Ephesians 3:12-21, Part 1

[Shield]

Shield> Hello and Welcome everyone:)
Shield> lets get started with prayer
Shield> Dear Lord we thank you...
Shield> for all your blessings
Shield> Father thank you for your love for us
Shield> and thank you that you are mindful of our every need
Shield> calm our hearts even now I pray...
Shield> so that we may hear your words through the witness of Scripture
Shield> and so that we may understand your grace in our lives
Shield> in Jesus name amen
Shield> Praise the Lord:)
Shield> if you recall we finished our last session with verse ten of Ephesians 3
Shield> lets read it again....
Shield> Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Shield> Ephesians 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Shield> what is the eternal purpose with God carried out in Jesus?
KariK> for people to know the truth and be forgiven so they can know god?
Hats> Shield, you told us and I was going to ask if you'd mind repeating it. So sorry..forgot.
Nerf> life?
Shield> KariK => yes that is very true...
Shield> life in what sense Nerf?
KariK> oh
Nerf> eternal life with him
Shield> yes
Shield> eternal life
Lil_Timothy> God wants us to know Him
Shield> KariK => Jesus purpose was to provide for our eternal life
Shield> so you were correct
Hats> Amen
Shield> that we may know the truth that we may be forgiven of our sins
Lil_Timothy> God is relational, He loves us and wants us to be with Him forever
Shield> because of what Jesus did
Shield> amen Lil_Timothy
Nerf> awesome!
Shield> and forever includes today
Shield> :)
Lil_Timothy> yes
Shield> now then....
Shield> Lil_Timothy brought up an important point....
Shield> he spoke of relationship
Hats> Yes
Shield> relationship with God...
Shield> read this next verse and tell me what you see...
Shield> Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
Shield> in Jesus
Shield> we have boldness and confident access through faith in Jesus
Shield> any idea what that might be talking about?
Lil_Timothy> Thru Jesus we can get to and talk to God
Hats> Through the Holy Spirit
KariK> We can talk to God because of Jesus because he forgives us?
Shield> yes to all
Bride> we no longer need a priest to interceed on our behalf
Lil_Timothy> Right on :)
Hats> Only through Christ does God hear us.
Bride> we can go directly to God Himself!
Shield> yes
Hats> Amen
KariK> He took our punishment and so even though we arent good enough, we still can know god?
Shield> yes KariK
Hats> Right, KariK
Lil_Timothy> Yes KariK
Lil_Timothy> Amen
Shield> here is how that works...
Shield> when God looks at us...as forgiven sinners who have accepted Gods gift of salvation...
Shield> God sees the righteousness of Jesus
Hats> Yes
Lil_Timothy> Amen
Shield> because Jesus suffered the penalty for our sin....
Shield> and conquered death
Shield> by raising again
Hats> Amen
Lil_Timothy> amen
Shield> here is the thing....
Shield> we can come to God...
Shield> because Jesus is the one who provides us access
Lil_Timothy> yes
Shield> 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Hats> Amen...the Only One
Shield> we can talk to God ourselves...
Lil_Timothy> :)
Shield> Jesus is seated at the right hand of our Father in heaven....
Hats> \o/
Nerf> Hi God
Shield> amen:)
Shield> Ephesians 3:13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Shield> Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
Shield> now...
Shield> I am going to post Paul's prayer....
Shield> and as I do....
Shield> I want you to know that this is my prayer for each of you....
Hats> I humbly thank you, Shield
Shield> Ephesians 3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
Shield> Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Shield> what is that saying?
Shield> remember...he is speaking of Jesus's glorious riches
Shield> any ideas?
Hats> We are equal to the Jews..as we are Gentiles
Shield> yes...true...
Hats> We now are equal and God sees us that way...that's at the first of what was written.
Shield> how are we being strengthened?
Lil_Timothy> Thru Jesus and His Spirit we are given strength for God's work
Shield> true Hats
Shield> yes Lil_Timothy
Hats> Through our faith in Him
Shield> what will thhis stregnth do for us?
Lil_Timothy> Amen Hats
Hats> The Holy Spirit
Nerf>Gods will
Shield> Lil_Timothy mentioned doing God's work
Nerf> allows us 2 do Gods will
Lil_Timothy> Enable us to boldly do what God wants us to do
Lil_Timothy> Amen Nerf
Shield> and to BE what God has called us to be
Nerf> kewl
Shield> his children
Shield> saints of God
Hats> Otherwise we couldn't..not without the Holy Spirit within us.
Shield> called to worship and serve Him
Shield> amen Hats
Shield> only by Gods grace and help
Lil_Timothy> Become more like Jesus and do things that He did
Shield> Ephesians 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
Shield> remember a few weeks ago?
Hats> Rooted, meaning a strong foundation.
Shield> I talked about the key words...
Bride> I'm intrigued by the "inner man"
Shield> like "so that"
Shield> in what way Bride?
Shield> true Hats
Bride> well ... not sure ... but it implies all of oneself ... not just the outward
Bride> but heart, mind and soul ... ??
Hats> The unbelievers...
Shield> hmm interesting...
Bride> what is your take on that? the "inner man"?
Hats> Is that right Shield...the inner man is carnal.
Lil_Timothy> God wants all of us, as in my heart, my mind, and my spirit
Hats> If you're talking about believers and the inner man...it would mean their true self.
Bride> thank you Lil_Timothy ... that is what I was thinking too .... was wondering if I was on track with that line of thinking

Continued in the next post.....