

Ephesians 3

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 10:20
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." 

Ephesians 6:19
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel


Many times the ability to share God comes not from the desire to be God's Honing Device or Jack Hammer, but the desire to uplift - giving the Glory of God to people we love. 

 When you think of the Book of Acts, the people went to hear about Jesus - slain. They knew there was talk of Jesus being seen. Thousands turned up to mourn the loss of such a Good, Good Man as Jesus as He died. But as the people listened - they heard - GOOD, GOOD NEWS.

 A few years ago our Couples Group decided to get together during Lent, again, to see "The Passion of the Christ" at our house. It is so beautiful in the beginning. Jesus and Mary laughing and enjoying each other in the ways we always hoped to see. By the end of the movie .... everyone - from the sound of it - was not just doing a little weep - but there was some soft sobbing. And then at the end, Jesus starts to move out of the tomb - whole - holy - Renewed. The amazing joy! His broken body - Renewed. 

My first thought was How Fortunate we are. To sit in our comfortable chairs . Jesus Did the Work. A dear friend, a man turned to me smiling and wiping his eyes. Joy shone from him, "Thank God for the end, the last part makes it possible to sit to see that pain and to see it was all worth it!" 


 Then my next thought, which sometimes brings tears to my eyes is - Don't Go. Don't Go! Yet that is the Good News. Jesus the LORD. The Christ. The Son of God did not Go. He lives. He lives. He lives!




Abba,

We pray to run our race to win - in the strength and Love of Jesus Christ. To have nourished in Jesus self esteem.

Cover us all in great health we ask. Rejoicing because in the Name of Jesus - we are covered even the soles of our feet.

Nourish our souls to encourage our hearts to Love. We ask for ourselves, the ones we Love. The people who have asked for prayer. The lady in the Doctor's office taking care of her blood pressure. The two people I know right now with walking back fractures. For the one with Seasonal Allergies. The one with sinus infection. The people working diligently to recover from flood and fire. The Goodness of You, in operation recovery. And spot on kidney - nothing to worry about report. For two people with cancer recovery and total healing. All those who have asked for healing of ears and brains. Those who weep for the Lord and do not know where to begin.

We thank You, Abba, for the change of seasons, give us the Joy in us to fully enjoy the new changes. Cover the upcoming events with Your Love and Peace.

Praying into the dry places, where the Living Water Jesus is would go to replenish all.

Thank You for the Joy to pray an increase of Heaven on earth in the Holy Spirit. For our work places, schools. Giving You thanks of protection. We rejoice in the people who have helped with flood, fire and Martin Luther Jr.'s Dream Alive. Help us to see the Glory and You Give Today, seeing humor. Strength for our challenges. And for this Nation. The people asking Your help all over the world. Jesus is God, Good News. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †