WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.240 Hello guys, welcome to the way UK podcast. 2 00:00:03.240 --> 00:00:04.240 Hey y'all. 3 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:05.920 If you guys don't know who we are, we're a goof for friends, 4 00:00:05.920 --> 00:00:07.720 and we talk about Christian topics 5 00:00:07.720 --> 00:00:10.720 and crucially books of the Bible. 6 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:11.720 You? 7 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.240 And you know, but today we're going to be talking about 8 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:14.720 the book of Ephesians. 9 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:19.280 I'm joined by friends and co-hosts 10 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:23.840 with Miss Michelle and Miss Zenia. 11 00:00:23.840 --> 00:00:24.680 What's up? 12 00:00:24.680 --> 00:00:25.960 How you guys been doing? 13 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:26.800 We're good. 14 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.040 How have you been doing with things? 15 00:00:28.040 --> 00:00:29.040 I've been doing very good. 16 00:00:29.040 --> 00:00:30.840 I look quite down, I was on holiday. 17 00:00:30.840 --> 00:00:32.240 Thank you guys for noticing. 18 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:35.840 Anyways, we're going to be looking over the book of Ephesians. 19 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:38.880 And our encouragement for you is that if you can, 20 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:40.880 bring out the Bible and follow along 21 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:43.120 as we read through the book of Ephesians. 22 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:44.760 But then also, stay tuned, 23 00:00:44.760 --> 00:00:45.920 because this is the first episode 24 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:48.000 as we go through the first chapter. 25 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:49.280 But there are five chapters. 26 00:00:49.280 --> 00:00:52.080 So we're going to be coming out with new episodes. 27 00:00:52.080 --> 00:00:54.160 So do listen to the ones coming up as well. 28 00:00:54.160 --> 00:00:55.520 Wait, there's even six chapters. 29 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.360 There's six chapters. 30 00:00:56.360 --> 00:00:57.640 Maybe there's an extra one just for you. 31 00:00:57.640 --> 00:00:59.480 Man, I've been missing out. 32 00:00:59.480 --> 00:01:01.360 I've only been reading five. 33 00:01:01.360 --> 00:01:03.360 That's crazy. 34 00:01:03.360 --> 00:01:04.680 Do you know what, though? 35 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:06.160 Some people might be missing out, 36 00:01:06.160 --> 00:01:08.760 because there's a book before this called Galatians, 37 00:01:08.760 --> 00:01:13.440 which we've also, we've also done a series on. 38 00:01:13.440 --> 00:01:15.160 So go back and look at that. 39 00:01:15.160 --> 00:01:18.400 And then the book after Ephesians is Philippians, 40 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:20.720 which was our first Bible study series. 41 00:01:20.720 --> 00:01:21.680 So you can look at that. 42 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:24.320 And then after Philippians is Colossians, 43 00:01:24.320 --> 00:01:26.240 which he's also done a series on. 44 00:01:26.240 --> 00:01:28.080 No one's asking about Colossians free and full, please. 45 00:01:28.080 --> 00:01:30.680 But we've done a series on Colossians as well. 46 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:33.120 So guys, there's so many books in the Bible feed 47 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:34.360 to delve into. 48 00:01:34.360 --> 00:01:37.520 So after Ephesians maybe go back, go forward, you know? 49 00:01:37.520 --> 00:01:38.360 Yeah. 50 00:01:42.360 --> 00:01:44.840 Who's Ephesians written to, Senya? 51 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:46.480 It's written to people. 52 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:47.200 Nice. 53 00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:48.320 That's great. 54 00:01:48.320 --> 00:01:49.160 Do you want more? 55 00:01:49.160 --> 00:01:50.160 Yes, please. 56 00:01:50.160 --> 00:01:51.000 Where's Ephesians? 57 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.120 Because we get all these books in the New Testament, 58 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:55.880 and they, it can be confusing us, too. 59 00:01:55.880 --> 00:01:58.080 Why they're written, who they're written to, 60 00:01:58.080 --> 00:02:01.160 and actually who it's written by. 61 00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:03.720 Have you got a little bit info on this book before you dive in? 62 00:02:03.720 --> 00:02:06.440 Do you want who it's written by or who it's written to? 63 00:02:06.440 --> 00:02:07.200 Both. 64 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:07.720 OK. 65 00:02:07.720 --> 00:02:10.320 Well, I can start with who it's written by, 66 00:02:10.320 --> 00:02:11.800 because I think that's pretty cool. 67 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:14.200 But there's this guy called Paul in the New Testament. 68 00:02:14.200 --> 00:02:15.320 Big man, Pete. 69 00:02:15.320 --> 00:02:17.400 Yeah, he's actually quite important. 70 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:20.320 He pops up a lot, and just a little bit about him. 71 00:02:20.320 --> 00:02:24.000 If you guys don't know, he used to be a Pharisee, which 72 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.160 basically were like the religious leaders of the times. 73 00:02:27.160 --> 00:02:29.880 And they were like the ones that were really pressed. 74 00:02:29.880 --> 00:02:31.360 Are you following the commandments? 75 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:32.160 Are you doing this? 76 00:02:32.160 --> 00:02:33.000 Are you doing that? 77 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:34.440 Like, all that stuff. 78 00:02:34.440 --> 00:02:36.840 And Paul took that as his thing. 79 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.080 Like, he says in, I think it's in Philippians he says this, 80 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.480 but he was like circumcised on the eighth day. 81 00:02:42.480 --> 00:02:43.920 Like, he was from the tribe of Benjamin. 82 00:02:43.920 --> 00:02:45.480 Like, he was the Hebrews of Hebrews. 83 00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:47.960 So he knows he was like the top guy. 84 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:52.760 But then one day, he has a radical encounter with Jesus 85 00:02:52.760 --> 00:02:55.080 on his way to kill Christians, by the way. 86 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:56.040 Spoiler alert. 87 00:02:56.040 --> 00:02:57.760 He was like persecuting Christians. 88 00:02:57.760 --> 00:02:58.840 He's on his way. 89 00:02:58.840 --> 00:02:59.960 And then he meets Jesus. 90 00:02:59.960 --> 00:03:02.560 And Jesus says to him, why are you persecuting me? 91 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.800 And he's like, oh, okay. 92 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.720 And Jesus basically changes his entire life. 93 00:03:07.720 --> 00:03:08.800 Gives him a new assignment. 94 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:10.600 And it's like, now that you know me, 95 00:03:10.600 --> 00:03:12.040 go and preach to the Gentiles, 96 00:03:12.040 --> 00:03:14.760 go and preach to the people that don't know me, 97 00:03:14.760 --> 00:03:18.800 and share the good news of my resurrection and the life. 98 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:19.760 And so that's what he does. 99 00:03:19.760 --> 00:03:22.680 And he basically writes like a third or two-thirds 100 00:03:22.680 --> 00:03:26.480 of the New Testament, which is a lot of the Bible. 101 00:03:26.480 --> 00:03:27.800 So shout out to Paul. 102 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:28.640 But it's incredible. 103 00:03:28.640 --> 00:03:32.400 His life is just a testimony that God can turn anything 104 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:33.400 around. 105 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:34.680 You might think you're living one way 106 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:36.160 and you've got your own purpose. 107 00:03:36.160 --> 00:03:37.200 And then here comes Jesus. 108 00:03:37.200 --> 00:03:38.840 He changes your life for the better. 109 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:40.640 He's your brand new purpose and a life in him. 110 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:43.760 Did you guys ever get taught that Paul was called Saul 111 00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:44.800 before his conversion? 112 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:49.640 And then after he had his radical conversion time moment, 113 00:03:49.640 --> 00:03:51.320 his name was changed to Paul. 114 00:03:51.320 --> 00:03:52.160 I was taught there. 115 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.720 When you taught that, my mind was blown when I found out 116 00:03:55.720 --> 00:03:57.040 that that's actually not true. 117 00:03:57.040 --> 00:03:57.880 What? 118 00:03:57.880 --> 00:04:00.760 In the sense that he had two names. 119 00:04:00.760 --> 00:04:03.000 His name was Paul and Saul. 120 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.800 He had a Hebrew name and like a Roman name. 121 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:09.200 And his, I don't know which one was it, 122 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:11.000 I think Paul was his Roman name. 123 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:14.120 Or his, and then Saul was his Hebrew name. 124 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:15.320 So his name was always both. 125 00:04:15.320 --> 00:04:17.680 He just started going more by his, 126 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:21.240 his Roman name after he had that conversion story. 127 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:22.560 Well, if I let that kind of make sense 128 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:26.360 and I think the people in Ephesus might have known him as Paul 129 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:29.040 because for context, by the way, 130 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:33.400 it's not the church of Ephesians, it's the church of Ephesus. 131 00:04:33.400 --> 00:04:34.400 Sometimes when we read the Bible, 132 00:04:34.400 --> 00:04:35.480 we can get those things confused. 133 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.840 It's like, oh, the church of Colossians. 134 00:04:37.840 --> 00:04:41.120 It's actually Colosse, or Colosse, how have you say it? 135 00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:46.040 But Ephesus was a large region in like Asia Minor, 136 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:47.840 which is like modern day Turkey, I think. 137 00:04:47.840 --> 00:04:49.320 Yeah, yeah. 138 00:04:49.320 --> 00:04:53.400 And this was like the, like, epicenter of Rome at the time. 139 00:04:53.400 --> 00:04:56.640 But before this Ephesus, 140 00:04:56.640 --> 00:04:58.200 or even I slipped up there, 141 00:04:58.200 --> 00:05:01.240 before this Ephesus used to be like run by the Greeks. 142 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.680 So then once the Romans took over, 143 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:07.000 it became like the kind of like center of the Roman world. 144 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:11.520 Anyways, it was like a large trading town. 145 00:05:11.520 --> 00:05:13.080 There was lots of like temples 146 00:05:13.080 --> 00:05:14.720 and like worshipping of different gods. 147 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:16.680 So like there was just a lot going on there. 148 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:19.240 And we read about it in Acts 19 a little bit, 149 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:21.360 if you guys have read the book of Acts, definitely read it. 150 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.200 It's so good. 151 00:05:22.200 --> 00:05:24.160 It's about like the birth of the early church 152 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:27.080 and how Christianity just spread. 153 00:05:27.080 --> 00:05:29.360 But there's like a little tension point in there 154 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:31.240 where basically people were getting upset with Paul 155 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.680 because he was telling people about the message of Jesus. 156 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:38.760 And it was disrupting a lot of like the way the town ran, 157 00:05:38.760 --> 00:05:41.000 or that region of the world was running. 158 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:43.720 And people got upset because like they were like, 159 00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:45.680 oh, do we worship these false gods now? 160 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:46.800 Do we worship these gods? 161 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.040 Like do we go to the temple? 162 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:48.880 Do we not? 163 00:05:48.880 --> 00:05:51.800 And it was kind of like a disruption to I guess power 164 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:55.480 and how power was being held, which was a threat to Paul's life. 165 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:57.720 But I think it goes to show that like that was a very, 166 00:05:57.720 --> 00:05:59.880 very important region of the world 167 00:05:59.880 --> 00:06:02.080 and had a lot of influence. 168 00:06:02.080 --> 00:06:03.800 And I think there's a lot we can learn 169 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.360 from Paul, his influence in Ephesus. 170 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:10.240 And I guess how we can influence our world today is Christians. 171 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:13.480 Yeah, she did know that, you know how if you've heard the saying 172 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:15.920 all roads lead to Rome, right? 173 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:17.600 So actually in Asia Minor at the time, 174 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:20.280 the same, there was a similar phrase where all roads 175 00:06:20.280 --> 00:06:24.960 or all towns were measured based on their distance from Ephesus. 176 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:27.400 That just shows you how important this place was. 177 00:06:27.400 --> 00:06:30.480 How like bustling, like there's a very vibrant city, 178 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.960 lots of trade, very relevant city for the time. 179 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:36.120 And didn't Paul spend three years there anyways 180 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.600 before he was sent to jail in Rome? 181 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:39.800 Yeah, he was there for a while. 182 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:40.640 Yeah. 183 00:06:40.640 --> 00:06:41.480 He was there for a while. 184 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:42.680 So they knew him. 185 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.080 Like this isn't this random person that's coming in 186 00:06:45.080 --> 00:06:47.160 right in a letter old, trying to speak to us. 187 00:06:47.200 --> 00:06:50.160 There's something that actually knows who we are. 188 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.000 And so yeah. 189 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:54.480 And he was writing these letters to the Ephesians. 190 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.440 Was it the Ephesians and the Galatians 191 00:06:56.440 --> 00:07:00.640 that were sent out by a guy to give to these people? 192 00:07:00.640 --> 00:07:03.480 But because he was writing them from prison, right? 193 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:04.320 Anyway. 194 00:07:04.320 --> 00:07:06.200 The same guy carrying several letters 195 00:07:06.200 --> 00:07:08.560 and then gets them off in different places. 196 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:11.240 And if you've read Ephesians, it's a very different vibe 197 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.760 this book, so the book of Ephesians. 198 00:07:13.760 --> 00:07:16.440 What would you say Shelley's like the main theme 199 00:07:16.440 --> 00:07:18.000 that we're gonna encounter in this book? 200 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:20.520 I think just the encouragement to the church 201 00:07:20.520 --> 00:07:24.400 and just the reinstatement of the price 202 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:26.480 that Jesus paid on the cross and the life 203 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.080 that we now get to live. 204 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:31.640 He was just sort of like reinstating that to the people 205 00:07:31.640 --> 00:07:34.440 being like this is how you should be living as a church. 206 00:07:34.440 --> 00:07:36.880 This is your inheritance as children of God now. 207 00:07:36.880 --> 00:07:41.440 And just encouraging them to keep on doing 208 00:07:41.440 --> 00:07:43.240 what they're doing and praying for them. 209 00:07:43.840 --> 00:07:47.520 Teaching us the ways of a new life, 210 00:07:47.520 --> 00:07:49.440 you know, the part of the new covenant. 211 00:07:49.440 --> 00:07:52.160 The rest of the letters, like Romans and all that sort of stuff, 212 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:54.400 like they're more like addressing the church 213 00:07:54.400 --> 00:07:55.280 for what they've done wrong 214 00:07:55.280 --> 00:07:57.680 because at the time he wasn't in prison yet. 215 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.160 He actually got to visit them 216 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.720 and see the state of the church 217 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:05.080 and he directly wrote a letter to the things that he saw. 218 00:08:05.080 --> 00:08:07.240 But for Ephesians and Galatians, 219 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.880 he obviously didn't get to be there. 220 00:08:09.960 --> 00:08:13.240 So there's just a general like encouragement. 221 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.160 Before we kick in one last piece of context, 222 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:18.240 which I want to bring forward is the fact that 223 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.400 if you've listened to our Galatians talk, 224 00:08:20.400 --> 00:08:22.800 you've heard about these people called the Judeisers. 225 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:28.040 The Judeisers were some Jews that Christian Jews, 226 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.600 they believed in Jesus and who Jesus was, 227 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:33.680 but they conflated the traditions 228 00:08:33.680 --> 00:08:37.960 and laws of Judaism with the grace of Christ. 229 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:40.120 So they basically said, for you to be a true Christian, 230 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:44.040 you needed to also follow the rules of Judaism. 231 00:08:44.040 --> 00:08:46.880 And basically in the city of Ephesus, 232 00:08:46.880 --> 00:08:49.920 they were starting to receive some of this news 233 00:08:49.920 --> 00:08:52.360 from the Judeisers being like, 234 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.120 in order to be a true Christian, 235 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.520 to be living in the fullness of Christ, 236 00:08:55.520 --> 00:08:58.920 you also need to be doing XYZ, whatever it is, you know. 237 00:08:58.920 --> 00:09:02.000 And so there is a sense in Ephesus 238 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:06.240 that the church there is feeling a little bit discouraged 239 00:09:06.280 --> 00:09:09.000 because they're thinking, oh, shoot, we're not Jewish, per se. 240 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:10.560 There might be Jews there, but we're not Jewish, 241 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:14.960 we're all sorts of different types of Gentiles. 242 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.360 And Paul hears about this. 243 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:18.880 And so he's trying to encourage this church 244 00:09:18.880 --> 00:09:21.960 being like, guys, you guys are a part of our family. 245 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:24.680 You're a part of the greater body, and this is who you are. 246 00:09:24.680 --> 00:09:28.280 And so the whole book, particularly the first three chapters, 247 00:09:28.280 --> 00:09:30.800 will be this encouragement of identity. 248 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:33.040 We're going to find out who we are, 249 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:36.480 who they are, as Christians through Christ. 250 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:38.480 And so if you're ever in a moment 251 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:40.280 where you're lacking identity, 252 00:09:40.280 --> 00:09:41.320 maybe you don't know, 253 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:42.720 feeling far away from God, 254 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:46.480 these next three chapters are a great place to come. 255 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.040 Yeah, run to Ephesians. 256 00:09:48.040 --> 00:09:49.600 Should we dive in then? 257 00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:51.640 We're going to read verses one to eight. 258 00:09:51.640 --> 00:09:52.480 Oh yeah. 259 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.320 Shelley, do you want to read those? 260 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:54.400 Yeah, can. 261 00:09:54.400 --> 00:09:57.760 I'm reading from NIV, guys, just so you know. 262 00:09:59.080 --> 00:10:02.760 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, 263 00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:05.040 to God's holy people and Ephesus, 264 00:10:05.040 --> 00:10:07.600 the faithful in Christ Jesus, 265 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:09.520 grace and peace to you from God, 266 00:10:09.520 --> 00:10:12.840 our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 267 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:16.200 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 268 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.280 who has blessed us in the heavenly realms 269 00:10:18.280 --> 00:10:21.280 with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 270 00:10:21.280 --> 00:10:24.640 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world 271 00:10:24.640 --> 00:10:27.680 to be holy and blameless in his sight. 272 00:10:27.680 --> 00:10:31.680 In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship 273 00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:34.840 through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure 274 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:37.920 and will to the praise of his glorious grace 275 00:10:37.920 --> 00:10:41.480 where he has freely given us in the one he loves. 276 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:44.720 In him, we have redemption through his blood, 277 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:48.040 the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches 278 00:10:48.040 --> 00:10:51.640 of God's grace that he lavished on us 279 00:10:51.640 --> 00:10:54.640 with always them and understanding. 280 00:10:54.640 --> 00:10:59.320 I think one thing that I wanted to say is that 281 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:00.640 in the original language, 282 00:11:00.640 --> 00:11:02.520 so remember this, the Bible wasn't written in English, 283 00:11:02.520 --> 00:11:03.520 spoiler alert. 284 00:11:03.520 --> 00:11:04.520 That's right. 285 00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:06.000 Paul was actually writing in Greek 286 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.120 and in the ancient Greek language, 287 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:13.240 versus three to like 14 would have been one sentence, 288 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.760 which is why Michelle was like, 289 00:11:14.760 --> 00:11:15.760 oh, do I keep reading? 290 00:11:15.760 --> 00:11:16.600 No, I keep not reading. 291 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:19.400 It kind of like for us abruptly ends, 292 00:11:19.400 --> 00:11:22.480 but for Paul, actually, this is he's still speaking here. 293 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:23.800 And I think that's important to know, 294 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:25.080 like when these letters were, 295 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:25.920 oh, my goodness. 296 00:11:25.920 --> 00:11:27.680 We just knocked each other out. 297 00:11:27.680 --> 00:11:29.600 When these letters were being read, 298 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:31.880 they would have been read as like in their fullness, 299 00:11:31.880 --> 00:11:34.160 like not just how we read the Bible today 300 00:11:34.160 --> 00:11:37.040 in like one chapter or like one verse. 301 00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:39.800 So this is maybe a little encouragement to you guys, 302 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:41.640 like maybe read a little bit more 303 00:11:41.640 --> 00:11:43.440 when you sit with Ephesians, 304 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:45.440 like actually read it in its entirety 305 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:47.840 because you might understand like the full picture 306 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:49.280 of like what Paul is saying, 307 00:11:49.280 --> 00:11:51.160 rather than like just a little sentence. 308 00:11:51.160 --> 00:11:52.720 So yeah, that's so good. 309 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:54.440 Because that's how they were meant to be read. 310 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:55.920 It's so good that you meant that. 311 00:11:55.920 --> 00:11:57.400 Because you read the whole letter 312 00:11:57.400 --> 00:11:59.520 and then you give it off to the next enemy. 313 00:11:59.520 --> 00:12:02.000 Yeah, guys, that bit was so meaty. 314 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.280 So a lot of meat there. 315 00:12:03.280 --> 00:12:05.160 It starts off with an encouragement 316 00:12:05.160 --> 00:12:07.480 or an introduction, first of all, from Paul, 317 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.360 like all of his letters do. 318 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.880 Paul and a apostle of Christ, 319 00:12:10.880 --> 00:12:12.400 the apostle just mean the sent one. 320 00:12:12.400 --> 00:12:15.200 Yeah, and then he says grace and peace to you 321 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:18.560 from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, 322 00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:21.120 which if you've seen one of our previous episodes, 323 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:23.760 we see Izzy, I think brings it up. 324 00:12:23.760 --> 00:12:27.120 This is like a marriage of two popular settings, 325 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:31.880 the peace being the Jewish saying Shalom, peace, 326 00:12:31.880 --> 00:12:35.040 and then the grace being the more Greek saying. 327 00:12:35.040 --> 00:12:37.240 So it's like a marriage between the two. 328 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.000 It also just emphasizes Paul's message, 329 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.080 which is a message to the Gentiles, 330 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.440 not just to the Greeks, 331 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:46.560 and it's especially relevant in this book 332 00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:50.280 because it's written primarily for the Gentile church. 333 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:52.840 What's going on in that next bit, guys? 334 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:58.960 Um, I think I really liked the all, 335 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:01.320 all, well, in what I'm reading in my Bible, 336 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:04.840 it says like God loved us and chose us in Christ. 337 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:08.560 Then he talks about bringing us to him through Jesus, 338 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:11.080 talks about belonging to his dear son 339 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:14.760 within the blood of his son, like it's all about Jesus. 340 00:13:14.760 --> 00:13:17.880 And I think, like let's just get on the same page 341 00:13:17.880 --> 00:13:19.880 before we get into the next few chapters, 342 00:13:19.880 --> 00:13:21.640 before you get into the next few verses, 343 00:13:21.640 --> 00:13:24.800 let's get on the same understanding about who is Jesus 344 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:26.400 and why is Jesus important? 345 00:13:26.400 --> 00:13:27.240 Why is he important? 346 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.880 Because of the blood that was shared on the cross 347 00:13:28.880 --> 00:13:32.040 that he took on the weight of our sin. 348 00:13:32.040 --> 00:13:33.720 And he didn't just stay on the cross, 349 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:35.480 but he actually rose from the grave, 350 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:37.680 which means that we have new life in God. 351 00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:40.520 And he sent us the Holy Spirit, like Jesus did a lot for us. 352 00:13:40.520 --> 00:13:42.920 Okay, there's a lot of layers here, 353 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:46.040 but I think the important thing is everything is through him. 354 00:13:46.040 --> 00:13:48.200 And I love that it makes me just, 355 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:52.040 it just reminds me that my life has to be lived through Jesus. 356 00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:54.480 Every aspect of my life is for him, 357 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.920 it's through him, it's in him, it's being one with him. 358 00:13:57.920 --> 00:14:00.560 And Paul talks about this in his other letters as well 359 00:14:00.560 --> 00:14:04.280 about how we actually enter in the story of Christ 360 00:14:04.280 --> 00:14:08.040 when we become Christians, like we partner with his joy 361 00:14:08.040 --> 00:14:09.360 and his sufferings. 362 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.280 We get both hands, and I think it's beautiful. 363 00:14:11.280 --> 00:14:13.480 Like we are all in Christ Jesus. 364 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:17.160 We are one with him who loves us so much he died for us. 365 00:14:17.160 --> 00:14:18.480 And I think that's beautiful. 366 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:22.320 A good anchor to lay the foundations for the rest 367 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.400 of what we're going to talk about. 368 00:14:24.400 --> 00:14:25.880 Do you know what we're really bringing to peace? 369 00:14:25.880 --> 00:14:26.720 Sorry, Shelley. 370 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.560 It's the bit in verse four, it says, 371 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:34.560 for he chose us in him before the creation of the world 372 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:37.840 to be holy and blameless in the sight, in his sight. 373 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:41.480 And I know for me, that's such an identity piece. 374 00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:42.440 In fact, that he chose us. 375 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.240 Sometimes the story of the gospel, 376 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:47.320 the story of Jesus can seem so big and so beyond us 377 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.960 and so like big mission, 378 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.480 that we forget the individual aspect of it as well. 379 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:56.080 Of course, God, Jesus died for everybody's sins, 380 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.880 but here it says he chose us, right? 381 00:14:57.880 --> 00:15:01.040 So there's an individual aspect like him choosing. 382 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.280 And whenever I feel down, whenever I maybe feel distant 383 00:15:06.280 --> 00:15:08.560 from the message of Jesus, I think it's encouraging 384 00:15:08.560 --> 00:15:12.600 for me to remember that this is a chosen intentional act 385 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:16.600 that God sent his son, so that we are able to be a part 386 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:18.120 of his story, as you said. 387 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:21.520 I even think that bit is really powerful 388 00:15:21.520 --> 00:15:24.520 in terms of practically applying it to our lives 389 00:15:24.520 --> 00:15:27.400 when there's moments where we feel, 390 00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:28.880 like you said, distant from the Lord, 391 00:15:28.880 --> 00:15:33.000 but also full of guilt and shame from the past. 392 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:34.760 I think sometimes when we find it hard 393 00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:36.520 to sort of let loose from our past 394 00:15:36.520 --> 00:15:41.040 and we feel like we can't detach ourselves from it, 395 00:15:41.040 --> 00:15:44.720 this is almost like a reaffirming no way, 396 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.480 but because of Jesus, he's chosen you 397 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.040 and before creation of the world to be holy 398 00:15:50.040 --> 00:15:52.440 and blameless in his sight. 399 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:55.120 And there's somewhere else where it says that we become, 400 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.200 we come before the Lord holy and blameless, 401 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.280 isn't that right here? 402 00:15:59.280 --> 00:16:03.320 But and I think that's just beautiful that like, 403 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.440 you know, you're not your sin, 404 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:07.560 actually you're actually called to be holy and blameless 405 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:10.880 and that is your identity, like you said, it's an identity piece. 406 00:16:10.880 --> 00:16:13.800 But then I also was just thinking like in verse three, 407 00:16:13.800 --> 00:16:15.520 where it says, praise be to God and Father 408 00:16:15.520 --> 00:16:19.040 of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us 409 00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:22.360 in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing 410 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.440 in Christ. 411 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.640 I just think there's two bits here where I'm just like, 412 00:16:25.640 --> 00:16:29.120 wow, it's so powerful, who has blessed us? 413 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:32.680 Like he spoke with an attitude of certainty and assurance. 414 00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:35.640 Like we don't sit around groaning, you know, 415 00:16:35.640 --> 00:16:39.040 crying, fretting, worrying about like things 416 00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:40.400 and questioning our salvation. 417 00:16:40.400 --> 00:16:43.040 No, it's like a done deal, you know, 418 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:45.160 it's for certain that he has blessed you. 419 00:16:45.160 --> 00:16:48.760 He's blessed us and to like, you know, 420 00:16:48.760 --> 00:16:51.640 walk in that authority in that understanding 421 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:53.360 in our hearts and our minds that, oh no, 422 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.600 I am actually so blessed. 423 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:57.480 I am blessed by the Lord. 424 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:01.880 And second bit with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 425 00:17:01.880 --> 00:17:04.080 Wow, it's not just incredible. 426 00:17:04.080 --> 00:17:06.800 Just like emphasis on the word every, 427 00:17:06.800 --> 00:17:09.360 like God wants to bless us with all of the blessings 428 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:11.840 that are available, whether that's heavenly, 429 00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:16.160 or even like earthly, but like the heavenly blessings 430 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.560 are prized even better, you know, 431 00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:20.600 they're higher, they're better and more secure 432 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:25.600 than anything earthly and we receive these in Christ. 433 00:17:26.520 --> 00:17:28.480 So like it says somewhere else, 434 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.720 where asking you to receive, 435 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:31.840 so you can be sure if I knock on the door open, 436 00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:33.800 ask the Lord for these gifts. 437 00:17:33.800 --> 00:17:37.880 And it also says to eagerly desire these gifts 438 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:39.000 of the spirit, right? 439 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:42.800 And it's available to us in Jesus. 440 00:17:42.800 --> 00:17:44.520 I find that remarkable. 441 00:17:44.520 --> 00:17:49.160 Yeah, I think even to just go into that a little bit more, 442 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:51.000 sometimes we can think, okay, 443 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:52.440 but why would God love me? 444 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.120 Yeah, how could God want me? 445 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:58.160 Like God, you don't know what I did yesterday 446 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:02.200 or actually I need to clean myself up to come to God. 447 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.920 I should, in fact, read the whole Bible 448 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.520 before I come to God or may I start going to church, 449 00:18:06.520 --> 00:18:09.440 get into that habit and then I'll decide whether I, 450 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.800 you know, give my life to Jesus. 451 00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:13.960 But I love what it says in verse five, 452 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:18.280 it says God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family 453 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:20.560 by bringing us to himself through Christ 454 00:18:20.560 --> 00:18:24.760 and he wanted to do this and it gave him great pleasure. 455 00:18:24.760 --> 00:18:27.160 And I love what you talked about the heavenly realms, 456 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:30.720 but in my translation says because we are united with Christ. 457 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:33.200 Paul talks about this in another letter in Romans 458 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:36.880 and he says there's nothing that can separate you from God's love. 459 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:39.320 Like you said, Michelle, it is a done deal. 460 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:41.680 Like he paid the price full stop. 461 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.840 Like he rose from the great full stop. 462 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:45.560 He's given us the Holy Spirit full stop. 463 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:48.560 Like that's it because he loves us so much. 464 00:18:48.560 --> 00:18:50.800 And so I just want to encourage anybody that's listening. 465 00:18:50.800 --> 00:18:54.120 Like you are not too far gone and God loves you. 466 00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:56.640 Like we might think, oh, there's these bits about me. 467 00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:59.120 That means that I'm disqualified from God's love. 468 00:18:59.120 --> 00:19:03.200 But God's the one that qualifies us because he gave us Jesus. 469 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.680 Like he sent himself to the cross and so yeah, 470 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:09.360 I just wanted to reiterate that you are united with Christ 471 00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:11.600 and nothing you can do, say or think, 472 00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:13.840 can separate you from God's love. 473 00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:16.080 Yeah, and just a bit on the sunship part, 474 00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:20.120 like predestined us for adoption to sunship. 475 00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:22.520 God's unfolding plan for us, 476 00:19:22.520 --> 00:19:26.560 not only includes salvation and personal transformation 477 00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.560 to journey, right? 478 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:29.280 Journey of sanctification, 479 00:19:29.280 --> 00:19:33.000 but also a warm and confident relationship with the father. 480 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.360 Like he causes interrelationship with him. 481 00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:37.400 You like, yes, we're redeemed by the blood. 482 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.840 Yes, we're made clean, 483 00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:41.440 but also he's calling us into something deeper, 484 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.000 something relational. 485 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:46.520 And that's that's that's that's sunship, daughter ship. 486 00:19:46.520 --> 00:19:49.520 Did you guys ever hear the phrase, 487 00:19:49.520 --> 00:19:51.800 I love you, but I might not like you. 488 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:54.080 I don't like I love you, but I don't need to like you. 489 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.640 I sometimes I think like God being, 490 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.800 when I sin too much, right? 491 00:19:57.800 --> 00:20:00.320 God being like, Oh, Mateus, you've gone again, mate. 492 00:20:00.320 --> 00:20:01.640 I've given you all these chances. 493 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:03.560 I still love you, but hey, come on. 494 00:20:03.560 --> 00:20:05.880 You could have done a little bit better. 495 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:08.040 And he kind of likes me a little bit less, 496 00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:11.360 but I'm just encouraged by, first five again, right? 497 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:14.320 It says in accordance with his pleasure. 498 00:20:14.320 --> 00:20:16.560 Yeah, this is in accordance with his pleasure. 499 00:20:16.560 --> 00:20:19.480 Him lavishing his love on us. 500 00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.920 It's not just a duty for him. 501 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:22.720 It's not just a responsibility. 502 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.920 It's not his responsibility at all. 503 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:26.080 He's gone beyond what he ever needed to do. 504 00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:27.400 We don't deserve it. 505 00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:30.880 And on top of that, he is in his pleasure to do so. 506 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.720 Yeah. 507 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:35.280 So God not only loves us and in abundance, 508 00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:37.200 but it actually likes us as well. 509 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.200 He likes you. 510 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:40.240 Doesn't matter again, doesn't matter how far you're gone. 511 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:43.200 Doesn't matter how many times you've gone through this cycle. 512 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:45.200 He likes you as well as loving you. 513 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.320 That's so good. 514 00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:50.080 I just wanted to emphasize in the beginning of love. 515 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.120 Is it first five? 516 00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:52.480 It says in love. 517 00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:54.720 Like he did all of that and he does all of that 518 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:58.360 and he loves you for all of that in love. 519 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:01.600 That's just insane. 520 00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:03.120 I'm gonna backtrack real quick 521 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:06.000 and then we can move on with the spiritual blessing thing. 522 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.480 I was just reading through some commentaries 523 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.840 and there was something that really stood out to me 524 00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:11.840 and I felt like I just needed to read it. 525 00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.680 So I'm gonna read it. 526 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:14.040 It's by Spurgeon. 527 00:21:14.040 --> 00:21:16.440 A new heart is better than a new comb 528 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:19.960 to feed on Christ is better than to have best earthly food. 529 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:22.080 To be an heir of God is better than being 530 00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:24.280 the heir of the greatest nobleman. 531 00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:27.080 To have God for our portion is blessed. 532 00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:32.160 Infinite infinitely more blessed than to own broad acres of land. 533 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.080 These are the rarest, the richest, 534 00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:36.200 the most enduring of all blessings. 535 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.840 They are priceless and value. 536 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:41.120 Spiritual blessings, guys. 537 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.800 They're so blessed. 538 00:21:42.800 --> 00:21:43.840 They're so blessed. 539 00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:44.680 We carry on. 540 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.520 Let's move on. 541 00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:49.640 Hey, interrupting your podcast session here. 542 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:51.720 We just wanted to say thank you so much for listening. 543 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.720 If you are listening in on our YouTube, 544 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.800 make sure to subscribe. 545 00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:58.640 But if you are listening in on our Spotify and Apple podcast, 546 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.080 then make sure to follow us 547 00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:01.280 and give us a little rating 548 00:22:01.280 --> 00:22:05.240 because we want these podcasts to reach as many people 549 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.720 because our vision here at the way 550 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.560 is to share the good news of Jesus 551 00:22:08.560 --> 00:22:11.440 with every young person online and here 552 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:14.080 without further ado, get back into the podcast. 553 00:22:16.280 --> 00:22:18.320 Versus nine to 14. 554 00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:20.160 Yeah, drummy to read again. 555 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.000 Yeah, go on. 556 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.280 Okay. 557 00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:24.120 With all wisdom and understanding, 558 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:26.480 he made known to us the mystery of his world 559 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:28.440 according to his good pleasure, 560 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:30.600 which he purposed in Christ. 561 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:33.800 To be put into effect when the time reaches their fulfillment, 562 00:22:33.800 --> 00:22:35.240 to bring unity to all things 563 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:37.640 and heaven on earth under Christ. 564 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:40.560 In him, we were also chosen, praise God, 565 00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:43.360 having been predestined according to the plan of him 566 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:46.040 who works out everything in conformity 567 00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:48.960 with the purpose of his will in order that we, 568 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.720 who were the first to put our hope in Christ, 569 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.120 might be for the praise of his glory. 570 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:56.040 And you also were included in Christ 571 00:22:56.040 --> 00:22:58.280 when you heard the mystery of truth, 572 00:22:58.280 --> 00:23:00.600 the gospel of your salvation. 573 00:23:00.600 --> 00:23:04.120 When you believed you were marked in him with a seal, 574 00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:05.960 the promised Holy Spirit, 575 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:09.880 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance 576 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:13.760 until the redemption of those who are God's possession 577 00:23:13.760 --> 00:23:16.120 to the praise of his glory. 578 00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:17.760 What you got, Zenia? 579 00:23:17.760 --> 00:23:20.280 Mercedes is like, I'm already down. 580 00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:21.600 I want to receive. 581 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:23.080 Okay. 582 00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:26.600 I think I love how it says in verse nine 583 00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:28.640 that as he got his revealed, 584 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:30.440 his mysterious plan regarding Christ. 585 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.440 So like we know why Christ came, right? 586 00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.080 That's been revealed to us. 587 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:37.360 He came to take on the weight of our sin, 588 00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:39.480 to pay the price that we can never pay, 589 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:41.760 so that we could enter into relationship with God. 590 00:23:41.760 --> 00:23:43.560 That's the first part. 591 00:23:43.560 --> 00:23:47.800 But then it talks about there's this bigger plan at play, 592 00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:48.800 which is at the right time. 593 00:23:48.800 --> 00:23:50.040 He'll bring everything together 594 00:23:50.040 --> 00:23:51.560 under the authority of Christ, 595 00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:53.080 everything in heaven and earth. 596 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.960 So there's like a part to you. 597 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.600 There's like a next step, 598 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:59.880 which is like, I guess like when we die, 599 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:02.760 I'm assuming when we die and when judgment comes 600 00:24:02.760 --> 00:24:03.760 and all that stuff, 601 00:24:03.760 --> 00:24:05.200 when we get reunited with Christ, 602 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:08.280 there's like a new earth, new heaven and a new earth. 603 00:24:08.280 --> 00:24:11.040 And so everything will be like brought underneath. 604 00:24:11.040 --> 00:24:12.960 And I think, you know, in the book of Revelation, 605 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:14.720 it says like when Christ comes again, 606 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.120 there'll be no more crying, no more suffering, 607 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.160 no more pain. 608 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.000 Like when I hear this, 609 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.160 it makes me think of that. 610 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:23.160 Like the next phase of this plan 611 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:25.840 is just gonna be glory like so good. 612 00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:28.160 Like we're gonna be having a great time in heaven. 613 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.440 We're gonna be singing, 614 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.680 eating all the food and doing all the good stuff. 615 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:35.480 But I guess it just shows that like what we experience on earth 616 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:38.040 is just a small snippet of our lives. 617 00:24:38.040 --> 00:24:39.920 That actually God has a bigger plan 618 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:42.080 that he's working up behind the scenes, 619 00:24:42.080 --> 00:24:44.400 stuff that we don't even know right now. 620 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.680 And so that gives me hope 621 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:47.400 and that gives me encouragement in my life 622 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:50.240 that even if things don't seem like they're working up 623 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:53.080 the right way or maybe things on earth aren't great, 624 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:54.280 there's the heavenly realms, 625 00:24:54.280 --> 00:24:56.480 there's stuff that's riches in Christ, 626 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.480 there's like a whole new life that's coming. 627 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.960 So we can take heart of that. 628 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:03.920 That's what I was thinking when I was hearing that. 629 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:06.640 This book overall has been super encouraging so far. 630 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:07.520 Yeah, I've pros gone. 631 00:25:07.520 --> 00:25:09.600 Off the gate, better than Galatians like he. 632 00:25:09.600 --> 00:25:11.160 Galatians was an aggregate. 633 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:12.640 Oh. 634 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:14.080 I love Galatians. 635 00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:14.920 Don't listen to that. 636 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.040 Galatians go read Galatians. 637 00:25:16.040 --> 00:25:16.880 Yeah, read it, read it. 638 00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:18.880 But we'll say Yikes. 639 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.720 Be convicted. 640 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:21.200 So much encouragement here. 641 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:23.320 I'm encouraged by the promise of the Holy Spirit. 642 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:26.440 I'm encouraged by the mysteries made known to us 643 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.360 according to his good pleasure. 644 00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:31.480 You know, I'm encouraged by the fact that he chose us again. 645 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:34.000 It's more of him like delighting and choosing us. 646 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:38.280 I'm encouraged by his deposit guaranteeing, 647 00:25:38.280 --> 00:25:41.040 guaranteeing our inheritance. 648 00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:42.640 Like it's so much encouragement 649 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:46.920 and so much being spoken into who we are as Christians. 650 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.960 It's like, this is what we have. 651 00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.800 This is who we are. 652 00:25:48.800 --> 00:25:51.400 This is almost our story as a family and as a body. 653 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.400 This is our story. 654 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.240 You are right. 655 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.440 Full of encouragement. 656 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.640 I feel good after reading this. 657 00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.480 Very good. 658 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.920 You know what also is crazy as well? 659 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:04.880 The Holy Spirit, when it talks about the Holy Spirit 660 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:08.160 is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance. 661 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:12.240 Like the Holy Spirit is the comp, if you need more confirmation 662 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.440 that God loves you that, oh, am I saved? 663 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.280 Am I Christian? 664 00:26:15.280 --> 00:26:15.880 That's a good point. 665 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:18.360 We have the Holy Spirit like we can, 666 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:22.600 we have active, present relationship with God on earth right now. 667 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:23.960 Like that is the guarantee. 668 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.520 That is the stamp that is the mark. 669 00:26:25.520 --> 00:26:28.440 Yes, God loves you or chosen your child and God. 670 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:30.680 You have a spirit that lives on the inside of you. 671 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:33.080 And so that's an encouragement to me and that reminds me 672 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.400 like there'll be times where like, 673 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.880 oh, can I hear from God? 674 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:37.480 Am I living in God's will? 675 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:39.080 Is that no, you have the Holy Spirit. 676 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:41.160 Like you have everything that you need 677 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:43.520 in order to receive from God and to hear from him. 678 00:26:43.520 --> 00:26:45.320 So just wanted to add that as well. 679 00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:46.600 Yeah, it's your mark. 680 00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:48.760 Verse 11, I'm going to backtrack from that. 681 00:26:48.760 --> 00:26:51.120 In him, we were also chosen. 682 00:26:51.120 --> 00:26:55.480 In my little, do you got a little blur about the bond bit? 683 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:57.800 It says we were made as, 684 00:26:57.800 --> 00:27:01.600 and I think the word air is like so significant 685 00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:05.480 in just being a son and a daughter 686 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:08.960 and recognizing our sonship and daughtership 687 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.640 within the kingdom. 688 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:13.240 Because being an air basically means you inherit, 689 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:19.120 you inherit what's passed down to you or inherit what was, 690 00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:21.040 yeah, I think it's just beautiful to the fact 691 00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:23.000 that we actually inherit the kingdom of God 692 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:26.760 and there's things that we can walk in from that inheritance 693 00:27:26.760 --> 00:27:31.080 now on this earth and it's like learning that. 694 00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:32.480 Where can we learn that in the Bible? 695 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:35.040 Get it, get into your word and learn what your inheritance 696 00:27:35.040 --> 00:27:37.640 as a son and as a daughter is. 697 00:27:38.760 --> 00:27:40.520 And I just find that really encouraging that way. 698 00:27:40.520 --> 00:27:41.800 I'm actually in air. 699 00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:45.440 Not only do I gain the gift of salvation, 700 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:48.480 my gosh, the bits of the gospel of your salvation. 701 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.240 I just know when I was reading that part 702 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:52.880 like in my room I was crying because of like, dude, 703 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.720 I feel it. 704 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:56.240 Like the gospel, because of the gospel, 705 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:59.240 I'm saved because of what Jesus did on the cross. 706 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.080 I'm saved. 707 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:02.400 Yeah, I have the promise of an eternal life in heaven. 708 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:07.360 Like, just take a moment to actually take that in. 709 00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:09.160 Like that is insane. 710 00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:12.200 Now the interesting point on that is today inheritance 711 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:14.720 looks a little bit gray back in the day. 712 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.760 It was just for family members. 713 00:28:16.760 --> 00:28:19.120 So you can't inherit something if you're not a part 714 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:20.040 of that family. 715 00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:20.880 Right. 716 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:24.200 And so, and even that you can't inherit it unless you are, 717 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:26.640 like, it's normally just passed down all to one person. 718 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.520 So it's not like split amongst people. 719 00:28:28.520 --> 00:28:30.800 It's just passed down now that it's like the oldest son 720 00:28:30.800 --> 00:28:32.000 or whoever. 721 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.360 So your whole estate and what God is saying is like, 722 00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:36.840 you are my children. 723 00:28:36.840 --> 00:28:41.160 Like it is like a by saying we are receiving here's inheritance. 724 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.400 We are a part of his family. 725 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:46.600 It's a very clear invitation. 726 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:48.800 Yeah, and just like on the point of like inheritance, 727 00:28:48.800 --> 00:28:51.640 I think I just want to encourage everyone out there. 728 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:54.520 That's listening to ask more about it. 729 00:28:54.520 --> 00:28:56.040 What does that actually mean as a child of God, 730 00:28:56.040 --> 00:28:56.960 as a son, as a daughter? 731 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:00.160 What does inheritance look like for me? 732 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.120 Read into it. 733 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:02.720 Ask questions. 734 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:04.960 And I just feel like, you know, that quote that goes, 735 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:06.440 ignorance is bliss if you don't know. 736 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.400 You just won't know. 737 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:10.280 And you know, that's not what we want as children of God. 738 00:29:10.280 --> 00:29:12.880 Like, I think we want to know. 739 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:15.280 So I think the more you ask, the more you learn, 740 00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:18.280 the more you read about it, the more you're likely to like, 741 00:29:19.280 --> 00:29:22.240 to know what's available to you. 742 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:24.960 And as you do that, you're more likely to step into things 743 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.120 that God has for you. 744 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:27.360 Yeah. 745 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.200 Yeah. 746 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:31.480 Shall we jump into the next section? 747 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.480 Yes, this is my favorite section. 748 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.520 Do you want to read it then? 749 00:29:34.520 --> 00:29:35.600 Go on then. 750 00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.960 Yeah, I can read there. 751 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:42.280 It says, ever since I first heard of your strong faith 752 00:29:42.280 --> 00:29:46.400 in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, 753 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:49.360 I have not stopped thanking God for you. 754 00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:53.280 I pray for you constantly, asking God the glorious Father 755 00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:57.040 of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you spiritual wisdom 756 00:29:57.040 --> 00:30:00.880 and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 757 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:04.000 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light 758 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:06.840 so that you can understand the confident hope 759 00:30:06.840 --> 00:30:10.880 he has given to those he's called, his holy people, 760 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:13.600 who are his rich and glorious inhabitants. 761 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:17.840 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness 762 00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:20.640 of God's power for us who believe in him. 763 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:24.640 This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead 764 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:27.080 and seated him in the place of honor 765 00:30:27.080 --> 00:30:29.520 at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. 766 00:30:29.520 --> 00:30:33.960 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power 767 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:37.120 or leader or anything else, not only in this world 768 00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:39.200 but also in the world to come. 769 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:42.440 God has put all things under the authority of Christ 770 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:45.040 and has made him head over all things 771 00:30:45.040 --> 00:30:47.080 for the benefit of the church. 772 00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:49.080 And the church is his body. 773 00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:51.600 It's his made for and complete by Christ 774 00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:55.200 who fills all things everywhere with himself. 775 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:58.560 Wow, so good. 776 00:30:58.560 --> 00:30:59.840 Hey. 777 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:02.320 Mate, Paul's a good friend, isn't he? 778 00:31:02.320 --> 00:31:03.920 In Ephesians, yeah. 779 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:06.360 To the people of Ephesus. 780 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:08.480 He is a good friend. 781 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:10.840 Like I'm just thinking, bro, I want a friend like Paul. 782 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:14.160 For this reason, I have not stopped praying for you, bro. 783 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:17.120 I want friends that don't stop praying for me, man. 784 00:31:17.120 --> 00:31:18.120 Praying. 785 00:31:18.120 --> 00:31:19.760 What are you calling that, your friend? 786 00:31:19.760 --> 00:31:22.880 Right now, like, my friends don't pray for me. 787 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.880 You bet. 788 00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:24.720 He's a good friend. 789 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:28.200 He's saying, sorry, this is a bit with a lot going on. 790 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.960 Basically, he's just praying. 791 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:31.640 These are like his final remarks. 792 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:35.360 He's give all to his first final remarks of this chapter. 793 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:37.760 He's given his identity pieces 794 00:31:37.760 --> 00:31:42.760 and now he's giving his prayers for his friends in Ephesus. 795 00:31:44.600 --> 00:31:48.040 He says, particularly, for this reason, 796 00:31:48.040 --> 00:31:51.440 ever since I've heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, 797 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:54.560 but I have not stopped giving thanks for you. 798 00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:58.400 I don't know, I want to give thanks for my friends as well. 799 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:00.960 If I want my friends to give thanks for me to Jesus, 800 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.440 I should start giving thanks as well. 801 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:04.680 So guys, thank you for being good friends. 802 00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:06.040 You're welcome, Zeus. 803 00:32:06.040 --> 00:32:06.880 Yeah, you're welcome to. 804 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.640 You guys pray for me? 805 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:10.040 Yeah, actually. 806 00:32:10.040 --> 00:32:10.880 Come on. 807 00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:15.920 I love the fact that he's like praying for them, knowing them. 808 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:18.440 And also, he's been on the journey with them as well. 809 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:21.800 And I think when we see people come to know Jesus, 810 00:32:21.800 --> 00:32:24.360 sometimes we can get in the day today 811 00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:26.760 and be like, oh, okay, cool, like Jesus is great. 812 00:32:26.760 --> 00:32:29.200 That's actually something to be celebrated. 813 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:30.640 Like, I think it says in the Bible 814 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:32.720 that the whole of heaven rejoices 815 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:34.440 when one sinner comes home 816 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:37.880 and that's something that we shouldn't also rejoice in as well. 817 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:40.440 Like when we see people giving their lives to Jesus 818 00:32:40.440 --> 00:32:42.240 or coming into the family of faith, 819 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:45.560 let's rejoice, let's celebrate, because Paul does. 820 00:32:45.560 --> 00:32:46.720 So let's see that too. 821 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.720 That's so beautiful. 822 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.920 There's something that's confusing for me 823 00:32:48.920 --> 00:32:50.160 so if you guys can help me out. 824 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:51.000 Come on. 825 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:52.920 We are told just before that we have received 826 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:56.360 the Holy Spirit as like a seal, right? 827 00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:58.520 But then it says here, we pray that you receive 828 00:32:58.520 --> 00:33:00.800 the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 829 00:33:00.800 --> 00:33:01.880 Is that the same as the Holy Spirit? 830 00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:03.560 Is that like, what is that? 831 00:33:03.560 --> 00:33:05.240 Is that an actual spirit? 832 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.080 What is that? 833 00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:11.040 I think, well, I think wisdom and insight is spiritual. 834 00:33:11.040 --> 00:33:14.760 And the Holy Spirit is the one that gives us wisdom. 835 00:33:14.760 --> 00:33:19.760 So in 1 Corinthians 12 maybe and Romans 12, 836 00:33:21.520 --> 00:33:24.280 those are two chapters in the New Testament 837 00:33:24.280 --> 00:33:26.080 that talk about spiritual gifts 838 00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:29.040 and Paul lists like so many spiritual gifts. 839 00:33:29.040 --> 00:33:31.640 But one of the gifts that he mentions is wisdom 840 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:33.440 and also knowledge, understanding, 841 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:35.960 these are gifts given by God. 842 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.640 They all come from the same spirit. 843 00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:39.360 So in 1 Corinthians it says, 844 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:41.720 all these gifts you've received come by one spirit. 845 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:44.840 So it is the Holy Spirit that gives us these things. 846 00:33:44.840 --> 00:33:47.320 And so that's the way to also check, 847 00:33:47.320 --> 00:33:49.040 like if you're operating in wisdom, 848 00:33:49.040 --> 00:33:51.360 it's come from the Lord, which is great. 849 00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:54.280 But I think in this context, I think he's saying 850 00:33:54.280 --> 00:33:57.280 the wisdom and the insight is so you know the Lord, 851 00:33:57.280 --> 00:33:59.800 like the Lord will reveal himself to you 852 00:33:59.800 --> 00:34:01.160 through the Holy Spirit. 853 00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:04.120 And that's so practical for us today as Christians. 854 00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.840 We can ask God when we read the Bible, 855 00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:07.040 what does this mean? 856 00:34:07.040 --> 00:34:09.360 And the Holy Spirit who lives on the inside of us, 857 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:12.520 God himself, he will reveal to you what he's saying, 858 00:34:12.520 --> 00:34:15.240 like understanding divine wisdom 859 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:17.200 when you read the Bible, when you're in church 860 00:34:17.200 --> 00:34:19.000 or whatever, like God will speak to you 861 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:20.240 and reveal more of himself. 862 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:24.280 So yeah, it's a spiritual gift 863 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:26.200 that comes from the Holy Spirit. 864 00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:27.440 That makes sense. 865 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:28.480 That's really interesting. 866 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.520 Because then it's like almost as if it's like 867 00:34:30.520 --> 00:34:33.200 the manifestation of the Holy Spirit within us. 868 00:34:33.200 --> 00:34:34.280 Like the Holy Spirit is so grand, 869 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:36.920 he has all these different sides to him 870 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:38.880 and we're actually never really gonna stand 871 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:40.720 the whole entirety of God. 872 00:34:40.720 --> 00:34:43.720 But he manifests himself in such a way sometimes. 873 00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:46.080 Manifests himself just means like he behaves 874 00:34:46.080 --> 00:34:49.000 in such a way sometimes where like he gives us wisdom 875 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.480 and he gives us revelation. 876 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.320 And I know for me, like there are some moments 877 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:54.960 in my life where I knew things in my head, 878 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:58.120 but until the Holy Spirit met me with revelation, 879 00:34:58.120 --> 00:34:59.880 the spirit of revelation, 880 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:02.760 that's when I actually understood it with my heart, right? 881 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:04.720 So it's like this difference between knowing it 882 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:05.560 and understanding it. 883 00:35:05.560 --> 00:35:08.160 And on the other side as well, like God is so big, 884 00:35:08.160 --> 00:35:10.840 he's so grand and there are some aspects 885 00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.440 of his nature and his character 886 00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:14.920 where we're probably never gonna understand. 887 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:17.120 And if we do, a lot of it comes from 888 00:35:17.120 --> 00:35:19.880 like the Holy Spirit revealing it to us. 889 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:22.400 And also, I just wanna say that you can ask God. 890 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:26.640 Like you can ask like in James 1, 5, 891 00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:30.320 I just, oh something got somewhere. 892 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:32.400 This might not be the exact quote. 893 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:35.240 It might be James 1, 6, 5 notes in James 1. 894 00:35:35.240 --> 00:35:36.960 It says that the Lord will not rebuke you 895 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.240 for asking for wisdom. 896 00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:41.520 Like the Lord wants to share himself with us. 897 00:35:41.520 --> 00:35:43.880 He's not a secret to be gate kept, 898 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:46.240 but he actually wants to reveal himself. 899 00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:48.520 And also just on top of that, 900 00:35:48.520 --> 00:35:52.280 there's a book in the Bible called Proverbs, super practical. 901 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:54.200 And it's known as the book of wisdom, 902 00:35:54.200 --> 00:35:55.800 part of the wisdom books. 903 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:57.480 And it's written by King Solomon, 904 00:35:57.480 --> 00:36:01.640 who was the wisest man to ever live, fun fact. 905 00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:03.440 But he talks about wisdom, 906 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:06.200 like standing at the city gates and shouting, 907 00:36:06.200 --> 00:36:09.200 basically saying, hey, if you ever wants to hear it, 908 00:36:09.200 --> 00:36:11.600 come in here and that's basically kind of like 909 00:36:11.600 --> 00:36:12.600 Cal God is with us. 910 00:36:12.600 --> 00:36:15.360 He's like, hey, I wanna share myself with you 911 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:16.320 if you're willing. 912 00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:18.920 Like Michelle said that verse before in Matthew 7, 913 00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:21.240 knock at the door, be open, seek and you'll find. 914 00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:23.520 Like if you're willing to hear from God 915 00:36:23.520 --> 00:36:25.240 and to hear more about him 916 00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:27.440 and to have him reveal to you through the Holy Spirit, 917 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.840 he will not withhold that from you. 918 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:30.440 He will show himself. 919 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:32.040 Verse 18, where it says, 920 00:36:32.040 --> 00:36:34.400 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened 921 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:37.640 in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. 922 00:36:38.600 --> 00:36:40.400 The riches of his gracious, 923 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:43.240 the way glorious inheritance and his holy people 924 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.840 and his incomparable, 925 00:36:44.840 --> 00:36:47.720 incomparably great power for us who believe. 926 00:36:48.680 --> 00:36:52.160 As an encouragement, like pray, ask God to open the eyes 927 00:36:52.160 --> 00:36:56.920 of your heart to see and recognize and to know, 928 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:58.120 not only just him better, 929 00:36:58.120 --> 00:37:00.680 but also the hope that he's called us to, 930 00:37:00.680 --> 00:37:03.080 that there's this riches of glorious inheritance 931 00:37:03.080 --> 00:37:06.720 in his holy people and incomparably great power 932 00:37:06.720 --> 00:37:08.120 for who we believe. 933 00:37:08.120 --> 00:37:12.040 There's so much in that that we can ask God for. 934 00:37:12.040 --> 00:37:15.440 It's not just asking for the mundane things of life, 935 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:17.040 which is he's invested in that. 936 00:37:17.040 --> 00:37:20.000 He's invested in our lives to want to know 937 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:21.680 and want us to ask him about stuff like that, 938 00:37:21.720 --> 00:37:25.320 but also for the eyes of our hearts to be opened. 939 00:37:26.080 --> 00:37:29.160 And in the next bit, it's Paul, 940 00:37:29.160 --> 00:37:33.280 from like verses 19 to pretty much until the end of the chapter, 941 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:36.840 he kind of outlines some of the promises that the church has. 942 00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:38.480 So he kind of like, if we break down the whole chapter, 943 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:40.840 if you've been listening, it's like the first section 944 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:44.560 was the identity pieces, who we are, these statements. 945 00:37:44.560 --> 00:37:46.240 The middle bit was like the prayers 946 00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:51.000 and what Paul desires the church of Ephesus and us. 947 00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:55.120 Like, as well, to step into. 948 00:37:55.120 --> 00:37:57.960 And then the last bit is like the promises 949 00:37:57.960 --> 00:37:59.800 that he has laid out for us. 950 00:37:59.800 --> 00:38:03.160 Like that Jesus has laid out for us that, 951 00:38:06.680 --> 00:38:07.840 what's the bit, sorry. 952 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:11.080 What about the same power that Rose Christ 953 00:38:11.080 --> 00:38:13.120 from the grave lives on the inside of us, 954 00:38:13.120 --> 00:38:16.160 which I've heard in so much in church, 955 00:38:16.160 --> 00:38:18.040 now I know that's in Ephesus one. 956 00:38:18.040 --> 00:38:20.960 If you need to whip it out in a Sunday school context. 957 00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:22.560 Oh, come on, I will. 958 00:38:22.560 --> 00:38:24.400 Excuse me, I know where. 959 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.720 That was so yucky. 960 00:38:25.720 --> 00:38:28.000 And anyways, that was. 961 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.680 My point was, my point was, it's like this, 962 00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:35.360 it follows a structure and it's a good promise. 963 00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:36.200 Yeah. 964 00:38:36.200 --> 00:38:39.400 And no, no, the point was, this is so waffly, 965 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:41.000 but follow with me guys. 966 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:45.000 The point was that these promises 967 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:48.080 are manifest themselves through the church. 968 00:38:48.080 --> 00:38:48.920 Yes. 969 00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:52.440 And it's an encouragement and an invitation 970 00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:54.040 to be a part of a greater body. 971 00:38:54.040 --> 00:38:57.320 This church in Ephesus, they are from all different backgrounds 972 00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:59.120 and cultures because it's such a hub 973 00:38:59.120 --> 00:39:02.000 by saying, guys, you guys are united to each other 974 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:03.280 through these promises, 975 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:07.400 but not only that you're united to the greater church as well. 976 00:39:07.400 --> 00:39:09.560 And I just wanted to, like, I just want 977 00:39:09.560 --> 00:39:12.360 tiny point that Paul is actually saying radical things. 978 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.200 Crazy. 979 00:39:13.200 --> 00:39:14.800 But this is a radical message, guys, 980 00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:18.080 like even within the context, this is crazy. 981 00:39:18.080 --> 00:39:22.960 He says that Jesus is far above any ruler, authority, power, 982 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:24.760 leader, or anything else. 983 00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:26.880 Not only in this world, but the world to come. 984 00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:28.640 He basically said Jesus is on top. 985 00:39:28.640 --> 00:39:31.280 So, so sorry to anybody else that you think 986 00:39:31.280 --> 00:39:32.280 is important. 987 00:39:32.280 --> 00:39:33.640 These other gods that you guys are worshipping 988 00:39:33.640 --> 00:39:35.360 in the temple, he's like, I see you. 989 00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:37.880 But actually, Jesus is above that, you know, 990 00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:40.960 the leaders of the day, the empire, whoever it is. 991 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:42.680 Sorry, Jesus is above that. 992 00:39:42.680 --> 00:39:44.680 Like, this is so countercultural. 993 00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:46.320 And I think when we hear this, we can just think, 994 00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:49.440 oh, yeah, yeah, Jesus is, yeah, Jesus is number one. 995 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:52.720 But actually, like, this is a very countercultural message. 996 00:39:52.720 --> 00:39:53.560 Yeah. 997 00:39:53.560 --> 00:39:56.120 And it's still countercultural today in our society. 998 00:39:56.120 --> 00:39:57.120 Yeah. 999 00:39:57.120 --> 00:39:59.240 Like, people will say, like, the culture is on top, 1000 00:39:59.240 --> 00:40:01.200 but actually kingdom cultures on top. 1001 00:40:01.200 --> 00:40:03.480 You know, people will say that, oh, it's this president, 1002 00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:05.760 or is this famous person, or this influencer, 1003 00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:07.640 whoever it is, but actually it's Jesus, 1004 00:40:07.640 --> 00:40:10.120 that Jesus is the author and the perfect of our faith. 1005 00:40:10.120 --> 00:40:11.520 He's the one that we find out. 1006 00:40:11.520 --> 00:40:15.200 And it's very countercultural to say that, but, hey. 1007 00:40:15.200 --> 00:40:17.920 I was just thinking, it reminded me of the father's prayer, 1008 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:20.760 the very end, whereas like, for the kingdom, 1009 00:40:20.760 --> 00:40:25.200 the power and the glory of the Lord, now and forever. 1010 00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:26.000 Amen. 1011 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:27.000 Amen. 1012 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:28.000 Come on. 1013 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:32.240 Guys, thank you guys for joining us today on this podcast. 1014 00:40:32.240 --> 00:40:35.480 Make sure that you come next time. 1015 00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:37.000 We're going to be doing the same thing 1016 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:39.880 for the next chapters of this book. 1017 00:40:39.880 --> 00:40:41.360 But ultimately, thank you for listening. 1018 00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:42.480 Thank you for joining us. 1019 00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:44.960 Do remember to leave a comment, subscribe 1020 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.600 if you're watching the video, or just follow us 1021 00:40:46.600 --> 00:40:49.400 if you're listening on a podcast streaming service. 1022 00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:51.360 But other than that, thank you for coming, 1023 00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:52.400 and we'll see you soon. 1024 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:53.800 Everyone, catch you later. 1025 00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:54.640 Bye-bye. 1026 00:40:54.640 --> 00:40:55.800 Ephesians 2.