'Ephesians' Tagged Posts

Today we finish our walk through Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Just prior to giving his personal greetings to some dear friends he gives one final plea to his readers. It is a plea for prayer! Why prayer? Why is Paul so adamant that we must become a people of prayer? I think that he is trying to persuade us that the spiritual battle is very real. He has just prepared us for the battle in outlining the…

Can you imagine an Australian Defence Soldier going to war in Afghanistan or Iraq without protective clothing or weaponry? Can you imagine our Police men and women not being in uniform and carrying arms? Can you imaging going to the beach in summer without protective clothing, hat and sun scream? The answer is no! Yet we Christians are involved in a spiritual battle that rages day and night! What protection do we have available to withstand the battle? What armory…

It is sad to witness the demise of the family unit. There are so many dysfunctional families within society today. The struggles between husband and wife and parent and child, together with sibling rivalry, is in many ways a tragedy. Last week we investigated the counsel Paul gave to the married couples of the Ephesian church. He talked of the need for submission and love between husband and wife. We spent time unpacking what it means to be a wife…

One of the movies I have enjoyed watching over the years is Kevin Costner in ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’! There are a few scenes in the movie where one of the characters has had to yield to another, normally after an energetic sword fight! There is humility and respect shown when this occurs. However, submitting to another is often exceedingly difficult, and to be truthful, against our human nature. So when I read Paul’s counsel in Ephesians 5: 21…

Incentive is a word that is used to encourage people to greater action and effort. Most of us require some incentives to work harder at our place of employment or to study harder at school and university. You will often read about added incentives being provided to sportsmen and women to sign up for a particular sporting club or endorse a certain commercial product. In some cases huge incentives are offered to have the sportsmen sign that lucrative contract! I…

Today we look at the next building block as Paul continues his building program of the church that glorifies God. The next foundation stone is all about purity in the life of the Christian and the church. Purity is really a challenge for all men and women! The reason being is that once we lived lives that were worldly and were out of step with God’s ways. I don’t know about you but sometimes life brings with it a host…

If I asked you to tell me what is the greatest commandment you would answer “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”. And you would be right! If I asked you what is the second you would answer “to love your neighbour as yourself “. Again you are right! Life is such a challenge and then there are the people… I was saddened during the week as I visited someone in hospital. I…

Over the past couple of months we have seen many examples of passionate patriotism. First, we had the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil where emotions ran high as Germany became world champions. It was funny watching the lengths spectators would go to in the support of their team and country. People walked around resplendent in their respective national colours as well as their national flags wrapped around them. Faces were painted and it was not hard to tell which…

I have been deep in thought this past week as I have reflected on Paul’s teaching for today. He talks of a new humanity and a coming together of the people of the world. As I listen to the daily news, read the online newspapers and watch graphic images on my television I am thinking how can unity amongst the varying people groups of the world be a reality. It seems to me that evil continues to reign around the…

Today I desire to challenge you with four realities. The first reality is the awareness that the state of our world is one of gloom! Just listen to the media and witness what is happening around the world today and you will scratch your and realize how sad a world we live in. The second reality is that the human ‘outside of Christ’ has a life that is spiritually dead, enslaved to sin and worldliness and under condemnation from a…