Ephesians 6:21-24

Now that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord [and His service], will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may console and cheer and encourage and strengthen your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Grace (God’s undeserved favor) be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible [love]. Amen (so let it be). Ephesians 6:21-24

Our Love and our Faith both come to us and operate through us by God. The Bible tells us that perfect Love will drive all fear from us of us. We are told that Love covers a multitude of sins and that Love will never fail us in any way shape or form. We are told that Faith as small as a grain of mustard seed can blow a mountain into the sea and our peace is that it is our Father Who Authors and Finishes both through us. As we have studied God will not only give us Love and Faith, He will give them to us above all that we can ask for, pray for, dream of, or even imagine. We are blessed beyond expression and our Father will always cause us to be victorious. Faith come to us by hearing these Truth’s and these Truth’s set us free.

For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

But concerning brotherly love [for all other Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Today is the Day of our Salvation and now is our accepted time, so today is the Day that our Father is pouring His Love into our hearts so that we may know the breadth, the length, and the height of it. Today our multitude of sins have been completed covered and blotted out. Today all of the ordinances and laws that were against us have been nailed to the Cross and they have been completely done away with. Today the Love of Christ controls us and His Faith actively works through us and they don’t because we have accepted them or allowed them to, they do because our Father has willed it to be so. Our Father’s Grace has willed that He be great in us and our victory is not dependent on us, it is all dependent on Him. God is willing and able to carry out all that His Word has proclaimed.   

Ephesians 6:20

For which I am an ambassador in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do. Ephesians 6:20

We are told repeatedly in the Word that we will be persecuted. Paul wrote that if the world was his friend then he would be an enemy of the Cross. Our peace is that our Father will cause us to actually find and enjoy peace in the persecutions that He leads us through. I can personally attest to this Truth. When our Father begins to use me in different ways persecution always comes right along with it. It is really how He shows me that it is Him working through me and our Father has given me peace with the process. I won’t say perfect peace yet, but each time, stronger peace.  

And you will be hated by all for My name's sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come]. When they persecute you in one town [that is, pursue you in a manner that would injure you and cause you to suffer because of your belief], flee to another town; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant or slave above his master. It is sufficient for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant or slave like his master. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub [master of the dwelling], how much more will they speak evil of those of His household. Matthew 10:22-25

I would be lying to you if I said that I wanted the persecution and the trials, but I should, because they always come with a growth spurt. Trials and persecutions are just part of the process of life on this earth. Our Father is not bringing them on as punishment, He is bringing them on because it is His will to grow us in ways that only going through trials can. 

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-4

There is no way to avoid persecution and trials. We cannot tithe them away, pray them away, bind them away, or serve them away. Actually the more our Father has us live in the Truth the more the trials will come. So we might as well expect them and rejoice when they come, because they are going to come.

Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me; But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and [a]show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12-8-10

Ephesians 6:19

And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel), Ephesians 6:19

I would ask that you all pray this for me as well. There are some really powerful examples of how we can pray for each other in the Bible and here would be a great place to look at them.

I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]. Ephesians 1:16-23

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-- To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Ephesians 3:16-21

And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. May you abound in and be filled with the fruits of righteousness (of right standing with God and right doing) which come through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), to the honor and praise of God [that His glory may be both manifested and recognized]. Philippians 1:9-11

We can really see just how much glory and power our Father wants for us to have in these prayers. The Holy Spirit will cause us to be relentless in praying these types of things for each other and He will cause us to do it in our most private rooms and what He causes us to pray for in private will be rewarded for us in the open for all to see.  

Ephesians 6:18

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18

Here is a great place to study what the Bible tells us about prayer.

None of us knows how to properly pray. So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. Romans 8:26 

We are to pray in private.But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open. Matthew 6:6

We are to keep it simple. And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:7

Our Father already knows what we need. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:8

Don’t pray for worldly things. Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.  But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. 6:31-33

We are to keep at it. I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened. Luke 11:8-10

We are to pray for others. I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:16

So basically we are to pray in secret for other people to be blessed beyond expression. We are to pray for other people to be forgiven and filled with the fulness of our Father. Prayer really is all about the Holy Spirit using us to intercede for the needs of those around us, our loved ones, those who may not even know us, and even for those who don’t love us. Our Father knows what we need already, so prayer is about us being like our Head and living to help others. 

The beauty is that our Father will cause us to sow and reap. He has us living for others and that insures that we have life and have it abundantly, here and now and for all of eternity. 

Ephesians 6:13-17

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17

Let’s look at the Truth behind every piece of our Father’s Armor.

The Belt of Truth. But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Thus David congratulates the man and pronounces a blessing on him to whom God credits righteousness apart from the works he does: Romans 4:6

The Gospel of Peace: Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27

The Shield of Faith: Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

The Helmet of Salvation: Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

The Sword of the Word: Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. John 17:17

The only way that we will ever be able to put on our Father’s complete set of Armor is if our Father places it on us. The Truth is that it is completely up to our Father to prepare us and our peace that passes all understanding is that He will prepare us in spite of ourselves. We can in no way hinder our Father from causing us to be victorious because our victory is all based on Grace. Even when we think we mess up, our Father turns it into victory. His Grace, Love, Power, Ability, Mercy, Faith, and Truth has set us free from defeat. 

Ephesians 6:11-12

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Ephesians 6:11-12

When I was younger I was heavily involved in Full Gospel Churches. These churches would preach all of the time about how we had to put on the Armor of God. The problem with the sermons wasn’t the Armor, the problem was that they made it sound like it was up to us to put it on all by ourselves. They never would preach the glorious Truth that Christ was in us and that He was the One Who was preparing us for all of the battles. 

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious [beforehand] how you shall reply in defense or what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour and moment what [you] ought to say. Luke 12:11-12

And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth? Luke 18:7-8

And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Corinthians 1:8

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, 2 Corinthians 2:14

So yes the Truth is that we must put on the Armor of our Father, but our peace and joy is that Jesus is the One Who dresses us. Whatever is needed for our success Jesus will accomplish through us. There is nothing that can penetrate or defeat the protection that we have been given. Our Armor will never leave us and it will never forsake us. We cannot help but to win the wrestling match because our advisory has already been defeated. Jesus has overcome and deprived the world of any ability to harm us. 

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10

Ephesians 6:10

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10

The conclusion of all things is that Jesus is our strength for everything. He is our Faith, our Love, our Peace, our Joy, the Source of our works, our knowledge, our wealth, our health, and our Wisdom. 

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— Ephesians 3:20

Our unity with Jesus allows our Father to be limitless through us. We may be physically weak or socially unconnected yet none of those sort of things matter. Our humanity in no way limits God from being great in us. Our Father will dwarf our highest dreams by His power that is at work within us. There is nothing that He cannot use us to do. The Truth is also that our Father likes to use the things that the world calls foolish. He used a 16 year old to kill a giant that frightened the strength out of the strongest warriors. He used slaves to run the Babylonian Empire. He had a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman conceive a child to create a kingdom through. He had an unmarried virgin conceive a King Who would be the sacrifice that would set us all free. So rejoice if things look crazy or bad, because history shows us that those are the times when our Father will work through you the greatest.

Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!. Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Matthew 5:10-11

[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Philippians 2:13

Our unity with Christ will always give us strength, in the good times and even in the bad times. Our unity with Him will give us the desire to be used and allow us to look past the physical and look directly into the spiritual. Our Father will cause us to call things that are not as though they were. It will allow us to boldly approach the Throne of Grace knowing that we will receive mercy and help in our times of need. Our strength allows us to Love all and know that even though it may not look like it, God's will is being done on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

Ephesians 6:9

You masters, act on the same [principle] toward them and give up threatening and using violent and abusive words, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no respect of persons (no partiality) with Him. Ephesians 6:9

After reading this verse I want you to look at and analyze the religious leaders of today. Ask yourself this, is the leader always threatening hell? Are they using words to demean people who may think differently than they do? As you test them to see if they truly are called consider Jesus’ life and how He acted towards the people. Jesus was confronted with a woman who was caught in adultery and He was gentle and compassionate with her as He ran off the fake religious leaders who were attacking her. He healed ten leapers and only one of them thanked Him and yet He didn’t curse the other nine. The masses demanded continuous signs from Him and He continuously healed them and fed them in spite of them mocking Him. They tortured Him and nailed Him to the Cross and He forgave them. This is the power that lives in us and flows from us as Rivers of Living Water. 

If someone is truly called and anointed to be a religious leader then that means that they were chosen by God to do so. True leaders were anointed before they were ever born to act and fulfill the Word, just as Jesus was. A true leader will have compassion and gentleness towards all people regardless of how the person acts. They will be empowered to forgive people before the people ask for it. They will freely give, without charge or sales. They will direct people to Jesus and elevate our Father, not man. They will do these things because this is how our Father has empowered true leaders to act. If a religious leader is acting any other way, they are not truly anointed to be a leader of the Church.

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22-23

Also notice in Ephesians 6:9 that our Father does not show any partiality with anyone.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

The Truth is that Jesus was absolutely successful on the Cross and He secured our Father’s will of all men being saved and coming to the knowledge of the Truth. His act of righteousness leads to acquittal and right standing for all men. On the last day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess the Truth that will set all men free. 

Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. Romans 5:8

If we are truly saved and it is all by Grace, which means that we did not earn it in any way shape or form, and if our Father shows no partiality towards anyone, then everyone will have to be saved in spite of themselves. Some of us know the success of Jesus now and some of us will learn it on the Last Day, but amen, all of us will know it. Jesus was that victorious.  

Ephesians 6:4-8

Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]—Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul; Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men, Knowing that for whatever good anyone does, he will receive his reward from the Lord, whether he is slave or free. Ephesians 6:4-8

Whether we are free or we are slaves, the Truth is that whatever good that we are used to do will be rewarded. Actually our Father tells us that whatever anyone does good will be rewarded by Jesus. I really don’t hear that preached a lot, but our Father says it pretty plainly here doesn’t He? It is not just those who have been called to be the Bride of Christ who receive rewards from Jesus, it is our guests too. Just like at a Wedding Feast, the guests of the Bride receive blessings. 

Here is the Truth that we have been empowered to understand, it is our Father within us causing us to do all things. We know that we can’t help but to receive rewards because it is God within us being great. The Truth sets us free and our Father's power within us is the powerful and victorious Truth that we enjoy. Grace allows us to understand that it is always our Father in us causing us to be a blessing. We are new creatures that have Christ living and working through us, we know that we can’t help but serve everyone. Our Father causes us to serve those who love us and He even causes us to serve those who hate us. Our Father will use us to bless those that are cursing us and often times He really doesn’t even have us take take thought for it. God has recreated us in Christ’s image, so we are just like Jesus, so we cant help but to be a blessing. As Jesus serves, intercedes, blesses, loves, and forgives so do we, even while we are on this earth.

And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect [knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. [In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person]. Colossians 3:10-11

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10

Our Father has us all over this world and in all different circumstances. Yet it is our Father and His power keeping us all and He will never place us in any circumstance that He will not anoint us to endure! 

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

The Bible tells us that God is our Father, so let me ask you, does this rule apply to Him? I hear it preached all of the time that if we mess up then God is going to get us. I hear that if we mess up then we are opening the door for satan to attack us. I hear that God cannot bless us past our last act of disobedience. So much of what I hear when it comes to our Father makes Him sounds like an overbearing father who is eager to get us. However that is just not the case.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Blessed and happy and to be envied is the person of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it against him. Romans 4:8

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Romans 8:33-35

Never allow anyone to try and tell you that our Father is going to get you or allow satan to destroy you. What type of Father would He be if He allowed harm to come on us when He was able to stop it? My kids mess up and I never would allow someone to harm them even if they were bad. Now if as a man I have this attitude, how much more does God? Our Father is not only willing to keep us, He is able to keep us. 

The Truth is that we are all going to mess up, yet that will not for one second open or unseal our Holy Spirit protection and allow satan to destroy us. Our Father will never leave us and He will never forsake us. He will have mercy on all of us in-spite of ourselves. Look at what He had written: “the Lord will never ever take account of our sins,” that is why we are so blessed. 

Now the great mystery is this: as long as we think that our Father will take account of our sins, we will continue to really mess up. It is only when we are empowered by the Truth to be set free and know that our Father has blessed us by never taking account of our sins that we will actually stop doing the things that we don’t want to do. Think that I am wrong, go to a fire and brimstone preaching church and watch what the people really do during the week when they are not in church. It is the Truth that sets us free not laws and rules. We have been made free and therefore we are free indeed. Let no one slip in and try to take away your liberty in Christ. Our Father is not the kind of parent that irritates us or provokes us through unbearable rules and punishments.   

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise— Ephesians 6:1-2

Jesus asks us in the Gospels what good is it if we only esteem those who love us? He goes on to tell us that even the heathen will do that. Jesus also tells us that the times are coming when our parents may very well be against us, but the beauty of salvation is that we cannot help but to esteem them regardless of how they are. Because Jesus is so powerful and great within us we value everyone as precious. The Love of Jesus abides in us and He loves everyone. Our Father’s Grace applies to all and His Grace is alive and very active within us. 

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

The Truth that sets us free isn’t that we have to Love, the Truth is that Jesus will insure that we Love. He will not let us fail at causing us to Love. He will 100% of the time be successful through us when it comes to Love. I cannot preach that enough because we all need to hear it! We are incapable on our own to have any level of success when it comes to Love, but we are never on our own, so we are incapable of not succeeding at Love. 

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Our Father is Love and we are now and forevermore in Him and He is in us. We are one with Love and Love will cause us to be successful in all things. Love will never fade or weaken for us. This is why we will Love all people: our parents, our families, our friends, our neighbors, and even our enemies and this is why we will enjoy a long prosperous life. 

That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. Ephesians  6:3

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]. Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, Because we are members (parts) of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church. However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. Ephesians 5:22-33

Look at all of the fabulous things that we are shown in these verses, and the greatest one is that it is Christ Who saves us. We do not save ourselves, Jesus saves us. We weren't just given a set of rules to keep so that we could be saved, our peace is that Jesus keeps us in spite of ourselves. He saves us from the cares of this world and from the deceitfulness of riches, which are the things that hinder the production of fruit. He delivers us from all evil and He meets all of our needs according to the riches of His glory and we are saved to the uttermost. Jesus sanctifies us, which means that He sets us apart for Holy use. Jesus cleanses us. He presents us without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. Jesus makes sure that we are faultless and He does it even though that we don’t deserve any of it. Jesus, Who is our Husband, loves us so much, that our shortcomings make absolutely no difference to Him at all. Our marriage to Jesus is forever, it will never be withdrawn from us.  

We are members of Jesus’ body. We are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. There is nothing that He is that we are not part of. Everything that He possesses so do we. Look at what we are told in Ephesians: we are one flesh with Jesus. We are not just one spirit with Him, but one flesh with Him. How great is that, even our flesh is brought into the perfection of Christ.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 1 Thessalonians 5:23

The only way that we can ever love our spouses and serve them as we are told to is when we are empowered to realize that it is Christ in us causing us to love and serve them. He never leaves us to do this on our own, Jesus is always being greater in us. Grace will always triumph in our marriages because Jesus will always cause it to triumph. We so often want to place the burden of a successful marriage on ourselves. We all way to often believe that we must on our own serve, love, and forgive our spouses when our victory is that it is Christ Who is the power causing these things to happen. We need to hear the Truth, because it is the Truth that will allow our marriages to flourish.   

Ephesians 5:21

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Ephesians 5:21

Our Father tells us that Jesus ever lives to serve us so that we may be saved to the uttermost and He also tells us that we are now one with Him. Jesus is now our Head, so this means that we will be used by Him to serve as He serves. We are absolutely part of the solution. We are members of Jesus’ body, so we have to be used by Him. If Jesus couldn’t use us then wouldn’t He be a cripple? So there are no maybe’s about it, you and I will be used to serve. We have been filled with the same Holy Spirit that Jesus has been filled with to be used. Jesus also has given us the exact same glory that He has so that we can be used. All of this has happened so that we may be used by our Father to do the works that Jesus did and even greater ones. 

The Truth is that we can’t help but to be subject to one another because we are all one with each other.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:22-24

Because of Jesus we are perfectly united. There are no divisions in Christ and we are all in Christ. We are subject to one another because Jesus will have it no other way. If there is anything in us that would ever hinder us from being subject to one another our Father is obligated to prune it out of us. 

But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] Galatians 5:22-25

Ephesians 5:19-20

Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Ephesians 5:19-20

The Bible tells us that out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths will speak. So as always the Truth is really powerful here when we consider that we are to make melody and always be given thanks.

A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Don’t ever think for one second that we are left alone to fill our hearts with the Truth. Our hearts are directly from God and He is the One Who fills them with hope, peace, and joy. 

I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. John 15:11

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

These Truths are why we can always and under all circumstances give thanks. Our situations may look grim, but the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us will cause us to abound in hope and give thanks. Never ever let anyone tell you that you have to be the one who develops your own hope, peace, or joy. These things are too important and it is our Father Who will always cause us to abound in all of them. 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

Our Father will lead us through hard times and easy times, either way it is all for the glory of our Kingdom. He will cause us to rejoice and be humble in the easy times and He will cause us to rejoice and be trusting in the hard times. He will cause us to always rejoice and He will always cause us to encourage and interceded for others. Our Father will insure that we are used and that there is a ton of eternal treasure waiting for us and those who He has us serve in Heaven.