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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 2 * PART 3 * BOOK 37
Ephesians 3:8-21
Now as we begin this lesson turn to Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 11 where Paul writes to the Church Age believers the following.
Ephesians 3:11
"According to the eternal purpose which he (the God of verse 10) purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
II Timothy 1:7
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind..."
Should believers ever have mental problems? Now God loves them, and they hurt, I tell you it’s absolutely awful. Now verse 8.
II Timothy 1:8
" Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me has prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; "
The only time the world will get upset with preaching is when the power of God begins to transform lives, now that the world doesn’t want. The world’s going to fight that tooth and toenail. But you see Paul says even though the power of God is being exemplified, we still don’t have to fear, because He is Sovereign. Now verse 9 is the verse I wanted to get to, and the verse starts off by referring to the power of God in verse 9.
" Who (God) hath saved us, (already) and called us with an holy calling, (now holy doesn’t mean angelically pure or sinless, but rather we’re set apart. Now back to Ephesians chapter 3. So look at verse 11 again. Remember every thing that we comprehend of the mysteries are all part of His eternal purpose.
Ephesians 3:11
"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
Now verse 12. Where are we as believers? (Reference, I Corinthians 15:1-4). When we have been placed into the Body of Christ we have a union with Christ that the world knows nothing of. Now you want to remember that a lot of church members are not in the Body of Christ! We have multitudes of church people who have never had this kind of a salvation experience where God places them into the Body.
The important thing is "are you in the Body of Christ?" So baptism is not what counts, what counts is, "are we in the Body of Christ? Are we positioned where God want to position us?" Now verse 12.
Ephesians 3:12a
What does most religion do to people? Now read on.)
Ephesians 3:12b
"... and access with confidence by the faith of him." We have access to the very throne room of God. Hebrews 4:16
Now back to Ephesians chapter 3. Let’s look at verse 12 again.
Ephesians 3:12
I hope I’m not doing any injustice when I use the word faithfulness in that verse. We never have to question that as believers!" Now then we’ve got time to go into a prayer of the apostle on behalf of you and I as believers. Ephesians 3:13
Now verse 14.
Ephesians 3:14
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Ephesians 3:15-16
The Pneuma of course is the spirit, but the Hagion really means "the power from on high." Now the Pneuma Hagion is precipitated by the indwelling spirit. The Pneuma Hagion. I don’t have to pray for the Holy Spirit, because I know I have Him. I think this is what Paul is speaking of in verse 16.
Ephesians 3:16b
"to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."
And where is the spirit? In the inner man. He’s there all the time. The Holy Spirit never leaves us, you’ve got Him. Now verse 17 as we continue his prayer.
Ephesians 3:17a
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;..."
And what’s faith? "Taking God at His Word!" So often people will says, "Well how do I know that I’ve been placed into the Body of Christ? How do I know that I have the indwelling Spirit? Because Paul says so. I Corinthians 3:16
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Now here Paul is making it so plain then that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. How do I know the Holy Spirit lives within me? I’m not one of those who hears God talk out loud. I’ve never yet heard Him talk audibly to me. Now I think He affects our thoughts, and as we study the Scriptures God speaks to us through His Word. I’ve never had that happen, and I’m a little bit dubious when people talk like that, because the Bible doesn’t teach that. But we do have the indwelling Person of the Holy Spirit living within us. Now back to Ephesians chapter 3. So Christ in the Person of the Holy Spirit is dwelling in our hearts as believers. Ephesians 3:17b-18
"...that ye being rooted and grounded in love, 18. There is a dimension to the Christian life that the secular world cannot explain. We’ll start with verse 9.
I Corinthians 2:9
Well I can’t! Verse 10.
11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?..."
This auto mechanic just loves his work.

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