King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Monday, December 16, 2019
Chapters: Book of Ephesians
Message: By The Will of God
Hello My Friend,
The will of God; it really is not difficult to know God’s will for our lives. Of course, the first and farmost, is that we receive His Son as our Saviour. Without Christ, you could do a thousand things for God in a day and would still not be in His will. If we do not know the Son as our Saviour, the Father does not know us. This is not God being cruel, this is God being God, and if we are serious about wanting God in or life then we will want Christ. “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” – Ephesians 1:9-12.
The Book of Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul from Rome, in approximately 64AD, and it is addressed to the saints, and all the faithful in Christ. The purpose of the epistle (letter) was to inform believers of their wealth in Christ and instruct them concerning their walk with Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that all who receive Christ are heirs to both the blessings (heavenly wealth) and responsibilities (the walk) of their calling created in them through Christ Himself. Paul reminds us that all were predestined to know Christ, but it was our actual act of receiving Him by grace that did much more than save us, it made us heirs with Him.
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:4-7,13-14.
“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,” What is Christ’s purchased possession? The souls that received Him. By the will of God, we, whom have trusted the Lord, Jesus Christ, as our Saviour were purchased by Christ with His blood. When His spotless blood was shed, being nailed to the cross, and dying a sinless death, He purchased redemption for all who are serious about wanting God in their lives. By the will of God, we are saved by grace, through our faith alone in Jesus Christ.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” – Ephesians 2:4-10,18-19.
“which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” By the will of God, since we are now saints, and fellow citizens with the household of God, He expects us to be walking as His Son. Jesus gave us the example of what God’s will is for us. Now, we all have our own cross to bear, so, whatever God has in His will for me may not be what He has in His will for you, but whatever it is, He will never direct us into something that would bring us or anyone else into living in sin. Paul stresses why it is important to walk through the Spirit and not our flesh.
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:17-18,23-30.
“Having the understanding darkened,” Those who are void of understanding that Christ can save them, walk about in darkness, blind to the fact that there is more to life than pleasing every lust of the flesh. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” By the will of God, we are given His Spirit in us, which enables us to see things through the eyes of Christ, and not our flesh. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,” Sin is what grieves the Holy Spirit in us because it darkens our understanding of what is right and wrong. Paul reminds us that we were once darkened in sin, but we now walk in the Light, therefore, we need to come out of the dark.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” – Ephesians 5:8-17.
“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” By the will of God, we are to learn what He sees as being good or evil, and doing that instead of what we think is righteous in our own eyes. This is what the problem is with religion, it tells us what is right and wrong, which often has no bearing on what God actually tell us is right and wrong. “but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” It is not hard to understand what the will of God is for our lives, it is simple, put on the whole armor of God.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” – Ephesians 6:11-18.
“and having done all, to stand.” Our faith is all we have that gives us the ability to fight the temptations all around us. By the will of God, we are in a spiritual battle, God versus Satan, each one trying to get us to be faithful to them. Yes, God gives us a choice, our salvation does not exempt us from temptation, or God allowing Satan to tempt us. However, it does give us God’s grace, which enables us to be able to overcome all sin. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” – II Corinthians 9:8.
Today’s Prayer: God, Your mercy is truly something amazing that we all take for granted, but Your grace is beyond measure, it is just astounding to think of what kind of life I lived before You were in it, and how You have completely changed it. Over the years, You have brought peace, hope, and joy to my life through both the good times and the bad. Lord, I know that I am not always in Your will, but it is Your good pleasure that You offer Your grace to get me back in it time and time again. I know I am going to mess up again no matter how much I try not to, but Your grace endures forever. Lord, Lead me and guide me, search me and open my heart to discover anything that is keeping me out of Your will. Strengthen me and grow me as I seek Your will, looking only to You for wisdom and guidance while You are pleased to keep me here on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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