Sunday, September 13, 1998 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Ephesians 1:18-21 and 3:14-21, we learned about the importance of appropriating God's power for daily living. Many Christians fail to live up to the standards of Christ. They never realize that they possess what it takes to live successfully for Him. They feel frustrated and abandoned by God, and many even doubt their own salvation. In Ephesians 1:18-21, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and tried to encourage those followers of Christ to know the greatness of God's power. The Lord's power is available to each person who follows Him, and Paul knew firsthand what our heavenly Father could do in a life. He wanted the hearts of the Ephesian believers to be open. He desired for them to understand the hope to which God has called each of us. He wanted them to know about God's glorious riches and their inheritance of those riches. And he also wanted them to know about God's tremendous power. This is the same power that was used to raise Jesus from the grave. An important teaching of this lesson is that, through a close, personal walk with Christ, we can leave destructive lifestyle habits behind and develop new patterns for a much more wholesome way of life.
According to Ephesians 3:14-21, we can begin to develop the right patterns for living when we cultivate our relationship with Christ. Many people associate power with weaponry, where the greater the destructive capability of the weapon the more the power. Sometimes, money and knowing the right people are also thought of as sources of power. But Christians should seek the inner power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We should seek to experience Christ's love, and we should also seek a God-given power for life, worship, and service. Because Christ's power is available to all that follow Him, we should allow Him to dwell richly in our hearts by faith. We need to realize that we grow partly through our fellowship with other believers because we are able to learn from one another and comfort each another. But we also grow by faithful Bible study and consistent worship. Our strength for Christian living and service comes from God's Spirit through our relationship with Christ. Because of that, we should give the Lord praise, honor, and glory throughout all generations. According to Ephesians 3:20-21, we should especially praise Him for His infinite power.
This life can often be very difficult, so those of us who name Christ as Savior should try to minister to people around us who are in need or who may be hurting. As you go through the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to use you in some positive way to help someone close or near to you who may be having a difficult time.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CjasYsgodTavopOunLviIghajDasgZwmalhTigQazNwpyidHgoEavopZhosgUmoRanOjivKshodFamiBgmejtVupmi
QwpyidKwjipFasgBvoYXWupjeawPjasLafipGoEwmeAZagenUpyihPunMhoJashFEwmaojvXghazSunPhoMashIH
GehimedZigWwagexowawMhoJatelEhosg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Send email to: tlee6040@aol.com