Ephesians Archives – Sonshine's Journal

December 4, 2022December 4, 2022

What do we say?

Ephesians 4-6 What message would Paul say about today? He said the days were evil then, and today we see evil amongst us. How do we encourage another who is facing those evil traits of the enemy? Our battle is not against flesh and blood; those are just the outward pieces of evidence of a darkened heart. As Paul sat in a darkened prison cell or from his rented house as his prison, what did he recall and how should he encourage, and how can he get this message to them? Enter Tychicus, a beloved and faithful servant. He would craft a letter to the Ephesian church to remain steadfast in the midst of a troubled environment. Who would we trust to carry our message to those who need encouragement? What message would we want them to know?

He wanted the Ephesians to know that he was praying for them and seeking their prayers for him to be bold. He reminded them that their lives are a mirror of a transformed life. The world is watching; what do they see in our families and churches? Take a page out of this Ephesian letter to help you craft words of encouragement to others.

June 7, 2015

Living in the War Zone

Living in the war zone is tough and only the strong prevail for the enemy does not lay down his arms even after a defeat as we saw in the life of our Lord. “so when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time.” [Luke 4] Perhaps this is why the author of Hebrews admonished the readers that “solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.” [Heb 5] The letter to the Ephesians reveals where their armor had a weak point.

Beloved the devil knows the right opportunity, the right method and more importantly which piece of armor is weak. There we must “stay alert” to his ways and be discerning. The Ephesians had started strong but the devil saw a weakness in their armor and it was this: They had lost their first love! They could quote the Bible; they attended the church but it was all dead orthodoxy because their love was waning. Jesus not only rebuked them but called them to repent. And then his scary pronouncement: if they do not return to their first love he will come and snuff out their light. Today the church is under attack and why it is vital that our love for Christ and the church is renewed daily. God has given us the Holy Spirit within us and the church around us. What part of the Ephesian letter applies to us? Are we checking our armor for weak points? Is our love being renewed daily?

June 1, 2015

“Blessed Are You!”

Paul put pen to parchment and crafted a beautiful a snail mail letter to his beloved Ephesians to encourage them to not lose their first love. Take time today to hover over each sentence anticipating what God also wants you to know through his servant Paul. It is because of your faith in the Lord Jesus you have been blessed with the blessings from eternity past. The eyes of your heart have been enlightened to the truth and you have been blessed with an inheritance that will not fade away. You are an adopted child of God with all of the rights and privileges of a natural born child. Your adoption document is irrevocable—signed, sealed and delivered with the power of the Holy Spirit. You are a child of the King and the recipient of God’s lavished love. And all of this came with a price lest you should forget and lose sight of this blessing. It came when you were redeemed with the blood sacrifice of the firstborn Son so that your trespasses might be forgiven; all accomplished by the incomparable greatness of God’s power. Beloved this was not some happenstance occurrence but God kindly intended for it in eternity past to the praise of his glory.

Cling to these words: “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” And just think, God planned this in eternity past!

This can also be found here: https://www.facebook.com/bible.org where we are doing the NT, Ps and Prov each day. You would be right on schedule to begin Ephesians with us today.