Talking Points 16

Eph 1:15-16
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (NKJV)

Many Christians consider these verses as lead ups to the prayer that starts in verse 17. However, they are much more than that.

When we pray for others of the faith, we should name them. Our prayers should be pointed.

In prayers for the nation, although those prayers may appear to be general in nature, those prayers are actually very pointed.

At the time of this writing, Christians around the world are facing great persecution from those who are led by Satan. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Christians are being murdered. In addition, the church in America is being led by the unconverted.

Once great Churches are now led by ordained heathen!

Pray for those of the Body of Christ!

Talking Points 15

Eph 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)

We trust, focus faith on Christ Jesus when we actually hear “the word of Truth.” Until that moment we have not heard the Truth!

There is a great difference between physically hearing and spiritually perceiving.

Repeatedly in the book of Revelation, we find, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:11/NKJV)

Those who do not hear with spiritual ears cannot hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches.

Have you heard the voice of god?

Those who have been chosen to be a part of the body of Christ have heard the voice of God the Holy Spirit as He opens the door of salvation to the chosen. When we hear the Truth we respond in the affirmative!

From the moment on Christ Jesus is our Lord (Gr. kurios-κύριος), our owner and proprietor. We are His lump of clay and He is the Master Potter molding us into that which is useful in the plan for the ages.

Rejoice that He has called and appointed you to life forevermore in Himself!

Talking Points 14

Eph 1:12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)

As a Christian, you are special!

You are among the first to be called to trust in Christ Jesus. You are among the elect!

In some respects, Christianity is inclusive, but in this age, at this time, Christianity is exclusive!

Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (NKJV)

You have been called and justified according to His purpose!

You shall fulfill the mission that He has given you!

Talking Points 13

Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJV)

Read that verse carefully!

The fact is that those of us who have been chosen to belong to Christ Jesus have OBTAINED and in heritance and none may deprive us of fellowship with our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Now…That inheritance was given to us according to God’s purpose. This verse is explicit: He works ALL things according to His counsel and His will!

Did you read the ALL, or did you as many do discount God’s will falsely believing that man’s supposed freewill can override or negate God’s sovereign will whenever we want?

The Greek text tells us that we have been called out to receive a special allotment according to His predestined plan!

Again, we find that our calling out was “predestined!”

You have been predestined to obtain an inheritance from God!

Talking Points 12

Eph 1:10 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJV)

Did you know that you have a wonderful inheritance in Christ Jesus?

Many Christians do not know about that inheritance.

Notice in this verse that it says that we “have obtained” an inheritance. That is not a literal translation and it has led some to a false conclusion.

The literal Greek text refers to an inheritance being allotted to us. That means that our actual inheritance is being reserved for us in heaven. That inheritance is being held safely is a spiritual escrow for us to experience in fullness at the proper time.

We also find that we have been “predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

Being “predestined” indicates that Satan cannot interfere with us or our inheritance!

The Father works “all things according to the counsel of His will.” That guarantees success for us!

No matter what we go through in this age, the conclusion will be more glorious than we can imagine!

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (NKJV)

Talking Points 11

The Mystery of God’s Will
Ephesians 1:9-10
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. (NKJV)

Only a few people understand the “mystery of His will.”

But if you read this it shall become apparent…unless the power to believe has not been given to you.

Some may think that they read and understand English very well, but that has nothing to do with reading and understanding the Bible.

The simple fact is that according to God’s good pleasure which He purposed within Himself is that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He shall gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

His plan for the ages includes all of creation!

Due to the sin nature that is resident in all humanity we long to see our enemies punished.

However, the “mystery of the Father’s will is to bring all of creation under the headship…the leadership of His Son, Our Lord, Christ Jesus.

For far too many, God’s will is still a mystery!

Talking Points 10

The First Love

Revelation 2:4 (Ephesus) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Many…far too many Christians have left their first love.

That does not mean that they are backslidden, lost again, or unsaved. It does mean that they have neglected the purpose of human salvation.

Due to a lack of spiritual sensitivity, many preachers have put forth a lack of understanding concerning that “first love.”

When we first spiritually understand that Christ has accepted us, we can hardly wait to tell others what He has done.

Salvation is a miracle that exceeds all the physical healings that have happened since man was created.

And, when we first understand His love for us, we tell others. But many, from all denominations and some entire denominations hate evangelism! They have become ashamed of Christ!

Those who have become ashamed of our Lord really never were Christians! Instead, they wanted to make a show of baptism. That is sad!

The Ephesian Church left their first love. They stopped evangelizing. They forgot the purpose of their salvation among mankind!

We have not been chosen to simply sit around and wait for the return of Christ! We should be working in His vineyard!

The work of the Church is evangelism! The Churches that have lost the desire to evangelize are Ephesian in nature.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. (NKJV)

While Christ does have a vested interest in individual Christians, he has no vested interest in the preservation of the first church of Sparta, Indiana.

When he tells the Ephesian Church that if they do not turn, repent and do the “first works” he will come and remove their lampstand, He was not being poetic. The fact is that they did not repent, turn and do the first works, and so He took away their lampstand! The Church at Ephesus no longer exists!

Focus on evangelism! Tell the story of His love for you and others!

The fact is that after being “saved” you cannot be “lost” again.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (NKJV)