“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Eph. 4:1) Here’s a monumental point to be made about this verse: A worthy walk is fundamentally one that embodies the values found in the Gospel that called you to salvation. Paul's arguing that the... Continue Reading →
“…that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19) I’d suggest the perfect cross-reference and the perfect example of being filled with all the fulness of God is Christ Himself in Col. 2:9 - “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Does this mean that all of... Continue Reading →
1. What is the spiritual state of the Church at Ephesus? The Ephesians were built up saints, who understood foundational doctrine. So, Paul writes an epistle to progress them further in eternal things to stand confident. Ephesians 1 reminds this Church of the abundance of things God has provided ‘in Christ.’ Paul’s prays in Ephesians... Continue Reading →
Ephesians 1:15-23 vs 3:14-21 When I prep for our Sunday series on Ephesians, I regularly visit this old Ephesians commentary by Walter Leon Tucker, who was a big influence on J.C. O’Hair. He pointed out that the first prayer request in Ephesians 1 is characterized by the word WHAT but this prayer request in chapter... Continue Reading →
How did Paul handle those times of life that were full of suffering and tribulation? I thought we’d approach this topic from two perspectives: 1) what Paul understood before he went through suffering and 2) how Paul handled suffering. Let’s look at the first perspective: What Paul Understood Going into Suffering He knew sufferings were... Continue Reading →
As we read through the Gospels, then into Acts we realize they are a continuation of God dealing with the Nation of Israel. However, something significant happened in Acts. As explained in the parable of the fig tree in Luke 13:6-9, God gives Israel one more year to produce spiritual fruit. (Acts 1-8) The Little... Continue Reading →
As a believer, God says He will reward us for the works that abide the fire. “Everyman’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall berevealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (I Cor.3:13) The passage further teaches how: “If... Continue Reading →
As I’m sure many know, Dr. James Dobson passed away last this week. He was 89. Millions knew him as the host of Focus on the Family. He was the child psychologist who “answered hundreds of thousands of parenting questions and urged Christians to fight in America’s ‘civil war of values.’” Hmm. “A civil war... Continue Reading →
Consider that it may be contrary to God’s will for us to pray difficulties away or thinkGod doesn’t care or is mad at us when our loved ones aren’t miraculously healed. Weare under grace today and not promised Israel’s (healing) blessings for faithfulness.God’s will for the Body is to use sufferings to manifest His power... Continue Reading →
Paul uses this phrase in his instruction to the advanced Churches, those who alreadylove one another… but why? He encourages them to keep growing in this key godlycharacteristic. One reason is that as the doctrine of selfless love continues to workin them, they will increasingly develop godliness, a fruit of the Spirit, which has itscenter... Continue Reading →
Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey... Continue Reading →
In 2 Cor. 12:7-10, Paul had a messenger of Satan buffeting him. He begged the Lord three times to have it removed. And how did the Lord respond? He said in vs. 9, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul went through the same learning curve we... Continue Reading →
"Riches" is an interesting Bible study. Let’s first consider the definition from Webster’s 1828: RICH'ES, noun 1. Wealth; opulence; affluence; possessions of land, good or money in abundance. Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion than our neighbors. 2. Splendid sumptuous appearance. The riches of heav'n's... Continue Reading →
We shall heretofore attempt to exegete all those headache-inducing passages about “this generation” in the Gospels! As a bonus, we shall also exegete that time the Lord said, “There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” [Note - this first section... Continue Reading →
[This is a snippet from Sunday’s sermon and our series on Ephesians. - Joel] “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:15-16). The saints loved because they had... Continue Reading →
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise... Continue Reading →
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Eph. 1:13 opens with "In whom ye also trusted." In whom, in Christ, ye, you Ephesians, also trusted in Christ, which... Continue Reading →
1) “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4) If thou seekest her as silver, and search-est for her as for hid treasures; 5) Then... Continue Reading →
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The first word Paul says is Wherefore. This means “for this reason.” Therefore also means “for this reason.” Same Greek word. The translators... Continue Reading →
Sermon on the Mount was a message that I’m sure many people, especially His disciples, had been anticipating ever since the Lord began His ministry, because they want to know what’s the kingdom going to be like? How will people get into the kingdom? “The Chosen,” for example, had Jesus thinking through what He was... Continue Reading →
SUPPLY OF GRACE 