Known Through You

Ephesians 3:10 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the ruler and authorities in the heavenly realms”
Leading up to this verse, Paul has been relating all that God has done for us in Jesus. We are made alive in Him (2:5), He has reconciled us to God through the cross, (2:16) made us one in His Peace (2:15) and made us a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit (2:22).
Next, he announces that God will use us to make His wisdom known. The Principalities and Powers in the Heavenlies will know the manifold wisdom of God, through,(Grk. ‘dia’),the Church.
Whether the principalities and powers are supposed to be earthly powers, human systems of control, power and care, or the spiritual powers that oppose God need not be decided to get the force of this verse. We may safely guess that they are not exclusive of each other. We need however, to expose ourselves to the challenge that is presented to us. God wants to make his manifold (abundant and various) wisdom concerning all that He has been doing in Jesus , KNOWN to the Powers through the agency of us, the church. The only verb in this verse is make known. The impact of Jesus upon the Powers will be made known through us. The Greek word for known, gnorizo, is not the mere sense of realizing, as in “Yeah, I’m starting to see that”, it is an experiential certainty. It is the kind of realization that undeniably grips you, it is unmistakable, and it has the impact and suddenness of revelation.
Your church; Are the powers being slapped in the face with your witness? Has the reality of God dwelling in you by His Spirit been a stunning revelation to sinners? Is your community seeing new possibilities arising because it is not you that lives, but Christ lives within you? Are there whole areas of satanic domination that are suddenly overthrown with light and freedom because of the one life in Christ that we now share? These are clearly the expectations that Paul has for a people newly alive in Jesus, and this is what is possible for us if we go forward in His strength.
Pastor Harley

Love Your Church

Loving Your ChurchEphesians 1:15-16 " For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."

This is a message for Pastors today, because it shows that Paul commends the church for its love for the saints. Now if Paul says he is thankful that they love 'the sainted', ('hagios' is an adjectival noun, identifying the saints as those whom an action of God has made holy) doesn't it follow that Paul and we who bear his mantle are also to nurture a love of the Church? we should love the church, because they love by the presence of Christ. Their love is Jesus being manifest in our church walls. Shouldn't we be thankful for that?

But how few of us do so! A recent survey says that 79% of UMC pastors believe that cliques and power groups have too much influence in their church. The same survey shows a third of laypeople believing their church needs a new pastor if it is to survive.

Not too much thankfulness there.

There are some unpleasant characters in the pews and pulpits, but notice Paul's passion for the faithful. "Giving thanks is a present active participle, which shows continous action, he gives thanks and doesn't stop. The word, 'eucharisteo' is a combination of eu-(good) and 'Charis" (grace). This is the expression of someone who doesn't feel he deserves the blessing for which he is presently giving thanks.

How many of the 79% listed above would you guess will say that they don't deserve their church?

We need to have an attitude of thankfulness and open eyes toward the faithfulness and love that is in the Body of Christ.

Love the Church, Harley Wheeler