Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“On account of this, I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (you having been firmly rooted and established in love), in order that you may be strong enough to grasp together with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, in order that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Chapter three is Paul’s second great prayer for us. the power of God works in our lives according to the trust we have in Jesus. Our trust operates according to how much we love Him. We love because He first loved, so the more we know about His love the more we will love Him. This is why the Word strengthens and deepens our trust in Jesus – because it is what helps us to know Him more. Paul’s prayer is that we know of Jesus love for us. Not in a surface way, but in a deep and abiding way. Not just so that we know it, but to that our revelation knowledge of it will open the floodgates for His power to operate in our lives.

Chapter four is about the unity we have in Jesus. We are all the same. One body. One Spirit – Jesus’ own. We have one baptism – in Jesus’ resurrection. We have one God, the Father of us all. And we ALL have grace. We might have different jobs, different missions, and different roles, but we are all part of the same body. We don’t walk as the world walks. We walk in Jesus. We walk according to the Spirit. As such, we should seek to put away lying and live in truth. The world loves the lie that some lies are acceptable. But the truth, given in love, is ALWAYS the will of God. We don’t let bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, or blasphemies to rest on us. Instead, we actively seek to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, and remembering to forgive each other. After all, Jesus forgave us.

Chapter five continues this, talking about some of the negative things that the world takes as normal. Paul explains not only what they are, but how they negatively affect our lives. We are meant to be children of light. We are NOT meant to partake with things of darkness. This goes even to things like alcohol – it not being wrong to take a drink, but it is wrong to be drunk because it impairs our reason and therefore our self control. We are to cling to the Spirit and things of the Spirit. These are the things that make us rich, fulfilled, and full of His BLESSING. We are to speak to each other in love, encouraging each other, singing to God in our hearts. It is the same with believers as it is with wives and husbands. We are meant to be kind to each other, honouring each other, and treating each other as Jesus treats us.

Chapter six extends this to children and parents as well as servants and masters (employers and employees). We are all to treat each other the way Jesus would treat us and those we deal with. None of this is easy, but all of it is very simple. We are each to put ourselves away and embrace each other with love. Serving like Jesus did (John 13:1-17). The fight isn’t against physical foes. It is a battle for our minds. God equips us so that we can stand against the powers and rulers of the darkness of this world. Instead, we are to equip ourselves in Jesus’ own armour so that we are able to resist the evil and tear down the strongholds in our minds. Paul encourages us to rely on an active prayer life, bringing everything in our lives to Jesus so that our chains can be broken. Paul then closes with his final remarks and blessings, encouraging them to treat Tychicus – the deliverer of the letter – with kindness and open hearts.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Paul

Key Verse(s): Ephesians 3:2-13; 4:17-24; 5:6-14; 6:10-20