Fire On Your Head

Ephesians 2 – The Church in the Heavenly Places in Christ Chapter Two builds on Chapter One. The position from which we start Chapter 2 is this: Christ Jesus is at the highest heavenly place. above all (1:10), and all of the focus, blessings and power of that position is toward us. We are His fullness, the church-the fulfillment of His position towards creation.

1. 2:1-3 This is a description of our lives before we meet Christ. When we walk in accordance with the lust of the flesh; then we are walking in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (6:12 – if we are walking with him, then how are we going to defeat him?).
2. 2:3-5 This is the way we formerly walked. He died for us while we were still sinners to bring us from our former life, to our new spiritual life in Christ
   1. Romans 8:1-4 The Law is the rules of righteousness that God gave men to live by, but no one could do it. This is the reason for the sacrifices-to atone for the sins of breaking this Law. Jesus fulfilled the Law by walking out every inch of it in our place. Then He paid our penalty for breaking it and died in our place. When we believe this we have new life with God in the Spirit.
   2. Romans 8:13-14 When we walk according to the Spirit, we will not walk according to the flesh. In our spiritual walk, we may sin and fall, but we repent and get back up stronger and we learn to resist the temptations of the flesh. Our walk is our lifestyle. Our overall lifestyle is characterized by walking with Jesus in the Spirit, even though we may fall. Our old lifestyle was walking in the flesh and we did not care if we sinned. Now we are slaves to righteousness and when we sin, the Spirit convicts us to repent and this makes us more like Him; this is walking in the Spirit and putting to death the deeds of the flesh[1].
3. 2:6 We are in the heavenly places with Christ because of His grace. This is above the prince of the air. Therefore in Christ, we have authority overall wickedness v 6:12. This verse reiterates 1:20-21: This describes where Christ is in the heavenly places and we are right next to Him there! He, as the head, desires us, the body, who is seated right next to Him, to minister His rule to the heavens and the earth. When we operate in this kind of fullness, it brings the times into fulfillment as His kingdom rules.
   1. Matthew 16:18-19 This is the very foundation of the church. It is the first time that Jesus uses the term. The power of the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God and that we believe in and serve Him puts the church, even in its most infant state far above all rule and authority with Christ.
   2. John 14:12 Not only do we do what Christ did, but He has given us the Spirit to do even greater things.
4. 2:7-10 All that we are to do for God is already prepared for us. We are supposed to walk in these good works, which makes it all the more important that we no longer walk according to the flesh if we want to fulfill our calling and be beneficial to the kingdom. Remember not to quit when we do fall, the Lord will always be there to pick us back up. The worst part of struggling is the failure to get back up. When we get back up, we put the flesh to death, demonstrating that we are indeed walking in the Spirit and that we are sons of God. The world does not know how to get free, but when they see it in us then will know there is a way (John 14:6).
   1. Romans 8:19-21 Only when the church starts revealing Jesus’ will the world take notice and turn from walking in the flesh to walking in the Spirit.
   2. He set it up so that we would be right next to Him in the highest place; a demonstration to all that He is Lord. Since we are in the heavenly places with Christ, if we sin, we are pulled down mentally (not positionally) to where we were before. This is below the prince of the air in submission to his way. This will limit us from access to all the power and fullness or fulfillment that comes from relating properly to Christ and the place in the Father He has given us. Sin is bad because it prevents and limits you from being who you were created to be.
   3. These three verses (5, 6, 7) are vital to the understanding, I believe of all of Ephesians. In chapter 1, Jesus’ place above all is described. Then in the second chapter, our place below all is described. And now, verse 6 ties it all together: Here we are, at the lowest place, then, suddenly Jesus comes, raises us up with Him, smashing us right through the realm of the prince of the power of the air, and takes us all the way to the top of the top. He sits us right next to Him at the pinnacle of all creation. When we start to understand and live this out, impossibilities will become possible, and we will fly where we used to be afraid to crawl (see  Ephesians: Heavenly Places for further study).
   4. This is not an every-so-often high. We should live everyday as we are, seated right next to Jesus, acting like His best friends.
5. 2:11-18 Because He shed His blood, both Israel and the gentiles now have access to the Father through Jesus Christ.
   1. Romans 6:23 If we continue in sin, we will pay with death, but if we receive salvation, our debt is paid with Christ’s death and we receive eternal life.
   2. Israel and Gentiles Together This section sets up the beginning of the third chapter, so it is important to understand what he is saying here.  Gentiles–from then Jewish point of view–were anyone who was not an Israelite. They were unclean and had no access (for the most part) to God, less they be circumcised, convert to Judaism, and obey the Law. Because the Law was fulfilled in Christ, all now have access to the Father, who believe v 13. We obey Him and the circumcision is a circumcision of the heart and not of the flesh. What he is saying here v 14 is that no longer would we have to join Israel to get to God but both Jews and Gentiles now have access through Christ. We join with Israel[2] in God’s household forming a new spiritual kingdom in the earth[3].
6. 2:19-22 We are a part of God’s house and we are growing into a holy temple–a place where the Lord dwells–in the Spirit. This is what the church is supposed to be: a massive generation of Jesuses  (like but not equal), driving out wickedness in their lives, and in the world, advancing the Kingdom.
   1. Daniel 2:31-35;44-45 This statue represents the evil empire and the stone represents the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God (Matt 16:16-19), this revelation is the foundation of the church. This mountain that fills the earth is the church, the kingdom that cannot be destroyed. We win. We should not resolve to be merely Christians, but world changers who destroy evil and usher in the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   2. Hebrews 11[4], 11:40-41 We are the culmination in the plan of God to fulfill the grand callings in all these men and women of faith lives and also in our own. We the church, people filled with God, are the mystery of the Gospel.

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[1] This is not an excuse to sin, however. Grace is an excuse not to sin, not an excuse to get away with it; Romans 6:1-7.

[2] I do not subscribe to replacement theology; that the church has replaced Israel. God still has a plan for His nation specifically, as clearly seen in Scripture. The point is that all who believe are part of the body of Christ

[3] This section seems to connect mid Ch 1 and mid Ch 3, spec. vv 1:9-10 and 3:9-10. (Something is being built and it is important to understand each piece to see the finished work clearly and appropriately.).

[4] Hebrews 11:1-12:4 are quintessential for our study, but I am not going to exegete it here, but point put in specific verses in making the point. Faith is the access to the Kingdom, which is a spiritual one and we will touch more on the subject in 3:12.

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 2: Chapter 1

Ephesians Part 3:  Chapter 2

Ephesians Part 4: Chapter 3

Ephesians Part 5: Chapter 4a

Ephesians Part 6: Chapter 4b

Ephesians Part 7: Chapter 5a

Ephesians Part 8: Chapter 5b

Ephesians Part 9: Chapter 6a

Ephesians Part 10: Chapter 6b & Conclusion

Ephesians Part 11: Heavenly Places

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he says to me, ‘Write blessed is those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he says to me, ‘These are true words of God.’ -Revelation 19:7-9 (Read vv7-16 for context.)

The State of the Church at Christ’s Coming

“Nothing else has to happen. All the prophecies have been fulfilled. Christ can come back at any moment.” I was taught eschatological statements such as these early on in my Christian experience. If the quote is true, then the verse is not. Read it. We know that the Word is exactly as it is entitled; the Word of God. It is true. Therefore, we must ask this question, “Does the body of Christ, the church, reflect, resemble, or even remotely compare to the Bride, mentioned here, clothed in white linen, bright and clean-being her righteous acts? Honestly? Unless you are hard, and have already written this off; then the answer should be clear. As of now, the case is that she is not ready.

[All right, with that said: This is not an exegesis on the passage, with intrinsic and extrinsic analysis, and language, time, and transliterated study of this passage. Nor is it an eschatological dogmatic discourse. This is a study with a view (Eph 1:10 NASB) of getting the church ready and moving forward for what is to come. Yes, this is a remark that differs from modern “pre-trib” rapture theology--term used for the sake of identifying my theology, but an explanation is needed because the term itself may still imply differences in my theology. This is not a debate on the subject nor is it an end.]

Prepare the Bride

What is Jesus returning for? A better question would be; whom? His bride. Therefore, as we all know, multi-culturally, (especially in Hebraic context), that the bride has to prepare herself for The Wedding. As Esther (Esther 2:12), she must prepare herself. How does she prepare? According to this apocalyptical passage, the answer is righteous acts. This is not my opinion; this is what the Scripture says.

…the bride has made herself ready… to clothe herself in fine linen… the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints

Righteousness?

No, we are not righteous in ourselves. It is grace that gets us in, and able to be righteous. Read the book of Romans, this is very clear, that we become righteous in him, and from this new state, we are now able to perform the acts of righteousness. We do not get in the kingdom by works, but once we are in, we are required to work to advance it. Read James, after Romans and you will see, not a contradiction, but an understanding of this. This is a demonstration of the “Obedience of the Faith,” (Rom 1:26; 16:15). This is our purpose, to bring the nations into the obedience of the faith. When we live righteous through Christ, then we will be able to perform these righteous acts, making the bride clean. And the cleaner she is, the more ready she will be for her wedding day. Much of the church is still wearing filthy garments, even though it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen. Yes, they are saved, but just clinging to salvation.[1] Not to mention the lack of service (Eph 4:13). We are individually saved, but we must act as a body in righteousness, to make the whole church clean. We need a revival to get the sin out! We need a revolution, to perform the acts of righteousness from that clean state! Part of preparing the way of the Lord is by preparing ourselves to meet Him.

Each man’s work will become evident; for the day it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire. -1 Corinthians 3:13-15

Do not be one of those that waste your life either by just looking for a “rapture,” to occur, or by not building anything in righteousness for the kingdom. Why barely escape the flames of hell, when you could have an eternity full of rewards for the righteous acts that you accomplished here on earth?  The next passage hits the nail on the head:

Therefore do not let sin rein in your mortal body so that you do not obey its lust, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the law but under grace. -Romans 6:12-14

The Discussion

Now let us back up and take a closer look at our main text (Rev 19:7-16). I have a good friend whom I study Scripture with. When we first met, he mainly leaned toward pre-trib theology, and now he is solidly post-trib. We still discuss pre-trib theology for a better understanding of both positions. Also, so we know that our doctrinal stance is sufficient in Scripture.[2]

This passage is usually divided into two main sections, which most Bibles subtitle. The first is; The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The next is; The Coming Christ. Pre-trib doctrine mainly teaches that because the marriage supper is mentioned first, and then the coming of the Lord, the church must have been raptured beforehand.[3] And this was my friend’s question; how can this be true, and post-trib still be the correct eschatological understanding?[4]

He stopped me in my tracks. How would this work? The aforementioned interpretation of the verses is the way that I had always understood it as well. I told him that I had no conclusion as I just kept rereading the passage.[5]

The Pre-Tribulation Spectacles

Often in examining apocalyptic Scripture, we may have a prefabricated mindset (such as the interpretation that was mentioned). This may be due to previous teaching we may have heard on the subject. This perspective, however, may not be in correct context, interpretation, or application of the passage. I call this reading the Scripture while “wearing pre-trib glasses”. You are looking at the Scripture wearing the spectacles of a mindset of and existing teaching, which may prevent you from seeing the actual section in context of the Word.[6] And I was wearing them as I read the passage.

Context-Context-Context

As I kept rereading the section, I started to read it for what it said, not what I thought it said. Pre-trib states that vv7-9 is the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Scripture does not say that. It says that the time has come but does not mention the actual ceremony. Next it says blessed are those who are invited. How can they be invited to something that has already happened? What you have in context here is this: An announcement that the time for the wedding has come, an exhortation of the invitation, and then in vv 11-16, you have the Bridegroom going forth with His armies to gather his bride and separate from them those who are not invited. So what this is essentially saying is that the time has come for Jesus to return for His bride and judge the earth. She is now ready, because of her righteous acts and able to marry the Bride-groom.

White Linen, Bright and Clean

She will not be raptured before she is ready, this would not make any sense, specifically in contextual light of this verse. He is coming for a pure church, a spotless bride. She does not go to heaven and get white linen. Its given to her here, the ability to make herself ready by performing righteous acts. Fine linen is the righteousness carried out. Being righteous is the clothing of the church in white. It is not a future heavenly event that we get at the wedding feast. We are already wearing white when He comes to get us.

Righteousness is a state of being that comes about by acting righteously. This spiritually materializes into the fine linen, the bright and clean garments. When the worldwide body of Christ, the church, walks in this, and it is increasing (2 Peter 1:8), the more ready we will be, and the closer we will be to the wedding day.

[Please do not be offended by my comments, we are still brothers and sisters in the Lord, even if we disagree. Do study what I write; if you hold to pre-trib, then this should strengthen that stance, if it is indeed right. Just have an open mind and consider, as I was forced to do when re-examining this passage.]

Yes! Christ’s Return Actually Depends on You!

Yes, He can do anything, whatever He wants. He wrote the passage. He chose to do to do it this way. He is not trying to deceive us. And I am not trying to deceive you; I am just reading this passage for what it says. Just looking for Him and not acting does not demonstrate a life of faith. If you just waiting for Him to show up, then your entire life will pass you by, and you will have nothing to show for it. You still may get to heaven, yet as [one] through fire. Why be one that barely escapes the flames of hell, when you can have an abundance in heaven, an eternal life with the reward of the testimony of having done righteous acts here on the earth? I am not going to enter into all the little facts of this looking argument. I am going to stay on the point, and the point is this: Acting will bring it to pass and in grace, accomplish the kingdom.

In these last days, this new Jesus age, the church is supposed to shine with all the glory of God, showing the world that Jesus is Lord with all signs, wonders, and miracles.

But all things become visible, when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says; ‘Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.’ –Ephesians 5:13-14

The church must be awake in the last hour, if she is going to wake up the world. Awake is acting in righteousness. Not only must she be awake, but she must be here. Her leaving, in context with this Scripture, is a lie from hell, sent to hypnotize the church into thinking that she is ready, and all that she has to do is wait. She needs to wake up from this spell of sleep, which has been cast upon her. The church thinks that it is OK, but when that light shines, the darkness of the lie is exposed, and she must embrace truth if she is to move on.[7]

The State of the Church

So let us examine the state of the church now; and that which is described, which He is coming back for. Let us be honest and understand that we are not there yet. Let us pray that the Lord will reveal what it takes to be that perfect bride that He is looking for. If America was as full of as many Christians as she says she is, then the state of the union would reflect the state of the church. But now, it is obvious that the state of church reflects the state of the union. We can perform acts of righteousness and reverse this, and save a nation for God!

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[1] No, I do not subscribe to Calvinistic doctrine either. I do not care what prayer you may have prayed, some number of years ago; if you no longer live for God and deny him, and then you will be denied from the Father, when you stand before Jesus. Yes there is unlimited grace and mercy, but if you ultimately forsake it and still expect to live forever, you are absolutely wrong!  Prayer is the entrance into a magnificent life, and not an excuse to live in sin, and still think you are alright. Repentance means turning from your sin and living for God for the rest of your life. Salvation is both an experience and a walk. So, I encourage you to walk it out with peace and joy, in Jesus name.

[2] You can be solid in your doctrinal theological beliefs and still consider other points of view on Scripture to help you grow, without shifting back and forth, in an unstable faith. Read Eph 4:11-16.

[3] Many refer to this as a hidden meaning in Rev 4:1. No, I do not think John was raptured here. I am not going to discuss it; I am just making the point. For those of you who study eschatology, you know this study could escalate, so I am going to stay on tract of the theme of this inquirer.

[4] It was more of a question of how it applied, not: if there is no post explanation he would become pre again. We all as believers must challenge each other and seek the knowledge of God for the things that we have yet to understand about Him. Now we have to look at every verse in context to find the plumb line of truth that stretches through out the Word.

[5] This will happen for any serious Bible student. When it does, consider it. Do not hide from it and pretend that is not there. Say “I don’t know.” If you are seeking truth, then, no matter what the outcome, (remaining solid in your faith of course), then the Lord will show you His way and truth. Wait on Him, the answer may be swift or slow, but it will come.

[6] One thing that I learned in Ministry School was to look at the verse in context. There are many teachings out there that pull verses out of context that create theologies that are not Biblical. Read the verse for what is says, not for what someone else has told you it says. We do need teachers, be we have a responsibility to study Scripture accurately on our own.

[7] Not all who subscribe to this doctrine are asleep. They are acting in righteousness, preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth. I am making the point because the majority of the American church believes this, and will all the hundreds of millions that profess this; they don’t seem to be accomplishing much. I am not attacking you if you subscribe to this; I am challenging you with a new perspective.

“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” -Rev. 19.10b

I am gripped by these statements from Eberhard Busch, regarding Karl Barth’s views on preaching:

From early on one of the elemental convictions of the theologian Karl Barth was that the same God who had spoken clearly the testimonies of the Holy Scriptures speaks also to us today. Therefore he formulated as a basic principle to be heeded precisely: ‘Preaching aims at the people of a specific time to tell them that their lives have their basis and hope in Jesus Christ’ (Homiletics, trans. Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Donald E. Daniels [Louisville: WJK Press, 1991], p. 89).

And even more: it is the task of preaching to state clearly that God himself makes himself heard in the contemporary situation.

…. The danger would then be too great that the preacher would play the role himself as the intermediary between God and humans or that the congregation would be kept busy with merely human opinions. According to Barth, the question is much more whether with the whole congregation the preachers also hear and pay attention to what God says- not only said, but says. Barth learned from the Reformers that the sermon…. is to correspond to the prophetic office of Jesus Christ.

However, according to him, this concept can also be said the other way around: The congregation hears God’s word only when it listens to the word of God, who has already spoken according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures. God has spoken not merely once, but rather once for all.

(The Word in this World: Two Sermons by Karl Barth, Ed. by Kurt I. Johanson, Regent College Publishing; 2007, pp. 7-8)

To what degree can our modern preaching and living be found in direct correspondence “to the prophetic office of Jesus Christ?”

The above quote was given in a little booklet that contained two sermons from Karl Barth. The first, delivered in 1912, was a message regarding the sinking of the Titanic, which was obviously weighing heavily on Barth’s mind.

The second was delivered in 1934, two days after The Confessing Church challenged the Nazi system, and two days prior to Barth being fired from his professor position and shipped out of the country.

Suffice it to say, delivering the present testimony of Jesus Christ can have historic effects, but it will also be costly, and we need to settle it in our hearts that this is the way of the Kingdom.

I’m convinced that most of our modern preaching, witnessing and writing is having little effect on the hearers, and scant impact on society, because we are rarely speaking from the prophetic office of Jesus Christ; which is to say, we are busying souls with “merely human opinions,” rather than leading them in listening in a lively way “to the word of God, who has already spoken according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures.”

Who is bearing the word of the Lord for this hour, saints? The Church has a calling, and preachers all the more so, to be so immersed in the Spirit of God, and so enwrapped by the revelation of God through the Scriptures, that we would have the prophetic grace to discern the times and seasons in our generation, and to set forth the word of Jesus Christ as superior to all other voices and vantage points. Who is hearing His word, much less setting it forth?

Failing here, we fail in the most simplistic and central of callings; namely, bearing witness to the present testimony of the Son of God. What are His thoughts in this hour, after all?

At 9-11, men thundered out whiplash responses of judgment, and others offered a humanistic comfort. But where was the prophetic office of Jesus Christ expressed through the Church? As smoky, bloody, and horrific as that day was, were we as the Church fit to set Him forth in the midst of it? Or was the Lord absent on that gut-wrenching day, with no desire to speak to our nation?

What of the moral condition of our country? What of the rise of Islam within our own borders? What of the multitudinous issues and plights that flood the airwaves? I’m not suggesting a meticulous, anxiety stricken pursuit of understanding every detail in this hour. I’m asking, who is bearing the word of the Lord? Who is abiding in the continuum of Biblical thinking that can only be given when we’ve entered into the prophetic office of Jesus Christ? What is He saying, saints? Have we really got a jealousy for the hearing and knowing of His great heart? If we’ve given ourselves to lesser voices, it is only because we have not been willing to step into the great calling to set Him forth, and that is a calling, in the first and last analysis, that can only be carried out through those who have been redeemed. The platform of a conversation with your co-worker is just as crucial as the platform of an internationally recognized preacher. But what’s being given on Christian T.V.? And what’s being given to our co-workers and neighbors? Are we bearing the very testimony of Jesus Christ, or are we playing paper-rock-scissors with opinions and hypotheses? Failing to hear and deliver His own word, we fail to live as the Church.

We’ve got to go back to the place of prayer and worship, and the place of a radical study and meditation upon the Scriptures. We have a mandate to set Him forth, but to settle for human opinion regarding Him, or regarding the events in our generations, is to drop the ball entirely. He is jealous to raise up a nation of priests, those whose hearts are utterly before Him, loyal to His own perspective, and willing to set Him forth as He is, no matter what consequences will result.

Lord, take the weak souls that we are, and consume us with the fire and truth of Your great heart. Let us hear Your voice in this wilderness, and privilege us to set forth Your mercies and judgments in this pivotal hour. Amen.

Ephesians 1 - Christ in the Heavenly Places

“Nowhere is the Spirit of revelation more evident than in this letter. Charles Hodge rightly observes: ‘The epistle reveals itself as the work of the Holy Ghost as clearly as the stars declare their maker to be God[1].’ “

1. 1:1-3 After some opening remarks and greetings,[2] Paul launches us right into a deep and profound statement[3]. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Heavenly places are obviously not earthly places. Here we have an introduction into the spiritual realm.[4] We are opening the door into a vast uncharted territory. This is a realm that needs to be entered into, and a realm that the majority of the church[5] knows little about. This is the Supernatural Realm. This is (relatively) where God is. The secret is that we not only have access to this realm, but we are blessed with Christ here also.

1. 1:4-8 We were chosen to be blameless before the world. Only the blameless ones have access to the things of the Spirit. We are blameless because of Jesus’ blood was shed for us and now we can enter into God’s presence (v7).
2. 3. 1:9-10 The mystery of God’s will was made known to us according to the kind intention–Christ graciously dying for us not only to save us, but to give us access to the Spirit that we might shake the heavens and the earth in Jesus name–which he purposed in Him. With a view–sight, illumination–to an administration-stewardship, plan. The mystery of His will made known to us–the church, a mature body of stewards revealing the mysteries to natural and supernatural creation,  seeing–with a vision of–administering His will will bring about fullness–completeness of Christ manifesting and manifested in all things natural and supernatural. We are chosen (v4) to know the will of God and make it known in the correctness of time and proper stewardship of a full and mature church, which sums up everything in Christ. The verse could read: With a view to a ministry suitable to the fulfillment of the times that sums up, and is summing up all things in Christ. The mystery of His will is that through us He is fulfilled because His power is toward us who believe (19), we are His body (23), we are fulfilling His call, bringing all things into fullness (see note on 2:6).
3. 1:11-12 Us being in these heavenly places and being blessed, knowing the will of God and having a spiritual inheritance, is a demonstration that the church is to function in this, and not only that, but to flourish. As stated in v10, only a church with fullness can be the fullness thereof and demonstrate the fullness of Christ to the earth and spirit, bringing about the fullness of the times. This is His purpose. The counsel of His will is for us to know His will, which brings us as the church into fullness, which in turn brings about the fullness of the time. Christ died so that we would walk in this. This is the plan of the ages; to bring us into maturity and out of that maturity, to carry out the commission of the Gospel, fulfilling the plan of God. And all of this is basically summed up here in these verses, and it’s out of this foundation and context, and with these lenses on that we will continue through the book.
4. 1:13-17 As stated in verse 11, we have an inheritance in God, in the supernatural realm. When we believe in the Gospel, we are saved and the Holy Spirit gives life to our spirits, causing us to be born again in the spirit. We are sealed in this spiritual life with the Holy Spirit. God dwells in us and this is the pledge of not only our inheritance of eternal life, but that we have access to all the blessings of that eternal life here and now in through the Spirit of God. A church that knows about these things and understands, and operates in them is a church that is moving in, and moving toward fullness (v17)[6]. Remember, as we progress, we are building on what we have already learned. We are blessed in the heavenly places to know the mysteries of God, being sealed by the Spirit, to access of an inheritance, bringing fullness about. Next, all this will culminate.
5. 18-23   Christ – the Source of the Body
6. 1:18-19 The greatness of power. Coming right off the knowledge vs (17), we see that our eyes spiritually must be opened to see these things–these blessings in heavenly places, inheritance, the riches, the calling. It will take us understanding this to realize what he means in v 20-23. We have God’s power in us as believers in Jesus (v 3:20-this power in us). He has given us intimate access to Himself and all the power that it curtails. He died just to give it to us His church, His body.
7. 1:20-21 The strength of God is demonstrated in a crucified, yet resurrected Savior. He is at the Right hand of power. There are none who are above Him. He is the ultimate and supreme Ruler and Source of power any and everywhere ever. Now and in eternity, He is it. He is the highest rank, a rank which only He could obtain by shedding His blood.
8. 1:22-23 Everything in the entire universe, heavenly places, eternity: it is all subject to Him. And gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Do we realize the magnitude of this? All this aforementioned authority Christ has, God has given to us through Jesus name. All the fullness of who Christ is should be seen here and now, in His Church, His Body. We should be walking revelations that Jesus Christ is real, Lord, and that everything He said and everything we say about Him and what He did and can do is real. Paul and the Spirit do not leave us here, but as we go through more of the letter, the Spirit will show us how to reach this mature and full state and how to continually grow in it and become more like Jesus!

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[1] J. Wesly Adams and Donald Stamps (posthumously), Life in the Spirit NT Commentary: Ephesians, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999, 2003), p 1019. I thought this an excellent introductory statement. I feel the essence of Ephesians is entirely supernatural. The beginning of this quote is also impact-full: Ephesians is a majestic letter that stands as one of the mountain peaks of biblical revelation…This was a short exert form the introduction in the Ephesians section in the commentary.

[2] The second verse states at Ephesus; these words do not appear in many early manuscripts. The letter was written to the region of churches surrounding the church at Ephesus.

[3] In verse 3, he sets the stage for everything else that he is going to write. It is important for us to get on track now, and stay on track to better understand the theme and themes of the letter.

[4] I will use the words spiritual realm and supernatural realm at different times throughout this study, but I am essentially meaning the same thing by them. I am just switching them for different emphasis.

[5] Well, a majority of western church.

[6] There is so much to v17, I am not going to try to expound upon it all here. We must have a knowledge of the spiritual. We will study this more later and cross reference with 1 Corinthians 2, for further insight.

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 2: Chapter 1

Ephesians Part 3:  Chapter 2

Ephesians Part 4: Chapter 3

Ephesians Part 5: Chapter 4a

Ephesians Part 6: Chapter 4b

Ephesians Part 7: Chapter 5a

Ephesians Part 8: Chapter 5b

Ephesians Part 9: Chapter 6a

Ephesians Part 10: Chapter 6b & Conclusion

Ephesians Part 11: Heavenly Places

The letter to the Ephesian believers is a vast treasury of wealth and knowledge containing the riches of the spiritual realm. It insrtucts us with the influence and power that the church, the fellowship of believers, has as an inheritence in the heavenly places. And it is a declaration of the fullfillment of the times in the church attaining to the presribed calling and being in the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Preface

This is the first of a series of blogs that will contain a study I did a while back outlining key points in Ephesians. This is an exegetical study, one where we go either verse by verse or section by section through the book, and summarize the conclusions derived from the sections in context with the theme of the study.

Introduction

Ephesians is a deep revelation knowledge that only gets deeper and harder to understand, it seems, the more of it you understand and have revelation of it. In other words; this is a deep and radical book that reveals mysteries. And the more that the  mysteries are revealed, they lead to even more of them.

Ephesians is a revelation of what, how, and why the church is. This manuscript reveals Jesus’ plan for His church in the earth and in the supernatural realm. I feel that the first three chapters describes who the church is and what she is called to do, and the second three chapters describe how to attain to this calling and identity. Essentially I feel the letter to the Ephesians is  vital in the understanding of the church, the direction we must go, in order to get where we are called to be. Therefore I have entitled this study; The Mystery of the Church.

Background

Acts 19 describes when the apostle Paul first came to Ephesus. This is background and context for understanding his intent in the letter which he would later write to them.

There were disciples in the city of Ephesus but they had only received John’s baptism. Paul preached Jesus to them and they believed and were baptized in His name. Next, Paul laid his hands on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit (vv 1-6). And now a church has been planted in the city.

Paul and his 12 disciples (v 6) began the work of the kingdom in the city. God began to move in very powerful ways. Handkerchiefs that had touched Paul’s body were being brought to the sick and healing them while driving out the evil spirits. The people of the city brought their magic books together and burned them and the word of the Lord was growing mighty and prevailing (20).

To say that this church started in revival would be an understatement. This is a fellowship that knows the power of God and the function of a church in the midst of a society that is steeped in witchcraft. They were able to overcome these things in their foundation as a church.

These are the same people Paul is communicating with in his letter and this will help us understand the context better. He is writing to believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit, on fire with God, healing the sick, driving out demons, and overcoming witchcraft!

In Ephasians 1, he hits the ground running right away in his description of heavenly places. Even though he is not there, he knows they are still in the midst of this supernatural battle and encourages them that in this place, they are blessed (see verse 3).

For more background and information, you can read any commentary, also read Revelation 1-3, where Jesus writes his own letter to the church at Ephesus.

So, we have our context set up to begin going through the book. My aim is to post 1 blog per week on the chapters. Each chapter will consist of 1 or 2 entries, so check back regularly for updates.

I pray that this will be a blessing to you, with a fresh outlook on a deep and rich portion of Scripture that many of us cherish and admire, as with all Scripture.

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.”

Disclaimer

These are notes of mine compiled while doing a study of Ephesians at our church. This is not a dogmatic declaration, but one of many views of Ephesians. I am sharing these notes will all because my heart burns for theses things. Feel free to do with them as you like in a way that benefits the kingdom and builds you up. I trust the authorship will remain as it is. Feel free to copy and study, however, copying in any name other than the author is prohibited. If you would like to receive a notebook with all of the notes you may email me at daefire@gmail.com. Thank you for honoring the wishes of FireOnYourHead.org.

These notes are written by David Edwards and are not to be confused with the publication: Ephesians, The Mystery of the Church, A Commentary by MacDonald, William Published in 1968, H. Shaw Publishers (Wheaton, Ill).

[This study is influnced by the leaders who have taught and influenced me; particularly Robert Gladstone of Fire School of Ministry. Many details in these notes I learned direclty from his classes, messages, and notes. To hear Mr. Gladstone's newest messages click here.]

Ephesians Part 1: Introduction

Ephesians Part 2: Chapter 1

Ephesians Part 3:  Chapter 2

Ephesians Part 4: Chapter 3

Ephesians Part 5: Chapter 4a

Ephesians Part 6: Chapter 4b

Ephesians Part 7: Chapter 5a

Ephesians Part 8: Chapter 5b

Ephesians Part 9: Chapter 6a

Ephesians Part 10: Chapter 6b & Conclusion

Ephesians Part 11: Heavenly Places

“…. Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…” 1 Cor. 1.23

The Greek mind is one of loftiness, strength, impressive appearance, political power, and everything that men long for in their most heightened covetousness. The Greek gods of the first century were formidable, musclebound figures who threw bolts of lightning and carried out orgies with multitudes of women and goddesses. They were towering images, gods that evoked the praise of the ancient world by their intimidating tales and legendary feats. They were revered in the minds of their adherers because of their largesse and authoritarian grandeur. That’s what makes up the Greek mind, and modern western culture, though it does not revere Zeus or any of the other Greek gods, is driven by the same spirit exactly.

It’s remarkable to me how the heavenly mind is of a totally different order. The One true God sent His Son, who took on the dust of the earth and was born in Bethlehem, a little Jewish baby. He did not come throwing lightning bolts, flexing huge muscles and frightening men into submission by His domineering right hand. He came as a vulnerable, soft-skinned, breast-feeding infant, and the wisdom of God was here displayed in a manner that the earth had not seen to that point.

The immeasurable might of the Living God was displayed through His Son in every way, but the Greek/Roman mind cannot fathom it. We are much more of that mind than we would care to admit.

We would not have expected the Son of God to take on Jewish flesh and to be born in a stable. We would not have expected that He would experience a mostly normal childhood, growing up in Nazareth, which was a first century ghetto of Israel. We would not have expected that for roughly 18 years He would work in a carpentry shop, promoting no ministry, preaching from no platform, writing no newsletter, holding no healing campaigns. We would not have expected that He would sink Himself into the mirky waters of the Jordan, where all of His kinsmen were repenting of their sins, and that He also would take part in the baptism of John. We would not have expected that He would spend the first half of His publicized ministry telling people that He had healed not to announce that He was the messiah. We would not have expected that He would forgive the woman caught in adultery. We would not have expected that He would bless little children. We would not have expected that He would stoop low to wash the feet of the disciples, men who were often asking the most ridiculous questions about who gets what reward and whose name will be most known. And we, like Peter and the others, would not have expected that this Royal One would be found, whipped bloody and beaten to a pulp, hanging from a cross at the young age of 33. None of this befits authority or power in our Greek-influenced minds.

Yet in the weakness of all these events in the life of the Son, the fullness of God Himself is permanently etched into the annals of eternity and history. The Greek gods, with all of their boasting, flexing and roaring, are only hollow fables and lifeless characters inspired by fallen angels. Their names and words will rot without memory in the age to come. But the One who displayed the fullness of the only powerful God, is the One who showed forth His strength in expressions of holy weakness. 

Are our lives and ministries expressions of His life, or are they dominated by the Greek mindset? Do we look always for what’s bigger, stronger, externally impressive, bringing glory to our names or movements? Are we content with expressions of weakness in hidden places, where no gratification comes to us other than the glory of communion with God? 

The One who expressed Himself through weakness will soon return with fire in His eyes, a sword on His side, and vengeance against all that runs contrary to the love and purity of His kingdom. The “Greek” mindset will be permanently overturned, and the way of righteousness and justice will be established once and for all. How will our lives and ministries stand in the day of His fire?

Philippians 2:(5-11), “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

With the above scripture being a platform and foundation, I trust that the following words will encourage and challenge all of us to embrace the meaning and necessity of true humility.

The modern American church in many ways has embraced an ideology that is counterproductive to her purpose and identity on the earth. The truth is that in much of our so-called advancement and desire to become “relevant” to pop (modern) culture, we in turn have embraced a self-sufficient, self-reliant mindset and model that is based more on human logic and soulish manipulation, than it is on the power of the gospel and horror of the Cross of Calvary. The fact is that with all of our progression, advancements, technology, media outlets, giftings, abilities, political persuasions, trendy religous expressions, etc., isn’t it ironic that the more we acquire and do as the church in the natural, in essence the weaker and less effective we become with regard to reaching a darkening, sin laden world around us, (that in many ways we now reflect and project as the church).

Our only viable hope is to “SEE JESUS AS HE IN FACT IS” in the midst of His church. The church that He died to purchase with the shedding of His own blood. The church that is betrothed to Him by an eternal covenant. Sadly, many only want a fraction of this Jesus of scripture, while in turn rejecting His glory, His holiness, His cross, His blood, His call to discipleship, His consuming nature, His refining fire, His call to intimacy, His hatred of sin, His encompassing love, etc. In light of this, there has been a trivializing of the Lord and sacred things that has invaded the church in recent years. The result has been the promotion of spiritual sideshows that have a sprinkling of Jesus in them so that we can still classify what we do as “ministry”. However, much of what takes place is void of God’s presence, His awesomeness, His holy fire, etc. The peril is that in the bastian of our audacious religous zeal (void of humility), we have become like Laodicea! Revelation 3:17 says, Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.” In light of this condition and our spiritual dullness, we as the American church must turn our eyes towards JESUS once again!

When we behold Him as others have in past generations, who have experienced His divine assistance and visitation, then and only then will we embrace “true humility”, which is foundational to our existence and expression. The divine illumination of Jesus in our midst will polarize the irony of the Kingdom of God. The irony that says, the deeper we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, the more we see ourselves as less. Instead of us being more exalted by the increase of our understanding of God, we in fact realize how frail and weak we are compared to His glory and power. Matthew 5:3 which states, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God”, becomes the air that we breathe as we are shattered into unconcious humility. A humility that seeks no trophies, no recognition of man or approval from the fraternal systems of man-centered religion. This humility is based on a deep resevoir of intimacy with Jesus, which demands contrition and brokeness. However it also releases the heart of worship and freedom from self is experienced, which alone qualifies us to do the “works of Jesus” in our generation.

May the eternal purposes of the Lord consume the American church in this hour, however it has to happen!!!

All For Jesus,

Keith Collins
Generation Impact Ministries

Visit Keith’s Blog Passionate Ponderings

Visit Keith’s Website Generation Impact Ministries

(This is a poem inspired by NT scholar F.F. Bruce’s description of the first Church in Jerusalem in the book of Acts. He dubbed them “the Spirit-possessed society.”)

I see a society, peppering the globe,

Through the lens of faith I’m permitted to probe,

Who are these ones, these fearless, ‘nothing-fobes’?

They rejoice like Paul, clinging like Job,

I see a society.

I see a society, tucked in each nation,

Fulfilled in them is the groan of creation,

They face lies with courage, with proclamations brazen,

Yet their dispositions are tender and patient,

I see a society.

I see a society, hungry & thirsty,

Looking for fresh bread & wine unearthly,

Plumbing the depths of the Scriptures with yearning,

Growing as trees with bottomless roots, sturdy,

I see a society.

I see a society, marked with reality,

Dissatisfied with programs and analogies,

Sick to the teeth of Hollywood’s melodies,

Plowing through cheap theology and hollow fallacies,

I see a society.

I see a society unowned by toys,

Refusing to live as little distracted boys,

Waiting in worship with priestly poise,

Hearing His voice, enwrapped in His joys,

I see a society.

I see a society, unwilling to engage,

In spiritual fads, whatever the craze,

They prefer the closet of prayer to the stage,

Preparing the way for the end of this age,

I see a society.

I see a society made up of meek souls,

Serving their neighbors with towels & bowls,

Perished ambitions to meet heavenly goals,

Israel & the nations transformed, made whole,

I see a society.

I see a society of pilgrims progressing,

Not to new ideas with emergent themes pressing,

But moving with fidelity through trial & testing,

To walk the ancient paths of true priestly blessing,

I see a society.

I see a society, turning from lust,

Turning from immorality with fervent disgust,

Turning from anxiety to radical trust,

Turning from stagnancy, lethargy, rust,

I see a society.

I see a society with Danielic hearts,

Living in Babylon, shielded from darts,

Faithful in prayer, building ramparts,

Holy fire burning in the inner-most parts,

I see a society.

I see a society lit with God’s light,

Fit to endure tribulation and plight,

Equipped to extend mercy in the darkest night,

Walking in weakness, seeing His might,

I see a society.

I see a society refined of its dross,

No longer jerked, pulled, pushed, moved, or tossed,

‘Round by the winds of the world, they’re embossed,

Branded and burdened to preach only the cross,

I see a society.

I see a society of sons and daughters,

Raising the dead, walking on waters,

Content just to be on the wheel of the Potter,

Not aching for platforms or titles, unbothered,

I see a society.

I see a society profoundly Christ-centered,

They’ve springs in the desert, flames in the winter,

Merciful souls, vessels of balm, menders,

Exemplifying another wisdom, fiercely tender,

I see a society.

I see a society, I see the Son,

His image shines forth, leaves dark powers stunned,

Their schemes undone, His glory has come,

Alongside the King, with horses we run.

I see a society.

I see a “Spirit-possessed society.”

The hour is late, saints. Shall we come into the reality He has called us to? The hour is late, indeed. Let us respond to Him without reservation.

Amen.

“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.“ (Leviticus 6:12-13, ESV)

This is a continuation of my previous post, All Consuming Fire, and is not necessary to read before continuing further, but doing so is highly encouraged.

If you took a match and lit a curtain with it, the flames would spread, but the initial spot you lit on fire would die out almost immediately once the fire has consumed all there is to consume, and leave behind ashes.  This is why you need to continually add the fuel to the fire to keep it burning.  That way the fire doesn’t just affect what it touches and move on, but continues to burn in the same spot as well.

This is also why the priests were continually adding wood to the fire night and day. The requirement for the them mentioned in our opening text concerning the burnt offering would serve as a special exhortation for the priests to be faithful in their duties so that the worship of the Lord could continue uninterrupted. The bush Moses saw in Exodus chapter 3 was burning but didn’t disappear or get destroyed.  This is a profound symbol of the torch the Christian believer is supposed to be.  If the Christian would burn for the Lord and keep maintaining his fire, allowing passion and zeal to consume him like a fire, then there’s no reason we can’t continually burn for Him, and destroy the works of darkness, changing the atmosphere wherever we may find ourselves.

In Exodus 25 we read of the instructions for how the different items for the tabernacle were to be built, and we notice that the lampstand was such that it had 3 branches on one side and 3 branches on the other. And in each branch there were 3 knobs. You will notice that there are 9 sections on each side, which this writer believes represent the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit on one side and the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit on the other side.  The oil used for this was from the olive, of which there could be no oil unless it was pressed, symbolizing that the oil of the Spirit doesn’t flow from the inner man until the outer man–our flesh–is completely crushed. We could do a whole study that would edify the reader concerning the symbolism of the olive oil and olive branches, but suffice it to say for today, oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit in Scripture.

That being said, we read in Matthew 25:1-13 the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins waiting for the Bridegroom to come back for His Bride. Jesus is likened here to the Bridegroom, and the Church (Christians) are His Bride.  Since the warning at the end of this parable is intended for the listener/reader, we can assume then we are also likened to the virgins in this parable.  Therefore, we are in charge of whether we will be foolish or wise–whether we will remain filled with the Spirit of God or whether we’ll be foolish like the ones who did not have enough oil for their lamps and the fire went out by the time of His return.

It was the Jewish custom for the groom’s father to have worked with the family of the bride details concerning the wedding arrangement, including the date of the wedding ceremony.  Oftentimes women were betrothed in their teenage years, and the groom would go to his father’s house and build a place for himself and his bride to live, attached to his father’s house.  Jesus said “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3)  The Bridegroom would not know when the day was, but sometime after building the house, the father would then tell “go, it’s time.”

At that time, the groom and his friends would leave his home and proceed to the home of the bride, where the marriage ceremony was conducted, often at night. Usually a servant was sent first some time ahead of the bridegroom, to ‘pave the way’ and awaken the bride and the virgins.  Since the servant would not know which one was the bride, she would sleep in her wedding dress since the wedding ceremony would customarily be at night. After this the entire wedding party returned to the groom’s home for a celebratory feast.  This engagement process could last any number of months, possibly a year or more if the bridegroom was preparing their place in a far distance away to travel to, and return from.

The lamps they used here were large dome-shaped torches, fueled by rags soaked in oil and used for walking outside.  With extra containers of oil, the torches could last for hours, and as a result they needed regular refilling.  Therefore, since the bride and the virgins did not know how long it may take before the bridegroom returned, they had to always be prepared. Who knows how much oil they needed to buy in the first place, but in keeping with other Scripture, they probably had to do it sacrificially in order to continually afford to buy oil to keep their lamps constantly refilled.  The foolish ones, didn’t count the cost, and were only prepared up to a certain point–’just enough’ in their own estimation.  But the wise ones kept their fire burning.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid much of the Body of Christ is like the five foolish virgins.  The five foolish ones had lamps, but not enough oil, which speaks of having form and style, but no substance.  Many a church and its programs are going on continually without the fire, without the power of the Holy Spirit, the oil of gladness (Psa 45:7). This isn’t a stretch since we still have a large portion of the Body of Christ that doesn’t even believe in being filled with the Holy Spirit.  But on that day when He returns for His Bride, some will not be ready, and at that time it will be too late to refill the oil in their lamps.

Ephesians 5:17-18 says “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” The words used in the original Greek refer to a continual on-going filling, so as to more accurately say keep being filled [with the Spirit].  The Holy Spirit is a like a fuel, or oil to the fire of God’s presence in our live.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2.  The same way the fat and flesh of the animal was placed on the altar to be burned up, we too are to have none of our flesh in the way that the flowing of the Holy Spirit through us would continually burn that which needs to die.  Doing so helps us to be filled with Him, and to know what His perfect will is.  The more we’re burned up with His fire and His presence, the less like the world–and like our old man–we’ll be.

Colossians 3:16 says ^“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Jeremiah referred to the Word of the Lord as a fire that burned in his bones (Jer 20:9).  Let the Word of the Lord dwell in you richly, and stay continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and you will keep the fire of God burning in your life, and you will be ready for His revival presence when He comes in power.  The oil of the Spirit will ignite the Words of Christ in you if you are storing them in your heart.

__________________________________________

More fuel for your fire:

A message from Jerome Ocampo on Keeping The Pure Fire Burning that is similar in content, and preached at a past Fire For Life Summer School in the Netherlands.

Download mp3 (right click and save)