Paula Wiseman

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Posts that reference the book of Ephesians

People Are Not the Enemies

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People are not the enemies title graphic

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

The New Living Translation reads, “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies.”
This is easy to forget.

People are not the enemies.
Regardless of politics,
lifestyle,
reputation
or belief.

Oh, they may consider us enemies.
They may defame us, defraud or disparage us.

They are in the very same place we were.
This is also easy to forget.

We are all people.
Made in the image of God.
Loved by the Father.

We are all sinful.
We are all hopeless without Christ.
We have too much in common to be enemies.

A Holy Priesthood: Interceding

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A Holy Priesthood Interceding title graphic

Peter says believers are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5), drawing parallels with the priesthood established under the Law. Peter packs a lot of information and theological truth in that one metaphor. We’ve been breaking down what Peter wants us to understand. The first thing is God has cleansed us from our sin. We are specially clothed. We are anointed for service. As we serve, we must remain obedient. And one of the first commands we are given is to teach people God’s word. Today, we’ll finish with the sacred duty of interceding for others.

Old Testament priests interceded for the people

When we think of priests, we think of sacrifices. It was the priest’s job to offer the sacrifices on behalf of the people. Each year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest represented the people as he entered the Holy of Holies to seek atonement for their (and his own) sins. Leviticus 16 gives the details on the priest’s duties that day.

Later, in the prophets, the priests are called on to cry out to God for the people. For instance, in Joel 2:17 it reads, “Let the priests, the LORD’S ministers, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD…”” In Malachi, the Lord instructs the prophet to call out the priests whose actions, namely bringing dregs for offerings, undermine their words. “And now ask for God’s favor. Will He be gracious to us? ⌊Since⌋ this has come from your hands, will He show any of you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts. Malachi 1:9

Even when they failed, there was nonetheless an expectation of intercession for the people.

Jesus intercedes for us

John 17 records Jesus’s prayer in the Upper Room. In verses 6-24, He prays for our protection, our joy, our sanctification and our unity, among other things. But His intercession didn’t end with the conclusion of His earthly ministry. Hebrews explains His high priestly work and is worth reading the entire book. But here’s one example in Chapter 7

[B]ut Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:24-25

Believers have a duty of interceding for others

Paul serves as a great example of intercession. My favorite intercessory prayer of his is Ephesians 3:14-21. In all of the epistles, we find examples of the writers praying for their readers and others, and asking for prayer for themselves as well. However, in 1 Timothy, the apostle Paul commands us to intercede.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

We are to pray for all, then specifically for those who have authority. James adds a call to pray for the sick.

Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

James 5:14

Prayer was a distinctive mark in the early church.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

Being a priest in the Old Testament carried a great responsibility. Being a New Testament priest does too. Let us embrace this call and fulfill the duty God has entrusted to us through Christ.

A Holy Priesthood: Clothed

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A Holy Priesthood Clothed title graphic

Peter says believers are a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5), drawing parallels with the priesthood established under the Law. Peter packs a lot of information and theological truth in that one metaphor. So let’s take a few posts to break down what Peter wants us to understand. The first thing is God has cleansed us from our sin. This week, let’s consider how priests are clothed.

Old Testament priests wore specific clothes.

In Exodus 28, God details how Aaron and his sons (and all future priests) should be clothed in order to enter God’s presence and serve in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. The overall purpose is the convey the authority of the priest as God’s representative to the people.

First, he had an ephod. An ephod was essentially a tunic. It was a sleeveless garment, in this case made of linen, but with beautiful stitchwork. It was always worn with a breastplate. The breastplate had precious stones inset in, each one representing one of the twelve tribes. It also had the Urim and Thummin. The breastplate’s purpose was to show the priest represented the people before God and that he carefully discerned God’s will. He also had a high priest’s robe that was worn under the ephod. While Scripture gives more details, consider the bells around the hem of the robe. The priest could not enter the Holy Place or serve without those little bells jingling. He had a linen tunic to wear under everything. Finally, he had a turban with a gold nameplate at the front inscribed HOLY TO THE LORD. All of these served as a reminder that everything the priest did was done as part of God’s consecrated purposes.

Believers are clothed in righteousness.

While believers may change their actual clothes as a matter of modesty or propriety, our clothing is more figurative. Paul explains to the Ephesians that they should now “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). The righteousness is not our own but what was imputed to us by Christ.

Just as the Old Testament priests had other pieces in their wardrobe, we should add to the righteousness. In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul says we are to put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering and love. All of those help us in our mission to bring others into the kingdom. We carry a burden for others and joyfully serve and minister to them. We depend on God for direction. We never lose sight that everything we say and do is consecrated to God.

Of course, there is much more detail and symbolism with the priests’ garments. (Perhaps that’s a series for another time.) But even in this quick overview, we see that we represent God best when we are clothed as He prescribed, reflecting His character.

The next step for Aaron and his sons was anointing. Next week we’ll see what that means for us.

Wrestling

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For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

wrestling illustration graphic

My son wrestled in junior high and high school. After his first meet, we came away with a new appreciation for Ephesians 6:12. In the verse, Paul reminds us who the actual opponents are, but the verb wrestle reminds us the nature of the struggle we are in.

It is intense. Wrestling can’t be accomplished from the sidelines. All of the boys, from the 6-year-olds on up, were locked in mini battles of strength and strategy. Every match was personal and very hands-on. They gritted their teeth, their muscles strained, their faces reddened and they came away sweaty. All after 3 one-minute rounds. If a boy let up, even for a split second, his opponent sensed it immediately and usually seized that opportunity to pin him.

If we decide to root out the sin in our lives, or engage the evils of society, don’t be surprised if things quickly intensify, requiring our full effort. Those battles can’t be waged by proxy, either. We have to engage. In competitive wrestling, points are deducted for failing to engage the opponent. If we don’t step up, we lose more than points.

It is exhausting. Even though the actual matches were just a few minutes out of the day, nobody had to tell my son when it was bedtime. On match days, he had his lights out before 9 p.m. It was more than just the physical exertion. There was mental preparation, there was a tremendous emotional investment and there plenty of nerves to deal with. I saw my share of tears from competitors of all sizes, more often from frustration and disappointment than physical pain.

We see the same thing. Every time we try to do the right thing, it becomes a battle. We mentally prepare for each situation (sometimes, that’s called worry). We pour our hearts out. Sometimes we get thrashed. It’s no wonder we often feel wiped out spiritually, emotionally and mentally. But yet, we rarely take the time to rest and regather. That’s asking for burnout or real damage to our faith.

The boys who listened to their coaches were more successful. Some boys entered their matches convinced they knew what they were doing and didn’t need any help. Other boys soaked in every word the coaches told them before the match and during. Even when they lost, they had a better match and gave their opponents a tougher time.

The Scriptures are full of instructions on how to deal with evil in and around us. We can toss them aside and forge ahead the best way we know how and face quick, humiliating, painful defeat. Or we can take those words to heart, imitate Jesus and follow His ways.

The boys found extra energy when the crowd got behind them. We scanned the mats to see if there were any of Alan’s teammates to cheer for.

We are no different. If we have the prayer and moral support of others, it’s easier to keep battling. We need to commit to supporting each other as well. One of my favorite moments of the day was when one of the 8-year-olds asked Alan how his first match went. Alan said he got pinned. The other boy put a hand on Alan’s shoulder, “Get ’em next time.” You can be sure, there will be a next time. Don’t shy away from offering a word of encouragement, dropping a note or breathing a prayer.

f course, in competitive wrestling, the kids are on their own. The coach has instructed them, practiced with them and prepped them, but once they step on the mat, it’s all on the individual boy’s shoulders. Jesus doesn’t leave us to fight our battles alone. He equips us, and then He promises to wrestle with us, even through us. More than that, the final victory has been secured.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 

 

 

 

God’s Thoughts vs. Our Thoughts

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God's Thoughts vs Our Thoughts title graphic

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

A few years back, a school band concert, as soon as the lights came up at the end of the performance, my husband and I looked at each other, and made exactly the same comment. Word for word. We often independently chose the same restaurant, so much so that my kids weren’t entirely convinced I wasn’t using some sort of Jedi mind control. (I’m not going to tell the kids any different.)

I have a good friend with whom I share the same sense of humor. I can almost always tell what my kids are thinking. If you watch a decent actor, you can quickly pick up on what’s going on with the character in between the spoken lines. Even with strangers, we can often judge from their body language and other cues what is going on inside.

Each of these indicates some level of intimacy or interpersonal skills, and those are essential in building a relationship or interacting with others. We can quickly get into trouble though, when we try to read God’s mind.

Oh, the big broad ideas are easy to pick up, He spells those out for us in His word. It’s the specifics that give us fits.

Here are a couple of ways we mistake God’s thoughts.

We take our limited understanding, tainted by our pride, and our selfishness, even our sinful desires and project those onto God so we can justify getting what we want. Let me give you an example I read not too long ago. “God told me He wants me to be happy so that’s why He brought me and my affair partner together.” I could debate the first premise, but there is NO debate about the second. God does NOT engineer adulterous relationships. It is completely inconsistent with His holy and righteous character. Those are NOT God’s thoughts.

Far more often, we take our limited understanding, this time tainted by guilt and shame and project it onto God. We tell ourselves things like, “God won’t answer my prayers.” “God can’t use me.” “God can’t forgive me.” We put words into God’s mouth. Sometimes our words. Sometimes words that have been said to us. Regardless of the source, they are completely inconsistent with the boundless love He has for us. Therefore we know those aren’t God’s thoughts.

How do we recognize the difference between God’s thoughts and our thoughts?

Let me give you a few strategies to help ensure we aren’t disguising our own thoughts and words as God’s.

Temper emotion with truth. Just because we feel it doesn’t make it so. Our emotions are a gift, but they can utterly overwhelm us. Proverbs 4:23 admonishes us to guard our hearts and Jeremiah 17:9 warns us that the heart is deceitful.

Temper thoughts with truth. Just because we think it doesn’t make it so. In Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23 Paul tells us our minds need to be renewed. He also stresses our thoughts need to be brought in line with or into subjection to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Ask God what He says. James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom and understanding, with the promise that He will give it and without reproaching us for asking. The Holy Spirit stands ready to help us understand.

Look for inconsistency. If the things God is saying don’t line up with what He’s already said in Scripture, you may be listening to an imposter with a counterfeit voice.

Bottom line, we need to constantly evaluate what we hear, what we think and what we feel against what God has revealed in His word. That way we don’t mistake our feelings and ideas for God’s thoughts.

Have you ever put words in God’s mouth? How do you prevent that from happening?

The Spirit Helps in Our Walk

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The Spirit Helps in Our Walk title graphic

The Holy Spirit plays an active role in the lives of believers from salvation to glorification. Sometimes, it’s not always evident or clear what that role is. We are taking a closer look at what He does, how He helps us and why Jesus said it was to our advantage that He go away and the Holy Spirit comes (John 15:7). This week we’ll look at how the Holy Spirit helps in our walk.

Our walk is kind of shorthand for saying the way we conduct ourselves on a regular basis. For instance, I study pretty much every day as part of my regular routine. I run as a regular part of my routine. Those kinds of things make up part of your walk. The other part is your character. So your walk is who you are and what you do on the regular. How does the Spirit help in our walk?

Here’s the summary: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

So if we want to walk in a way that pleases God, that imitates Christ, that fulfills our purpose, we must follow the Spirit’s guidance and direction and not our own. Paul makes it very plain for the Galatians. We walk either following the Spirit or following ourselves. There is no overlap. But walking by the Spirit gives some distinct advantages.

The Spirit strengthens us.

Paul prays for his friends in Ephesus “that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit,” (Ephesians 3:16).
That strengthened inner being stands in contrast to the discouragement Paul mentions in v.13. So if we are walking more in discouragement and frustration rather than peace and power we may be following the flesh and not the Spirit.

The Spirit gifts us.

Take a look at 1 Corinthians 12. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; … To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. … All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 11). While an in-depth study of spiritual gifts is way more than we can take on in one blog post, notice a few highlights.

To each. Everyone. Every single believer is given an obvious evidence of the Holy Spirit working in them.

For the common good. Not to make ourselves look good or to amass power and influence but to build up the body of Christ

Empowered and apportioned as HE wills. The Spirit determines what is best.
So if we want to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh, we need to use the gifts the Spirit has given us to accomplish what we can for the kingdom. If we fail to use them or if we use them for the wrong reasons, we are walking by the flesh.

The Spirit fills us.

Here’s more from Paul. “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). If you have too much to drink and the police pull you over, they will likely charge you with DUI, driving under the influence. All your decisions, judgments and reactions are influenced by the alcohol in your bloodstream. Rather instructs us to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Live so that our decisions, our judgment and our reactions are all driven by the Spirit who lives in us. When we do the results are visible.

The Spirit bears fruit in us.

Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a familiar list of traits that are obvious in the life of someone living under the Spirit’s control. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). As our regular routine centers more and more on doing the things the Spirit wants us to do, acting more and more like the Spirit directs us to, we will see more and more love, joy, peace and the others in our lives. We’ll be known for our kindness and patience. We’ll respond more often with gentleness and self-control. Our faith and commitment will deepen.

Why? How?

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25). Every day, as believers we have to decide whether we are going to live the way the Spirit directs us to or do what we want. We have crucified the flesh. It has no power beyond what we give it. So the Spirit helps in our walk by giving us direction, strength, and gifts to live a life that bears fruit for the kingdom.

Keep in step with the Spirit. March to the beat of His drum. Dance to His rhythm. Rely on His strength. Utilize the gifts He gave you.

Next week we’ll see how He helps our witness.

Encounters Series

From the opening pages of Scripture, no one who has encountered a holy God has come away unchanged. Adam, Abraham, Hagar, Moses and many, many others realized that God is not distant but a God who … Read More

Covenant of Trust Series

A covenant is a solemn, binding agreement. God chose to unilaterally enter into a covenant with Abraham. No matter what Abraham said or did, God vowed to uphold the terms and bless Abraham. Marriage … Read More...

Foundations Series

Jesus told a parable about a wise builder and a foolish one, underscoring how important it is to have a solid foundation. He declared that obedience to His word was the surest foundation of all. In … Read More...