EPHESIANS 6:9 A CHRIST LIKE MASTER

Ephesians 6:9

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

      A master-slave relationship can be compared to the current setup in our workplace. We may have subordinates or people of lower position working along with us. The lord teaches us through the verses how to deal with them. We are to treat them with love and respect. We need to remember that the ultimate master is our Lord in heaven and hence we need to humble ourselves. Just like the Lord showed no partiality among us sinners, we too should treat all alike. So to summarize our relationship with subordinates, We are to :

1.Give orders without threatening

2. Humble yourself under the heavenly master

3. Show No partiality

Prayer: Abba father, Enable us to be the kind of leaders you want us to be. Lord, you have taught us only to love and let this love not be blinded when authority is given to us. Enable us to exercise the authority in a Christ like manner with respect and care. Overall let us be able to humble ourselves under your authority as you are the ultimate Master for us all. Let this reminder be with us at all times.

In Jesus precious name

AMEN

EPHESIANS 6:1-4 OBEY AND HONOR PARENTS IN THE LORD

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”4 Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

NOTES:

Obey and honoring parents is one of the Ten commandments and so we can understand how important it is. Furthermore It is the only commandment with a promise attached to it to emphasize its importance. The verse says that we need to obey them ‘in the Lord’ which means that we should be careful that obedience should not go against God’s will. The parents are placed in our lives to care for us and love us. They are humans and might make mistakes but we need to love them, honor them for who they are and obey them. In the same way as parents we need to make sure that we make it easy for our children to honor and obey us. We need to bring them up in the instructions of the Lord. We are responsible for their upbringing and correction/disciplining is a must but it should be done without provoking them. Explain things in a lot of love and correct them. We are also raising future fathers and mothers who have to train their children in the same manner and hence generations are influenced by our upbringing.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for my parents.I seek your blessing to obey them and honor them at all times. Help me to spread your Godly love over them. In their old age, let them be showered with your peace and strength. Enable me to be their comfort and help me to understand them well. I also seek your blessings over my children. Enable us to bring them up according to your will. Let us be examples to them and always reflect the Christ in us so that it becomes a way of life for them. The days are evil and we hear things we cannot even imagine, but with you along with us we can parent them in your Godly love. Let them never stray away from your path and let them live a life pleasing to the Lord. Enable them to accept you as savior and Lord of their life and above all, let them be useful for your kingdom. Give us your divine wisdom to teach them about you and bring them up according to your will.

In Jesus matchless name I pray

AMEN

EPHESIANS 5:15-21 ...BUT BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:15-21

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Notes: As children of God we are to make use of every opportunity . The days are evil and the devil prowls like a lion looking for someone to devour(1 Peter 5:8) To overcome any situation we need to be filled by the Holy Spirit i.e completely heed to the convictions of the Holy Spirit. He should control all the areas of our life and in this way we understand God’s will for us. We have been gifted with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation but we can filled with Him when we surrender our lives to His guidance and control. Let us use each opportunity to encourage one another with Psalms and hymns. Let us reflect the Christ that dwells in us in all that we do. Above all let us thank Him for everything because we know He works for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28)

Prayer : Abba Father, I surrender myself to you. Enable me to empty me of myself and be filled with you. Let me yield to your Holy Spirit in all walks of my life. Enable me to operate on your wisdom and not on my thoughts. Let my actions and words be controlled by you alone and above all I thank you for everything you are doing in my life and I seek your blessings to share this joy with many more.

In Jesus’ precious name

AMEN

EPHESIANS 5:8-15 LIVE AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-14

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,

    and Christ will shine on you.” 

Notes:

We were saved by our God when we were deep in sin. We lived in the dark without any hope. We continued in our sin and our eyes got used to the darkness. But when the Lord found us, His light shone over all areas in our life. Not only the areas which we expose to people to give a good impression but even our deepest secret sins. He illuminated all our sins and made us realize that only He can saves us from it and He did. Our new life is in the light and we realize our mistakes now and Holy Spirit guides us in the right path. The word acts as an ever shining lamp in our path. As children of light now, let us continue to live in the righteousness imputed to us by Christ and have nothing to do with any fruitless deeds of the past. Let us live in this light and share the beauty of this light to many others who grope in darkness without any hope.

Prayer:

Precious Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for saving me from the darkness and placing me in your light. Enable me to live in this light with integrity and truth. Let my thoughts and actions be guided by you and enable me to understand your will. I submit my weaknesses to you and seek your blessings to overcome them with your strength. I seek your blessings to share the good news of your light to many others who are struggling in the darkness searching for a ray of light. 

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray

AMEN

  

EPHESIANS 5:1-2 IMITATORS OF GOD

Ephesians 5:1-2
 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Notes:
We are all children of God and are to follow the example of our heavenly father. Our standards are not set on human criteria but on the Lord. Our Lord has taught us only to love and he proved his ultimate love by being a sacrifice on the cross. We are called to love one another with the same love.

Precious Heavenly father, Your love for us cannot be measured. You sacrificed yourself on the cross. I am called to love in the same manner. I seek your blessings to love everyone in same way without any barriers. Help me to see all as children of God and hence everyone as my brother and sister. Enable me to speak about your great love to all and lead them to you. Without your Godly love in me I can't love others. Fill me with your love and cast away any traces of hatred in me.
All this I ask in your precious name
Amen.

EPHESIANS 3:20-21 ALL GLORY TO CHRIST ALONE

S - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20-21‬ NIV)

O - do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

According to His power within us

Glory in the church

In Christ Jesus thru all generations

A - Paul ends the beautiful prayer giving all glory to Christ who is able to do much more than what we ask for or imagine. His power which is within us can help us do much more than what Our mind can comprehend. Whether in church or wherever we go, all glory should go to Jesus alone and this is to continue to generations.

P - Abba father, Thank you for the assurance that you are able to do much more through me than what I ask or imagine.Enable me to be reminded of this at all times when I worry or put weight on my efforts. I seek your blessings to pray earnestly and then leave the matter in your hands. To you alone glory belongs and let me never take pride for anything I do. Enable me to teach and reflect your glory to my kids so that they too can bask in it and pass it in to their generations. 

In Jesus matchless name

️Amen

Ephesians 3:14-19 ROOTED IN LOVE FOR UNITY AMONG BRETHREN

S - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your heartsthrough faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

O/A - Paul prays this beautiful prayer for the Ephesians and as we read it, it becomes a prayer for us also : 

1. Strengthen us with power thru His spirit in our inner being ( to fight fleshly desires)

2. For Christ to dwell in us through Faith ( strong Faith)

3. Be rooted and established in Love ( unconditional love)

4. Have power together with Lord Holy ppl (unity among brethren)

5. For love that surpasses knowledge 

6. To be filled to the measure of all fullness of God 

   Each verse is so strong and tell us of His will in our life  - to be a deeply rooted Christian who cannot be pulled out by the desires of this world. We cannot comprehend the depth, height, width and length of His love but only by His power bestowed on us. His love that fills us is above all the knowledge we have and fills us with measure of fullness of God. 

P - Heavenly loving father, What a beautiful prayer you have shown me in this verses. Enable me also to pray in the same manner - to be filled with you to the brim, to be overflowing with your love, to be strong in my faith, to operate in this world by your power. I cannot love all with my effort but wen your love fills me, I can love everyone. Enable me to share this love with many others. I always doubted in my knowledge and efforts but you clearly prove here that ur love surpasses all knowledge and I will trust in this alone. 

All this I ask in your holy and everlasting name

️Amen

EPHESIANS 2:14-15 ONE NEW HUMANITY

S - Ephesians 2:14-15New International Version (NIV)


14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

O/ A - Just like how the Jews and Gentiles became one in Christ, which was thought to be impossible, the peace of Christ can lead an unbeliever to be a believer. Each person in this world is different, speak different languages, come from different cultures, different backgrounds but once they come to Christ, they become one - Children of God. The dividing wall is broken between them and the crown of sin is replaced with the crown of Jesus.


P - Precious Heavenly father, we submit all the prospective believers in our sphere of influence into your hands. Let your peace reign so that the barriers are broken in your name. Let your children come to know you and live in your light. Equip us with the power of the Holy Spirit to use the right words and lead them to you. I seek your blessings to glorify your name in all situations. In Jesus mighty name

EPHESIANS 2:16-22 BUILD YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST AS CORNER STONE

S -Ephesians 2:16-22New International Version (NIV)

16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.


O / A - The Lord has put to death the hostility between Jews and Gentiles through the cross. He preached peace to all. Through Christ alone we have access to God, the father and we who were foreigners are now in the family of God. We belong to the same structure with Christ as cornerstone, apostles and prophets as foundation and each one of us joined together into the same building which becomes temple of God.

P - Abba Father, Thank you for your blessed verses. You desire unity among your children. You have broken down all barriers through your death on the cross. Help us not to create barriers again among us based on human criterias. Enable us to overcome this and develop love among each other as brothers and sisters of the same household. Help us build ourselves with you as the cornerstone.
In Jesus matchless name
Amen

EPHESIANS 4:1-6 A LIFE WORTHY OF CALL TO ONE HOPE

S - As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

O/A - 1. Live a life worthy of the calling

2. Humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love.

3. Effort to keep unity of the Spirit - thru bond of peace

4. One body, one Spirit, one faith, one baptism, one God over all, through and in all.

A life with Christ in us is a responsible one and it should be worthy of the calling we received. The Holy Spirit within us guides us each day to be more and more like Christ and we need to yield to Him. The Lord desires unity among all as we are one body in Christ. The disharmony and Division is only due to the lies of the deceiver and we have no part in it. Our Lord desires peace among the brethren and this alone should be our effort.

P - Abba father, you have called me into this hope and I sincerely desire to make my life worthy of your call. Lead me to the purpose in my life. Lead me to my target group. Enable me to be more and more like you - humble and loving. Let pride never come into me. Enable me to live in harmony with fellow brethren and love everyone equally understanding that we all are one. Let your unity reign in the church and among brothers&sisters. Let all the dividing walls collapse in your name.

In Jesus' name Amen. 

Ephesians 1: 7-10 RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE - REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD

S – Ephesians 1:7-10 ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

O – According to riches of His grace, lavished upon us:

1.    Redemption through His Blood – Purchased with full price of His blood,

2.    Forgiveness of sin

 With all wisdom and understanding  :

 1.He made know to us mystery of His will

2. His will was purposed in Christ

3.He wants to bring unity in heaven and earth through Christ at the right time.

A - Our lives have been purchased in full with His precious blood and we have been justified before God from all our sins. This is only by the riches of His grace and not by anything we are or anything we had done. We were blind to the truth and was living in the world without hope or purpose but he chose to reveal to us the truth of Jesus Christ. The purpose of His dying for us was according to His will and pleasure because he wants us to be unified with Him through Christ.

P – Precious Lord, You have really opened my eyes through these verses. I still trust in myself to be holy and sinless and it is all futile. These verses show the price you paid for me. You died for me and purchased me from slavery and given me freedom. What can I do this match this? Nothing!! I cannot even come close to such sacrifice. Enable me, not to put emphasis on my capabilities but surrender to you. I am an adopted child of God and your spirit which dwells in me will strengthen me to overcome sin and will sanctify me to transform into your image. If I try by myself I will fail, but the sanctifying power of the spirit will teach me and guide me in my life and prepare me for your coming to be found holy and blameless. I surrender myself to be guided by you.

In Jesus name I pray

AMEN