Ephesians (Program #63) – Seven Aspects of the Church

Through out history if you look carefully, you will see that God’s enemy has focused his attack on the Church. He has work relentless to divide the Church and damage it with religion, organization and teachings that turn it away from the oneness Christ died on the cross to accomplish.

Surely if the Church is Satan’s focus, it must indicate that the Church is what he fears the most. This is not only reveal by looking at history, it is the central revelation of God’s word. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against her”.  The Lord Jesus Himself proclaimed in Matthew 16 and one of the great prophecies in scripture. But to see how He will do this building work, we need the book of Ephesians.  Today we will consider 7 crucial aspects of the Church.

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1 & 2 Samuel (Program #29) – The Unique Work of the Processed Triune God

In 2 Samuel, the Lord through the Prophet Nathan prophesied to David the king, “Moreover Jehovah declares to you that Jehovah will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which will come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. It is he who will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” Properly understood, this passage constitutes one of the greatest prophecies in the entire Old Testament.

In Matthew in the New Testament, chapter 16, the Lord Jesus makes a similar prophecy to His disciples. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” This passage equally constitutes one of the greatest prophecies in the New Testament as well. God’s desire to build a dwelling for Himself and for us, from the beginning of the Bible through to the very end.

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Ephesians (Program #62) – Three Items That Damage the Church

The real value of history is, as a teacher, where as the saying goes “those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it.”  So, what does history teach us about the Church?  Well, we seen very vividly that the Church as it presented in the book of Ephesians is the very focus of God’s eternal plan. It is the Church, the corporate expression of Christ that Paul refers to as a great mystery hidden from the ages but now revealed through the holy apostles and prophets in spirit. In other words the Church is God’s central goal. And as such, it is also been the focus of God’s enemy, Satan. So, what does history show us concerning Satan’s attack against God’s eternal goal?

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1 & 2 Samuel (Program #28) – The History Concerning David (12)

Of all of the great figures in the Old Testament, none found more favor in the eyes of Jehovah than His beloved King David. David had a heart that matched God’s heart and therefore God was able to reveal the highest things to him. Yet in one critical area, David was weak and this weakness remains even today as a dark blemish on the light of one of God’s great servants.

Even in the divine record, the Holy Word, both in the New and Old Testament, God has reminded us of David’s fall. In 1 Kings 15:5, it says because David did what was upright in the side of Jehovah and did not turn aside from anything that He had commanded him all the days of his life except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

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Ephesians (Program #61) – Ordinances and Doctrines

The cross of Christ which is the very foundation of salvation for a believer. Represents the termination of so many negative things like sin and death, the flesh, the old nature or old man, even Satan and the world.

Christians love to hear messages on these things. But have you ever listen a message about the ordinances been included in what is slain on the cross? Well, here is the message for you, in Ephesians 2:14-15, “For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace.“

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Ephesians (Program #60) – The Church as a Hybrid Life; the Mingled Spirit for the Church Life

Every person asked themselves at some point in their life, why am I here? Or even what’s the reason for the universe and everything in it?  Well, as believers we probably add to those questions a third, why did God save me? What purpose does He has for me being a Christian?  Well, these are the great questions that had perplexed and puzzled mankind for all time. Yet the Bible speaks very clearly to these great universal questions, especially in the New Testament book of Ephesians. We will consider the answers to these questions from the perspective that the apostle Paul gives us in this most marvelous book of the Bible.

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Ephesians (Program #59) – Conclusion

Many great apostles contributed to the New Testament: John, James, Peter and Matthew as well as others. But the bulk of the New testament came through the apostle Paul.

The epistles of Paul in many ways formed the kernel of the New Testament. And it was through Paul also that the Church was spread through out much of the civilized world during New Testament time.

Yet at the end of this book, perhaps his highest work, Ephesians, this great apostle commissioned with the divine revelation in a very touching and intimate conclusion to his letter to the Church in Ephesus shows how much he valued not his own strength or vision or gift but taking his place as a living member in full coordination with the Body. And he asked for their prayers and petitions concerning him.  A very touching fellowship.

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Ephesians (Program #58) – The Application by Prayer

In the realm of spiritual warfare covered in Ephesians chapter 6, there are six items that make up the whole armor of God. Of these six the girdling of the lions, the breastplate of righteousness, the shod-ding of the feet with the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit.  Five are defensive in nature, protecting us from the attack of God’s enemy. But the 6th item the sword of the spirit is offensive, with this sword we are actually equipped to fight against God’s enemy.

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Ephesians (Program #57) – The Whole Armor of God (2)

Four verses in Ephesians Chapter 6 mentioned 6 items that are associated with spiritual warfare. Beginning at verse 14, it says “Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth (#1) and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (#2)  And having shod your feet with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace; (#3). Besides all these, having taken up the shield of faith, (#4) with which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And receive the helmet of salvation (#5) and finally the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God.”

Six items in two groups. The first group : the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the feet shod with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace. These three things prepare us for the warfare. While the second group provide us for the weapons, the implements that we need to fight the battle.

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Ephesians (Program #56) – The Whole Armor of God (1)

The book of Ephesians unveils the Church as the center of God’s purpose and eternal plan. It also shows us the Church in several aspects that progress from the Body of Christ to a full grown man fully matured in life, in the expression of God to ultimately become the Bride of Christ for His satisfaction. That brings us to Chapter 6 and spiritual warfare.  Verse 10 “Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil”

It’s here that many readers of the Bible lose sight of one very crucial truth regarding the real focus of Ephesians.  Remember, Ephesians is a book on the Church, the corporate expression of God and in the realm of spiritual warfare, this is even more crucial. For us to put on the whole armor takes the Body, all the members, we can not fight the spiritual battle alone.

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