Good morning. After we
have loaded up with our armor and grabbed our sword of the Spirit, we then with
all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view,
are on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. We've
got our equipment, and now we need our battle plans. We don't just go wandering
about. It's hard to be on the alert 24/7. As soon as you drop your guard, you
are in trouble. We are to pray in the Holy Spirit and not just act with our
"commonsense". Even though Paul was an ambassador in chains, he
wanted them to pray for him that utterance be given to him to make known with
boldness the mystery of the gospel. He did not shy away from what he was
supposed to do. Instead of throwing a pity party for himself, he wanted to
bring others to Christ. Finally: grace be with all those who love our Lord
Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible. It is not a love that flickers on and
off. It is not one that loves you, if you love me first; or that lasts just as
long as I want it to. And that is the end of the book of Ephesians. Father
thank You that the reader loves You with a love incorruptible. He/she prays
continually in the Holy Spirit. He/she is always on the alert and has obtained
and executes Your battle plans.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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