Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 1:20-21

ESV:

that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

*ETS:

After his resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of God. There is no authority on earth we should fear, Christ is above and over all.

*DTFTD:

Paul prayed that the saints at Ephesus would know the joy of expectation and hope in Christ; the value of their relationship with God; and the power of resurrection living in the Spirit. In verse twenty-one Paul prayed the believers would also realize the authority of Jesus. Believing that Jesus is all powerful and over all authorities should alleviate the stress of life and cause believers to live as conquerors in Christ. There was a popular song some years ago with a chorus that attempted to encoruage the hearer with the words "don't worry, be happy." Paul is giving believers the encouragement, "don't worry, believe in Christ and be victorious."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, stop stressing and start trusting. Allow everything causing you worry to be a reminder of the authority of Jesus in your world. Whatever you are under he is over, and he is ready to give you power to overcome. Paul's reminder of the authority of Jesus should adjust the focus of the fearful saint, granting him or her courage to go forward in faith.

*EDS:

Christians are more than conquerors through Christ. In view of the fact that Jesus is the authority above all authorities, Christians should fear neither life nor death.

INGREDIENTS: A reminder: Jesus is Lord! Word Study: Of the words, "and every name that is named," Vincent says: Whatever a name can be given to. Let any name be uttered, whatever it is, Christ is above it " (Wuest Word Studies in the Greek, Vol. 1).

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 1:19-20

ESV:

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

*ETS:

(Paul's prayer continues) I pray you will understand God's power is always available to energize you to walk in victory. I pray you will know living the Christ-life requires the same power God exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.

Think about it - the unlimited and immeasurable power God demonstrated in resurrecting Christ from the dead is not only the power you will experience when you leave this world, (i.e. power over physical death), it is the power you need to live in this world, (i.e., the power of resurrection living - being dead to sin and alive to God).

*DTFTD:

The Christian's life is to be a display of God's power. The disciple of Christ should experience victory over sin and a life of communion with God through the Holy Spirit. Paul's focus on the power of God was a way of reminding the saints at Ephesus that Christian living is more than trying to do good in the name of Jesus. Christian living requires the unlimited power of God working out the resurrection life of Christ in daily experiences. The world should not view the church as people trying to live for Jesus, rather the world should see Christ living through His church. Today is a fresh opportunity for you to walk in the resurrection power of God. Stop right now and pray that you will be reminded often throughout the day how much you need God's power to live in this world. I am praying the church, the redeemed of God, throughout the world will express the exceeding greatness of God's power today.

*EDS:

Christian living is an expression of the miracle working power of God.

INGREDIENTS: A message on the necessityof God's power in the Christian's life. Word Study: The word power is the Greek word "dunamis." We get our English word "dynamite" from this word. The Christian's life should not be a firecracker - it should be dynamite! See the difference?

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 1:18

ESV:

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

*ETS:

By the Spirit who works understanding into your minds and hearts, may you grow in expectation of all things promised in Christ, (being thereby assured of God's call on your life), and may your heart begin to take hold of the value and wealth God has place on his glory in your redemption through the sacrifice of His Son (a glory referred to as His inheritance in the saints).

*DTFTD:

When the Ephesian believers were brought into the realm of Paul's prayer life they knew his life was focused was on another world, and they also knew he thought it best for them to obtain the same focus. Paul's prayer for the saints at Ephesus was enlightening and encouraging. His words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, revealed a life of exploration and discovery. The call of God on the life of the beleiver causes clarity of vision. Our eyes of understanding are healed by the work of the Spirit. When we have cleared vision we are encouraged to focus on all promises in Christ, and to view them as realities deposited into the realm of hope. Believers are also encouraged by Paul's prayer to think often on how much God values their salvation and how His wealth is connected to their redemption. Meditation on such thoughts will certainly move our hearts to worship God, praising Him with gratitude.

Think the thoughts presented in Paul's prayer. Pray Paul's prayer for our current generation of believers. Praise God for the promises you have in Christ and for the fact that He considers your being his child a great treasure.

*EDS:

Knowing Christ should result in growing faith, and a clearer understanding of worship.

INGREDIENTS: A prayer for the saints.Word Study: "hope" is the Gr. root word "elpece" in the text it means a fervent yearning, confident expectation, and patient waiting for the fulfilment of God's promises, a full Christ-centered assurance the promises will be realized (NTC, William Hendricksen).

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 1:17

*ESV:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

*ETS:

I pray that our glorious Heavenly Father, who we know through Christ, may energize your spirit by His Spirit to know Christ increasingly and more intimately.

*DTFTD:

If Christians are to live for the glory of God and enjoy all they have in Christ, it will not be enough for them to simply have Bible facts in their minds. We all need the added experience Paul spoke of in this text. Certainly the Holy Spirit became our teacher when we were saved and since our conversion He has taught us much truth - truth that should become "knowledge." The knowledge Paul prayed the Ephesians would experience was a journey of learning and living in Jesus. What we learn in the Spirit should always have two results: 1. We should become more intimately aquainted with our Lord; 2. Our lives should reflect his character more clearly. Paul knew, as we all know, our faith is more than words - it is ALIVE! My prayer today is that Christianity in the United States will begin to reveal what Paul prayed for in this text - a living, excited, ever growing love-life in Christ! May it be the prayer of our heart and the experience of our lives every day.

*EDS:

By the power of the Spirit, and for the glory of our Heavenly Father, we need to tap the divine resources and blessings available in Christ -learning in silence and living out loud the joy of the Lord.

INGREDIENTS: An apostolic prayer for believers to continue to grow in their faith. Word Study: The phrase, "in the knowledge of Him" uses the Gk.word "epignosei" which speaks of an intimate and personal knowledge. The contributors to the Bible Knowledge Commentary wrote: "It includes anintimate awareness of God's character and will" (NT edition, 620).

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 1:16

*ESV:

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

*ETS:

Every time you come to mind, I thank God for your faith and love, and begin praying for you,

*DTFTD:

Our thoughts are a precious thing to waste. Sometimes we spend hours wasting our thought life with worry, or review of a bad situation, or maybe thinking on something we determined to never think about again. Let me ask you, have you ever purposely determined to think on your Christian brothers or sisters? Those of you who attend a church, if you have attended long enough, you can imagine the setting. Who sits in front of you, beside you, behind you? Think on these people right now and begin to pray for their well being. Ask God to work in their lives in special ways. Paul modeled this example in our text. When Paul thought about his brothers and sisters in the family of God at Ephesus, he praised God for their faith and love, and began praying for them. Paul made this a regular practice. If we do not practice a thought life that prompts us to pray for specific brothers and sisters, let's begin to make this a practice starting today. Pray for someone now, praising God for the privilege of having relationships in Christ.

*EDS:

God's family should be in our prayers, and we should praise God for every family member

INGREDIENTS: A praise to God for the family; A reminder to pray often for the saved. Word Study: Gr."eucharisteo" translated "give thanks." This word can mean words that express gratitude or the emotions of gratitude. Let 's be joyful in our thanksgiving.

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.