Reflecting on Ephesians 1.1-13. “Notice
how many times [Paul] mentions our position in Christ… Paul wanted to make sure
that nobody missed his point. He tells us ten times in the first 13 verses that
we are ‘in Christ.’ Everything we have is the result of our intimate, personal
relationship with the resurrected Christ and His indwelling Spirit. The problem
is, we don’t see it. [Reflecting on verses 18-20] When we don’t understand our
spiritual heritage, we don’t experience the freedom and fruitfulness which is
intrinsic to our position in Christ. As long as we fail to perceive our
position in Christ and our authority over the kingdom of darkness and authority
to do His will, we will fail and carry out our delegated responsibility. In
Ephesians 1:19-23, Paul explains the source of Christ’s authority as the same
power that raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the Father’s right hand.
That power source is so dynamic that Paul used four different Greek words in
verse 19 to describe it: ‘power’ (dunameos),
‘working’ (energeian), ‘strength’ (kratous), and ‘might’ (ischuos). Behind the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus Christ lies the mightiest work of power recorded in the Word of
God. And the same power that raised Christ from the dead and defeated Satan is
the power available to us as believers.”
(81-82)
Reflecting on Ephesians 2.4-6. “[When]
God seated Christ at His right hand and conferred on Him all authority
(Ephesians 1:20,21), He also seated us at His right hand (2:6) because we are
‘together with Christ’ (2:5). The moment you receive Christ, you are seated
with Him in the heavenlies. Your identity as a child of God and your authority
over spiritual powers are not things you are
receiving or will receive at some
time in the future; you have them right now. You are a spiritually alive child
of God right now. You are seated in
the heavenlies with Christ right now. You
have the power and authority over the kingdom of darkness and to do His will right now.” (83)
“Our relationship with God is personal, and as in any relationship there
are certain issues that have to be resolved in order for the relationship to
work. We can’t expect God to bless us if we are living in open rebellion
against Him. ‘Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the
evil of idolatry’ (1 Samuel 15:23). If we are proud, God is opposed to us
(James 4:6). If we are bitter and unwilling to forgive, God will turn us over
to the torturers (Matthew 18:34). These issues have to be resolved first, since
only God can bind up the brokenhearted and set the captive free.” (72)
“[The] most spiritually defeated Christians are those who pay
attention to deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1). They weakly give into the
temptations and believe the lies and accusations. These Christians are defeated
simply because they have been duped into believing God doesn’t love them, or
they will never victorious Christians, or they are helpless victims of the
past. There is no reason why they can’t get up immediately and start walking
again, but they have believed a lie, and so they sit there in the middle of the
street, defeated.” (120-121)
“[Some] Christians try to argue with demons: ‘I am not ugly or stupid.
I am a victorious Christian. That is not truth. I rebuke that lie.’ They think
they are fighting the good fight, but in reality, those negative thoughts are
still controlling them and setting the agenda.”
(121)
On Temptation. “When we were
born again we became spiritually alive, but our self-centered flesh patterns
and mental strongholds remained opposed to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Consequently
we are still tempted to look to the world, the flesh, and the devil to meet our
basic needs and carnal desires instead of looking to Christ, who promises to
meet all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). Every
temptation is an enticement to live independently of God.” (136)
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