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The Daily Crave - Ephesians Chapter 1MondayToday get an overview by reading the whole book of Ephesians in one sitting. It should take you about 20-30 minutes.What do you think is a possible theme or overall message of the letter? _______________________________________________________In chapter 1 verse 1, how does Paul describe the believers at Ephesus? _______________________________________________________Why do you think Paul is writing this letter specifically to the faithful?_______________________________________________________Verse 3 is a key verse in the book of Ephesians. Write it on an index card and post it somewhere you will see it often so you can memorize it this week.TuesdayRead chapter 1 aloud each day this week. Referring to verse 3, what do you think is the theme or overall message of this chapter? _______________________________________________________In verse 4, for what purpose are we chosen? _______________________________________________________Read Phil. 2:15-16. What does it mean to be holy and blameless? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Why do you think it is important to God that we remain holy?_______________________________________________________The world around us draws conclusions about our God by watching the way that we live. What do people think about your God by the way that you are living? Do they think your God is powerful?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________WednesdayAccording to verse 3, we have every spiritual blessing in Christ. If we have every spiritual blessing, what could we be lacking? _______________________________________________________Paul lists many spiritual blessings that we receive in Christ. How many spiritual blessings can you find in verses 5-14? List them here. (In verse 12, “we” is referring to the Jews who were the first to believe at Pentecost and the early days of the church.)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Read this paraphrase of Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV aloud.“Blessed be the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose me in Him before the foundation of the world, that I should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined me for adoption as His son/daughter through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed me in the Beloved. In Him I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon me, in all wisdom and insight making known to me the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him I have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. When I heard the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation, and believed in him, I was sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of my inheritance until I acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”What conclusions do you draw about your God from reading that passage?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ThursdayAccording to John 8:44 who is our natural father? _______________According to verse 5, who is our adoptive father? _______________We will learn more about adoption in Christ next week, for now let’s focus on the inheritance in verses 10-11 that we receive as adopted sons and daughters. What do you learn about our inheritance from these verses?Eph. 1:13-14 ____________________________________________Eph. 5:5 _______________________________________________Matt. 25:34 _____________________________________________1 Pet. 1:3-5 _____________________________________________Rev. 21:1-7 _____________________________________________King David understood what it meant to receive an inheritance from God. Read Psalm 16:5-11 in your translation. Make this passage quoted from The Message your prayer today.My choice is you, GOD, first and only.And now I find I’m your choice!You set me up with a house and yard.And then you made me your heir!The wise counsel GOD gives when I’m awakeis confirmed by my sleeping heart.Day and night I’ll stick with GOD;I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.I’m happy from the inside out,and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.You canceled my ticket to hell—that’s not my destination!Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,all radiant from the shining of your face.Ever since you took my hand,I’m on the right way.FridayFrom verses 18-19 what three things do we know when our heart is enlightened?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Why do you think Christ is seated (Eph. 1:20-23)? (Hint: John 19:30)_______________________________________________________One of the ways we can exercise our power in Christ is through prayer. “Intercessory prayer” is a selfless prayer for the benefit of someone else. Only believers have the privilege of partnering with God this way in His kingdom work. Paul records a portion of his intercessory prayer for the believers at Ephesus in verses 15-23. Praying scripture is a powerful way for us to intercede or stand in the gap for someone. Here is an example how we can pray Scripture.Heavenly Father,I pray that You may give (name) a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ. I pray that the eyes of his heart may be enlightened, so that he will know what is the hope of Your calling, and what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward us who believe. I pray that (name) will experience these blessings in accordance with the working of the strength of Your might which You brought about in Christ, when you raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Father, I praise You for putting (insert sin or illness your friend is struggling with) under the feet of Christ, and I thank You for giving Jesus as head over all things to us the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Lord, I pray that (name) will receive Your grace and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ and that he may become holy and blameless before you. To God be the glory. Amen.Is God’s power evident in your life? How we live betrays what we truly believe. The church in Ephesus believed the message of truth in Christ and believing made them powerful. They lived by faith because they had everything they needed to overcome the challenges of a world that was hostile to Christ followers. How is your faith challenged? At school? At home? At work? How can you be powerful in the face of the challenges you mentioned? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ................
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