June 6, 2024 • 19 mins
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Are we truly living out our faith, or are we just accumulating knowledge without genuine action? Join us on "The Takeaway" as Pastor Harry Behrens delves into the profound significance of praying for God to equip the church for ministry, drawing from Ephesians 1:15-23. We discuss Paul's gratitude for the faith of the Ephesians and reflect on the necessity of embodying our beliefs through authentic actions. With a thought-provoking examination of modern churches, Pastor Behrens challenges us to evaluate whether we practice what we preach and maintain genuine connections with our faith communities.
In this episode, we also explore the divine role in leading us to faith, as underscored by the power that raised Christ from the dead, which is now at work within believers. Highlighting the importance of belonging to a unified body of Christ, Pastor Behrens emphasizes active participation in a Bible-teaching, God-fearing church. Drawing from Ephesians 4:11-16 and Hebrews 10:24-25, we discuss the gifts and roles each believer brings to the table, encouraging listeners to embrace their God-given purpose. Tune in to discover how you can foster genuine relationships and authentically live out your faith within your community.
Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, welcome back to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we are going to discuss theimportance of praying for God to
equip the church for effectiveministry as we explore Ephesians
, chapter 1, verses 15 to 23.
In our previous episode, wetalked about the purpose of God
choosing us.
We saw that each of us has aspecific and meaningful purpose
(00:21):
given to us by God,predetermined before the
foundations of the world.
Being chosen by the one trueGod and being told that we are a
treasure to Him, valuablebeyond measure, should bring us
great joy.
Now, continuing with thatthought, paul gives thanks for
God's elect and asks Him tosupply us with all wisdom,
understanding and power from theHoly Spirit, so that we would
(00:41):
know what God has in store forus and that we would live a life
that glorifies him.
Now, starting at Ephesians,chapter 1, verses 15.
Their faith wasn't just a mottoor a sign hung outside a
(01:02):
building to explain who theywere or who they hope to be.
Have you noticed how manychurches have names like faith,
hope or love in their titles?
It seems that these names arechosen not to reflect who they
are, but who they aspire to be.
They want the world to knowthat they are a church striving
after these ideals.
The problem is that often thesechurches don't fully embody the
(01:23):
qualities represented in theirnames.
There is usually littleevidence of these qualities
beyond a hope that they exist.
They create programs and teachabout these qualities as if they
will automatically produce thelife they seek.
The leaders often try to guideothers on a path they have not
yet submitted to themselves.
Unless we live according toGod's will, we cannot grow
(01:45):
beyond our current state.
For example, if you aspire tobecome a doctor and enroll in
medical school to learneverything about the profession,
you will soon realize that thevastness of medical knowledge
means that you can never knoweverything.
This is why doctors specializein different fields.
However, if you believe youmust know everything before
becoming a doctor, you willnever leave school and never put
(02:08):
your knowledge into practice,thus never achieving your goal.
As Christians, we shouldimmediately start putting into
practice what we know, no matterhow little that knowledge is.
This is the way to show that weare true believers.
We practice what we preach or,in this case, what we know.
Then we can continue to learnand grow, or, as I like to say,
(02:29):
we learn on the job.
The problem is that manybelievers in the church feel
they don't know enough to starttaking action and they end up
being people who seek knowledgefor its own sake, never becoming
what they had hoped to be.
2 Timothy 3.7 says they arealways learning and never able
to arrive at the knowledge ofthe truth.
(02:49):
They never arrive at the truthbecause they never apply what
they have learned.
Instead, we are told that theseindividuals have a different
problem 2 Timothy 3.1-6.
But understand this that in thelast days there will come times
of difficulty.
But understand this that in thelast days there will come times
of difficulty, for people willbe lovers of self, lovers of
money, proud, arrogant, abusive,disobedient to their parents,
(03:11):
ungrateful, unholy, heartless,unappeasable slanders without
self-control, brutal but notloving good, treacherous,
reckless, swollen with conceit,lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, having theappearance of godliness but
denying its power.
Avoid such people, for amongthem are those who creep into
(03:31):
households and capture weakwomen, burdened with sins and
led astray by various passions,always learning and never able
to arrive at the knowledge ofthe truth.
Wow, that was reallyeye-opening.
How many people do you know whogo to church on Sundays and
seem to have it all together butnever really actually go out
into the world to spread themessage of Christ.
(03:53):
Many only talk about Jesus whensomeone else brings it up, but
then quickly steer theconversation back to worldly
matters.
We all know these people.
Paul told Timothy that thesewere deceitful individuals who
were not genuine in their faith.
Despite their outwardappearance, they are everywhere
driven by selfish motives andtaking advantage of others.
(04:15):
Instead, we should live out ourfaith as Paul instructed the
Ephesians, which was the veryreason he gave thanks for them.
Their genuineness came fromtheir actions, not just their
knowledge.
Ephesians 1.16.
I do not cease to give thanksfor you, remembering you in my
prayers.
Now, do we pray for each otherby name, or do we simply pray
(04:36):
about our problems andeverything we need help with?
Do we even take time to givethanks for all that God is doing
in and through us, as we shouldtake time to give thanks for
all that God is doing in andthrough us, as we should?
Paul first recognized theirfaith.
Then he gave thanks for it.
This should be the same for usand for those around us who are
living genuine lives of faith.
We are to uphold them in prayerby name, giving thanks for them
(04:58):
constantly, as they are God'sworkmanship and we benefit from
that.
These people pray for us,encourage us, help us, teach us
and love us unconditionally.
Do you pray for them?
Do you even have these kinds ofpeople in your life?
If not, you might want toreevaluate the individuals you
spend time with.
Acts 20, 36-38, and when he hadsaid these things, he knelt down
(05:21):
and prayed with them all, andthere was much weeping on the
part of elders while they prayedfor him.
They all knew that this wouldbe their final farewell and the
(05:45):
emotions ran deep.
The bond between Paul and thechurch in Ephesus was incredibly
strong, and the thought ofleaving them was unbearable for
Paul.
He cared for them deeply andknew that returning to Ephesus
would make it nearly impossiblefor him to leave again.
This is why he arranged to meetthe elders in Miletus before
embarking on his journey toJerusalem.
(06:06):
Paul's profound love for thechurch in Ephesus serves as a
powerful example of the kind oflove and connection we should
strive for in our ownrelationships Now.
Do we feel genuine empathy forone another when someone departs
?
Do we truly show love andsupport for our pastors, or do
we simply expect them to be thesole source of love and care.
As J Vernon McGee once stated,the measure of a church is in
(06:30):
how well they demonstrate loveand support for their pastor.
Here is a powerful reminder ofthe importance of love within a
church community.
Does your church love well?
If not, why?
My wife and I embarked on a newjourney three years ago by
starting a home church.
Following nearly 20 years ofministry, the love and support
(06:53):
we have found within this smallgroup of individuals are
unparalleled.
We are deeply involved in eachother's lives, offering prayers
and care whenever needed.
The love and unity within ourgroup is truly exceptional and
unlike anything I haveexperienced elsewhere.
This is the kind of love andsupport we should all strive for
within our church families.
However, it's dishearteningthat we live in a society
(07:15):
dominated by megachurches thatoften feel more like
entertainment venues thanintimate family gatherings.
While concerts can be upliftingfor collective worship and
spreading the message of faith,it's the intimate family
gatherings that provide thenurturing and support needed to
thrive.
This is how Jesus intended forhis church to function a
community where individuals areknown and loved, rather than a
(07:37):
place where you remain astranger in a crowd.
Moving on to Ephesians, chapter1, verses 17, that the God of
our Lord, jesus Christ, theFather of glory, may give you
the spirit of wisdom and ofrevelation in the knowledge of
him.
J Vernon McGee again said theFather planned it, jesus paid
for it and the Spirit protectsit.
The triune God, consisting ofthe Father, the Son and the Holy
(08:00):
Spirit, operates collectivelyas one unified entity.
Each member of the Godhead hasa distinct role and purpose
within the church, working inharmony for the benefit of
believers.
It is truly awe-inspiring toconsider that God orchestrates
all things for His ultimate good, enabling us to lead meaningful
and impactful lives that bringhonor to Him.
From the very outset, theFather intended to reveal His
(08:23):
glory through the church.
Jesus made the ultimatesacrifice to redeem and sanctify
the church, while the HolySpirit empowers believers to
emulate Christ's love,ultimately bringing glory to the
Father.
Through this divine process, wefind unity in him and our
source of joy is derived fromhis presence.
John 17, 20-21,.
(08:45):
Do not ask for these only, butalso for those who believe in me
.
The idea that we are one inJesus just as he is in the
Father is truly mind-blowing.
It's a concept that we shouldcontinuously ponder and seek to
(09:13):
comprehend.
This is where our ultimate joylies, concealed within him.
Colossians 3, 3-4.
For you died and your life isnow hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life,appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory.
Moving on to Ephesians 1.18.
(09:35):
The phrase that we may knowrefers to a form of
understanding that comes fromthe heart.
That we may know refers to aform of understanding that comes
from the heart rather thanbeing purely intellectual in
nature Romans 10, 9-10.
Because if you confess withyour mouth that Jesus is Lord
(09:57):
and believe in your heart thatGod raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For with the heart one believesand is justified, and with the
mouth one confesses and is saved.
You don't come to believe in Godthrough your own competence or
unique abilities.
Instead, it is God who removesthe veil from your heart,
(10:18):
allowing you to see what hasbeen there all along Ephesians 1
, 19-20 and what is theimmeasurable greatness of his
power toward us who believe,according to the working of his
great might, that he worked inChrist when he raised him from
the dead and seated him at hisright hand in the heavenly
places.
The immeasurable power thatraised Christ from the dead is
(10:42):
also at work within you.
If this power was able to raiseChrist, it is certainly capable
of raising us as well, as longas we have faith in him.
Moreover, we are not onlyraised up with him, but we are
also seated with him in theheavenly realm.
All because of the incrediblepower of God and his boundless
grace towards us.
Ephesians 2, 4-6,.
(11:03):
But God, being rich in mercybecause of the great love with
which he loved us even when wewere dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together withChrist.
By grace, you have been savedand raised us up with him and
seated us with him in theheavenly places in Christ Jesus.
(11:23):
This is not something we haveearned or deserve, but rather it
is a reflection of God'simmeasurable greatness.
Ultimately, all of this is doneso that God may be glorified
through the praise that emanatesfrom us.
Again, moving on to Ephesians1.21.
Jesus is and will always be theonly name above all names.
(11:53):
Ephesians 1.22.
Jesus is the head of the church, guiding and working through it
.
When we carry out good deedsthat honor God, it is not
ourselves but Jesus who isworking within us.
John 14, 26.
(12:14):
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name.
He will teach you all thingsand bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you.
Ephesians 1.23,.
Which is his body, the fullnessof him, who fills all in all.
Remember this the church is thebody of Christ and it is to be
(12:36):
the full expression of Christ.
We are the physicalmanifestation of Jesus in this
world until he returns.
This is how the churchfunctions, not as separate
individuals, but as a unifiedentity, just as we are unified
in him.
If you believe that theChristian life is meant to be
lived in isolation, then you aremistaken.
Hebrews 10, 24-25.
(12:58):
And let us consider how to stirup one another to love and good
works.
And let us consider how to stirup one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meettogether, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging oneanother, and all the more as you
see the day drawing near.
We need to surround ourselveswith faithful, loving,
encouraging and, above all else,bible-believing, god-fearing
(13:20):
Christians.
This is part of God's plan andJesus paid a high price for it.
When we try to go it alone, wegrieve him.
Ephesians 4.30.
And do not grieve the HolySpirit of God by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption.
Each of us is a part of alarger body meant to work
together.
Imagine cutting off your ear sothat you couldn't hear, or
(13:44):
cutting off your foot so youcouldn't walk.
That's what happens when we tryto go solo in the body of
Christ.
We need to stop worrying aboutwhat others are or aren't doing
and focus on being what we arecalled to be and encouraging
others to do the same.
Saying I believe in God but notin the church is a sad and
disgraceful statement.
The church is part of theFather's plan, paid for by
(14:06):
Jesus' blood and empowered byHis Spirit to glorify God.
Living within the design of thechurch brings life, excitement,
joy and satisfaction, leadingto praise that glorifies the One
who paid for us.
All of this is made possible bythe empowering spirit of God
who lives in us.
1 Corinthians 12, 12-20.
(14:35):
For just as the body is one andhas many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with
Christ, for in one spirit wewere all baptized into one body,
jews or Greeks, slaves or free,and all were made to drink of
one spirit.
For the body does not consistof one member, but of many, if
the foot should say because I amnot a hand, I do not belong to
(14:57):
the body, that would not make itany less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say,because I am not an eye, do not
belong to the body, that wouldnot make it any less a part of
the body.
If the whole body were an eye,where would the sense of hearing
?
If the whole body were an ear,where would be the sense of
smell?
But as it is, god arranged themembers in the body, each one of
(15:26):
them, as he chose.
If all were a single member,where would the body be as it is
?
There are many parts, yet onebody.
Take some time today to reflecton your role within the body of
Christ.
Recognize that you are anessential part and have a
specific purpose within the body.
It's important to be activelyinvolved in a Bible-teaching,
(15:48):
god-fearing church where goodleaders will guide and equip you
for the Christian life.
If you find that your currentleaders are not providing the
necessary support, seek outleaders who are dedicated to
equipping and nurturing themembers of the church.
Remember, leaders are ablessing from God to the church
and their role is to equip andserve the members of the church.
Remember, leaders are ablessing from God to the church
and their role is to equip andserve the congregation.
Ephesians 4, 11-16,.
(16:09):
And he gave the apostles, theprophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers to equipthe saints for the work of
ministry, for building up thebody of Christ, until we all
attain to the unity of the faithand of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to mature manhood, tothe unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God,to mature manhood, to the
measure of the stature of thefullness of Christ, so that we
(16:30):
may no longer be children tossedto and fro by the waves and
carried about by every wind anddoctrine, by human cunning, by
craftiness and deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth inlove, we are to grow up in every
way into him, who is the head,into Christ, from whom the whole
body, joined and held togetherby every joint with which it is
equipped, when each part isworking properly, makes the body
(16:50):
grow so that it builds itselfup in love.
Let's pray, father, god, thankyou so much for this message
today.
We thank you for your word, god, thank you so much for this
message today.
We thank you for your word,father.
We thank you for the plan ofsalvation, of redemption, for
your promises that you haveseated us on high with Christ
(17:12):
Jesus in the heavenly places.
Jesus, thank you for paying theultimate price with your blood.
Thank you for indwelling uswith your Holy Spirit and
empowering us to overcome thesins in our flesh and in this
lost world, to overcome thetemptations, the trials and
tribulations that are laidbefore us, that our faith may be
(17:33):
refined and that we may grow.
Father, I pray for ourlisteners today that their
hearts would be stirred tobecome part of a church that
teaches your word, every part ofit, god, and that they would
apply their gifts to help thesaints grow, that they would
realize that their lives are nottheir own, that you paid a
(17:55):
great price for them to be partof a family that they should be
a part of, where they could beequipped and they could be loved
and they can pour out thatwhich you have given them onto
others.
Father, we love you and wethank you in Jesus' name, amen.
I want to thank you for joiningus today and I hope this
(18:17):
message helped you take a stepcloser in your relationship with
Jesus and that you have abetter understanding of just how
much God loves you and wantsyou to know him.
In our next episode, we're goingto transition from discussing
God's plan of salvation to whathe has saved us from in chapter
2 of Ephesians.
Throughout Paul's letter, heuses strong language such as
(18:37):
death, election, adoption andenslavement to emphasize his
point.
As we will discover, we werespiritually dead in our sins and
completely powerless.
Our desires before beingadopted into God's kingdom
revolved around pursuing thepassions of our flesh.
Paul began his letter byasserting that God is in control
, and now he will furtherillustrate that we were
(19:00):
completely out of control.
There was nothing we could doto save ourselves.
Just as dead men cannot bringthemselves back to life, we were
unable to choose our ownsalvation.
Understanding our sinful stateallows us to humble ourselves
and genuinely repent, as itopens our eyes to the truth.
Before we go, I want toencourage you to visit us at
(19:20):
thetakeawayfaith go.
I want to encourage you tovisit us at thetakeawayfaith.
On our website, you can learnmore about us and sign up to
receive emails for notificationsabout new episodes and ministry
updates.
You can also easily share ourpodcast and use it as a resource
to help others.
Feel free to send us a message,a word of encouragement or any
questions or comments, as wewould love to hear from you.
(19:40):
God bless, and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
Hello, welcome back to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we are going to discuss theimportance of praying for God to
equip the church for effectiveministry as we explore Ephesians
, chapter 1, verses 15 to 23.
In our previous episode, wetalked about the purpose of God
choosing us.
We saw that each of us has aspecific and meaningful purpose
(00:21):
given to us by God,predetermined before the
foundations of the world.
Being chosen by the one trueGod and being told that we are a
treasure to Him, valuablebeyond measure, should bring us
great joy.
Now, continuing with thatthought, paul gives thanks for
God's elect and asks Him tosupply us with all wisdom,
understanding and power from theHoly Spirit, so that we would
(00:41):
know what God has in store forus and that we would live a life
that glorifies him.
Now, starting at Ephesians,chapter 1, verses 15.
Their faith wasn't just a mottoor a sign hung outside a
(01:02):
building to explain who theywere or who they hope to be.
Have you noticed how manychurches have names like faith,
hope or love in their titles?
It seems that these names arechosen not to reflect who they
are, but who they aspire to be.
They want the world to knowthat they are a church striving
after these ideals.
The problem is that often thesechurches don't fully embody the
(01:23):
qualities represented in theirnames.
There is usually littleevidence of these qualities
beyond a hope that they exist.
They create programs and teachabout these qualities as if they
will automatically produce thelife they seek.
The leaders often try to guideothers on a path they have not
yet submitted to themselves.
Unless we live according toGod's will, we cannot grow
(01:45):
beyond our current state.
For example, if you aspire tobecome a doctor and enroll in
medical school to learneverything about the profession,
you will soon realize that thevastness of medical knowledge
means that you can never knoweverything.
This is why doctors specializein different fields.
However, if you believe youmust know everything before
becoming a doctor, you willnever leave school and never put
(02:08):
your knowledge into practice,thus never achieving your goal.
As Christians, we shouldimmediately start putting into
practice what we know, no matterhow little that knowledge is.
This is the way to show that weare true believers.
We practice what we preach or,in this case, what we know.
Then we can continue to learnand grow, or, as I like to say,
(02:29):
we learn on the job.
The problem is that manybelievers in the church feel
they don't know enough to starttaking action and they end up
being people who seek knowledgefor its own sake, never becoming
what they had hoped to be.
2 Timothy 3.7 says they arealways learning and never able
to arrive at the knowledge ofthe truth.
(02:49):
They never arrive at the truthbecause they never apply what
they have learned.
Instead, we are told that theseindividuals have a different
problem 2 Timothy 3.1-6.
But understand this that in thelast days there will come times
of difficulty.
But understand this that in thelast days there will come times
of difficulty, for people willbe lovers of self, lovers of
money, proud, arrogant, abusive,disobedient to their parents,
(03:11):
ungrateful, unholy, heartless,unappeasable slanders without
self-control, brutal but notloving good, treacherous,
reckless, swollen with conceit,lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, having theappearance of godliness but
denying its power.
Avoid such people, for amongthem are those who creep into
(03:31):
households and capture weakwomen, burdened with sins and
led astray by various passions,always learning and never able
to arrive at the knowledge ofthe truth.
Wow, that was reallyeye-opening.
How many people do you know whogo to church on Sundays and
seem to have it all together butnever really actually go out
into the world to spread themessage of Christ.
(03:53):
Many only talk about Jesus whensomeone else brings it up, but
then quickly steer theconversation back to worldly
matters.
We all know these people.
Paul told Timothy that thesewere deceitful individuals who
were not genuine in their faith.
Despite their outwardappearance, they are everywhere
driven by selfish motives andtaking advantage of others.
(04:15):
Instead, we should live out ourfaith as Paul instructed the
Ephesians, which was the veryreason he gave thanks for them.
Their genuineness came fromtheir actions, not just their
knowledge.
Ephesians 1.16.
I do not cease to give thanksfor you, remembering you in my
prayers.
Now, do we pray for each otherby name, or do we simply pray
(04:36):
about our problems andeverything we need help with?
Do we even take time to givethanks for all that God is doing
in and through us, as we shouldtake time to give thanks for
all that God is doing in andthrough us, as we should?
Paul first recognized theirfaith.
Then he gave thanks for it.
This should be the same for usand for those around us who are
living genuine lives of faith.
We are to uphold them in prayerby name, giving thanks for them
(04:58):
constantly, as they are God'sworkmanship and we benefit from
that.
These people pray for us,encourage us, help us, teach us
and love us unconditionally.
Do you pray for them?
Do you even have these kinds ofpeople in your life?
If not, you might want toreevaluate the individuals you
spend time with.
Acts 20, 36-38, and when he hadsaid these things, he knelt down
(05:21):
and prayed with them all, andthere was much weeping on the
part of elders while they prayedfor him.
They all knew that this wouldbe their final farewell and the
(05:45):
emotions ran deep.
The bond between Paul and thechurch in Ephesus was incredibly
strong, and the thought ofleaving them was unbearable for
Paul.
He cared for them deeply andknew that returning to Ephesus
would make it nearly impossiblefor him to leave again.
This is why he arranged to meetthe elders in Miletus before
embarking on his journey toJerusalem.
(06:06):
Paul's profound love for thechurch in Ephesus serves as a
powerful example of the kind oflove and connection we should
strive for in our ownrelationships Now.
Do we feel genuine empathy forone another when someone departs
?
Do we truly show love andsupport for our pastors, or do
we simply expect them to be thesole source of love and care.
As J Vernon McGee once stated,the measure of a church is in
(06:30):
how well they demonstrate loveand support for their pastor.
Here is a powerful reminder ofthe importance of love within a
church community.
Does your church love well?
If not, why?
My wife and I embarked on a newjourney three years ago by
starting a home church.
Following nearly 20 years ofministry, the love and support
(06:53):
we have found within this smallgroup of individuals are
unparalleled.
We are deeply involved in eachother's lives, offering prayers
and care whenever needed.
The love and unity within ourgroup is truly exceptional and
unlike anything I haveexperienced elsewhere.
This is the kind of love andsupport we should all strive for
within our church families.
However, it's dishearteningthat we live in a society
(07:15):
dominated by megachurches thatoften feel more like
entertainment venues thanintimate family gatherings.
While concerts can be upliftingfor collective worship and
spreading the message of faith,it's the intimate family
gatherings that provide thenurturing and support needed to
thrive.
This is how Jesus intended forhis church to function a
community where individuals areknown and loved, rather than a
(07:37):
place where you remain astranger in a crowd.
Moving on to Ephesians, chapter1, verses 17, that the God of
our Lord, jesus Christ, theFather of glory, may give you
the spirit of wisdom and ofrevelation in the knowledge of
him.
J Vernon McGee again said theFather planned it, jesus paid
for it and the Spirit protectsit.
The triune God, consisting ofthe Father, the Son and the Holy
(08:00):
Spirit, operates collectivelyas one unified entity.
Each member of the Godhead hasa distinct role and purpose
within the church, working inharmony for the benefit of
believers.
It is truly awe-inspiring toconsider that God orchestrates
all things for His ultimate good, enabling us to lead meaningful
and impactful lives that bringhonor to Him.
From the very outset, theFather intended to reveal His
(08:23):
glory through the church.
Jesus made the ultimatesacrifice to redeem and sanctify
the church, while the HolySpirit empowers believers to
emulate Christ's love,ultimately bringing glory to the
Father.
Through this divine process, wefind unity in him and our
source of joy is derived fromhis presence.
John 17, 20-21,.
(08:45):
Do not ask for these only, butalso for those who believe in me
.
The idea that we are one inJesus just as he is in the
Father is truly mind-blowing.
It's a concept that we shouldcontinuously ponder and seek to
(09:13):
comprehend.
This is where our ultimate joylies, concealed within him.
Colossians 3, 3-4.
For you died and your life isnow hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life,appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory.
Moving on to Ephesians 1.18.
(09:35):
The phrase that we may knowrefers to a form of
understanding that comes fromthe heart.
That we may know refers to aform of understanding that comes
from the heart rather thanbeing purely intellectual in
nature Romans 10, 9-10.
Because if you confess withyour mouth that Jesus is Lord
(09:57):
and believe in your heart thatGod raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For with the heart one believesand is justified, and with the
mouth one confesses and is saved.
You don't come to believe in Godthrough your own competence or
unique abilities.
Instead, it is God who removesthe veil from your heart,
(10:18):
allowing you to see what hasbeen there all along Ephesians 1
, 19-20 and what is theimmeasurable greatness of his
power toward us who believe,according to the working of his
great might, that he worked inChrist when he raised him from
the dead and seated him at hisright hand in the heavenly
places.
The immeasurable power thatraised Christ from the dead is
(10:42):
also at work within you.
If this power was able to raiseChrist, it is certainly capable
of raising us as well, as longas we have faith in him.
Moreover, we are not onlyraised up with him, but we are
also seated with him in theheavenly realm.
All because of the incrediblepower of God and his boundless
grace towards us.
Ephesians 2, 4-6,.
(11:03):
But God, being rich in mercybecause of the great love with
which he loved us even when wewere dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together withChrist.
By grace, you have been savedand raised us up with him and
seated us with him in theheavenly places in Christ Jesus.
(11:23):
This is not something we haveearned or deserve, but rather it
is a reflection of God'simmeasurable greatness.
Ultimately, all of this is doneso that God may be glorified
through the praise that emanatesfrom us.
Again, moving on to Ephesians1.21.
Jesus is and will always be theonly name above all names.
(11:53):
Ephesians 1.22.
Jesus is the head of the church, guiding and working through it
.
When we carry out good deedsthat honor God, it is not
ourselves but Jesus who isworking within us.
John 14, 26.
(12:14):
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name.
He will teach you all thingsand bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you.
Ephesians 1.23,.
Which is his body, the fullnessof him, who fills all in all.
Remember this the church is thebody of Christ and it is to be
(12:36):
the full expression of Christ.
We are the physicalmanifestation of Jesus in this
world until he returns.
This is how the churchfunctions, not as separate
individuals, but as a unifiedentity, just as we are unified
in him.
If you believe that theChristian life is meant to be
lived in isolation, then you aremistaken.
Hebrews 10, 24-25.
(12:58):
And let us consider how to stirup one another to love and good
works.
And let us consider how to stirup one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meettogether, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging oneanother, and all the more as you
see the day drawing near.
We need to surround ourselveswith faithful, loving,
encouraging and, above all else,bible-believing, god-fearing
(13:20):
Christians.
This is part of God's plan andJesus paid a high price for it.
When we try to go it alone, wegrieve him.
Ephesians 4.30.
And do not grieve the HolySpirit of God by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption.
Each of us is a part of alarger body meant to work
together.
Imagine cutting off your ear sothat you couldn't hear, or
(13:44):
cutting off your foot so youcouldn't walk.
That's what happens when we tryto go solo in the body of
Christ.
We need to stop worrying aboutwhat others are or aren't doing
and focus on being what we arecalled to be and encouraging
others to do the same.
Saying I believe in God but notin the church is a sad and
disgraceful statement.
The church is part of theFather's plan, paid for by
(14:06):
Jesus' blood and empowered byHis Spirit to glorify God.
Living within the design of thechurch brings life, excitement,
joy and satisfaction, leadingto praise that glorifies the One
who paid for us.
All of this is made possible bythe empowering spirit of God
who lives in us.
1 Corinthians 12, 12-20.
(14:35):
For just as the body is one andhas many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with
Christ, for in one spirit wewere all baptized into one body,
jews or Greeks, slaves or free,and all were made to drink of
one spirit.
For the body does not consistof one member, but of many, if
the foot should say because I amnot a hand, I do not belong to
(14:57):
the body, that would not make itany less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say,because I am not an eye, do not
belong to the body, that wouldnot make it any less a part of
the body.
If the whole body were an eye,where would the sense of hearing
?
If the whole body were an ear,where would be the sense of
smell?
But as it is, god arranged themembers in the body, each one of
(15:26):
them, as he chose.
If all were a single member,where would the body be as it is
?
There are many parts, yet onebody.
Take some time today to reflecton your role within the body of
Christ.
Recognize that you are anessential part and have a
specific purpose within the body.
It's important to be activelyinvolved in a Bible-teaching,
(15:48):
god-fearing church where goodleaders will guide and equip you
for the Christian life.
If you find that your currentleaders are not providing the
necessary support, seek outleaders who are dedicated to
equipping and nurturing themembers of the church.
Remember, leaders are ablessing from God to the church
and their role is to equip andserve the members of the church.
Remember, leaders are ablessing from God to the church
and their role is to equip andserve the congregation.
Ephesians 4, 11-16,.
(16:09):
And he gave the apostles, theprophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers to equipthe saints for the work of
ministry, for building up thebody of Christ, until we all
attain to the unity of the faithand of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to mature manhood, tothe unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God,to mature manhood, to the
measure of the stature of thefullness of Christ, so that we
(16:30):
may no longer be children tossedto and fro by the waves and
carried about by every wind anddoctrine, by human cunning, by
craftiness and deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth inlove, we are to grow up in every
way into him, who is the head,into Christ, from whom the whole
body, joined and held togetherby every joint with which it is
equipped, when each part isworking properly, makes the body
(16:50):
grow so that it builds itselfup in love.
Let's pray, father, god, thankyou so much for this message
today.
We thank you for your word, god, thank you so much for this
message today.
We thank you for your word,father.
We thank you for the plan ofsalvation, of redemption, for
your promises that you haveseated us on high with Christ
(17:12):
Jesus in the heavenly places.
Jesus, thank you for paying theultimate price with your blood.
Thank you for indwelling uswith your Holy Spirit and
empowering us to overcome thesins in our flesh and in this
lost world, to overcome thetemptations, the trials and
tribulations that are laidbefore us, that our faith may be
(17:33):
refined and that we may grow.
Father, I pray for ourlisteners today that their
hearts would be stirred tobecome part of a church that
teaches your word, every part ofit, god, and that they would
apply their gifts to help thesaints grow, that they would
realize that their lives are nottheir own, that you paid a
(17:55):
great price for them to be partof a family that they should be
a part of, where they could beequipped and they could be loved
and they can pour out thatwhich you have given them onto
others.
Father, we love you and wethank you in Jesus' name, amen.
I want to thank you for joiningus today and I hope this
(18:17):
message helped you take a stepcloser in your relationship with
Jesus and that you have abetter understanding of just how
much God loves you and wantsyou to know him.
In our next episode, we're goingto transition from discussing
God's plan of salvation to whathe has saved us from in chapter
2 of Ephesians.
Throughout Paul's letter, heuses strong language such as
(18:37):
death, election, adoption andenslavement to emphasize his
point.
As we will discover, we werespiritually dead in our sins and
completely powerless.
Our desires before beingadopted into God's kingdom
revolved around pursuing thepassions of our flesh.
Paul began his letter byasserting that God is in control
, and now he will furtherillustrate that we were
(19:00):
completely out of control.
There was nothing we could doto save ourselves.
Just as dead men cannot bringthemselves back to life, we were
unable to choose our ownsalvation.
Understanding our sinful stateallows us to humble ourselves
and genuinely repent, as itopens our eyes to the truth.
Before we go, I want toencourage you to visit us at
(19:20):
thetakeawayfaith go.
I want to encourage you tovisit us at thetakeawayfaith.
On our website, you can learnmore about us and sign up to
receive emails for notificationsabout new episodes and ministry
updates.
You can also easily share ourpodcast and use it as a resource
to help others.
Feel free to send us a message,a word of encouragement or any
questions or comments, as wewould love to hear from you.
(19:40):
God bless, and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
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