Scripture

Don’t be drunk with wine because that will ruin your life. Instead be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

Observation

We are to be careful how we live, asking what God wants from us rather than pleasing ourselves.

Instead of over-indulging in drink, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing songs of worship and praise to the Lord.

Application

The people of the world think that getting drunk on the weekend is a great way to unwind from the stresses of life. Depending on alcohol or other drugs will ultimately wreck a life.

As christians we have a far better way of dealing with problems, and that is seeking the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t be filled with drink; be filled with the Holy Spirit instead.

Unlike alcohol and drugs, which merely desensitise us to life, the Holy Spirit is life in its fullest. We were made for fellowship with God, so fullness of Holy Spirit is fullness of life.

As we seek the deeper life with God, worship and praise will be the path we take. Whether we sing the Scriptures or hymns and worship songs, or even “spiritual songs”- that is allowing the Holy Spirit to create a new song in us- singing has many benefits in the Spirit-filled life.

• Music bypasses our logical thinking and opens our soul to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

• The words keep our minds focused on God’s glory.

• Songs can keep ministering in us long after we stop singing, as the words and music amplify each other in our thoughts.

• Songs can provide us with new words and phrases to express our love for Jesus

Prayer

Holy Spirit, fill me and re-fill me. May me whole life become a symphony of worship to you. Amen.

Scripture

Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father- the Father of our Lord Jesus- all because He sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts.

Observation

God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose us and joined us to Himself, adopting us as His children.

The cascading riches of His grace flow over us and release wisdom and insight. God’s long range plan is that He will make all things new through Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the first instalment or deposit for what is coming- all to the glory of God.

Application

Because of Jesus we lack nothing. Everything we need for salvation and eternity has been given to us.

God is not reluctant in His giving. He lavishes grace upon grace over us. His grace is like a mighty waterfall that keeps flowing over us. It is superabundant- more than enough, more than is reasonable.

It is all because He loves us and desires us to see His love for us. He is like an old billionaire who falls in love with a young woman and showers her with jewellery and all kinds of extravagant gifts.

God’s graces are more than mere physical baubles. His first grace is the promise of eternal life. We are guaranteed a place in heaven, a “mansion.”

But there is so much more than even this:

• the gifts of wisdom and insight

• the power gifts of the Holy Spirit

• the fruit of the Holy Spirit

But Paul tells us all of this is just a deposit or an engagement ring. There is so much more to come.

Prayer

Lord God I thank you for your overflowing, superabundant grace which you lavish on me daily. Please help me to look to your cascading, flooding grace and to rejoice in you every single day. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2.1-10

Scripture

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Observation

We were once dead in our sins, obeying the devil. We have all been in that dark place.

But God gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead, and He seated us in heavenly realms with Him. It is by God’s grace that we are saved. It is a gift from Him. We couldn’t do this by ourselves.

Now we are God’s masterpiece, created to do the good deeds He has planned for us.

Application

I am God’s masterpiece, the pinnacle of His creative activity. We are constantly under assault by the judgements and accusations of other people and ourselves.

God’s judgement is that I am a work of art- His masterpiece.

Sins- both those committed by me and those committed against me- are like balls of dirt and mud thrown over this artwork.

When I was born again, God started the restoration process, carefully scraping off the dity, repairing broken threads, cleaning the paintwork.

Now, instead of being in captivity to sin, I am being set free to do the good deeds that I was created for. We are not saved by good deeds; we are saved for good deeds.

Every one of us is created unique to shine out God’s glory in a unique way. We are not copies or forgeries; we are unique original creations.

Prayer

Thank you Lord that you tell me I am a new creation, a masterpiece in your creative handiwork. Please continue to release me from sin so that I can glorify you in all things. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3.1-12

Scripture

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Observation

God Himself has now revealed His mysterious plan. This did not happen in previous generations, but now God has revealed it to His apostles and prophets.

The plan is this: Gentile believers in Christ and Jewish believers in Christ share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. We share in the same blessings because we are part of the same body.

God’s church is a testimony of God’s wisdom to all the powers and principalities.

Because of our faith in Christ we can come confidently and boldly into God’s presence.

Application

In the Old Testament only one person was allowed into the Holy of Holies- the place where God ‘s presence was- for one day each year. Now, as sons and daughters of the living God, every believer can enter into His presence at any time.

The Holy Place is open to all!

Unlike the High Priest we don’t need a sacrifice to make us clean. Jesus is the sacrifice who makes us clean all the time. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

What does it mean to come boldly and confidently into the presence of God? It means that we do not have to fear God’s judgement. Christ has turned away the wrath that is against sin.

It means that we can intercede and worship at the throne of our Creator, our Father. It means that we can express love to Him without having to find the exact right words. It means that we can sit at His feet and listen to His voice.

Part of the mystery of the gospel is that heaven has come down to earth. Ordinary people carry the presence of God with them and the division between the unseen world and the seen world no longer applies.

Prayer

Father, please help me to understand what it means to come into your presence and help me to live in that Holy Place. Amen.

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5.6-14

Scripture

Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

Observation

We must not associate with people who seek to deceive with empty words for the wrath of God is coming down on the disobedient.

We were once darkness, but now in Christ we are light. So we must live as children of the light. We must have nothing to do with the shameful deeds of darkness.

Application

Sometimes Paul puts it straight and simple- try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. That summarises the role of every christian.

We have been rescued from the darkness and now we must learn to live in he light as children of the light.

Sin must go, but righteous deeds must come in. We need to try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.

Reading, studying and meditating on Scripture are a great way to do this. Scripture is God’s inspired word. Daily reading of the Bible is as important to the soul as eating is to the body.

Listening prayer is another important discipline. Prayer is not about laying out my demands before God who knows what we need before we even ask. Prayer is a two way conversation in which we still our heart to hear the still small voice of God.

By telling us to try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord, Paul reminds us this is a process, a gradual alignment of my will with the Lord’s.

We don’t always get it right, but that’s not the point. It is the intention or desire to please God that is important, not the total adherence to a set of rules.

God loves me. Because of His love for me, I am learning to love Him. I want to please Him because I love Him. I delight in God’s pleasure.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, please help me to learn how to please God. Remind me to read Scripture and pray daily. Teach me each day how to live my life as an offering to you.

 

Scripture

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 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation

Paul, now a prisoner for Christ, received a revelation of the mystery of God’s grace. This mystery was not made known to previous generations and is now only being revealed to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through Christ Gentiles and Israel are being made members of one body.

Paul became a servant of this gospel and received a grace to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. God’s intent is that through this church comprising both Gentile and Jewish believers in Christ, God’s wisdom will be revealed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

Application

God’s plan before the creation of the world was that all who believe in the Lord Jesus would be of one faith, one heart, one mind. God has torn down the divisions between Jew and Gentile, because in Christ all may be redeemed.

My salvation is no longer dependent on where I was born or whether I can fulfil a life of obedience to the law of God.

We live in a time of grace. God’s love is poured out on the world so that whoever believes in Christ may come confidently to the Father and receive eternal life.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for dying to pay the price for my sin. Amen.

Scripture
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil on the heavenly realms.

Observation
We must put on the full armour of God to resist the devil’s evil plans. We don’t struggle against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil.

The armour of God is our combat equipment that enables us to stand our ground and defeat every attack of the enemy. It consists of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

We should pray in the Spirit on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers, especially for our christian brothers and sisters.

Application
Our struggle as christians is against the demonic forces not against people. For this reason, it is important to fight our battles in the heavenly realm, not in the earthly realm.

Prayer is what wins our battles for the Lord- prayer together with integrity and devotion to Christ.

God does call us to action, even to activism, but this must start and continue in prayer. There is no point fighting the battles we have not been called to fight, nor in engaging in actions which God has not initiated. These are the very things which play into the hands of the devil.

Prayer
Lord help me to discern your will for me as I step out into the battle each day. Amen.