Ephesians

Ephesians2011

1:13-14

you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) - when you believed in Christ33 - you were marked with the seal34 of the promised Holy Spirit,35  14who is the down payment36 of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession,37 to the praise of his glory.

How great it is that God has sealed me with his holy spirit. That this holy spirit will not leave me or forsake me or even abandon me.

1:22-23

22And God60 put61 all things under Christ's62 feet,63 and he gave him to the church as head over all things.64  23Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

I am under Christ’s authority and am now apart of his Kingdom.

2:1-3

And although you were1 dead2 in your transgressions and sins,  2in which3 you formerly lived4 according to this world's present path,5 according to the ruler of the kingdom6 of the air, the ruler of7 the spirit8 that is now energizing9 the sons of disobedience,10  3among whom11 all of us12 also13 formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest...15

Before a few days ago I was a slave to those demons. I might as well have been dead. However, Christ has set me free and now I have been given authority of the demons in my life. Together with Christ we will beat them.

2:4-6

(4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,  (5) even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you are saved!16 -  (6) and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus

How great it is that God has redeemed me. It was all due to His love of me. Even with all the rejection and being even controlled by demons. He truly does love me.

2:14-18

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one28 and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility,  (15) when he nullified29 in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man30 out of two,31 thus making peace,  (16) and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.32  (17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,  (18) so that33 through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

3:11-13

11) This was according to27 the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,  (12) in whom we have boldness and confident access to God29 because of Christ's31 faithfulness.  (13) For this reason I ask you33 not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you,34 which is your glory.36

I get the feeling that I have had a hard time accessing God before. These demons have really always laughed at my attempts. However, now I am the one laughing as now that they have been cast into the abyss, I have access to God.

3:17

(17)that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love

I really do feel as if I am a different person. It is more then just what people have told me about my old life. I get the feeling that now I am rooted in this love that This verse talks about.

3:19

(19) and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to44 all the fullness of God.

4:2-3

(2) with all humility and gentleness,4 with patience, bearing with5 one another in love,  (3) making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4:26-27

(26)Be angry and do not sin;32 do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.33  (27) Do not give the devil an opportunity.

This is something that I will strive to do in my life. I get the feeling that I have allowed things in my life to build up. This has really caused the Devil to have many opportunities. I am going to do my best to not allow the Devil to have opportunities.

4:31-32

You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.  (32) Instead,35 be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

This really seems like the old me. A me that has been and when he comes back will be defeated and Christ has already won this battle. This is the real me and this is who I want to be: someone who people seem to like, someone who people want to be around, someone who knows love, has understanding, seeks God, and is at peace.

5:9-11

for the fruit of the light12 consists in13 all goodness, righteousness, and truth -  (10) trying to learn14 what is pleasing to the Lord.  (11) Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather15 expose them.16  

Again this really describes my old life. Again I will not participate in “his” dark acts. I am out to please God and pursue righteousness.

5:19-21

 (19) speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music27 in28 your hearts to the Lord,  (20) always giving thanks to God the Father for each other29 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (21) and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.30

This is my heart’s desire now.

5:33

(33)Nevertheless,43 each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself,44 and the wife must45 respect her husband.

I get the feeling that until now I have been a failure in this regard. Now that I have the Holy Spirit, if God allows us to be back together, she will se a love that will just ooze from me.

6:11-17

(11) Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes21 of the devil.  (12) For our struggle22 is not against flesh and blood,23 but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces25 of evil in the heavens.26  (13) For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground27 on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.  (14) Stand firm therefore, by fastening28 the belt of truth around your waist,29 by putting on the breastplate of righteousness,  (15) by fitting your30 feet with the preparation that comes from the good news31 of peace,32  (16) and in all of this,33 by taking up the shield34 of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  (17) And take the helmet of salvation35 and the sword36 of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

I have a feeling sooner or later God is going to have me encounter the “old” Eric. In a lot of ways I fear the old Eric. While there were some good things about him but to me he seemed like a jerk, impatient, had outburst of anger, and a lot of hatred that he could not even understand. In a lot of ways, just from what I have heard, I do not like this Eric. When the time comes, I will be prepared for him God is equipping me with his armor and I will do battle with him. He will lose. The person I am now is who I have always been but has been hidden for so long. He will not return and take control of my life. I have been there somewhat all along, but have had very little if any control. In other words: I am going to win this battle when God brings us together.