Ephesians 1:15-23 ~ do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers

Ephesians 1:15-23

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,


(Hebrews 1:1
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.…

God asks us to believe His Son and believe the prophets who wrote the Word of God and those seeking Him earnestly. One of the rewards of Christian fellowship is to be inspired by those who love Him. Another reason for corporate worship. )


16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

(1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing

when we think of someone pray for them. We should also have a deliberate daily prayer list. This conversation in your mind prompts you to pray for those who come to mind. This isn't Christian Guilt 101. This is HIS word coming to you...Turning your thoughts to Him as you think.

Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you.)

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

(James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.)


18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

(His Hope
1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love

How Much does God really love?)

Ephesians 3:18- ~ Amplified Bible (AMP)
18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [f]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [h]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

And that inheritance says

20 His power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— )

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might

(I once was in a bible study long, long and far away ago, saying if we expect for Him to answer prayers, we are only seeking the prosperity gospel - this is contrary to His Word.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.)

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

(Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be in paradise)

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

(Of course we know this Scripture

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.)(Blessed are you Lord Jesus Christ.)

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.


1 Peter 2:1-25
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ the Lord rarely does give the blessing of Jabez . One reason is the Bible says money hastily gotten does dwindle. And another reason, the Scriptures don't even have a lot to say about Jabez, he's boring. There is an important point to make about Jesus a living stone rejected - we understand - we ourselves have been rejected. The forgiven learning to be the forgivers. The forgiven learning to be Lights of Jesus Christ, not self-hypocrisy of position. Our human frailties, teaching us to be kinder. Our failures saying, I run to the Lord, because I need HIM.

When you look at overviews of Ephesians, this is Paul's take on Churches being the Body of Christ. Which is inevitably going to cause conflict, because The Bride of Christ houses people. And in Mary's own house, as the Mother of Christ, we see Jesus did not see eye to eye with His Family, although He traveled to visit them for several days while going to the Wedding of Cana. So problems exist, thorny problems. And still do. Jesus was willing to wear a crown of thorns and be mocked, I think the Bride of Christ deserves, He says, a Sabbath visit for worship.

Paul spent a long time in Ephesus.

1 Corinthians 16
7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Pray for others, pray your prayer list, but never forget to pray for your Church. 

What we read in God's Word is clearly, Church is a hassle. Pew Reports show Americans agree.  Even men who started the early Church quarreled. C'mon they were quarreling in the last Chapter of the Gospel of John. Today we see people thinking. The old denominations were starting to be led by men who were interested in the Church as an escape from the Vietnam Draft. Using the Church for works. (Mr. President, please consider war to be a final attempt needed only when civil unrest has compromised our lives.) People should change Churches showing Church Leadership to adhere to the faith - God says His work for us - to believe Him and His promises - written where - yes, in His Word. 

Let's be clear. People leave Churches as well from hurt feelings, yet it's my personal experience, they usually then stay home and mutter about Church. Yet if you read God's Word, which is necessary to understand HIM fully, He says the "wicked" remain uninvolved in fulfilling His Commandment to Honor Him on the Sabbath.

Something to ponder when you hear people say, I love Him, not His Church. And mafia, fogetaboutit, if you think Jesus did not talk about going to HIS Church. Jesus told Peter, who was not the first to proclaim Jesus as Messiah, Peter was the first to teach others - this is the foundation of our faith - Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ the Lord - AND His response to this was -  be a Rock. Keep the gates of Hell from coming near Church. Sure that's extrapolation - but also clearly - This is HIS message.

Yep, let it expand your mind with awe. Jesus took HIS disciples to Caesarea, the most Roman city in Israel,  Where HIS Sovereignty was discovered to be the foundation, And Jesus Christ the LORD explained not that a Temple would rise, but HIS Church was to last so many millenniums, that Hell would be kept out. We are God's Temple, He wants to dwell within us, but clearly Jesus wants His Church on the path to His Home.

Father God, bless the people who strive together for millenniums to be Your Children. Guide, establish, strengthen, pardon and bless them to reach out to the world only You can save. Help the Churches to strengthen themselves to be the Body of Jesus Christ. Each Temple of the Lord being living stones in Your spoken Word - the Church.  In the Highest Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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