Due to having some “minor” surgery on my face and subsequent results (right eye swollen shut and intense headache) I will be taking a little break from posting my blogs. I will resume as soon as my eye opens. it’s pretty bad when your face id doesn’t work on your phone, lol.
Keep me in your prayers as I heal.
I will be back with my daily blog posts beginning December 16th. I will be taking a look at Paul’s epistle of Colossians. This is a great follow up to our last study in Ephesians. So…stay tuned and watch for it beginning next MONDAY, DECEMBER 16.
I have missed writing every day, but needed this break as I was traveling throughout East Africa last month.
Blessigs
EPHESIANS 4:5
“one Lord, one faith, one baptism,”
We are continuing the thought Paul is sharing with the Ephesians in verses 4-6 of Ephesians 4. As I read today’s verse (short and to the point), I couldn’t help but think about the work we are doing around the world with Every Man A Warrior. Our ministry crosses cultures and denominations. We do not exclude a man because he belongs to a different church than us. We truly embrace today’s verse in order to unite men around the world to follow God’s direction in their lives as disciple makers.
Paul gives us three more “ones” in today’s verse. One Lord (Jesus)! One faith (in Christ as Lord)! One baptism (the public demonstration of your faith)! Paul is adamant about uniting these Gentile believers with their Jewish brothers. He wanted them to come together under a common banner – the banner of Jesus only! But don’t read this verse and move on to quickly. Look at what Paul is showing us here.
APPLICATION
Paul’s “one Lord” statement carries a lot of weight. In verse 4, Paul had pointed out there was “one Spirit.” We will see him point to “one God” in verse 6. So, with these three verses (4:4-6), Paul is pointing to the Trinity – Father, Son and Spirit. All three are important. And with the mention of all three separately, Paul is making a point to the Ephesians. They need Jesus. They need the Spirit. They need the Father God.
“One faith” is bringing attention to the fact that through the shed blood of Jesus, we have all been brought into the same faith. Believers who are following Jesus aren’t divided into subgroups. Paul even said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) And this faith is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us so when it says, “It is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves. It is a gift of God.”
And then Paul steps onto thin ice, doesn’t he? He says, “one baptism.” Well Paul, what type of baptism are you talking about? Sprinkling, dunking, wet cloth? Paul is not referring to a type of baptism. He is referring the obedience of public profession of your faith, making it known to others. It is all about the act, not the actual process. I personally believe in baptism by immersion, but I am not going to break fellowship with my fellow believers over it. No, there is one act of baptism.
Ones! We are one! Never forget that. So, whenever anyone tries to separate you from other believers and point fingers at them, beware. Check everything by Scripture. After all, there is only one true authority and that’s His Word.
Father, I praise You that You are three in One. And You have made us one with You
EPHESIANS 3:15
“from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,”
My daughter and son-in-law gave me such a blessing a few weeks ago when our grandson was born. What was an even bigger blessing is they decided to name him Lucas Carl. He has my name. Why does that bless me? Well, I carry both of my grandfathers’ names – Carl Spence and Clarence William Willis. It’s kind of like carrying on the family name, in a way. Of course, my grandson has his dad’s last name (unless I can get him to change it, lol). Bearing someone’s name is an honor and privilege.
In today’s verse, Paul says all believers have their Father’s name. Now, he didn’t mean we all have to change our name to Jehovah. That would be kind of silly. What he meant was we are now all in the same family. We represent the Father. We are protected by the Father. This applies to all believers, alive or in heaven. We are all one big family.
APPLICATION
What does that mean for us? Well, first of all, it means we need to love each other. In John 13:34, Jesus tells us, “‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.’” How are you loving your fellow believer? Are you arguing about the color of the carpet in the sanctuary? How silly! We’re family.
Family means a lot of different things to people. Those who grew up in dysfunctional families can really struggle with the concept of family. They don’t understand that you can disagree and still love each other. Do you really think the disciples always got along? In Mark 10, we have a great story that I think illustrates this point. Remember when John and James asked Jesus if they could sit at his right and left in glory? Read the following and see what happened.
John 10:41-45 says, “41 Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.’”
So, love each other and serve each other. That’s what family does!
Thank You, Lord, for making me part of Your family.
EPHESIANS 3:1
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—”
Consider this: You wake up behind bars with your best friend. What are the first four words you say? Mine would be “What did you do?” Most of the time when someone is put behind bars, they proclaim their innocence to anyone who will listen. And that is true sometimes. But it’s been said that everyone who is behind bars thinks they are innocent. There are also A LOT of guilty people behind bars today.
Paul proclaims his guilt. He is a prisoner because he preached Jesus. Those in authority in the religious world did not like that, so they screamed his guilt. Now, it is true that what they accused him of was not true. But Paul was definitely guilty of going against the laws they held. Paul preached Jesus as the only way of salvation, not the Mosaic law. And why did he do this? He says so – “for the sake of you Gentiles.”
APPLICATION
If sharing Jesus with someone was a crime (and it is in some parts of the world), would you obey that law or share anyway? Would you risk imprisonment for the cause of Christ? In John 15:18-19, we read these words of Christ. “‘18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.’”
We can’t expect the world to like it when we expose their darkness. Have you ever gone into a dark room, flipped on the light and see cockroaches scurry into the nearest crack? They don’t like to be exposed. They prefer the darkness. So, when you let your “little light” shine, the world will probably respond back with force, maybe even threats.
In times like these, I am reminded of Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Christ is with you whether you are free or behind bars. Don’t let anyone cause you to tremble. The God of all ages is your strength.
Father, give me the courage to face down any giants that may threaten me.
GALATIANS 3:26
“For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Being a part of a big family can be a good thing. My wife, for instance, is one of eight siblings, two boys and six girls. They are all pretty close and spend a lot time talking through social media or, in the case of my wife and some of her sisters, hours on the phone. I am so thankful we have unlimited minutes now on our cellphones, lol.
But better than our earthly families, we are part of a large, multiracial, multi-continental family. That’s God’s family. Paul reminds the Galatians, who were for the most part a Gentile audience, that they too were part of this family. It wasn’t just a Jewish thing. Their common faith in Jesus as Lord has brought them all into the same family – the family of God.
APPLICATION
Application for this verse is so apparent. We need to do all we can to bring more into the family. John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,…” And then there is another verse by John in 1 John 3:1. “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.”
I could continue to rattle off dozens of verses on us being the children of God but let me encourage you to do a little digging. Just google “verses about being called children of God.” You will find plenty. As children ourselves, we are called to expand the family. We are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and invite the world to come in. There is plenty of room in God’s house.
Who in your earthly family right now needs Jesus? Pray daily for them. Share the gospel with them every chance you get. Will they get mad with you? Maybe, but what is worse – them getting made or them going to hell. And above all, live like Jesus. Sometimes words are even necessary in sharing our witness. The love of Jesus in us can draw them to Him. Be His obedient child.
I am so thankful to be in Your family, God. I know You will always be my heavenly Father.
ZECHARIAH 14:19
“This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.”
How many times have you tried to justify your sin? Oh brother, I cannot count the times I’ve done that. That person was mean to me. That person cut me off in traffic. She cheated on me, so… I could keep naming how we do that. But listen closely – sin is sin – plain and simple. We cannot sugarcoat it. Sin stinks.
Zechariah uses a word which has been translated as punishment. The better translation is sin, which also included the punishment. This word sometimes inferred habitual sinfulness. Get the picture. Egypt and the nations were not guilty of one sin. This has been their pattern. So, why would they go up to the feast? Their hearts were sinful.
APPLICATION
Oh boy! You could drive a truck through the hole this verse causes in our lives. We cannot declare ourselves sinless. Our whole life is full of sin. Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our righteousness is just filthy rags in comparison. God will not excuse us. We must do something about these sins.
I love Ephesians 2:8-9. It says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” There is hope for the vilest offender. Sin is sin. Sure! But forgiveness is forgiveness. Don’t spend too much time trying to figure out God’s forgiveness. Just accept it.
I have shared my salvation experience many times on this blog site. I never get tired of telling the story. I saw my sin at age 16. Before that I gave every reason in the book to explain away my sin. God had to show me the filthiness of my sin, and He did. He will show you how dirty you are, if you will let Him. Are you ready? He is.
O Lord, You have taken the filth of my sin and purified my heart. Praise the Lord.
ZECHARIAH 14:2
“‘For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken, the houses plundered, the women raped, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be eliminated from the city.’”
There is a saying, “War is hell.” I pray that did not offend anyone. But from all I have been told about it and what I have seen lately around the world, it is. We live in a fallen world where evil reigns. People do horrible things to each other. Often that is done in the name of religion. Don’t you know the devil loves that? Join me in praying for peace around the world. Pray for the nation of Israel right now.
The Lord continues His promise of judgment against Israel. Today’s verse reads like the current headlines. Could it be this prophetic statement is coming true in our day? I am not saying that is the case, but the situation the Lord describes in today’s verse is exactly what is happening today. Remember, the whole purpose of judgment on Israel was to draw them back to Himself.
APPLICATION
What will it take to draw you back? Well Carl, I don’t need to be drawn back. I’m okay. Are you sure about that? Are you walking with him as Paul describes it in Colossians 1:10? “so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
We need to be walking worthy of Him every day. As believers in Christ, we are free from the coming judgment that will face unbelievers. We will be yanked from this world at some point, sparing us from the evils that await the rest of the world. The horrors of war that we experience today will pale in comparison of what is to come.
Therefore, we need to bring as many as we can into the fold before that day of Jesus’ coming for the saints. I have friends and family who would be left behind if He came today. That breaks my heart. Will you join me in reaching out to all those you know who need Jesus? Together we can share with the masses of His great love for them.
Lord, would You tarry Your coming for a while so we can reach more for You?
ZECHARIAH 12:13
“the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves;”
As a minister for over four decades, I have had ample opportunities to come alongside a family or individual during their time of loss. There are few moments as tender as when you are standing beside someone as their loved one transitions from this life to the next. As much as you pray beforehand and prepare for the moment, there is still a huge jolt for them as that time arrives. Real ministry is done at these times.
Why do I mention that? Because in today’s verse, Zechariah mentions the house of Levi and the Shimeites. These were part of the priestly line in Judah and are representative of that group. Mourning (the theme the past few verses) was not just a national thing or even a personal thing. It is a worshipful moment. The priests knew that and could show the people how to mourn and give God praise.
APPLICATION
We are to give praise in all things. I know! I know! That is easier said than done. But if God tells us we can do something, then it is possible. James 1:2-4 tells us, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith will produce endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
So, how do you give praise, how do you worship and mourn at the same time? You point all your grief heavenward. You acknowledge your God above all things. There is probably one of the best illustrations of this in the book of Job. After Job has suffered great loss (property, livestock and all of his children), this is what happens in Job 1:20-22.
“20 Then Job got up, tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ 22 Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.”
Don’t miss that last line – “nor did he blame God.” Remember, as you worship in your mourning that God never inflicts harm on His children. He only wants to comfort and console us during these times of grief. Mourn, for sure, but as you do, worship the Lord Almighty who is and was and is to come.
Father, I worship You, no matter my circumstance, no matter my grief.
ZECHARIAH 11:1
“Open your doors, Lebanon, so that a fire may feed on your cedars.”
There seems to be an increase in forest fires around the world. Canada has had so many fires that the air quality in the U.S. has been affected. The recent fires in Hawaii were devastating and costs numerous lives. It seems these fires were all through natural causes. The people who have been affected by these fires have been devastated. We should continue to pray for them and ask God’s mercy for them.
Lebanon, in today’s verse, represents the temple in Jerusalem. The cedar was and still is a symbol of Israel’s strength. It also serves as the center point on the flag of Lebanon today. Zechariah prophesies of the opening of the doors of the temple to allow it to be destroyed (which we know happened in 73 A.D. by the Romans). It was burned with fire by the Romans and destroyed.
APPLICATION
Have you faced destruction in your life because of sin? Are the fires that have burned you still smoking? God’s wrath is still real. He still judges and prosecutes those who sin against Him. As His child, we are safe in His arms. But unbelievers face a certain judgment, one which many of them deny. Denial won’t prevent it.
If you are believer, aren’t you glad you won’t face that? I sure am. Now, I know all my works done in the flesh are like wood, hay and straw. They will definitely be burned up. They may even look like a forest fire in heaven, lol. But I am secure in my salvation. There will not be a judgment against me because of Christ’s shed blood.
Ephesians 1:7 tell us, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace…” His blood is like a wet blanket putting out those fires of judgment. We are covered. We are safe. No fire can reach us. It does not matter what the devil says. He cannot take away the blood. Praise be to God!
Thank You, Lord, for the “fire insurance” provided through the blood of Christ.
A Moment In Time 