OUR FATHER WHO IMBUES US WITH GRACE AND PEACE

Paul wrote a letter to the people in the church of the town of Philippi and in chapter 1 verses 1  - 11, he introduces himself and his protoge Timothy and addressed his letter to all the believers and to the leadership of bishops and deacons of the church.

He speaks grace and peace over them from God the Father and from the Son who is  the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Paul then wrote of how he affectionately remembered them as he joyfully prayed for them and that he was confident that the good work that was began in them was going to reach completion in preparation for the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Paul told the believers in Philippi that it was altogether appropriate for him to be have such strong feelings for them because they were all partakers with him in grace and this bond that he had with them made him yearn for them.

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,  5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paulˋs prayer for the Philippians was that they would love each other even more than before.

He also prayed that they would grow in knowledge and disernment so that they could be act as gatekeepers who allowed only excellent things such as sincerity and meekness to prevail in their midst as a result of the fruit of righteousness which they were being imbued with by the Lord Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER IS WORTHY OF GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO SAVE US

Circling back to Ephesians chapter 5 verses 15 - 21 which was mistakenly skipped as we surveyed the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he counsels believers on what stance they should adopt under the prevailing evil days.

• Be carefully observant in wisdom
• Be aligned with God's will
• Avoid the wastefulness of drunkenness but be entwined and filled in the Spirit
• Interact with each in the spiritual communications of songs and psalms
• Sustaining an internal musical backdrop of adoration to God
• Continuous gratitude towards our Father in the name of Jesus Christ
• Holding ourself as lower than each other.

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.

2

OUR FATHER PROVIDES PEACE, GRACE AND LOVE TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY LOVE HIM

The apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians in Chapter 6 verses  21 - 24 with these words;

21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; 22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

The apostle Paul,  at the end of his letter, introduced the person with whom he sent his letter as a beloved brother and faithful minister named Tychicus. He let the Ephesians know that Tychicus would represent him and update them on his condition and would encourage them. 

He then blesses the believers in Ephesus with peace and faith filled love from the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ and he blessed those who sincerely loved the Lord Jesus with grace.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO ENCOURAGES US TO BE BOLD IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT

The apostle Paul, having spoken about the body of Christ and the bride of Christ in terms of how their proper functioning is modeled in the institutions experienced by men such as marriage, parenthood and servanthood,  now speaks of the defence systems that are needed to protect the body of Christ where each individual takes up the armor of God so that we can fend off the attacks by the kingdom of darkness.

In his letter to the Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 - 20, the apostle identifies enemies of the body of Christ as:

• The devil and his plots and machinations
• Principalities (high ranking princes of darkness working to usurp territories)
• Powers (Entities that exert dark influence over denizens of a territory)
• Rulers of darkness ( demonic workers of evil in a territory to establish darkness through control over cultural leaders ) 
• Spiritual hosts of wickedness  ( Overseeing spirits that secure the influence of darkness over humans ) 

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.

The apostle Paul also prescribes how each individual believer in Jesus should be arrayed in defensive gear (which he calls the armor of God) so as to be protected from the targeted blows unleashed by the kingdom of darkness upon the citizens of the kingdom of light.

• Gird waist with the belt of truth
• Breast plate of righteousness
• Shoes of the gospel of peace
• Shield of faith to block fiery darts
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God

These articles of defence are acquired by constantly praying and supplicating in the Spirit and being on the watches and intercessions for all the saints.

At this point, Paul points out that he too should be covered in the prayers of the saints so that he would be imbued with the utterance and boldness that he needed to proclaim the mystery of the gospel for which he was an ambassador in chains.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO KNEW US FROM BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD

Chapter 6 verses 1 - 9 of Paulˋs  letter to the Ephesisans, the apostle Paul reveals the mystery of the architectural groudwork that was laid before the foundation of the world where institutions of humanity such as parents with children and servants with masters serve as models of honor and obedience.

Children are reminded to honor their parents in presenting how we, who are children of God, ought always to honor Him. This particular principle carries with it a metaphoric blessing such that if children honor their parents, a sure path will be set for them and their lifespans will be extended. This addendum is itself a metaphor for the eternal life that is offered to those chidren of God who honor Him and obey Him.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul, brings out a metaphoric connection between human fathers  and God the Father where he decribes a type of fathering that is not oppresive such that it instigates the negative reaction of children but rather is preccupied with the teaching and guiding towards the things of God. This model presents Godˋs own preoccupation with His children where He teaches and guides them continually to grow towards Himself.

As christians who are maturing in Christ, we voluntarily accept the role of bondservant ( a servant who publically and permanently commits his life to the service of God ) and this is parallel to the institution of master and servant on earth. In this case, Paul adjures servants to be sincere in their service to their masters and not to do the bare minimum but rather to serve with reverence towards their masters. This is a pattern of how bondservants of Christ should be sincere and reverent towards their chosen master who is Christ. In an unexpected turn, Paul reveals that service rendered towards earthly masters, even though set up as a metaphor,  is still counted as service to the Lord and will be rewarded by Him.

Lastly, masters are adjured to abandon fear tactics to intimidate their servants. Even as they are masters on earth, they should remember that they have an impartial Master in heaven and their own conduct towards their servants will be recompensed upon them.

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.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO INAUGURATED MARRIAGE AS METAPHOR FOR CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE

In the 5th chapter of Paulˋs letter to the Ephesians from verses 32 - 33, Paul descibes marriage as a mystery from the point of view that marriage is a metaphor for the union that Christ will have with His bride who will be the body of His faithful servants.

Because marriage is a prophetic picture of the eternal love relationship between Christ and His Bride, Paul  outlines the expected conduct in marriage that would properly represent what the spiritual union would be like.

In the same way that it is appropriate for the church to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, it is fitting that a wife submit to her husband.

Likewise, in the same way that Christ love the church and died for her, husbands should  love their wives and be prepared to give their lives for them.

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.

The apostle Paul elaborates on how the injuction that makes married couples become one flesh  reflects how Christ and His bride become one body of His flesh and of His bones. 

Therefore, men, in playing their part in this metaphor, are to love their wives as they love themselves and women, in completing their part in the metaphor, should endeavour to respect their husbands.

Amen.

2