OUR FATHER BEFORE WHOM WAS MELCHIZEDEK AS HIS HIGH PRIEST

The writer of Hebrews chapter 7 verses 1 - 10, having expressed how reliable the salvation through the Lord Jesus provided by God actually is by explaining how Jesus, the One who represents us before the One behind the veil that conceals the Presence, was a priest in the order of Melchizedek, goes on in this passage to reveal the significance of Melchizedek.

 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 

Melchizedek (whose name trasnlated to king of righteousness) and whose title of king of Salem (translates of king of peace), is a figure who came out no defined place and was not in the known ancestry of the children of Israel.

Ater Abraham had run down and killed the kings who had kidnapped members of his family, Melchizedek approached Abraham and Abraham paid him a tithe of the spoils of the battle.

The tithe, according to the law, was to be paid to the Levite priests who were descendants of Abraham but when Abraham paid his tithe to Melchizek, the Levite priests still within Abraham, in effect, also paid their tithes to Melchizedek which placed Melchizek above Abraham and above the priestly stucture that was set up under the Mosaic law.

This puts Melchizedek in a more senior position than anyone charted in the family tree of God's people and further to that, Melchizedek blessed Abraham which is another indication of the greatness of Melchizedek who was able to bless the patriarch Abraham who had the promise of salvation for all mankind and because the absence of a mention of an end of life, Melchidek is represented as being an eternal priest.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SWORE BY HIS OWN SELF FOR THERE WAS NONE GREATER

The book of Hebrews chapter 6 verses 13 - 20 says this;

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, [mconfirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

The writer of Hebrews demonstrates from the scriptures that the promise to which we attached our hope in Christ is absolutely reliable because that promise has been sworn to by the God who is truth itself and who cannot lie.

Because of this, we can abandon our entire beings and future with the knowledge that God has staked His integrity on His fulfillment of the promise He made. 

The centerpiece of this promise made to fallen sinners is Jesus the Christ who was the One through whom  our redemption was secured and by His priesthood, continues the work of santifying us and completing the work He began in us to prepare us for what He predestined us for.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Amen.

OUR FATHER IS NOT UNJUST TOWARDS THOSE WHO HAVE TOILED FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME

The book of Hebrews chapter 6 verses 9 - 12 says this;

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The writer of Hebrews, having warned his readers about the extreme hazzard of falling away after having experienced the heavenly gifts of God and having had partaken of the Holy Spirit and and having tasted of the goodness of the word of God and having participated in the powers of the age to come, reveals that he has high expactations that his readers would not go through that even though it was needful for him to speak to them in that manner.

The writer assures his readers that their work and labour of love in their ministry towards the saints sthat was done in the name of God did not go un-noticed by God and would be just towards them.

He encourages his readers to remain steadfast in their diligence until the very end of their time on earth. Whereas it is possible to become weary and sluggish, the readers of the letter are advised to imitate those in their midst who through theor own faith and patience, inherit the promises of God.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER TOWARD WHOM WE SHOULD HAVE SINCERE FAITH

The writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 6 verses 1 - 8 urges his readers to grow beyond the foundational doctrines like repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection from the dead and eternal judgement. He encourages them to move toward maturity and completeness but  importantly notes that this is dependent on God´s permission to move ahead.

The reason God vets all those who will be allowed to surge towards maturity is that once a person has ascended into the heavenly things and partakes in the Holy Spirit, experience the good word of God and practiced the powers of the age to come, it is impossible for them to be restored by repentance if they fall away because at the enlightened level, falling away puts Christ to open shame and they would require that Christ be crucified again.

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

To minimize the chance of such a thing occuring, God screens believers and only those whom He green lights (because He understands their thoughts and intentions), are able to advance towards maturity with assurance that they can stay the course.

Amen.

8

OUR FATHER WHO EXPECTS HIS SONS TO GROW TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The writer of Hebrews, at the end of the previous passage, laments the dullness of the audience´s ears as the reason why the priesthood of Melchizedek and the correspondence with the priesthood of Christ could not be explained to them.

He also laments the fact that the people to whom he was writing to explain the basics of doctrine should have already been teachers but instead  were like babies who needed to be suckled. In their state, they were not prepared to handle the word of righteousness which required that they would have, through their graduating to solid food,  be able to use their senses to disern both what was good and evil.

 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Amen

6

OUR FATHER WHO CALLED HIS SON AS HIGH PRIEST

The book of Hebrews chapter 5 verses 5 - 11 says this;

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.”

6 As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek”;

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

In this passage we see that Jesus did not glorify Himself but rather it was God who appointed Him to that position and we learn the principle of not self-promoting but rather leaving it to God to lift us up if it is His good pleasure. Psalm 75 verse 6 says it this way:

For exaltation comes neither from the east

Nor from the west nor from the south.

But God is the Judge:

The writer of Hebrews goes on to explain the journey of suffering that the Lord Jesus was set upon even though He prayed and supplicated to God His Father who was indeed able to save Him from death and Jesus was indeed heard because of His fear of the Lord.

Even though the Lord Jesus was a Son, while on earth He learned the highest form of obedience to the point of death and this proof of His absolute perfection made Him able to underwrite all the salvations of all the people who heard the good news of His salvation and as a result of believing the offer of salvation, obeyed Him.

The Lord Jesus, the author of salvation is then called as the High Priest whose on-going service is to represent those who were saved to God the Father and this priestly calling is "according to the order of Melchizedek" who was the high priest to whom the patriarch Abraham paid his tithe to with no begining nor end and no earthly pedigree.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO CALLS PRIESTS

In contrast to the heavenly high priest, the book of Hebrews chapter 5 verses 1 - 4 describes a high priest from among the people who could sympathize with those he served because he shared their weaknesses but that the sacrifices  he offered for others, he needed for himself.

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Amen.

OUR FATHER WHO KNOWS THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF OUR HEARTS

The passage in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 from verses 11 - 16 uges the readers to be diligent in entering the rest of the promised land.

The writer explains that the inner most thoughts and intentions of of our hearts are plainly detectable to God who sees even the division of soul and spirit (which are comparable to the way that a joint and marrow are  linked).

And it is to God we must give an account of our entry into the rest the He provided for us.

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We who are on earth and have believed in the promise of God have Jesus the Son of God who is our sympathetic high priest in heaven who understands our weakneses having lived a physical life as we do.

As such, we should hold fast to what we have believed and testified to and we should be confident when we come before the throne of grace understanding that we have mercy and grace made available when we need it.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE REST WE MUST STRIVE TO  ENTER

The 4th chapter of Hebrews from verses 1 - 10 says this;

1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place:

“They shall not enter My rest.” 

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Amen.

2

 OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE MUST NOT HARDEN OUR HEARTS

The book of Hebrews chapter 3 verses 7 - 19 says this;

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,

And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,

And they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

The writer of the book of Hebrews cautions his readers that in the same way the children of Israel were denied access to the promised land because they stagnated in unbelief, we too could become hardened because of the deceitfulness of sin and rebel against the voice of the Holy Spirit and depart from God and fall in the wilderness having failed to enter the rest of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

4

 OUR FATHER WHO BUILT THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF EXISTENCE

The writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 3 verses 1 - 6, reveals that his intended audience was those of the children of Israel by how he decribes Moses, their law-giver, as a faithful messenger from God and then goes onto to describe the Lord Jesus as even more glorius than Moses because Jesus was the one who buit the entirety of house of Israel where as Moses served in the house as a testimony to the coming dispensation where the son and heir of the house would be revealed and through whom we are made members of the household of God.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus is given the title of Apostle and High Priest representing the manner in which He was sent from God on a mission of salvation for men and also for the role as an intermediary between God and man. 

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we should remain firmly rooted in our confidence and joy in the hope of the salvation that only Christ provides.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON IS BRINGING MANY SONS TO GLORY

The book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 10 - 18 says this;

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

13 And again:

                    “I will put My trust in Him.”

And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 

17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

The writer of Hebrews, continuing on the subject of the pre-eminence of Christ over all things, describes how the Lord Jesus suffered as part of His mission to bring many sons to glory and the formula that allowed that to be possible was that He (Christ) was embedded with those who He came to save where He partook in the suffering of life, endured the same temptations they were subject to and as such, Jesus was able to call those who believed in Him 'brothers' for He and they were sharing a common tragectory except that Jesus did not sin and thus His sacrifice was efficacious to save human beings.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO MADE HIS SON A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGLES AND THEN SET HIM AS RULER OVER ALL THE WORKS OF HIS HANDS

The book of Hebrews continues in chapter 2 verses 5 - 9 says this;

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,

Or the son of man that You take care of him?

7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;

You have crowned him with glory and honor,

And set him over the works of Your hands.

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

The writer of Hebrews, carrying forward the point from the previous passage how critical the message bourne by the Lord unto salvation was, explains that all things were made subject to angels but rather it was the Son of God under whose feet all things were put.

And the Lord Jesus, the perfect Son of God, having subjected Himself to the suffering of death on behalf of all men, ascended to the highest pinnacle of all things to Him was accorded  glory and honor.

Amen.

6

 OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDED A VERY GREAT SALVATION FOR US

The book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 1 - 4  says this:

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

The writer of Hebrews adjures his readers to carefully attend to the things they heard that resulted in their salvation so that they wouldn´t drift away. The writer reasons that if the words of messengers was binding and that those who were not careful to heed every word that was delivered to them suffered punishment, how much more dire would the condition be of those who negligently drifted away from the words inaugurated and spoken by the Lord Himself that yielded salvation itself.

Further to that, the message of the gospel was delivered to us with signs and wonders along with miraculous gifts of the Spirit of God to attest to the veracity of the promise of salvation by believing.  

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO MADE HIS SON PRE-EMINENT OVER ALL THINGS 

The writer of Hebrews, having established the pre-eminence of Christ over all creation, lists the ancient prophetic writings that credentialled Jesus as the Son of God in Hebrews chapter 1 verses 5 - 14 which reads this way:

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:

“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You”?

And again:

“I will be to Him a Father,

And He shall be to Me a Son”?

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

7 And of the angels He says:

“Who makes His angels spirits

And His ministers a flame of fire.”

8 But to the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

        9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

10 And:

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,

And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

11 They will perish, but You remain;

And they will all grow old like a garment;

12 Like a cloak You will fold them up,

And they will be changed.

But You are the same,

And Your years will not fail.”

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

“Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Amen.

4

 

 OUR FATHER WHOSE IMAGE IS EXPRESSED IN HIS SON

Starting a study on the book of Hebrews, it is a book whose author is not certain. While frequently attributed to the Apostle Paul, there are reasons that this is doubted because the writer did not identify himself the way Paul did in all his other writings.

Although there are other candidates who have been proposed as the writer of the book of Hebrews like Apollos, Barnabas, Luke or Priscilla, for the porpose of this study, we shall treat the writer as anonymous.

The first 4 verses of the first chapter of book of Hebrews says this:

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

The writer of Hebrews begins the book with a description of the progression of God's revelation of Himself and His intention through prophets in the past and ultimately did so by His own Son.

God's Son Jesus is described as the heir to all things and the one through whom the worlds were made and who was the brightness of the glory of God and the express or fully revealed image of God the Father and who upheld all things by the word of His power.

The Son, in His perfection as the express image of God, undertook to purge our sins and having done so, sat down the right hand of the majesty (Royal throne) in heaven taking His place as the preeminent one over all of existence and showed Himself to be qualitatively greater than the angels by what He inherited and the name he had obtained.

Amen

10

OUR FATHER FROM WHOM COME PEACE LOVE AND  FAITH AS WELL AS FROM THE LORD JESUS  CHRIST

In a final greeting in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter 6 verses 21 - 24, the Apostle Paul introduces them to a fellow believer named Tychicus who would deliver an update on Paul's condition and to encourage them.

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

As a farewell message, Paul speaks peace and love laced with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to the Ephesians and he speaks grace to those who have been steadfast in their love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES SPIRITUAL ARMOR BY WHICH THE KINGDOM OF GOD MAY EXTEND ITS FRONTIERS

In the 6th chapter of the book of Ephesians verses 10 - 20, the Apostle Paul begins to conclude his letter with a final charge to his readers to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Along with that, Paul informs the Ephesians to be well defended against the schemes of the devil by donning the complete armor of God that would make them impervious to the evil day.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul lists the components that made a complete set of spiritual armor:

1. Belt of truth around the loins to keep chastity
2. Breastplate of righteousness to protect the conscience
3. Shoes of the preparation of gospel of peace for assurance of ones standing with God
4. Shield of faith to block the missiles lanched by agents of darkness to cause damage
5. Helmet of salvation for the knowledge of the efficacy of Christ's blood to save us
6. Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God for the fight of intercession towards the goal of all saints boldly pushing forward the frontiers of the Kingdom of God.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WITH WHOM THERE IS NO PARTIALITY

The Apostle Paul, having described the appropriate pattern of conduct that should govern marriage, now describes the pattern that should govern the relationships between children and their parents and as well, the relationships between bond-servants and their masters in  Ephesians chapter 6 verses 1 - 9 which says this:

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

With the understanding that  marriage is a feature designed and built into the creation to be a metaphor for the relationship between Christ and His Bride ( which is the  the ultimate reason for creation), there are other human relationships that also serve as metaphors for our relationship with God. 

Paul tells us that children should honor their parents and this is pattern that is a metaphor set in place for the children of God to honor their Father in heaven.

 Likewise, the pattern established by the  injuction to parents not to provoke their children to wrath but to bring them up in the counsel and admonition of the Lord is a pattern that God establishes so that we can understand His stance towards us and that is  that He would not provoke His children to wrath nor exasperate them but rather, He would undertake to train them in His counsel and admonition. 

Regarding the relationship between bond-servants and masters, this too is a metaphor for the relationship between those who voluntarily commit  their earthly lives to the service of Christ. Remembering that bond-servants were those who voluntarily made a public declaration of their lifelong submission to the will of their masters,  those who voluntarily gave their lives up to be bond-servants of Christ are  required to be obedient to Christ and to be sincere and whole-hearted in their service to Him even as earthly servants are told to be towards their earthly masters.

As for the way masters were to behave towards their bond-servants, Paul instructs them not to use threats and intimidation to elicit their work and in this way, the metaphor reveals that God does not threaten or intimidate those who commit themselves to serve Him as bond-servants.

Amen.

6

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON´S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH WAS SYMBOLISED IN THE DESIGN OF THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE

Continuing with Ephesians chapter 5, we read this in verses 22 - 33:

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

In this passsage, the Apostle Paul reveals the great mystery of the church being the bride of Christ and that the way that husbands and wives related to each other needed to reflect the relationship between Christ and His bride.  As Christ sacrificialy gave his life for the church, husbands needed to give themselves sacrificially for their wives.  As the church honored Christ, wives were to honor their husbands.  

The model of husbands and wives was set up as a picture of the eternal union between Christ and the church.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE SHOULD ALWAYS GIVE THANKS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS

Chapter 5 of the Apostle Paul´s letter to the Ephesians from verses 17 - 21, in light of the  fact that they had been extricated from the kingdom of darkness at such a dear cost, Paul charges the Ephesians to be watchful as they walked out their Christian lives and he advised them to leverage wisdom to recovery lost time in the evil world within which they lived that aimed to steer as many as possible towards futility where the clock was run out and everyone suffered loss. 

Paul's prescription for this strategy of the kingdom of darkness was to seek to understand what the will of the Lord was for their lives and to replace regular social gatherings with spiritual social gatherings where the Spirit of God was present and all conversations were seasoned with scriptures, spiritual songs and singing and each person sustained an active altar of gratititude and worship in their hearts.

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON GIVES US LIGHT

In chapter 5 of his letter to the Ephesians from verses 8 - 14, the Apostle Paul guides them to walk as children of light having been changed from darkness to light in the Lord Jesus.

 He tells them to find out what is acceptable to the Lord but in general, they should practice goodness, righteousness and truth which are the hallmarks of all the fruit of the Spirit of God.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

Paul continues to urge the Ephesians to eschew any shameful works of darkness and in fact to expose them to light so that they may be made manifest. Here Paul reveals an axiom where he says "whatever makes manifest is light" which asserts that anything that uncovers or forces anything out of hiding is light.  

Paul quotes a song ( implied ) that calls on the believers who slumber to fully arise from the dead and receive the light that Christ gives.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE ARE PRECIOUS CHILDREN

The book of Ephesians chapter 5 from verse 1 - 5 says this:

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

The apostle Paul tells his readers to be imitators of God as dear children where they would see how precious they were to God and replicate His attitude to one another and as well, replicate Christ's sacrificial life which rose to God as a sweet fragrance.

Paul also intructs them to extricate themselves from the conduct of sins for which the wrath of God was incurred by those who disobeyed the gospel.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO FORGAVE US IN CHRIST

Ephesians chapter 4 verses 25 - 32 says this:

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO GAVE US A NEW SPIRIT WHEN WE BELIEVED IN JESUS

The book of Ephesians chapter 4 verses 17  -  24 says this:

 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The Apostle Paul, instructs the Ephesians to cease walking in a state where, in their unenlightened minds and blinded hearts, pursued pointless endeavours of lewdness uncleaness and greed.

He tells them to put off their former conduct which is the product of the old man acting out his corruption of deceitful lusts. Paul informs them that they ca be renewed in the spirit of their minds and that they can inhabit the identity of the new man which was born in them when they were born again. This is what Paul means when he says "Put on the new man which was created accord to God.". 

Whereas the corrupt nature of the flesh influences the mind towards evil thoughts and deeds, the new spirit, who was created afresh by God,  is able to influence our minds towards righteousnes and so we should cultivate our identity in him.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON ASCENDED AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN

In the the book of Ephesians chapter 4 verses 7 - 16, after speaking of the unity of believers in the Spirit of God, begins to explain the gifts of the Spirit.

First he speaks of the scriptural foundation for the dispersion of gift found in Psalm 68 verse 13 which foretells the ascension of Christ from hades into heaven leading many sons to glory giving gifts for men.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,

He led captivity captive,

And gave gifts to men.”

9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

The Apostle Paul then enumerates the five gifts of men that were dispersed among those who believed in Jesus.  

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

The gifts of men were apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and these gifts of men are given to the body to enhance and regulate the exercise of those functions among the people.  As the local body is imbued with the gifting being dispensed in their midst, they are equiped and edified so that they can healthily grow in :

• Unity
• The knowledge of the son of God
• In Stature of the fullness of Christ
• Maturity 
• Immunity to the buffeting of every wind of doctrine
• Immunity to trickery, cunning and deceitful plotting of men
• The ability to speaking truth in love

Such a healthy local body is able to be joined and knitted  closely with one another where each member is supplying what was entrusted to them which results in the local body growing so that it edifies itself in love.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS ABOVE ALL

In Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 - 5, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that he is bound to the Lord and it is in capacity that he urges the Ephesians of the calling to which their life of faith called them and he instructs them to walk in manner worthy of the high calling with humility and longsuffering love for each other where unity of Spirit is maintained in peace between them all. 

Paul explains that their unity must reflect the unity that exists in the one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of us all. And our Father is above all,  permeates all and iin all who are in the family of God by faith.

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Amen.

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OUR  FATHER WHO IS GLORIFIED BY THE CHURCH REDEEMED THROUGH THE LORD JESUS

The book of Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 - 21 says this;

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The Apostle Paul, having previously explained how an intricate work for the salvation of all men was planned from before the beginning of the world, expresses how he is humbled and in awe of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from where all families on earth are derived. Paul implores the Father to strengthen the innner men (the regenerated spirit) of the believers at Ephesus so that by their faith, it was condusive (because they were securely stable in love)  for Christ to dwell in them. 

In this condition, the believers in Ephesus would be in a position to grasp (along with all the saints)  the width, length, depth and height  of the love of Christ which exceeds what knowledge is able to encompass. By, continuing to be ensconced in the love of God, believers grow in their knowledge of God and they are increasingly filled until the fulness of God is in them.

Paul then effusively glorifies God declaring that He, in His power, is able to exceed our requests and thoughts such that He is eternal gloried by all generations of the Church set up by Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO MADE THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST AVAILABLE TO THE GENTILES

The book of Ephesians chapter 3 verses 8 - 13 says this:

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

The Apostle Paul, in this passage, marvels at the fact that he, the one who was persecuting the people of God, was the one who was given the grace to take the gospel to the Gentiles and reveal to them the unfathomable depths of the riches of Christ. The multi-dimensional wisdom of God ensured that the gift of Christ was made available to the gentiles and implicated the whole world confounded principalities and powers in the spiritual realm because these matters were hidden in God from before the time began.

 The eternal purposes of God were accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord whose completed works made it possible for us to have access to God with the confidence of faith in Him.

In light of this deep revelation of God lavish provision for those who believed in Jesus, Paul advises the Ephesians not to lose heart beause of the troubles that he was having for their sake because to him, it was worth it because it was for their glory.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO KEPT THE MYSTERY OF THE PROVISION OF SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES UNTIL CHRIST COMPLETED THE WORK THAT INCLUDED THEM

The Apostle Paul, continuing with the theme of the inclusion of the gentiles into the body of family of God through the universal work of Christ completed on the cross, begins the  book of Ephesians chapter 3 telling the believers in Ephesus, in verses 1 - 7, that this astonishing expansion of those who would be adopted in to the family of God, was the revelation of the ancient mystery that God made known to Him, was why he was called as a minister to Gentiles.

Paul, speaking of the mystery of the gentiles being made co-heirs in the same family, explained how it had been hidden from the people living in the ages past but now, with Christ having secured the the means of salvation for all men, was being made known through the apostle and prophets.

The gift of grace to the the gentiles was the purpose for which Paul became a minister through the deliberate work of God's power in his life.

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Amen.

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