The book of
Acts speaks more about the Church gathering in Ephesus than any of the other
gatherings.
This Church was planted by
Paul during a visit to Ephesus during one of his short stays, these believers
were nurtured and encouraged by Priscilla and Aquila, and also by Apollos (Acts
18:19-28).
Paul did return to
Ephesus at a later time for a three-year period to serve and to minister, there
were significant gains for the gospel during Paul’s second visit over the
demonic powers in the city and over the people who held to the beliefs and
teachings of the temple of Artemis (Acts 19:1-41).
Later, during
his farewell speech to the Ephesian brothers, Paul admonished them to be vigilant
to protect the sheep from “fierce wolves” and false shepherds (Acts
20:29-30).
Writing from prison even
later, (where this letter to the Ephesians originates) Paul calls this
church to the “unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God,” a
maturity that would enable them to stand firm against “human cunning, by
craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians
3:13-14).
It is from
that backdrop that we pick up the passage where Paul is praying that God will
shine the light of the Holy Spirit so that the believers can see “the full
revelation of the hope of His calling".
The text calls it “imagination”, this
is the seat of understanding for the believer, it can be further defined as one’s
“innermost heart” where we hold to the truths which we hold dear.
Our
imagination has been corrupted by the enemy to be nothing more than a fantasy
realm, a place where we retreat to find escapism and isolation detached from
human reality, but imagination is much more than that, it is a place where
ideas and thoughts are born and nurtured to become great plans and concepts
which can be acted upon.
Paul realized
that God uses our imagination to form revelation in our minds to tell us who
Jesus is and that the hope in His invitation is to know Him. This illumination is by the Holy Spirit
connecting with our spirit revealing to us knowledge and understanding which is
beyond our capabilities, but divine in nature.
This invitation (or calling)
is transferred from our spirit into our minds where we connect with the love of
Christ.
Let this same attitude and purpose
and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example
in humility]. Philippians 2:5 (AMPC)
The
invitation (calling) is to know Jesus and be captivated by His love
which transcends this natural world and transports us into His presence. That is the “revelation of the hope of His
calling” to which we are all invited.
Paul defines
what that invitation holds, “the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that
he finds in us, his holy ones!”. We
have the full deposit of the Kingdom already firmly planted within our hearts (which
Jesus spoke of like a mustard seed) the smallest of seeds that grows into a
large tree that represents the faith of Christ within us.
Then Jesus taught them another parable:
“Heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to the tiny mustard seed that a man
takes and plants in his field. Although the smallest of all the seeds, it
eventually grows into the greatest of garden plants, becoming a tree for birds
to come and build their nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (TPT)
We are the
treasure trove of God for His inheritances which He has placed within us, and that treasure is Christ
within us the hope of glory!
“Have you forgotten that your body
is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t
belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives
inside your sanctuary. You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears
of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God!” 1
Corinthians 6:19-20 (TPT)
So what makes
us holy or separated unto God? It is none
other than God Himself who allowed Jesus to be hung on a cross and sacrifice Himself
for us that we may become the inheritance of God through the suffering of
Christ Jesus. There is nothing else so
worthy or wonderful than this act of love on our behalf, that is what makes us
holy.
And since God
has such a rich and glorious inheritance in His people, He will not forsake us.
He has a natural and special title of ownership to us through Christ Jesus, His having claimed us, His use of
us, and His care and delight in us, there are so many reasons for God retaining His people, most of all so He can receive glory through us.
Because Jesus lives forevermore, He is the inheritor,
and that makes the inheritance itself everlasting, and while He lives, He never changes, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Be Blessed;
Stephen
Barnett
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