I will be transparent ladies…Ephesians 4 was recommended to me as a series of dreams I had that I didn’t understand.
It addressed my walk with Christ and my mind, marriage, maturity, and growth path in the Lord. The first day I played it on audio, I could barely understand it because my heart wasn’t in the right place. By the second day, some parts began to make more sense. But by the third day, I read the chapter and felt my heart being cut and healed simultaneously.
I’ve read Eph. 4 before. God knows how to bring the Word up again from season to season when we’re ready to receive it.
Let’s start with some foundation setting…
We will look at the entire chapter each week starting next week, 10 verses at a time.
Context:
The city of Ephesus was known for its idolatry and pagan practices. Paul traveled there on his third missionary journey and stayed there for almost three years. While living and working among the Ephesians, he started the church in Ephesus.Dec
https://groundworkonline.com/blog/ephesians-a-summary-of-the-gospel-and-what-it-means-for-how-we-live
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians while he was in prison.
https://groundworkonline.com/blog/ephesians-a-summary-of-the-gospel-and-what-it-means-for-how-we-live
Looking at the NIVUK version, the total book is:
- Made up of 6 Chapters
- Chapter 1 begins: Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
- Chapter 2: Made Alive in Christ
- Chapter 3: God’s Marvellous Plan for the Gentiles
- Chapter 4: Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
- Chapter 5: A continuation of Chapter 4
- Chapter 6: More of Chapter 4 and the Armour of God with Final Greetings
There are more section headings throughout the book, but overall we see the focus on our spiritual education; Ephesians wants to teach us about the foundations of life in Christ; to give us good roots. The fact that Paul wrote this sitting in prison makes it all the more impactful because it’s one thing to tell me to trust Jesus when you’re doing well…but to exhort me in the Lord when you’re suffering….that is another level.
I will be reading the whole book again, but Eph. 4 specifically uses deeply impactful language in the first 4 words. Here are some:
- Prisoner
- Completely Humble
- Completely Gentle
- Worthy
- Calling
- Bearing with one another in love
- Received
- Unity of spirit
- (These two tie together)
- Bond of peace
- One body
- One spirit
- Called to one hope
- Called
- Oneness
- One Lord
- One faith
- One baptism
- One God
- One Father of all
- Father Who is overall
- Through all
- In all
- Each one of us had been given grace by Christ, apportioned (divide and allocate)
- When He ascended, He took many captives and gave gifts to His people
Next week, let’s dive into verses 1-10. Verse 1 begins, “As a prisoner of the Lord…”. I don’t think anyone could read this who doesn’t want to grow in God.
Chew on this ladies and see you next week.