The purpose of the epistle to the Ephesians is to strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the church, which is the body of Christ. The Ephesians had unlimited spiritual wealth at their disposal, yet they lived as spiritual paupers. And Paul wrote to encourage them to claim their Spiritual Blessings.
On Monday, we learn from Eph 1 that God Grants Spiritual Blessings. On Tue, we learn from Eph 2 that Christ Releases Amazing Grace. On Wed, we learn from Eph 3 that God Loves & Empowers Us. On Thursday, we learn from Eph 4 that God Grants Gifts for Unity. On Friday, we learn fr Eph 5 that God Enables Walking with Spirit. On Saturday, we learn from Eph 6 that God Provides Spiritual Armour.
Let us humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. Help us O God be Christ’s disciples who Adore You: For You are worthy of our Praise as God Releases Amazing Grace as well as Loves & Empowers Us. For You are worthy of our Thanks as God Grants Spiritual Blessings as well as Spiritual Gifts for Unity. For You Enable Walking with Spirit as well as Provide Spiritual Armour. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
God Provides Spiritual Armour; Stand Up & Stand Firm for Jesus
In 1858, churches in Philadelphia united in a citywide evangelistic effort. Dudley Tyng, a 29 year old preacher spoke to 5,000 men and 1,000 responded to the gospel. Four days later, however Tyng was fatally injured in an accident. As he lay dying, Tyng was still thinking about the men who had made decisions for Christ & said: Tell them to stand up for Jesus. Presbyterian minister George Duffield preached next Sunday on the text: “Stand Therefore” and in conclusion read a poem entitled Stand Up for Jesus. A church member sent the poem to a newspaper and was published.
Walk Worthy of your calling…You are rich in Christ, so live that way! The Christian’s conduct should be consistent with his calling. You are rich in Christ, endowed with spiritual blessings; so learn to walk in the light of that wealth. A spiritual war rages & those who use the armour of God will be able to stand agst Satan’s wily attacks.
Lord, we will Put On Your Armour: Put On the full Armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the… powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:11-12). Take Up the Shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (v16-17). And Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers… be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints (v18).
Lord, I recognise because I have aligned myself with You, the enemy will wage war against me. Help me Lord Put On the full spiritual Armour that You have provided. Help me understand the depth of truth, righteousness, faith, solid walk with Christ, salvation, prayer & the sword of the Spirit Your Word. Teach me how to use the armour & perseverance practising it. Amen.
Lord, thank You for the Shield of Faith to deflect Satan’s fiery arrows and provide necessary protection. Grant that assurance of salvation will guard my mind amid difficulties and doubts attempt to creep in. Enlighten my mind Oh Spirit to understand Your Word and how it applies to my life. And help me draw the sword when Satan attacks with a lie. Amen.
Lord, enable us to know the presence of Your Spirit within us & walk in constant awareness of it. May You freely live Your life in us, express Your heartbeat to us and Pray Your will through us. We know Lord we simply can’t do any of these on our own efforts, but with You, nothing is impossible. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross; Lift up His royal banner, It must not suffer loss: From vict’ry unto vict’ry His army shall He lead Till every foe is vanquished And Christ is Lord indeed… Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Stand in His strength alone; The arm of flesh will fail you; Ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armour; Each piece put on with prayer. Where duty calls, or danger, Be never wanting there. Amen.
God Enables Walking with Spirit; O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
Washington Gladden believed that Christians should be involved in the world’s problems. As a clergyman, he crusaded against injustice. And he often preached social gospel, rousing his congregation to social problems engulfing the country. When Gladden wrote this hymn, (inspired by Eph 5) in 1979, he said the poem was an honest cry of the need for divine companionship. And if our friendship with Jesus doesn’t lead to concern for our fellowmen, then we better check how closely we are walking with the Master. For God Enables Spirit Filled Life & we’re to Walk Worthy of our calling.
Lord, we purpose to Live Wisely: Be imitators of God as dear children. And Walk In Love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us (Eph 5:1-2). Once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light. Find out what is acceptable to the Lord… Awake you who sleep… and Christ will give you light (v8-14) Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are Wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of God is. Let the Holy Spirit Fill and Control you. Then you will sing hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord. And you will always Give Thanks for everything to God (v15-20).
Father God, may Your Spirit help us to imitate You to walk in love and in the light of Your countenance. Fill our hearts with the sense of Your nearness and loving fellowship. Order our steps Lord in Your way and then walk with us, for in You Lord there is no darkness at all. Help us walk in Your light for we are people of the light. Amen.
Lord, we purpose to Live Wisely and make good use of our time. Help us to sense Your presence & purpose in every circumstance. Help us see what You are doing and what You want to do thru us. Help us reflect each day to sense what You are doing in our life and where You are leading us. Help us develop a heart of deep gratitude in all situations. Amen.
Holy Spirit, we welcome You to Fill us and have full control of our life. We welcome You personality fully, Your character and Your attitudes. Thank You for Your empowering, Your gifts, Your blessings and all that You have done in our life. O Lord God, fill our hearts with gratitude, thanksgiving and praise; & Lord let me walk with Thee.Amen.
O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free Tell me Thy secret, help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care. Teach me Thy patience still w Thee In closer, dearer company In work tt keeps faith sweet & strong In truth that triumphs over wrong. O Master, let me walk with Thee In closer, dearer company O Master, let me walk with Thee O let me walk with Thee. In hope that sends a shining ray Far down t future’s broadening way In peace that only Thou canst give With Thee, O Master, let me live.
God Grants Gifts for Unity; and Inspiring Blest Be the Tie That Binds
I’m Blest Be the Tie That Binds John Fawcett was ordained as a Baptist minister and began ministry at a poor church in Wingate England. The small congregation could only afford to pay him a minimal salary. After seven years of ministry, Fawcett received offer from affluent Carter’s Lane Church in London. As he was saying his farewells and saw the tears on the faces of his people, he decided to stay. Inspired by Eph 4, Fawcett wrote this hymn for the congregation at Wingate. He recognised the bond of love he knew there was worth more than any material wealth. For being united with Christ means we are to treat one another as family.
Lord, Unite & Bind us together: Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be humble & gentle… Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of Your love (Eph 4:1-2). Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father (v3-6). To each of us grace was given… And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of body of Christ (v7-12).
Lord God, help me accept human imperfection in others and myself; for we are all sinners in Your sight. Help us to be more patient with each other making allowance for each other’s faults & weaknesses. Help us to develop a right view of others despite their annoying faults and non-saintlike conduct. Help us pray for serenity to accept things we could not change. Amen.
Lord, Help us keep unity of Spirit in lowliness of heart and gentleness. Let differences in our backgrounds, experiences and personalities, not divide us but instead enrich us. Help us make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit and protect it. Bind us Lord together in love for You made us one body & one spirit. Teach us to appreciate and love one another and live together in peace. Lord blest the tie that binds! Amen.
Father, You have appointed for me apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to prepare me for works of service. They are Your gift to the church to build me up towards unity of faith with all the saints, in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, so that I may become mature and attain the full measure of Christ in my life. Amen.
Lord, Blest be the tie that binds Our heart in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above… Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares… We share each other’s woes, Our mutual burdens bear, And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. Amen.
The Ephesians had unlimited spiritual wealth at their disposal, yet they lived as spiritual paupers. So Paul wrote to encourage them to understand and claim their heavenly resources. Only then could they draw on them for their earthly walk. And In Christ, Christians are endowed with every spiritual blessing as well as adoptn, redemption, inheritance and power.
Lord, we Seek Your Empowerment: We have boldness and access with confidence thru faith in Him. Therefore… do not lose heart… I pray to the Father that from His glorious unlimited resources, He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit (Ephesians 3:12-16); that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted & grounded in love may… comprehend… the love of Christ… that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (v17-19). Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory… forever (v20-21).
Lord, I have limited strength and may not have much in reserve. Even when I am strong, I will still need to depend on You. That’s more true when I am weak; please show Yourself strong in me; and fill me with Your Resources. Holy Spirit, You who reside in me, give me strength & faith to believe. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Lord, I want to understand and experience Your Love in a deeper way than I ever have before. May Your Love be my secure anchor as Your Spirit causes my roots to sink deeper in You. Grant me the power to understand the limitless extent of Your Love. Be the center of my life and reveal Yourself to me each day. Amen.
Lord, we exalt You being awesome possessing all wisdom and power. Forgive us Lord for having just a small view of You and Your will. We affirm Lord You are Able to do amazing things in and through us; though they are not yet experienced. Bring it up to the level of Your truth and teach us to operate in the Power that works within us. Amen.
The Ephesians had unlimited spiritual wealth at their disposal, yet they lived as spiritual paupers. So Paul wrote to encourage them to understand and claim their heavenly resources. Only then could they draw on them for their earthly walk. And In Christ, Christians are endowed with every spiritual blessing as well as adoptn, redemption, inheritance and power.
Lord, we will Be Your Workmen: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God… For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God Prepared beforehand that we should Walk in them (Eph 2:8-10). For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now… you are no longer strangers… but fellow citizens with.. members of the household of God (v18-19). Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone… in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple… in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place for God(v20-22)
Father, what a gracious gift that You saved us & we take no credit for our salvation as You gave it to us. Pray Lord that I will not degrade in thinking that I’ve to do good deeds to earn or hold onto Your salvation. For I am saved by Your grace, and good deeds are simply part of Your plan for me to have a purposeful & fulfilling life. Amen.
Father, Thank You for giving me new and rich life that will never end. Thanks for capacity to change and help me grow to be more like Jesus. Thanks Abba for adopting me and placing me in Your household. Give me spiritual gifts to serve others; work in me & through me. Help me lead a purposeful life, to be a blessing to others and thereby glorify Your name. Amen.
Father God, You laid the foundation on the cornerstone building a holy spiritual house for Your love. Thanks for making it possible for everyone to be part of Your family. Lord Jesus, grateful for Yr sacrificial act of love and the suffering You went through for our salvation. And I choose to live for You and to do Your assignment that You have specially prepared for me. Amen.
The Ephesians had unlimited spiritual wealth at their disposal, yet they lived as spiritual paupers. So Paul wrote to encourage them to understand and claim their heavenly resources. Only then could they draw on them for their earthly walk. And In Christ, Christians are endowed with every Spiritual Blessing as well as adoptn, redemption, inheritance and power.
Lord, so grateful for Your Blessing: Praise be to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing… in Christ, just as He chose us in Him… that we should be holy & without blame… having predestined us to adoption as sons (Eph 1:3-5). In Him we have redemption thru His blood, the forgiveness of sins, acc to the riches of His grace… In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to His purpose (v7-11). ( I am) asking God… to give you the spirit of wisdom & revelation so that you might grow in your Knowledge of God. (I pray also) that the eyes of your heart may Be Enlightened in order that you may know the Hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious Inheritance… and His incomparably great Power (v17-19)
Father God, all Praise and Thanks to You for Your abundant blessings. How easy it is to forget that You are the source of every good thing. Your goodness to me is not because of any goodness on my part; but because of Christ; and Your grace giving the spiritual blessing I need. When I feel dry & empty, remind me Lord that You stand ready to give whatever that I may need. Amen.
Lord, let reality of Your redemption and forgiveness of our sins flood our soul; and let the riches of God’s grace overwhelm us. Thank You Lord that we’ve been assigned an inheritance in You; and we claim this promise and declare that as Your children and heirs to all that You have for us. So thankful Lord for Your blessings; and in gratitude we purpose that Your truths will renew us. Amen.
Lord, I pray that the eyes of my heart will Be Opened to see the Hope to which You’ve called me. Help me to understand my true Inheritance; and enable me to comprehend the magnitude of Your Power for I believe in You. And I seek more of Your presence, Your Love & Power so that I can see them manifested in my life. Amen.
Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of justification by faith. He directs this charter of Christian freedom to people who are about to forsake the liberty they possess in Christ. Jewish legalists are influencing the believers in Galatia to trade their freedom in Christ for bondage to the law. Paul writes to refute their false gospel of works & to show the superiority of justification by faith.
Lord, we Yield to Your Control: Stand fast… in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of slavery… For you have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh (Gal 5:1,13) The works of the flesh are evident: hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions… envy, murders… and the like (Gal 5:19-21) When the Holy Spirit Controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: Love, Joy, Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
Father God, You made us free beings having a free will to choose without compulsion. We are abundantly grateful and blessed to be Your chosen ones. We praise You for giving us Your Spirit inside of us to live a life of holiness, and righteousness. God, help us to experience the fullness of the freedom we have, not to do whatever we want, but the freedom to do whatever You want which is best for us.Amen
Lord, we can be vulnerable to the works of the flesh, including contentions and fleshly emotions. As fruit of the Spirit doesn’t reside within my flesh, keep my life cleared of things that crowd out Your Spirit. Enable me Lord to humble myself before You and rely on Your Spirit. Train me to Yield to the Control of the Holy Spirit and may the fruit You produce draw others to You. Amen.
Lord, I need the Joy that only You can give; and I want to be marked by Your Peace and not to worry. Forgive me Lord for the times I let circumstances control my mood. I need Your joy and peace so that others might see the comfort and assurance available only in You. And teach me to rest in knowledge that You are in control. Amen.
Loving Lord, grant me to overflow with Your Love so that it will spill out in my words and actions. Help me pursue the path of love, in difficult circumstances or with difficult people; and cause Your Goodness to flow through me. For it’s not easy to think of others or think of glorifying You when my life is filled with pain. So, grant me grace to live supernaturally. Amen.
The purpose of the epistle to the Galatians is to refute the Judaizers (who taught that Gentile believers must obey Jewish law to be saved) as well as to call Christians to faith and to freedom in Christ. Apostle Paul goes on to show that it is in the Spirit, and not the flesh, that the Christian life is to be lived successfully.
On Mon, we learn from Gal 1 that God Approves Us thru the Gospel. On Tuesday, we learn from Gal 2 that Christ Jesus Is Living In Me. On Wed, we learn from Gal 3 that God Justifies Us By Faith. On Thursday, we learn from Gal 4 that God Adopts Us as His Children. On Friday, we learn from Gal 5 that God Grants Freedom & Fruit. On Sat, we learn from Gal 6 that God Promises Reaping Harvest.
Let us humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. Help us O God be Christ’s disciples who Adore You: For You are worthy of our Praise as God Approves thru the Gospel and that Christ Jesus Lives In Me. For You are worthy of our Thanks as God Justifies Us By Faith and that He Adopts Us as His Children. For You God Grant Freedom & Fruit as well as Promise Reaping Harvest. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of justification by faith. He directs this charter of Christian freedom to people who are about to forsake the liberty they possess in Christ. Jewish legalists are influencing the believers in Galatia to trade their freedom in Christ for bondage to the law. Paul writes to refute their false gospel of works & to show the superiority of justification by faith.
Lord, we’ll Press On to Do Good: Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done. For each one should bear his own load (Galatians 6:4-5). You will always Harvest what you plant… But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life (Gal 6:7-8). And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we Shall Reap if we Do Not Lose Heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to the household of faith (v9-10).
Lord, I desire to live a meaningful and purposeful life for Your glory. I want to sink into the task You’ve assigned me, to do it well to please You and to enjoy the satisfaction. But when things are overwhelming, help me to persevere, and remind me that You reward faithfulness. And let knowledge of Your goodness keep me going when weary. Amen.
Lord, we recognise whatever seeds of priorities, habits and attitudes we plant in our lives, eventually become what we will harvest. Help us Lord to keep planting spirit of praise and love for God & others; godly habits and positive actions. For eventually these seeds will grow; and become a Harvest as You have promised. Amen
Lord, Thank You for teaching me in my weariness that I can do absolutely nothing apart from You. I give myself to You; for You’re my life, my strength and my salvation. Grant me the power to restore joy; even as I purpose Not to lose heart. Renew my vision Lord to keep doing Your will and to do good. And let knowledge of Yr goodness energise me when I feel down.Amen