Text: Ephesians (Shows Christ as Our ALL IN ALL)
· Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: vs 4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: vs 5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will: vs 9-11: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: vs 10: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. Vs 11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose (proth’esis) [a setting forth, ie proposal (intention); spec the showbread (in the Temple) as exposed before God] of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will.
We know that purpose (protith’emai), means to place before; (for oneself) to exhibit (put on display); (to oneself) to propose (determine [control; decide; regulate]): set forth. Some synonyms for “purpose” are motive; grounds; goal; point aimed at.
God wants to put his sons (male/female)
on exhibit demonstrating His dominion and power in the earth through us so that
He’s glorified as He was in Jesus Christ!
He planned this before the world was!
·
Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I
knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
I left off in part two saying that we
need to take our rightful place as sons
of God, which moves us into position for kingship or ruling authority,
and also priests, so that we can intercede for others!! This is the body of Christ being one unit working together as a whole!!
The prophet Isaiah wrote: Isaiah 46:9: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am
God, and there is none like me: vs
10: Declaring the end (achariyth’) [the last; future; latter; posterity;
remnant; residue; reward] from the beginning (reshiyth’) [first, in place, time, order or rank] and
from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel
(etsah’) [advice; plan] shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure” [happiness; delight;
joy].
The goal that God has
purposed for us (His church) in the
earth that gives Him happiness, delight
and joy is found in:
·
Ephesians 4:13: Till we all come in the unity (oneness) of the
faith, and of the knowledge (epig’nosis)
[recognition, ie full discernment; acknowledgment; become fully acquainted
with] of the Son of God, unto a perfect (complete [in growth; labor; mental and moral character] man, unto the measure
of the stature (maturity) of the fullness of Christ.
Not just the Jew, but the Gentile as
well: Ephesians 2:14: For he is our peace, who hath made both
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us: vs 15: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace.
Spiritually speaking, a Gentile is
not just those that’s non-Jewish, but
those that have not yet come into the understanding of who God is in them, and
who they are in God!! Just as Jesus in the flesh body He was in, manifested God
in the earth, so are we, God’s people, manifesting Him in the earth now. 1st John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world!
·
Revelation 4:11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to
receive glory and honor and power: for
thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure (thel’ema) [a determination (prop. the thing); choice
(spec. purpose; decree; volition) or inclination: desire; will] they are
and were created.
The Body (the church) as a whole has to recognize
(become aware of) this purpose
and take her position!
Luke 2:41-52: Jesus’ parents had gone to the
feast of Passover at Jerusalem; left and was on their way home to Nazareth,
when they realized Jesus (their 12 year
old) wasn’t in their company and returned to Jerusalem frantically looking
for him: and three days later they found
him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and
asking them questions that astonished them with his understanding and answers:
·
Vs 48: And when they saw him, they were
amazed: and his mother said unto him,
“Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us”?
“Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing”. Vs 49: And he said unto them, “How is it that you sought me”? What, or know you not that I must be about my
Father’s business”?
Even at the age of twelve, He recognized His difference, because,
when His mother said, “Your father
(small “f”) and I have sought thee sorrowing”, His response was “Know you not that I must be about my
Father’s business”? Father here, is with a capital “F”, stating,
that Jesus wasn’t talking about the father
that built material (wood; brick) buildings,
but He was referring to His Father
that established buildings not made with
man’s hands.
·
Acts 7:44: Our fathers had the tabernacle of
witness in the wilderness: vs 47: Solomon built him a house. Vs 48: Howbeit the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands: as said the prophet. Vs 49: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will you build me? Said the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
The attitude Jesus had even at twelve
years of age, this is the kind of attitude we must have in relation to the business of our Heavenly Father, which is tied in with recognizing who we are in
God and knowing our purpose in the
earth and taking our rightful position
as His sons.
These scriptures, St. John 1:1, 14, helped
Jesus to RECOGNIZE His
“purpose” and TAKE His “position”.
·
St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: vs 14: And the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us.
“Jesus’ purpose – (Being God, He was to put on flesh as a man so that He could deliver mankind):
·
John 6:38: I came down from heaven, not to
do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
·
Philippians 2:6: Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
vs 7: But made himself
of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the
likeness of men: vs 8: And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
“JESUS’ PURPOSE OF going to the cross (this wasn’t the goal for Him). The cross was the means to an end. He had to go further than the cross. He had to fulfill what He said in Matthew 12:40: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly: so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Also, as it was spoken in Psalms 16:10 and Acts 2:27: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in
hell, neither will thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. This was the “judgment fire” of God Jesus had to endure to deliver us from death, hell, and the grave.
·
1st Peter 3:18: For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit: vs 19: By which also he went and preached unto the
spirits in prison.
When Jesus rose the third day, He got
up with all power in His hand, and connected not just those of us in this
natural realm with Him, but also those in the unseen world of spirits to
Himself. This was His goal (aim; ambition; intention), to make us
all one unit, with Him being the Head!!
·
Colossians 2:13: And you being dead in your sins
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with
him, having forgiven you all trespasses:
vs 14: Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross: vs 15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.
·
1st John 3:8: He that commits sin is of the
devil: for the devil sinned from the
beginning. For this purpose the
Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
“Jesus TOOK HIS position”:
AS THE BEGINNING [this Beginning was a Person – not a calendar date – but it was the Man
Jesus the Christ]!!
·
Genesis 1:1: In “the beginning” (CHRIST), God created the heaven [higher realms of spiritual elevation for the Anointed
One with power] and the earth" [the
Man Jesus in flesh form].
·
2nd Corinthians 5:19: To wit that God was in Christ
reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them.
·
Colossians 1:17-18: And he is before all things and
by him all things consist. And he is the
head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all
things he might have the preeminence [superiority;
supremacy].
·
Revelation 3:14: These things said the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.
AS CHIEF CORNERSTONE:
·
Psalm 118:22: The stone (son [builder of the family name]) which the builders rejected
is become the head stone of the corner (pinnah’)
[an angle; a pinnacle; chief; tower] (the CHURCH).
·
Ephesians 2:19: Now therefore you are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the
household of God: vs 20: And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner (akrogonia’ios) [belonging to the extreme corner; chief]
stone. Vs 21: In whom all the building fitly framed
together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord:
vs 22: In whom you also
are built together for a habitation (residence) of
God through the Spirit.
What was the “foundation of the Apostles and Prophets”? John said it best:
·
1st John 1: That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word
of life:
Their foundation was the WORD of God, who was Jesus Christ Himself!! St. John 1: 14: Jesus was the Word made flesh: Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth and the life.
- vs 2: (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us): vs 3: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Their foundation was that which they had witnessed being with Jesus Christ!!
The “foundation or setting stone” is the first stone set in the
construction of a masonry foundation, which is called the “cornerstone”. This stone
directs the rest of the building of that structure. If inspectors go into a house and find a
crack in the floor, they won’t condemn it.
If an inspector finds a crack in the wall, they won’t condemn it! If they find a crack in the roof, they won’t
condemn it! But if they find a crack in the foundation, I don’t care
how beautiful the building is, they
will condemn it!! How many know that
there is no crack in our “Foundation”, who is Christ!!
·
1st Corinthian 3:11: For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Remember what Paul said: Ephesians 2:18: For through him we both (Jew/Gentile) have
access by one Spirit unto the Father. Vs
21: In whom all the building fitly
framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord: vs 22: In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God
through the Spirit. This habitation is not built by man’s hands with the use
of bricks and aluminum siding but it’s built by the Spirit of the Living God!
·
1st Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one and hath
many members and all the members of that one body, being many, is one
body: so also is CHRIST. VS 13: For by one SPIRIT are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or
free: and have been all made to drink
into one SPIRIT!
STILL TALKING ABOUT
JESUS TAKING HIS POSITION:
AS THE SON OF GOD:
·
Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself shall
give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (with us (is) God).
·
Isaiah 9:6: Unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall
be upon his shoulder: and his name shall
be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1 (Jesus is manifested):
·
Matthew 1:16: And Jacob begat Joseph the husband
of Mary, of whom was born (genna’o)
[reproduced; regenerated; conceived; brought forth; delivered of] Jesus
(Iesous) [our Lord] (Jehoshua) [our Savior], who
is called (leg’o) [put forth; described;
shown] Christ (Christos’) [the Anointed One].
Jesus was not born Christ, He was made
Christ! Acts 2:13-42 (Peter preaches):
·
Vs 36: Therefore let all the house of
Israel know assuredly, that God hath made (poie’o)
[appointed; ordained; purposed; raised up; secured] that same Jesus,
whom you have crucified, both Lord (ku’rios)
[Supreme in authority] and Christ [the Anointed One].
Talking about Jesus’ purpose and position, it was what He had
to go through as the Son of God to deliver us, that made Him Christ (the Anointed One). It is
the “anointing” that destroys the
yokes!!! Anointing in Hebrew is she’men, meaning grease, especially liquid (as from the olive); to shine; oily. In the Greek it is chris’ma, meaning an unguent
or smearing; an endowment (chrism) of the Holy Spirit; unction. The oil is extracted from the olive via pressure!! This is what Jesus had to undergo for us
through His death, via the Cross. But on the third day, He rose with all power,
to give us victory over death, hell, and
the grave.
·
1st Corinthians 15:22: In Adam all die; even so in
Christ, shall all be made alive!!
Oh God, how our Savior took His position,
and fulfilled His purpose!!!
HIS SEALING AS THE SON OF GOD:
·
Matthew 3:13-17 [Jesus is baptized by John]:
vs 17: And lo, a voice from
heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”.
·
Galatians 4:4: And when the fullness of the time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: Vs 5: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons. Vs 6: And because you are sons, God hath sent
forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Vs 7: Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then
an heir of God through Christ.
AS HIGH PRIEST (intercessor;
mediator):
·
2nd Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for
us, who knew no sin: that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him.
·
1st Timothy 2:5: “There is one God and one
mediator (mese’tes) [go between; an internunciator;
reconciler] between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus”. Vs 6: “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time”.
·
Hebrews 4:15: We have not a high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin.
·
Hebrews 7:25: Wherefore he is able also to save
them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession
(conciliation; intervention] for us.
Because of His great
sacrifice, as the Lamb of God, we are redeemed
by His innocent blood!
·
St. John 1:29: The next day John sees Jesus coming
unto him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of
the world”.
· Hebrew 9:12: Neither the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Vs 22: Without shedding of blood is no remission. Vs 24: Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence (person) of God for us: vs 25: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entered into the holy place every year with blood of others. Vs 26: For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world (kos’mos) [orderly arrangements; decorations]: but now once in the end (entire completion; fulfilling) of the world (aeon) [age] (that He appeared in as the Son born and the Son given) hath he appeared (manifested already) to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. The world (aeon) [age] that was to come was the "age" of the Holy Ghost. We already know that the Holy Ghost is the Father and the Son as One living within us, His people that believes and have received Him and those that will believe and receive Him into their lives.
·
Revelation 13:8: And all that dwell upon the earth
shall worship him (the beast system), whose
names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world (kos’mos).
Those of us that know we were with the Father in the beginning, our names were in the book of life “in the beginning”! St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: vs 2: And the same (you and I) was in the beginning with God!! Vs 14: And the Word was made flesh!! We know that was our Savior Jesus, but we were also made flesh at the appointed time.
As he is, so are we, in this world (1st John 4:17). His name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13b), so is ours, the Word of God, which is the name we had with our Father in the beginning!! PRAISE BREAK!!!
AS KING (ruler) AND LORD (supreme in authority)
·
Matthew 28:18: And Jesus came and spoke unto them,
saying, “All power (exousi’a) [ability;
force; mastery; jurisdiction; liberty; authority] is given unto me in
heaven and in earth”.
·
Acts 2:36: Therefore let all the house of
Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have
crucified, both Lord (ku’rios) [supreme in
authority; controller; God; Master] and Christ (the Anointed
One).
·
Revelation 19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on
his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
God being in Christ was the only way
He could reconcile man back to Himself. He
(God) had to give up Himself, and make Himself Man – and yet at the same time,
show man that he (man) was and is God
in flesh form in the earth. [I hope you got that revelation right
there]! For,
as he is, so are we, in this world (1st John 4:17). Talking about knowing your purpose and taking your position!
·
John 15:13: Greater love hath no man than
this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.
There is a song by F.C. Barnes,
called “It Was a Great Thing”.
The Lord has brought me
through all of my trials;
And when I failed him,
he didn’t cast me away.
He stood right by me through
all of my troubles;
When I was lost, he
didn’t let me go astray.
He took my sins and
saved my soul;
He cleaned me up and
made me whole.
Jesus died on Calvary
so the whole wide world could see, it
was A great thing that he did for me and for you!!!
So recognize your purpose and take your position in the earth in Christ Jesus!!
Pastor Gracie Perry
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