The Word for Today with Ray

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Jesus Raised and at God's Right Hand Ephesians 1:20

Paul the apostle did not “cease to give thanks and pray” for the Ephesian church members that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” would “give” to them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”. He also desired for “the eyes of” their “understanding” to be “enlightened” so they would “know what is the hope” of their “calling” and “what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints”. In chapter one and verse twenty of his letter, Paul shared what happened when God did this work “in Christ” and how He set “him at his own right hand” where we read:

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,

and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

The verse begins, “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,...” Paul began with the word, “Which” or “who, what and that” “he wrought” which means “to be operative, at work, put forth power and effect” “in Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and Son of God”, “when he raised him” which means “aroused, cause to rise, awoke and recalled” “from the dead” or “one that has breathed his last, lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate”. The “calling” given unto the Ephesians was “worked out” through God the Father through Jesus Christ whom He “awoke and raised” from the dead.

The verse continues, “...and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Paul added, “and set him” which means “made him to sit down, appointed, fixed at one's abode, sojourned and settled” “at his own right hand” or “right side which is the place of honor or authority” “in the heavenly places” which means “existing in heaven or heavenly regions, origin or nature”. When the resurrection of Jesus was complete, God the Father took Him to “heaven” and sat Him upon the “right side” or the “power position side” of His throne.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we realize the price God paid to provide our “calling” to be in a relationship with Him. Not only did He allow His Son to be sacrificed for our sins, He also “raised Him from the dead” and gave Him the position of power at the “right hand of his throne” in heaven. This was no weak effort, and we should never take for granted the process that it took for us to be saved. God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, decided that us “knowing” Him was worth all the price He would pay through His Son, and now that He has provided, it is our choice whether we value Him in His rightful position or not.

Next time Paul shares how Jesus is “above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Saturday, May 6, 2017

The Exceeding Greatness of His Power Ephesians 1:19

As Paul the apostle prayed for the “God of our Lord Jesus Christ” to give to the Ephesians “wisdom and revelation”, he knew this would be manifested in the area of the “knowledge” of God. In chapter one and verse nineteen of his letter, Paul added to this “knowledge of God” by sharing about “the exceeding greatness of his power” where we read:

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,

according to the working of his mighty power,

The verse begins, “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,...” Paul began with the words, “And what” or “which and who” “is the exceeding greatness” which means “surpassing, transcending, excelling and over and beyond anything of magnitude” “of his power” or “strength, ability, excellence, influence and resources which belong to riches and wealth” “to us-ward” which refers to “Paul and the Ephesian church members” “who believe” or “who think to be true, are persuaded of, credited to and placed confidence within”. Paul desired for the Ephesians to “know” just how “great” the “power” of God was to those “who rely upon, trust in and cling to” Him.

The verse continues, “...according to the working of his mighty power,” Paul added, “according to” or “down from, through out, toward and along” “the working” which is the Greek word “energeia” and means “efficiency and operation” “of his mighty” or “ability, force and strength” “power” which means “force, strength, might, dominion of a mighty deed or work of power”. Not only was the “power” of God filled with “exceeding greatness” toward us “who believe” , but it also exhibited “the operation” of God's awesome “force, strength and dominion”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we should not be surprised at the “surpassing” “power” of God Almighty. He desires for us to have “knowledge” that He is “all-powerful”, and not only is He “mighty” but He is “exceedingly” and “mightily” powerful. Since this is true, what are we worried about? What has us so tangled within our minds that He cannot overcome it? May God Almighty through His Son Jesus help us to have more full “knowledge” of Him and His “exceeding and mighty power” in everything we do.

Next time Paul shares how God set Jesus “at his own right hand in the heavenly places”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Friday, May 5, 2017

Understanding, Hope and Riches Ephesians 1:18

As Paul continued to share the blessings the Lord God poured out upon the Ephesian church members, he referred to “God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” giving “unto” them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”. Paul continued his thought as he shared about their “eyes of understanding”, “the hope of his calling” and “the riches of the glory of his inheritance” where we read:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

The verse begins, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;” Paul began with the words, “The eyes” which refers to “the eyes of the mind and the faculty of knowing” “of your understanding” or “the mind, spirit, way of thinking and feeling and desiring” “being enlightened” which means “to give light, shine, illumine, render evident and cause something to exist and thus come to light and be clear to all”. When the “saints” of Ephesus receive the “wisdom and revelation” of God, their minds' eyes and understanding was opened.

The verse goes on to say, “that you may know what is the hope of his calling,...” Paul added, “that you may know” or “perceive, notice, discern, discover, see, pay attention to, observe and ascertain” “what is the hope” which means “the expectation and joyful confidence of eternal salvation” “of his calling” or “divine invitation to embrace salvation of God”. The result of their “enlightenment” will be their “knowledge” of their “divine invitation” to the “salvation of God”.

Finally the verse says, “and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,...” Paul finished this verse with the words, “and what” or “which, who and how” “the riches” which means “wealth, abundance of external possessions, fullness, plenitude and that with which one is enriched” “of the glory” or “opinion, judgment, view, praise, honor, splendor and brightness” “of his inheritance” which refers to “property received, what one is given to as a possession and the share which an individual will have in that eternal blessedness” “in the saints” or “with, by and for the sacred, pure, morally blameless or religious ceremonially”. In addition to their minds being opened and knowing the “hope of” their “calling”, they would also realize the “splendor and brightness” of God's “rich inheritance” within the “saints”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we may once again marvel that God would extend to His “saints” “enlightenment” and knowledge of the “hope of” His “calling” to salvation, and in addition that He would extend “the riches of his glory” concerning “his inheritance” which is found “in the saints”. Let us be reminded that all of this originates with the Lord Jesus, and in Him we have all these benefits and blessings. We should praise the Lord for His wonderful gifts, and His openness to extend such grace to all who “trust in, rely upon and cling to” Him.

Next time Paul shares about “the exceeding greatness of his power”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Ephesians 1:17

As Paul continued to refer the“faith in the Lord” and “love unto all the saints” of the Ephesians, he did not “cease” to “give thanks” for them as he was “making mention of” them in his “prayers”. In chapter one and verse seventeen of his letter, Paul shared his desire for them to have “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” where we read:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,

may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The verse begins, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,...” Paul began with the phrase, “That the God” which refers to “the Godhead and trinity which is comprise of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “of our Lord” which means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” who is “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”, “the Father” or “generator, originator and transmitter of anything and is called God the Father” “of glory” which means “opinion, judgment, view, estimate, praise, honor, splendor and brightness”. Paul shared to whom he presented his prayers.

The verse continues, “...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” Paul added, “may give” or “grant, supply, furnish and deliver” “unto you” which refers to “the Ephesian church members” “the spirit” or “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son” “of wisdom” which means “broad and full of intelligence and knowledge in very diverse matters, supreme intelligence such as belongs to God” “and revelation” or “laying bare a disclosure of truth or instruction concerning things before unknown, and which are manifested and appear” “in the knowledge” which means “precise and correct knowledge” “of him” which refers to “God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ”. Paul's desire was for “God's” “spirit of wisdom and revelation” be used to bring them to the “knowledge” of God.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we get a sense of the intercessory prayers he made for the Ephesians. Paul desired for the Ephesians to truly have “wisdom” and “revelation” concerning God and His eternal plan. The idea that the “Eternal God” would share the “inheritance” of His Son “Jesus Christ” with fallen man should make anyone who thinks this through humble themselves before Him and give praise to His Holy Name. Praise be unto this glorious God of glory and His Son Jesus Christ for His “wisdom” and “revelation”.

Next time Paul shares about “the eyes of” the Ephesians would “being enlightened”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Giving Thanks and Mentioning in Prayers Ephesians 1:16

When Paul the apostle “heard of” the Ephesians' “faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints”, he shared how he did not “cease to give thanks” and “prayed” for them in chapter one and verse sixteen of his letter where we read:

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

The verse begins, “Cease not to give thanks for you,...” Paul began with the words, “Cease not” which means “do not desist, is without restraint, leaving off or getting release” “to give thanks” or “being grateful for and having gratitude towards” “for you” which refers to the Ephesian church members. Paul did not stop “thanking” God for the Ephesian believers.

The verse goes on to say, “...making mention of you in my prayers;” Paul added, “making mention” or “producing, constructing, forming or fashioning remembrance and memory” “of you” which refers to the Ephesian church members “in my prayers” or “in Paul's addressing God orally and earnestly”. Paul told the Ephesians the manner in which he “gave thanks” for them as he “remembered” them in his “prayers”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we admire his response to the Ephesians' “faith” and “love”. He did not stop “giving the Lord thanks for them” nor did he stop “praying” for them. We should be inspired to do the same for others who have “faith” and “love” in the manner the Ephesians exhibited. When Jesus Christ becomes Lord and Savior in others' lives, we can do no better than “give thanks” for them and “pray” for them upon every occasion that presents itself to do so.

Next time Paul reveals his prayer for the Ephesians as he asks the Lord to “give unto” them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Heard of Your Faith in Jesus Ephesians 1:15

Paul the apostle shared concerning the blessings bestowed upon the Ephesian believers by the Lord which included “earnest of” their “inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”. In chapter one and verse fifteen of his letter, Paul referred to how he heard of the Ephesians' “faith in the Lord Jesus” and their “love unto all the saints” where we read:

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

The verse begins, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,...” Paul began with the word, “Wherefore” which means “through, by reason of, on account of and the ground or reason by which something is or is not done” “I also” which refers to Paul, “after I heard” or “was endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, attended to and considered” “of your faith” which means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “in the Lord” which means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding, master and the title given to God the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Messiah and Son of God”. Paul began this new section of his letter by referring to when he heard of the Ephesians “faith” in Jesus.

The verse goes on to say, “...and love unto all the saints,...” Paul continued, “and love” or “affection, good will, benevolence and unconditional love” “unto all” which means “each, every, any, the whole, everyone of” “the saints” which refers to “most holy, sacred, pure, morally blameless or religious and ceremonially consecrated” people. Not only did Paul hear of the “faith” of the Ephesians, he also heard of their “unconditional love” toward fellow believers.

When we think through these words of Paul, we find he is beginning a new section for blessing the Ephesian church members. The Ephesian church members had a reputation for two major aspects that are found within Christians. First, they have “faith in Jesus Christ”, and secondly they have “love” for “all the saints”. Our question must be, “do we”? Do we really “trust in, rely upon and cling to” Jesus Christ, and do we really “love” “all” the other “saints”? May we be inspired by Paul's words, and use the Ephesians' example to have “faith” and “love” as they did.

Next time Paul shares how he gave “thanks” and “prayed” for the Ephesians, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Monday, May 1, 2017

The Earnest of Our Inheritance Ephesians 1:14

As Paul the apostle continued to share with the Ephesian church, he told them they “were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” after they “heard the word of truth, the gospel of” their “salvation”. In chapter one and verse fourteen of his letter, Paul added how this was “the earnest of” their “salvation” where we read:

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption

of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The verse begins, “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption...” Paul began with the words, “Which is the earnest” or “money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid” “of our inheritance” which means “property received by what is given to one as a possession” “until the redemption” or “a releasing effected by payment of ransom and deliverance or a libation procured by the payment of a ransom”. The gift of the “Holy Spirit” was the “down payment” for our “inheritance” until we are at last “redeemed”.

The verse goes on to say, “... of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Paul continued, “of the purchased possession” or “preserving of one's own property and obtaining”, “unto the praise” which means “approbation, commendation and laudation” “of his glory” or “judgment, view, opinion, estimate, splendor and brightness”. The “earnest” given by God is to “preserve His own property” which demonstrates and magnifies His abundant grace.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we should feel so blessed if we are believers in Jesus Christ. God Almighty put a “down payment” of His Holy Spirit upon us as a promise to “redeem” us, and it was all “unto the praise of his glory”. God in His “brightness and splendor” chose to “purchase” us with the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ, and in the same manner in which we give “earnest” money to secure the purchase of items in this world, God has done so for us. May we ever bask in the “grace” and “abundant mercy” of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul shares what he did after he “heard of” the Ephesians“faith in the Lord ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.