Did you know this about Jesus?

One of the most interesting and revealing questions you can ask someone is, "Who do you think Jesus is?" That question will reveal a lot about someone's understanding of history and theology. It will also reveal a lot about someone's faith.

Over the past few decades, there has been a gradual cultural shift away from reverence and respect toward Jesus. With more regularity, I hear Jesus used in the punchline of jokes. I have also seen Him treated as if He is a caricature for cartoons or comedic t-shirts. But I'm convinced that if we truly appreciated who Jesus is, that would be far less common.

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have lived in perfect unity as One for all eternity. When God the Son took on flesh and was born as a man, He didn't stop being God. He became 100% man and 100% God at the same time. Theologians call this miracle the "hypostatic union."

But because Jesus became a man, there's a large portion of this world that forgets He is God. Sometimes I wonder if we as believers don't think about this enough as well. In fact, there seem to have been some misunderstandings about the nature and the character of Jesus that the apostle Paul felt the need to correct as he wrote to the believers in the city of Colossae.

As we look at what Paul taught and clarified about Jesus in Colossians 1:15-23, it might be helpful for us to ask the question, "Did I know this about Jesus?" There might be a few things about Him that this Scripture helps clarify for you, just as it did for the believers living during the days of the early church.

I. Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe

““He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.””

— Colossians 1:15-17

I enjoy studying history. That was something my family realized about me at an early age. I still remember surprising my grandmother as a little kid when I pointed to her Hoover vacuum cleaner and asked her, "Is your vacuum named after Hoover the president?" I was little, so she was shocked that I even knew there had been a President Hoover.

One of the things we're used to when it comes to studying history is the concept of events having a beginning and an end. World leaders are born and then they die. Nations are founded, but then they crumble from within or get invaded by stronger nations. But Jesus isn't like the nations or leaders we're used to. He has no beginning and He has no end.

In fact, Scripture is clear that Jesus created all things, visible and invisible, physical and spiritual, and He sustains everything He created. That means this world, the universe, the angels, and human beings were all created by Jesus. And by His divine power, all creation is being held together. Theoretically, if He stopped sustaining what He created, it would fall into chaos and crumble. It would cease to exist.

When Paul refers to Jesus as being "the firstborn of all creation," he isn't speaking of Him as the first thing created. He's using a term that tends to be used in a royal sense. Just as the firstborn son of a king possesses authority to rule, so too does Jesus who has existed eternally as the Son of God. When He came to this earth, He made God visible to us. When He returns, we will also see the clearest demonstration of His divine authority and power over what He has created.

When we think of Jesus, how often do we think about Him being the Creator and Sustainer of the universe? Most often, we think of Him as the divine Son of God who came to this earth as our Savior, but He's more than that. When Jesus came to save us and restore this lost creation, He was coming to rescue what He made in the first place.

Knowing this to be true, how does this impact the way you perceive Christ's crucifixion? In that moment and in the moments leading up to that event, Jesus was being mocked and beaten by people He made. He was nailed to a cross made from wood He created, with metal spikes that were being held together by His sustaining power. The lives of the people who tortured Jesus were being sustained by Him. How amazing is that to ponder? What does that reveal to us about His great patience and love for His creation?

II. Jesus is the head of the church

““And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” ”

— Colossians 1:18-20

The other day I received a message from a pastor who occasionally asks me for ministry counsel. He's been discouraged for a long time, but he remains faithful in his pastoral role. At present, he is serving a church that doesn't seem very interested in reaching out to people in their community. Their primary concern is to protect their traditions, maintain their property, and keep things as comfortable as they can for as long as possible, even though this approach has contributed to a gradual, but noticeable decline in the church over the course of time. My friend confessed to me that the only hope he sees for this church is that maybe someday soon it will die and be replanted with a new vision and new internal leadership.

His local church isn't the only one struggling. I think it can be rather easy to pick on the church in general. I will confess my own irritation with the church at times, especially over the course of recent years. I see this era of history as a great opportunity for the church to demonstrate a powerful blend of compassion and courage. But instead of seizing that opportunity, I'm seeing a lot of churches cower in fear because their leaders, as far as I can tell, either lack support, wisdom, faith, or a backbone.

And as easy as the church can be to pick on sometimes, Jesus still loves her. She's still His bride, and He isn't ashamed to call her His own. Jesus is the head of the church. The church consists of those He has redeemed from the power of sin with the blood He lovingly shed on the cross. So instead of being overly critical of the church, I wonder what it would look like if we started seeing the church like Jesus did.

Jesus, the head of the church, is also the firstborn from the dead. The resurrection we as members of His church will enjoy finds its foundation in His resurrection from the grave. Our union with Him means that His victory over death becomes our victory as well. So even though the church at times may look weak, and it may not seem impressive from a human standpoint, it remains the bride of Christ and it will never die.

And since Jesus is the head of the church, let's make sure that everything we do as a church brings Him glory. When messages are preached from the pulpit, let's proclaim His glory and His power to save. When the church gathers to sing and pray, let's give praise to His name and never keep secret the fact that our hope is in Him.

Can I share with you a conversation I frequently have with those who lead music for our church worship services? From time to time, as they're preparing for our worship services, they will ask me ahead of time what I'll be preaching about so they can pick songs that fit with the the subject. I appreciate the heart of that question, so I hope they don't get too annoyed with my answer because I almost always say, "If you keep picking songs about Jesus, they will always fit with what I'm preaching about that Sunday."

III. Jesus is working in you to present you as holy and blameless

““And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” ”

— Colossians 1:21-22

This past week, I had a conversation with a friend who told me that she plans to work toward restoring a friendship that was previously damaged. I loved hearing that because it's such a powerful application of the truth Paul proclaimed in these verses.

The Colossians, just like Christians of every era of history, were once alienated from God. Our minds were hostile to God and our lives demonstrated that hostility because we embraced evil deeds that this world tries to tell us are good. This world told me, and I believed that greed, arrogance, and selfishness were good things. But now, through the sacrificial death of Jesus, I have been brought near to Him and I no longer believe the false things I used to believe. I am no longer alienated from God. I'm reconciled to Him through Jesus.

Now, according to this Scripture, Jesus is doing a new work within me and within all who trust in Him. He is working in us to present us as holy and blameless before the Father. By the grace of God, through faith in Jesus, we have been united to Him. The righteousness of Christ has been given to all who believe. Our sins have been forgiven and our stains have been wiped away. We have been cleansed of unrighteousness and rebellion.

What kind of difference would it make if you started seeing yourself the way Jesus sees you? Do you think you'd keep re-hashing the mistakes of your past? Do you think you'd keep minimizing your value? Do you think you'd keep putting yourself down? Do you think you'd keep putting others down as well?

When we begin to appreciate what Jesus is doing for us, and we begin seeing ourselves and others through that lens, it's like a whole new way of living is opened up to us.

IV. Don't stray from the hope of the gospel

““if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” ”

— Colossians 1:23

I love the way this portion of Scripture concludes. Paul challenges the church to remain strong in faith, and not shift from the hope we have in the gospel.

When I think of shifting from that hope, I picture a car swerving all over the road because the driver is sleepy, distracted, or under the influence of something unhealthy.

I'm not interested in swerving. I don't want to become sleepy in faith or distracted from what's truly important. I don't want to give the evil one, or the shallow philosophies of this world influence over the way I think.

When we know who Jesus really is, we come to realize that our trust in Him is not wasted faith. It results in a permanent union with our Creator and Sustainer, the Head of the church, who presents us as holy and blameless before the Father. Did you know Jesus wants to do this for you? If so, are you taking Him up on His offer?

© John Stange, 2022

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Praying for the spiritual maturity of your family in Christ

This week, I did something wise, but something that tends to be a little out of character for me.

Throughout the course of my adult life, I have frequently said yes to opportunities to volunteer or serve with ministries that are important to me. And as I accept these responsibilities, I tend to hold onto them for a very long time, even as I'm saying yes to additional responsibilities and new opportunities. But this week, instead of taking on a new responsibility, I resigned from one.

I stepped down from serving as a faculty member of a school of theology that helps train new pastors. Did I do this because I don't want to invest in their training? Not at all, but since I first started serving in that role nearly a decade ago, my life has changed drastically. My ministry opportunities have expanded in other areas, and I'm serving more pastors than ever, just in new ways.

I mention this because this is a decision I think I should have made two years ago, but hesitated to do so, and my hesitation reveals an area of maturity that I believe the Lord wants me to develop. I like projects. I like working on things. I like taking on tasks and remaining loyal to those commitments for long periods of time. But the downside of what sounds like some very positive traits is that my reliance on my dedication can sometimes minimize my reliance on the Lord's intervention through prayer. It can be easy for a personality like mine to unintentionally trust more in the effort of their own hands than the powerful hand of God.

Paul was also a man of action, but I'm grateful for what he shares with the church and church leaders in this passage. He demonstrates the importance of prayer being lifted up on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ. At the time, Paul certainly wished he could be with them in person, but he was confined under house arrest as he awaited trial. So in the midst of that challenging season, he prayed for the young church in Colossae. Paul prayed for their spiritual maturity, and in so doing, he gave us a Spirit-led example of how we too can be praying for one another and the development of our spiritual lives.

I. Praying for your wise and fruitful life

““And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” ”

— Colossians 1:9-10

Living in the midst of the season of history Paul was living in, and living in the context he was presently in, was certainly a challenge. I'm guessing there were plenty of discouraging moments and discouraging days for Paul during that season of life. He wanted to be mobile. He wanted to be active, but instead, he was confined and waiting for the government to finally get around to doing whatever it was they were going to do.

When you're in the midst of a season like that, it's certainly refreshing to get some good news from time to time. I'm sure Paul was thrilled when reports of the founding, growth, and development of the Colossian believers reached his ears. I suspect hearing that news helped Paul say, "You know what, this is all worth it." His discomfort and earthly difficulties were all worth it if the end result would be the founding, expansion, and growth of the church.

Paul said that from the day he heard of the Colossian believers, he and those who served with him had not ceased to pray for them. They prayed for these believers every day. I don't know if you have a prayer list, but if you do, are there certain things that you find yourself praying for every day? There are people, circumstances, and ideas that I'm praying about daily. In fact, just recently, I mentioned to my kids that they might be surprised to know just how much of my time during the course of a given week was spent in prayer on their behalf.

When Paul was praying for the Colossians, what requests did he make of the Lord? For starters, he prayed that they would have a wise and fruitful life. Wisdom begins by having a genuine reverence and respect for the Lord. And those who apply the wisdom He supplies through the counsel of His Spirit, the content of His word, and the fellowship of His family, will live a healthy and fruitful life. Those who reject that counsel will not. Eventually, their rejection of godly wisdom will catch up with them. They will pay for it in ways they didn't anticipate because their eyes and hearts weren't open to see the truth.

Paul knew that this young church was probably struggling in a variety of areas of spiritual maturity, so he prayed that they would be divinely filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding. He also prayed that they would live in a manner that pleases the Lord. Is that our desire for our own lives and the lives of our children? Do we embrace the Lord's wisdom? Do we wake up every day with the desire in our hearts to walk by faith in Jesus, and thereby bring a smile to the Lord's face?

““And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  ”

— Hebrews 11:6

Our days are numbered, and the number is most likely less than what we think it will be. We can spend our lives chasing the vanities of this world, or we can live to please Jesus. Pleasing Christ, living by faith in Him, is the wisest and most fruitful way to live your life.

II. Praying for your strong and joyful life

““being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” ”

— Colossians 1:11

I grew up in a small city that was very hilly. Carbondale, Pennsylvania is where the first coal mine in America was dug. It's a city with some steep roads and sharp inclines, and in the years before I owned a car, I used to walk the streets and sidewalks of that city constantly. I would love to know how many miles I walked on an average day, because I'm convinced it was a lot. And walking that hilly city day after day for most of my growing up years made my legs strong and gave me cardiovascular endurance. I'd really love to recapture some of that strength during this season of my life.

When our minds think of strength, we often think of physical strength first, but there's more than one kind of strength. Some people are emotionally strong because of the tests they've endured in life. Others are relationally strong because of the others-centeredness they've developed. Many are mentally strong because of their desire to learn and embrace knowledge. Each of these areas of strength have value, but there's a strength that outshines them all because it is everlasting in nature. Becoming spiritually strong as our faith in Christ is tested and grows, holds value for this age and the age to come.

““for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.””

— 1 Timothy 4:8

Paul prayed for the strength of the Colossian believers, but he wanted them to understand the source of lasting strength. Paul asked the Lord to make the people of this church powerful with His glorious might. He wanted them to be genuinely strong. He knew there would be painful things they would be forced to endure as believers living in a hostile world. He knew they would need to exercise great patience because of the tests they would be forced to go through. He knew their willingness to express joy in the midst of pain would be challenging, so he prayed that the Lord would make them strong with His power.

I love reading verses like this and thinking about their present-day implications for you and me. Power is something we all desire. There are people in this world who are intoxicated with the thought of obtaining power. There are others who do everything they can to hold onto power once they obtain it. But the limited power of the present age goes away on its own with the passage of time, or it's eventually taken away by force. The power that God delights to supply you and me with, however, is a power that doesn't fade with time. It cannot be taken away by earthly kings. It's a power that can stand up to demonic strongholds, and be exercised in a meek manner for the benefit of others, just as Christ demonstrated during the course of His earthly ministry.

Do you believe you possess this power? If not, why? If so, what are you doing with it? What difference does it really make for you and me to live with the power of God in the midst of this fallen world? What is He making you able to do as you rely on Him for strength?

III. Praying with thanksgiving to the Father who gave us life

““giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” ”

— Colossians 1:12-14

Please notice the progressive nature of the work the Lord has done on our behalf as it's explained in these verses. In this passage, we see that in Christ we are; qualified, delivered, transferred, redeemed and forgiven. Believers in Christ have been miraculously moved from death to life, and for this reason, we can give Him ongoing thanks.

Why should we thank God for qualifying us? Scripture tells us that we have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. Typically, language related to an inheritance from God was reserved for the Jewish people, but now Gentile believers were being told that they too will share in an eternal inheritance in the kingdom of God, an inheritance that is theirs because they've been given the name of Christ (Acts 11:26) and the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

Why should we thank God for delivering us? We were once subjects in the kingdom of darkness. We were dominated by sin, overpowered by Satan, and subject to death. But now we've been rescued by Jesus and transferred to His righteous kingdom.

Why should we thank God for redeeming us? To redeem is to purchase another's freedom. The blood of Christ was shed to pay for our freedom (Eph. 1:7). Our freedom was purchased with His blood, and through this act, we are offered the only opportunity we have to be free from slavery to sin.

Why should we thank God for forgiving us? How terrible would it be to one day stand in His presence with every ill thought, every damaging word we've spoken, and every act of rebellion we've committed still being held against us? At one time, we were living as enemies of God, and I would dread to stand in His presence with that as my status. But Christ bore our condemnation on the cross. He absorbed the penalty for our sin, and granted us the gift of His righteousness when we trusted in Him. In Christ we experience complete forgiveness because our sin is no longer held against us. For this, we can be thankful.

I recently read a story of an elementary school teacher who asked her class to draw something they were thankful for. Her students lived in a depressed and declining community. One of her students, a student that tended to be timid and would often stick close to her when they left the classroom for recess or other activities, drew something strange. He drew a picture of a hand. When the other students tried to guess what it meant, they guessed all kinds of things. Some wondered if it was a farmer's hand because farmers produce food. Others wondered if it was the hand of a police officer because they provided protection. But the student said, he drew a picture of the hand of his teacher because she would often reach out and take him by the hand when he felt scared or unsafe. (Source: https://www.rd.com/article/thanksgiving-story/)

God Himself has graciously reached His hand out to us. We were scared, distant, and unsafe, but He reached into our lives to intervene and assure us of His presence. He sent His Son to rescue us and remind us of His compassionate desire to intervene.

As we pray to Him with thanksgiving, on behalf of others and ourselves, we can thank Him for the spiritual maturity He is fostering within us and the thankful hearts we're developing as we're gradually growing in appreciation of every aspect of what He has done on our behalf.

© John Stange, 2022

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You don't need a title to be a minister

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul somewhere around the year A.D. 60. He wrote this letter during the course of his two-year house arrest in Rome.

The church at Colossae appears to have been planted by a man named Epaphras during Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. Motivated by the gospel he heard Paul preach in that city, Epaphras returned to Colossae and shared the gospel with the people of his home area. A local church was born, but in time, that young church struggled to accept sound doctrine, and the lives of its members were being affected by this reality.

Paul wrote this letter to help these young believers understand good doctrine, specifically doctrinal truths about Jesus Himself. Paul wanted these young Christians to develop a healthy and mature faith. He wanted them to live out the truth of the gospel. He wanted them to know the real Jesus deeply, and through that relationship, apply the gospel to the ways in which they lived. He also wanted to help prevent them from following false teachers who taught unbiblical and worldly things.

As we study this book together, I hope that we'll develop an appreciation of who Jesus is and how He is capable to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. He is Lord over all creation. He gives us greater things than this world can supply, and He invites us to trust Him completely so we don't fall prey to the ungodly practices and philosophies of this world.

Paul ministered this truth in Ephesus. Epaphras ministered this truth in Colossae. What would it look like for us to follow their examples and minister this truth in our time and in our location? What kind of minister can you and I become through the power of Christ?

I. A minister who is thankful for the faith and love of the church

““We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,””

— Colossians 1:3-4

If you could re-live any season of your life, what season would you select? Would you choose your high school years, or are those some of the years that you'd be happier to forget?

When I was in high school, I started to become more open about telling others about my faith in Jesus. Some people responded to what I shared with polite interest while others seemed more apt to mock my young faith. I still vividly remember when I caught a friend mocking my beliefs behind my back when he thought I wouldn't notice. It was hurtful.

It's easy to be critical. And in some respects, it can be a popular thing to mock followers of Christ or become critical of the church. At times, I even hear professing believers speaking poorly of the church and pointing out its flaws in an unhelpful or un-redemptive manner.

But how did Paul speak of Christ's bride in this passage? And how did those who told him about the church speak? They spoke well of them, even when they were speaking about them outside of their hearing. Paul was told of the faith and love that were Spirit-empowered characteristics of the church in Colossae.

Every era of church history has been filled with challenges and struggles that the church must confront. Some of those struggles are internal and others are external. But in the midst of the pagan Roman culture of the day, the church at Colossae was demonstrating genuine growth in faith and love. Wouldn't it be nice if that could be said about every local church?

This young church had genuine faith in Jesus, and the result of genuine faith is love. As we love God, we are inspired to love those He has created in His image. In fact, loving others as Christ has first loved us is one of the most powerful ways the Lord demonstrates the power of His gospel to an unbelieving world.

Several months ago, I invited a friend of mine to visit our church on a Sunday morning while he was in the area. He took me up on that invitation and recently told me that the visit had a profound impact on him and his family. It destroyed his stereotypical impression of what the church was like. Everyone he introduced himself to was gracious and kind to him. His children were immediately invited to participate in an afternoon youth event. And since that time, his family made the decision to begin attending a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching church in their community. He told me that his experience with our church family one Sunday morning directly contributed to that.

I think that's exactly what you or I would have experienced if we visited the Colossian Christians and worshipped together with them. Their genuine faith in Jesus was demonstrated through their genuine love for others.

II. A minister who is thankful for the hope of the true gospel

““because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,””

— Colossians 1:5-6

It must have been quite an interesting time to live during the century immediately after the resurrection of Jesus. During that century, brave men and women travelled all over the known world and shared the gospel with others. Many of them knew that in doing so, they were likely risking their lives because some areas would take deep offense to hearing that the national pagan deities they worshipped were false gods, but in the midst of that reality, the Spirit of God was also preparing hearts and opening eyes to understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth.

In these verses, Paul reminded the Colossians that the gospel that had reached them was now being proclaimed all throughout the world, and great spiritual fruit was being produced as more and more people came to faith. People throughout the world were learning what real hope truly is. The hope Christ supplies isn't a wish or a possibility, it's a guarantee. Through Him, we're given the opportunity to live hopeful lives, and that hope isn't extinguished by our changing circumstances. That's a message the Lord wants this world to hear and embrace.

I'm grateful for every opportunity the Lord gives us in our generation to share the message of our hope in Christ as well. It can be argued that we have even more opportunity than the generations that came before us did. When I became a pastor a few decades ago, I would prepare sermons that were only heard by those who were present in the building the moment those messages were delivered. If you weren't there, you missed it. Now when I preach, the messages are heard by those who are present, live-streamed to others online, shared via podcasts and videos during the week, and the text is published in blogs and books. The messages that originate in our local pulpit are literally heard throughout the world every single week.

I'm also grateful for others who are taking creative approaches to make the hope of the gospel known. You may be familiar with the ministry of Operation Christmas Child, and how that ministry sends shoeboxes of gifts to impoverished children, which also leads to opportunities to preach the gospel to these families. They've been doing this for years, and just recently I actually heard of a young woman from the Philippines who saved the gifts she received from a young man in the United States. Those gifts were sent when they were children, but she reached out to him years later to thank him. He responded, and not too long ago, they actually got married and now they have a child.

In every generation since the gospel was first preached, we are being given creative opportunities to make it known throughout the world. How illogical would it be for you and me to be the recipients of the great hope of salvation, and then keep that hope to ourselves. It wouldn't make sense. We'll emotionally explode if we don't tell others of this hope that excites us.

III. A minister who is willing to bring the good news

“ “just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.” ”

— Colossians 1:7-8

Did one person tell you the gospel, or did the Lord use many people to tell you before you finally responded to it? I can point to quite a few people who played a part in me hearing the gospel. Family members, church leaders, camp volunteers, and even a few friends. More people than I probably realize planted seeds of the gospel in my life that eventually bore fruit.

The Colossians heard the gospel from Epaphras. When his eyes were opened up to it, he couldn't wait to tell the people of his hometown. He risked experiencing their rejection and ridicule to bring them the hope they needed. By the grace of God, people responded and the church took root there. Without the aid of modern transportation, Epaphras traveled about 100 miles from Ephesus to Colossae, most likely on foot, because of the joy he had in Christ that he wanted his friends and family to also possess.

There's a well-loved verse in the book of Isaiah that speaks of the good news traveling by foot to reach a listening ear.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” ”

— Isaiah 52:7

People like Epaphras motivate and inspire me. He was a man of action, not excuses. As far as we know, he didn't possess any special title or credentials. I don't know if he was well educated or if that wasn't something available to him. All I know is that he knew a good thing when he saw it, and he wasn't waiting around for someone to give him permission to do what the Spirit of God was compelling his heart to act upon. When the Holy Spirit told Epaphras to tell his hometown about Jesus, he did it.

Many people spend a lot of time praying for others to come to faith in Jesus. They also spend a lot of time praying that someone will tell the people they love about Him, but they doubt that the Lord could use them as that messenger because they don't have a title, credentials, or superior education. I would contend that there are some people in your life that will only listen to you, and the titles and credentials of others might actually be a hindrance to them being willing to listen to someone else.

There are dozens of people who played a direct part in my reception of the gospel. In your case, you might be the person who first plants the seed of the idea, or you might be the person who shares a personal application of how the hope of the gospel changed your heart. You might be the last link in a chain of people who help lead someone to Christ, or you might be the first link. But you don't need a title to be a minster. You just need faith in Jesus, love for His people, the hope of the gospel, and the willingness to open your mouth wide enough to speak.

© John Stange, 2022

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How (and why) to start an online ministry

I got into podcasting several years ago. After listening to a bunch of shows and seeing the impact they were having on me, I felt like it was time to start creating content, and that was one of the best ministry decisions I ever made.

I'd like to suggest something to you, maybe just as food for thought, or maybe as a call to action right now. If you're a regular listener of podcasts that help you grow in your faith, have you ever thought about creating faith-based content that can also be digitally delivered throughout the world? Maybe it's time for you to start your own podcast, or blog, or YouTube channel, or even write a book.

If you've ever had an inclining to do something like that, or to create an online ministry platform, let me encourage you to do it. When I started my podcasts, I had no idea that the day would come when they'd be downloaded millions of times all throughout the world. When I started writing my blog, I truly didn't know if people would read it and share the articles. When I started writing books, I didn't know if people would buy them or read them. I stepped out on faith to do these things, and now, after several years of creating this content each day, I'm able to reach more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ than at any previous season of my life.

And I'd like to help you do the same exact thing.

Not long ago, I started a membership community to help people create online ministry platforms. I'm helping people build and grow podcasts. I'm helping people write blogs and books. I'm helping people get their websites up and running. I'm even helping people earn a living with some of this, so they can dedicate more time to it.

My membership community is called Platform Launchers. In our group you'll find pastors, ministry volunteers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other creative people that are working together to share the message they're most passionate about online.

Platform Launchers meets for live training with me, once a week. We also have a training vault of previous videos from earlier training sessions and webinars. We also have a seven video series that we call the "Launch Plan." I put it together to show people who are interested in starting an online ministry how to get the ball rolling, where to start, what equipment they need, and how to do it all on a limited budget.

And if any of this interests you, I want you to know that right now, you can watch the Launch Plan video series and all of our content for free. Just go to PlatformLaunchers.com and sign up for our 14-day test drive. You can also join us for our live training sessions during those two weeks. If you want to remain a member after that, you're certainly welcome to, but you aren't obligated to.

Over the course of the coming year, it's my goal to help at least 100 people build and grow an online ministry platform. It took me years to learn how to do it, but I'd like to help you learn these concepts and get started in just a couple weeks.

Check it out if this sounds like the right thing for you. Visit PlatformLaunchers.com to watch the Launch Plan videos and our other content for free for the next two weeks.

Thanks,
John

Why did Jesus come into this world?

Christmas is a special time for many people and many families. It's full of traditions, special foods, trips, and hopefully some reflection, gratefulness, and good cheer. For many people, this is their favorite time of year, and for children in particular, this is a season that is eagerly looked forward to.

For those who worship Jesus, there's even more to this season than our family traditions and favorite foods. We see this season as an annual reminder of Christ's incarnation, or His earthly birth. We think about Christ's willingness to leave Heaven where He has eternally existed in perfect union with the Father and the Holy Spirit, take on human flesh, and live among us for several decades.

During the cold months, I dream of warmth. I catch myself daydreaming quite often of warmer weather and warmer places. I think about some of my favorite places to visit in Florida. I watch family videos of trips and activities from the summer, and I eagerly wait for the nice weather to return. I struggle to embrace winter because I prefer sunshine and warmth.

Yet Jesus made a choice that is quite different from the kind of choices we often make. He left Heaven to come to earth. Now, I haven't yet been to Heaven. I know some people who are there, and I have read that it's quite a nice place. So nice, in fact, that it's hard for me to imagine leaving Heaven to come here. But that's exactly what Jesus did.

Why did He do that? That's what the Apostle Paul addresses in 1 Timothy 1:12-17.

I. Jesus came to show us mercy

““I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.””

— 1 Timothy 1:12-14

The Apostle Paul is a key figure in the spread of the Gospel throughout this world. The Lord inspired him to plant churches, train leaders, preach, teach, and write 13 books out of the 27 books that comprise the New Testament.

Paul was someone who once hated Jesus, and we're told in Scripture that he had a reputation for terrorizing Christians and approving their death or imprisonment. Then Jesus came to Paul, spoke to Him directly, and helped Paul see something he had been missing. Paul came to realize that Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus is God, Lord, Messiah, and Savior. Paul trusted in Jesus to save him, and he devoted his life to serving Christ from then on.

But Paul still wrestled with the awkward realities of his checkered past. Maybe we're still doing that too. I wrestle with that more often than I wish I did. Sometimes I'll be reminded of something I have said or done in the past that I haven't thought about in a while. And when I start to dwell on it, it causes me to feel shame or embarrassment, even though I know I don't need to be mentally stuck in that place any longer. Do you sometimes do that too?

But what did Jesus do for Paul? Jesus showed Paul mercy. Mercy is Christ's deliverance from judgement. Paul deserved eternal condemnation because of his sin, but Christ didn't condemn Paul because He had taken Paul's sins upon Himself at the cross. Eventually, Paul understood this. He even says in 1 Timothy 1:13, "though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,"

Why did Jesus come into this world? He came to show mercy to people who deserved nothing but judgement. And that includes you and me. Sometimes in life, I'm tempted to complain. Maybe you do the same thing. When I'm complaining, what am I really doing? I'm buying into the false belief that I deserved something better than what I got. I'm telling myself that I didn't deserve to be treated a particular way, overlooked, hurt, insulted, or inconvenienced. I'm reinforcing the belief that I deserved better, and when I do that to myself, my heart can easily become bitter and resentful.

According to Scripture, however, what do I really deserve? I only deserve one thing. From birth I have been a sinner. During the course of my life, I have rebelled against God's laws in every way, sometimes internally and sometimes externally. In fact, we've all done that. So what do we deserve for sinning against a holy God? We deserve judgement. We deserve condemnation. We deserve to live apart from a holy God for all eternity.

But God loves us too much to let that stand. It was always His will to intervene. So Jesus, God the Son, came to this earth to show us mercy. He came to take our condemnation upon Himself, offer forgiveness for our sin, and bless us with mercy instead of judgement.

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." ( John 3:17)

II. Jesus came to save sinners

““The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” ”

— 1 Timothy 1:15

Paul elaborates on this further and emphasizes that Jesus came to save "sinners." Then he makes a point to stress that when it comes to sinners, he personally takes the cake.

I had an interesting conversation with a good friend a few years ago. He and I make it a point to get together once a year, and we frequently talk about life and spiritual things.

My friend has experienced some tough things during the course of his life. He's also really into tattoos and piercings. Most visible skin on his body is tattooed or pierced. He doesn't wear 3-piece-suits, and he said to me that he would love to come visit our church some day, but he wouldn't want to embarrass me or put me in an awkward spot because he thinks he might stand out a little bit if he walked into a worship service.

How do you think I responded to that? I assured him that he is always welcome to worship with us and would not stand out in the least, nor would he be the only tattooed and pierced person in our fellowship. That surprised him, but he seemed grateful to know he was welcomed.

The sad reality is that there is an impression in this world that Jesus is only for the people who look perfect on the outside, had the perfect upbringing, haven't made big mistakes in life, and do the best they can to craft the perfect image. But that's not the case at all. Jesus didn't come to this earth to save those who didn't need saving. He came to save humanity because we're all in the same boat. We're all sinners who are often doing our best to disguise that fact.

Paul used to think of himself as a pretty good guy. That's how I used to think of myself as well. Maybe that's how you once thought of yourself too, or maybe you still do. But Jesus didn't come to save "good people" because there weren't any other than Him. He's the only one who is without sin, yet He came to this earth to save sinners, and I'm so glad that He did. I'm so glad He's willing to look at a man like me who was sinful from birth, welcome me into His family, give me His name, make me someone new, and remind me that I don't need to go back to the kind of life I was living before. In Christ, I'm finally free, and you can be too if that freedom isn't something you've experienced yet.

III. Jesus came to offer eternal life to all who will believe in Him

““But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” ”

— 1 Timothy 1:16-17

I love how Paul concludes this paragraph. While thinking about where he had been, what he had been through, and what Jesus had done for him, Paul makes a statement with broad application. He tells us that Jesus exhibits perfect patience, and that Paul was shown mercy as an example to those who will also believe in Jesus and receive eternal life. There is no greater gift than that.

A while back, a man asked if he could make an appointment to speak with me about some things he was really struggling with, and feeling weighed down by. A big part of the burden he was feeling had to do with the crushing weight of all the things he feels he "needs" to be doing or "needs" to accomplish. So I asked him a question that I want to pose to us as well.

"What would your life look like if instead of worrying about everything you feel you need to do, you paused for a moment to rest in what Christ has already done for you?"

With that question in our minds, and in light of what this passage states, let's rest in the fact that Jesus grants eternal life. Let's rest in the fact that we don't have to work for that gift. We don't have to earn that gift. We don't have to spend our lives crushed under the mental burden of trying to obtain that gift. God's word reminds us that Jesus gives us the gift of His peace and rest when we believe in Him.

That means that if I trust in Him, I'm forgiven of my sin and I'm freely granted salvation. I don't have to work for it because Jesus already did the work for me. He lived the perfect life that I didn't have the capability to live. He died on the cross to pay the debt my sin incurred because I couldn't pay for it. He rose from the grave to defeat sin's power in my life.

And now, He's looking at us and asking, "Do you believe in me? Will you entrust your life and your future to me? Will you welcome me to be your God and Lord of your life?" And if our answer to Him is a sincere, "YES," we will be granted the gift of forgiveness and life everlasting.

Paul was a thankful man because of Jesus. I'm thankful too. He's changed my life. He's made me a new man. He's given me hope, and He's blessed me with a family AND a church family to experience it all with.

What are we celebrating today? What are we grateful for this season? We're grateful for Jesus who has shown His mercy to sinners. We're grateful for Jesus who graciously shares the gift of eternal life with all who will believe in Him.

And just as Paul proclaimed at the end of this passage, let's also join in proclaiming, "To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

© John Stange, 2021

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Christ has replaced our gloom with joy

The other day, I had a strange thought. I thought to myself, "I'm glad that I have been able to experience more than one season in history because I'm not a big fan of the one we're currently living through." It seems like all I'm hearing is bad news on top of bad news.

Somewhere along the line I also noticed that, even though I don't watch the news very much, I still seem to be on the receiving end of an abnormal amount of bad news, and I've come to accept that reality. When you're a pastor, you're often asked to pray with and for people going through tough seasons and times of dire need. During this week, I have been praying for two families that lost loved ones, and another family with one member in the hospital. It's heavy news and it can make me feel a little gloomy.

Something that doesn't make me feel gloomy is In-N-Out Burger. We don't have their restaurants here in Pennsylvania, but last week while I was in Houston, I ate there for the first time. The food was delicious, and on the bottom of my drink cup was a reference to Isaiah 9:6. That Scripture references a time when Christ would come to this earth to interrupt the gloom we can so easily feel, and replace that gloom with joy.

There is no shortage of bad news in this world, and if we don't possess the capacity to see beyond this moment in time, we can easily become locked in a gloomy perspective. But by the grace of God, we're made capable of seeing what's up ahead. The counsel of His word tells us that there is hope for all who trust in Christ. He is the one who takes our gloom away.

I. Jesus brings light into the darkness

““But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.” ”

— Isaiah 9:1-3

Do you ever fear that another country is going to invade our country, topple our government, take our land, and put us to death? It's possible that's something you may have thought of, but I would suspect that isn't something we worry about constantly. But the people of Israel used to worry about that regularly. In fact, because they had embraced the worship of idols and rejected the true and living God, the Lord told them it would definitely happen to them.

This passage speaks of the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, two areas in the Northern Kingdom of Israel that would experience great gloom and pain. In time, that area was invaded by the Assyrian army. It was swarmed with their troops who trampled the people, ravaged the land, and brought death, destruction, and judgment upon the inhabitants. I can only imagine what it must have been like to live through that kind of experience. To see your homeland conquered by an invading army, and life as you knew it completely uprooted, must have been devastating. It's understandable that there would be much gloom connected with that event. But thankfully, the story didn't end there.

In contrast to the beating the people and the land took at the hands of an invading army, and the darkness and gloom that came upon them as a result, the Lord revealed through the prophet Isaiah that a time would come when that region would experience glory. This portion of Scripture begins to speak, in a combined way, of the first and second comings of Jesus. He is the one who would bring the light of His gospel into this spiritually and socially darkened place.

Isaiah lived and prophesied about 700 years prior to the incarnation of Christ. Looking 700 years forward into the future, he spoke of a time when the people walking in darkness would see a great light. Those who were consumed with doom would experience great joy. Jesus, the Lord of all Creation, would come to them and multiply their joy exponentially. The Apostle Matthew recorded the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy in Matthew 4:12-17.

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:12-17)

This is what the light of Christ still accomplishes in the lives of those who trust Him. His light has power to chase darkness away. He invites us to repent or turn from walking in darkness, and to walk in His light. His light enables us to see ourselves from His perspective. His light helps us to see beyond our present moment in time into the glorious future He has assured us of. His light helps us to discern truth from error. His light helps us to respond to one another with love and forgiveness. We no longer need to walk in darkness because the light has come.

II. Jesus brings rest where there was burden

“ “For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.” ”

— Isaiah 9:4-5

Last week while I was in Houston, I visited the NASA Space Center and I took the tour to see the control room where the Apollo 11 mission to the moon was directed. It was a great tour, and very exciting to see, but to get to the observation area that oversees that control room, you have to climb 87 steep steps. Most of the people in our tour group did fine, but one man was really struggling to make it. Several times on the climb up those steps, he had to stop, catch his breath, and give himself time to recover. By the time he made it to the top, he was sweaty and exhausted.

Sometimes in life, we experience seasons that are physically burdensome. Other times, we wrestle with emotional burdens. What do we crave during these seasons? For many of us, we crave rest. We want a break from what weighs us down. We want someone to come along side us and lift our burdens from us. In Christ, we find this kind of rest.

The images that are described in this passage cause us to picture people who were weighed down with heavy yokes on their backs. It gives us an image of being taken captive or living like slaves. We're shown a glimpse of people being treated like animals as their backs are described as being subject to the striking of their oppressor's rod. This happened to the people of Israel in the literal sense when they were taken as captives by Assyria. It also serves as a picture of the reality of what it looks like to be overcome with the burden of sin.

But what has Jesus, the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy, done with the oppressor's rod? He has broken it. What does He do with the boots and the garments of the armies that amass against His people? Those objects are used as fuel for warmth instead of tools to aid in destruction. Jesus secures the ultimate victory over the oppressing forces of evil, and He shares that victory with us, so that in Him, we can find the rest we need.

Rest is an important thing to God. Throughout the Scriptures, He speaks of it and He graciously offers it to His children.

Exodus 33:14 - And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 62:1-2, CSB - I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.

Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Is your soul experiencing daily rest in Christ or are you still convinced you have no other choice but to carry your burdens alone?

III. Jesus reigns with justice and righteousness

“ “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” ”

— Isaiah 9:6-7

During the Christmas season, this is one of my favorite Scriptures to see referenced on cards or in other ways. Isaiah gives very specific details regarding the birth of Christ, the ministry of Christ, and the nature of Christ in this passage. He tells us that a child would be born among the people of Israel. He would be a Son who was given as a gift of grace. And in time, the government would be upon His shoulder. He would be one who would rule with peace and benevolence, which would stand in stark contrast to the foreign nations that invaded and oppressed Israel at different times in their history.

The people of Israel were looking forward to the day when they would once again have a king like King David. God had promised David that the day would come when one of his own descendants would rule from his throne forever. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. The eternal Son of God took on flesh and was born to Mary, a descendant of David. When Christ returns, Scripture tells us that all nations will bow before Him as King, and He will rule and reign from Jerusalem. His reign will never end. He will establish peace, uphold justice, and promote righteousness on this very earth.

The Scripture speaks both of Christ's humanity and His divinity. In addition to being born as a child, we're also told that He would be called Wonderful Counselor. The idea here is that He would be an advocate or one who pleads our case who also inspires awe among us. He's also called Mighty God. Jesus is God incarnate. He is likewise referred to as Everlasting Father. This is a way of telling us that He is the source or the "father" of life everlasting. Christ is also described as the Prince of Peace. Through Him our souls find the peace we can't find anywhere else.

And just as Jesus has promised to literally and visibly reign on this earth at some future point, He desires to reign with justice and righteousness in our lives right at this very moment. Someone is calling the shots in your life. Someone sits on the throne of your heart. Wouldn't you rather it be Jesus, the Prince of Peace, than someone else?

Jesus has taken our gloom away and replaced it with the joy of His presence.

© John Stange, 2021

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What is spiritual warfare, and are you engaged in it?

There's a war taking place all around us that we typically cannot see and frequently don't perceive. For many of us, if we're even aware of this battle, we prefer not to think about it because it feels creepy and uncomfortable. Most people, however, live their lives blissfully ignorant of the battle that's taking place.

The war I'm speaking of is a spiritual war. The angels aligned with God and the demons aligned with Satan are in the midst of a conflict that directly impacts us. In fact, much of that conflict concerns the lives of those living on this earth. Satan is actively warring against God's people to prevent them from sharing the gospel and living in obedience to the Lord. He wants us to damage our testimonies, damage our credibility, and become an ineffective witnesses of the presence of Christ in our lives.

Satan is also actively attempting to blind the spiritual eyes of unbelievers. He wants them to live in ignorance toward the grace of God. He's perfectly fine with them living unaware of spiritual things while pursuing the treasures, pleasures, and esteem of this world. He wants them to idolize earthly life. He wants to promote confusion and perpetual ignorance of the purpose and plans of God.

The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write the counsel we find in Ephesians 6 to help develop our awareness of the spiritual battle we're in the midst of. This passage of Scripture also reminds us of the supreme power of God and how He has supernaturally equipped us to face the spiritual battles we'll experience in this life.

I. Who is the devil and what does he do?

““Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.””

— Ephesians 6:10-12

The subject of the devil is confusing to many people. Some people think he's a myth. Others tend to think of him as God's equal. Who do you think he is?

Scripture teaches that the devil, or Satan, is a created spirit being. Originally, he was an angel that was created with great beauty and prominence. In time, the sin of arrogance was found in him and he fell from his esteemed position. He also led one third of the angels to follow him and reject God completely.

Satan isn't God's opposite. In fact, God has no opposite. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. Satan is none of these things. His power is strong, but it isn't the strongest. His knowledge is great, but it's limited. And he can only be in one place at one time, unlike God who can be all places at once. It would be more accurate to consider Satan the opposite of the Archangel Michael since they're both powerful angels with the limits imposed upon created beings.

Satan seeks to counterfeit the plans and the kingdom of God. He attempts to make what he's doing or what he's offering look more appealing than what God offers. Satan appeals to our sin nature, and he encourages us to think more about short-term earthly benefits than long-term eternal matters.

Scripture teaches us that Satan is actively deceiving the nations of the world. He employs the other fallen angels (demons) to participate in this task with him. Much of this world lives under the deception of Satan and is clueless to this fact. Many world leaders in our day and throughout history have been directly influenced by Satan as they've made decisions and attempted to accumulate the power, riches, and influence of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:4 also tells us that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers in an attempt to prevent them from trusting in Jesus for salvation. He wants people to primarily have faith in themselves, their good works, or some other system of false doctrine, so he and his demons attempt to keep people from embracing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Satan also makes a point to tempt those who believe in Christ to embrace false beliefs and indulge in evil behavior. He wants us to conform to the values of this world, operate with selfish motives, and embrace all forms of immorality. We're also told in Scripture that Satan opposes and accuses believers with the goal of destroying their testimony and their confidence in Christ.

And Satan seems to love sewing seeds of division. We frequently think that our battle is with each other, and that other people are our enemies, but our battle isn't with flesh and blood. We're engaged in a spiritual battle, so it's probably time we started acknowledging that.

II. Biblical examples of spiritual warfare

Scripture records many examples of spiritual warfare. To help illustrate what it looks like, let me share a few snapshots from the lives of Job, Daniel, and Peter.

Job

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:6-12)

Daniel

In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3 I didn’t eat any rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. 8 I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. 9 I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

12 “Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision refers to those days.” (Daniel 10:1-14, CSB)

Peter

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat," (Luke 22:31)

III. How should we respond to spiritual warfare?

““Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” ”

— Ephesians 6:13-20

Regarding this battle, Scripture gives us a lot of counsel in just a few verses. Ultimately, we're called to trust in Christ and rely on His mighty power. The most effective thing we can do is seek the Lord's intervention and protection through prayer, while living out the counsel He has given us in His word.

• Eph. 6:11: “stand against the devil's schemes"

• 2 Cor. 2:10b-11: “I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

• 1 Cor. 10:13: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

• James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to dress in the armor God provides us. That armor includes; truth, righteousness, readiness, the gospel of peace, faith (to extinguish Satan's flaming arrows), salvation, God's Word, and prayer. We're also challenged to be alert and speak fearlessly, just as Paul was seeking help from God to do in his own life.

When speaking about the reality of spiritual warfare, Christians tend to respond in different ways. I have witnessed some believers operating quite passively toward it. I have also seen others respond in a fearful manner. But the mature response is one of proactive faith. We trust in Jesus who secured the victory over Satan when He rose from the grave, and then live out our faith by taking the kind of actions God's word prescribes. If the Lord allows you to experience a season of obvious spiritual warfare, consider it an opportunity for your faith to grow and be sharpened.

I will confess to you that there have been several seasons when I have experienced spiritual warfare in obvious ways. The first season took place soon after I started to grow serious about my faith in Christ. The second season was when I entered pastoral ministry. I was shocked at the opposition and personal attacks that came upon me at that time.

I have also noticed that whenever I have accepted a change in assignment from God, direct opposition from strange places tended to follow. And if you want me to be really transparent, I think I have experienced more temptation to sin than I remember experiencing before accepting a public role of spiritual leadership. My assumption is that some of that has been an effort of Satan or his demons to hurt me, hurt my family, and damage the faith of anyone who considers me a spiritual influence in their life. I try to stay keenly aware of that.

IV. A personal challenge

With that all in mind, please allow me to give you a personal challenge.

First of all, don't dismiss what's happening around or to you. Don't be unaware of the devil's schemes and the ways he's working in our culture to promote confusion. Likewise, don't be unaware of the power you have in Christ. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is present within you. You are not powerless. Pray, trust God to intervene on your behalf, and keep moving forward with Spirit-empowered courage.

Second, submit your thought life to the Holy Spirit. Feed your mind the truth of God's word. Surround yourself with people who speak the gospel into your life and love you enough to hold you accountable. That way, you'll be less inclined to give the devil a foothold in your mind and in your life.

Take sin seriously, including the sins of religious pride and worldliness. Call them out when you notice their presence in your life. Come before the Lord with prayers of repentance.

Develop a plan to learn God's word. If you learn it, your faith will grow and your life will change for the better. If you live it out, you'll impact everyone who comes into contact with you in a healthy way. You'll also develop more insight into what is really going on around you, and I think you'll find yourself less likely to be deceived by the false promises of wickedness.

Through Christ, we have the power that we need to stand strong. So stay alert, walk by faith, and live in the power of Christ.

““As a child of God you have full authority to contact God, the Sovereign of the universe, whenever you desire. He is always enthroned in heaven; yet, through prayer, you have as much access to His presence as any angel or archangel.” ”

— Wesley L. Duewel, Touch the World through Prayer

© John Stange, 2021

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How to balance serving God in your home and at your work

Do you ever think about where you spend most of your time? For the majority of us, our time is spent in two places, in our home and at our place of employment. I have frequently looked at the walls of my office and thought, "A large percentage of your life is being spent in this place. Keep it looking nice."

When I'm not working, I have made it a goal to be physically present with my family. I enjoy being at home with them. I enjoy spending time with them. There are regular segments of my calendar that are blocked off for them, and I do my best to protect those times from interruption or interference.

During my years of serving as a pastor, I have received many words of encouragement and occasional criticism. Much of the criticism is deserved, but some of it is laughable to me. In fact, several years ago, one of the other leaders in our church told me about a criticism they heard a man levy against me. I was told that he said, "John cares more about his family than he cares about the church." I think this statement was meant to cut me down, but when it was repeated to me, it made me very happy. It's actually the kind of statement that I hope my own children will be able to say someday when they look back at their growing up experience.

““He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?””

— 1 Timothy 3:4-5

There's a delicate balance between serving your family and meeting their needs, while also serving well in your place of employment. Paul addresses that balance in Ephesians 6, and he explains to us the fact that both spheres provide ample opportunity for believers to glorify God and demonstrate the heart of Christ.

I. Obey your parents

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),  “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” ”

— Ephesians 6:1-3

Years ago, before the advent of the internet, I had several good friends that I used to correspond with via written letter. I took time to write to them because those relationships were important to me, and I loved getting letters from them in return. Typically, I would save their letters and re-read them on occasion. Some of those friends have told me that they still have copies of the letters I sent to them in our youth.

When Paul wrote letters to the churches during the first century, those letters were considered a big deal. It wasn't necessarily easy to transport letters during that season of history. Written communication was considered precious, and when those letters were received, they would be read in the hearing of all the members of the church. This would include the adults and the children.

In the previous section of this letter, Paul addressed the concept of marriage. He demonstrated the fact that it is the foundational institution for the family (and society), and he also explained the fact that marriage is meant to serve as an illustration of the loving relationship that exists between Christ and the church, which is His bride.

In a very logical flow of thought, Paul now addresses the relationship that exists between parents and children. He wanted parents to understand how to function in their roles, and he wanted children to understand the life-long importance of listening to the godly counsel of their mothers and fathers.

Be grateful that you live when you live, because if you were a child growing up in the Roman Empire of Paul's day, you would have had a much different experience. In that culture, children were basically treated like property. They could be legally accepted or rejected from birth. It wasn't uncommon for people to abandon their infant children on hills or in wooded places if they might be considered an unwanted burden on the family. It was actually the followers of Christ who began rescuing those abandoned children and teaching the world the importance of elevating the value of children, just as Jesus demonstrated and taught during the course of His earthly ministry.

In these verses, children were told to obey and honor their parents. They were to listen to their parents' counsel, show them love and respect, care for them when if they needed help, and honor them in the way they lived.

Why are children told to do this? Well, first of all, it's just the right thing to do. But we're also told that it will go much better for children who take honoring and obeying their parents seriously. It may even result in them enjoying a longer life in which things tend to excel, just like the fifth commandment promises.

Children are often encouraged to do the exact opposite of this today, and sadly, many parents accept it. But embracing a pattern of disobedience and dishonor toward our parents won't lead to the "good life" many of us claim to want.

II. Bring up your children

““Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.””

— Ephesians 6:4

What do you think history will say about fathers in our generation? Will they be thought of in good terms or will they be thought of in a less than flattering light? I recently saw a news article that described men in our generation as doing everything they could to prolong their childhood instead of embracing manhood in the biblical sense.

My heart's desire is to be a godly man who demonstrates the heart of Christ, especially when I'm being put to the test. I want my wife and children to experience that, and I want those who experience my leadership in other spheres to experience that as well. As a father, it has also been my desire to model that in my interactions with my daughters and sons. I have worked hard to try to show my daughters what it looks like to be honored and loved. I have also worked hard to model and explain to my sons what it looks like to be a man who walks with integrity, isn't afraid of hard work, and cares for his family.

In this passage, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to counsel fathers to avoid something and to embrace something. They're called to avoid needlessly provoking their children to anger. I think this also involves giving your children hope instead of continually cutting them down. Be patient with them while they're learning, and don't snap at them just because it feels easy to do so.

On the contrary, fathers are called to embrace bringing their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They're called to teach their children the truths that are found in Scripture, then back that up by showing their children how to actually live those things out.

Here's what I have learned over the decades of attempting to do this. You will need the Lord's help to do it well. You won't do it perfectly, but love covers a multitude of mistakes. Your children will get some things right and some things wrong, but you should continue loving them unconditionally anyway. And when you're baffled on how best to help your kids, never forget the power of prayer. Pray for God's intervention and protection in their lives. You'll be amazed at some of the answers you get to see from Him during the course of your lifetime.

III. Serve wholeheartedly

““Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. ””

— Ephesians 6:5-8

The first job I ever had was working at my father's grocery store. My great-grandfather started Stange's Market in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and that business was passed down to my grandfather, father, and uncle. As a young child, right up to my early years of college, I worked in that store, and I learned a lot about leadership, developing a good work-ethic, customer service, and decision making. I learned what it meant to work hard, and I also learned plenty about the consequences that were experienced by those who didn't do their best.

When Paul instructed bondservants to serve wholeheartedly, he recognized that our vocations provide one of the greatest opportunities for us to display our Christian testimony. Much of our life is spent in our line of work, and it's often in that realm where people will have the greatest opportunity to witness you living out what you claim to believe.

I have worked for good employers and bad employers during the course of my life. I'm sure that was the experience of the original readers of Paul's letter as well. If they were bondservants, they actually lived as slaves in Roman culture.

In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners.

During the time of Jesus and the first-century church, as much as one third of the Roman population were slaves, and another third had been slaves earlier in life. It was common for freeborn men and women to work side-by-side with slaves as street sweepers, dockworkers, doctors, teachers, and business managers. Convicted criminals became bondservants of the state and usually died working in the mines or on galleys. -gotQuestions.org

Paul's words in this passage should not be interpreted as condoning slavery. That wasn't the point of what he shared. (In fact, if you want to read a letter Paul wrote to a slave owner that encouraged him to treat a slave like a brother and grant him freedom, read the book of Philemon.) What Paul was encouraging, however, was the importance of living out our faith in Christ, and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit, especially when we're serving under adverse conditions.

I look at this passage and take encouragement from the admonition to do the best I can, for Christ's glory, in any circumstance I find myself in, and to serve others with the gifts God has given me. I believe that the example of the work God is doing in our lives will have a healthy impact on the hearts of those who observe us while we do our work.

IV. Lead graciously

““Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.””

— Ephesians 6:9

In my experience, there are two sure-fire ways to figure out what kind of character someone else possesses. You can give them money or you can give them power, then step back and watch what they do with it.

Paul encouraged masters and those with power over others to work in the same manner he had just encouraged bondservants to work. He also commanded them to stop threatening other people because in the end, earthly leaders and earthly employees all have the same Master. There is going to come a day when we're all going to give an account for our life to the Lord, and He isn't going to show partiality toward us just because we held a title during our brief sojourn on this planet. If God entrusts authority to you at some point during the course of your life, lead graciously.

Wrapping it up: There are two primary places where you and I are going to have the opportunity to demonstrate our faith in Christ over the course of a long and observable period. Our faith will be demonstrated to our family at home, and our colleagues at work. Let the light of your faith in Christ shine brightly in both places. When someone writes your obituary someday, those are the places they're going to be pulling the stories from.

© John Stange, 2021

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What does biblical submission look like in a healthy marriage?

Apart from the decision to follow Jesus, there is no greater decision a person makes than the choice to marry someone. For some people, marriage is a joyful experience - filled with delight. For others, married life is a daily struggle - filled with disappointments and disagreements.

When my wife and I were selecting our wedding rings, we made a special request of the jeweler.  We asked him if he would engrave "Ephesians 5" on the inside of our rings (not the entire chapter, just the reference).  When we were speaking to the pastor who officiated for our wedding, we requested that he emphasize the teaching of "Ephesians 5" in his wedding message.  As followers of Jesus, this chapter of the Bible has a special place in our marriage.  Ephesians 5 explains that marriage between a man and a woman is designed by God to be a visible illustration of the love of Jesus for His church.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with good news for your marriage. As we meditate more and more on the nature of Christ's Gospel and its application to our daily lives, we begin to see that He has called us to apply His Gospel to every area of our lives, particularly our marriages.

When we center our marriages on Jesus, we begin to better understand how to react and respond to the common sources of stress and disagreement that all married couples face. What does His Gospel say about love, commitment, communication, and mutual submission?

I. Learn to love like Jesus

““Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” ”

— Ephesians 5:25-27

Everyone who trusts in Jesus to be their God and Savior is rescued by Him and immediately becomes part of a spiritual body called "the church."  Jesus loves His church.  Scripture even refers to the church as Jesus' "bride" (Rev. 19:7).  So if the church is the bride of Christ, what kind of care do you suppose we can expect to receive from Him?  How does the perfect Husband treat His chosen bride?

Jesus gave Himself up for the church.  "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her," (Eph. 5:25).  With unselfish devotion, Jesus showed His bride that He loved her by giving Himself up for her.  Just think about that for a second.  There is nothing that Jesus was lacking in Heaven.  He was surrounded by perfection.  He wasn't in pain.  He didn't struggle with hunger.  He wasn't surrounded by people spitting on him, ripping out His beard, slapping His face, whipping Him and nailing Him to a cross.  In Heaven, He was surrounded by perfection, yet in the midst of that, He witnessed humanity - His most precious creation, suffering under the crushing burden of their sin.  In love, He gave up that which was rightfully His so that He could come and suffer in the place of His bride.  He endured the death-penalty that we deserved for sin, paying our debt completely, so that through faith in Him our crushing burden would be lifted and we would be forgiven.  Then, after dying in His bride's place, Jesus rose from the grave and He shares His victory over death, sin and Satan with His church.  This truly is good news.  We would have no hope, peace or lasting joy apart from what He has graciously shared with us and accomplished on our behalf.

That's a pretty hefty standard for husbands to measure themselves by.  Frequently I have heard men say that they would die for their wives.  That sounds great, but most of the time we picture that taking place in one final moment of glory where we bravely dive in front of a speeding bullet to save our wife's life or push her out of the way as a train comes barreling down the tracks toward her, only to get hit by the train in her place.  We would all like to think that we would do that for our wives, but it usually doesn't work that way.  More often, we say that we love our wives so much that we would die for them yet we won't let them choose the color of our car, the movie we go to see or the restaurant we eat at.  We say that we will give ourselves up for our wives, but we struggle to share access to the TV remote.

Just as Jesus gave Himself up for the church, husbands are called to give themselves up for their wives. Jesus wants us to love our brides with a selfless devotion that continually communicates the depth of our love.  In view of the nature of the love Jesus has for you, He is calling you to reflect that love like a mirror in the kind of love you show your wife.

Jesus sanctifies the church.  "that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,"  (Eph. 5:26).  Sanctification is a positional standing, a transformational process, and an ultimate outcome.  There are past, present, and future aspects to sanctification.  Regarding our past, Scripture reveals that the moment we trusted in Jesus, we were "sanctified" which means that we have been made holy in God's sight and set apart as His child (Col. 1:22).  We have been given the righteousness of Jesus as a gift (Rom. 3:22), and we are forevermore declared to be righteous saints because our sins have been completely forgiven (1 Cor. 1:2).

Presently, we are being gradually transformed by the Holy Spirit to reflect Jesus more and more (2 Cor. 3:18).  This is a process that occurs gradually over the course of our lives.  With the Spirit's help, the desire to live as Jesus lives and display His character and attitude is fostered in our hearts.  We love as Jesus loves.  We show mercy as Jesus shows mercy.  We show compassion as Jesus shows compassion.  This transformational process is a continual work the Lord accomplishes in the lives of all who trust in Him.

The final, future aspect of our sanctification occurs once our earthly bodies die and we are given new bodies that are sinless and incorruptible (Phil. 3:21).  We will live forever in Jesus' presence as His sinless bride.

In view of the fact that Jesus sets His bride apart as holy in His sight, cleansing her of all sin, how should a husband apply this truth to his relationship with his wife?  One way this could be applied would be to keep our marriage free from corruption.  There are always influences that seek to corrupt our marriages; from cultural influences that try to dilute or redefine marriage, to internal influences that tempt us to drift from protecting our marriages.  But just as the marriage of Christ and His church is a sanctified union, so too should the marriage between a man and woman be kept from any form of corruption that might seek to derail the union.

Jesus presents the church to Himself without stain or blemish.  "so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."  (Eph. 5:27).  Jesus changes us.  He forgives us and imparts His holiness to us.  He doesn't just clean us up, He makes us brand new.  Then He shows us off.

I still remember the first time I had the opportunity to introduce Andrea, my future wife to my father.  Soon after we started dating, my Dad came down to visit us at our college.  He had heard me talk about Andrea for weeks and now he was finally meeting her.  He was impressed with her and congratulated me on the fact that I was able to convince a girl like her to actually date me.  I'm still amazed that worked out too.  In my mind, Andrea was perfect.  I couldn't see a thing wrong with her and I showed her off to everyone.  "Hey everyone....look who I got!  Can you believe this girl actually likes me?  Crazy,... I know!"

Jesus loves us deeply and He isn't ashamed to call us His bride.  Husbands need to model this kind of love as they relate to their wives.  In view of the fact that Jesus cherishes us and isn't looking at us for our faults or keeping a record of our errors and mistakes, husbands should likewise reflect this same level of grace and mercy toward their wives.  Of course our wives will at times make mistakes, as will we, but if the mindset of Jesus governs our homes, we'll more easily be able to forgive and look past those errors.  We'll stop keeping score and start realizing that our wives are a treasure entrusted to us by the One who isn't ashamed to call them His bride.  "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.  (Prov. 18:22)

Ephesians 5 ends with this challenge, "However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."  (Eph. 5:33).  Husbands, we are called to love our wives with the sacrificial love of Jesus, and wives are called to respect their husbands with a heart and mind that reflects the nature of the relationship of the church to Jesus.  Frankly, it is much easier for wives to respect husbands who love like Jesus, and likewise easier for husbands to show love to wives who respect them.

But what does it look like for a wife to respect her husband in a way that honors Jesus?  We'll take some time to examine that next ..... 

II. Don't be afraid of biblical submission

““Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” ”

— Ephesians 5:22-24

Few words elicit as strong a reaction in the context of marriage as the word "submit."  Years ago, I was officiating for the wedding of a couple that I knew very well.  During the course of the wedding ceremony I read from Ephesians 5, as I do every time I officiate.  When I referenced the concept of submission, I watched the bride visibly wince.  She looked rather angry and her expression created a mental picture that I don't think I'll ever forget.  Unfortunately, their marriage did not last very long.  Both husband and wife gradually became more selfish and self-absorbed.  Their hearts hardened toward each other and they gave up on their marriage.

When I ask people, especially women, to tell me why the concept of submission sounds scary to them, they often share descriptions of domineering men who abused and distorted it into something that it is not meant to be.  We have all interacted with people who possessed harsh and arrogant personalities.  We all know control-freaks.  These are the images that most often come to mind when women in our culture are asked for their opinions on the subject of submission.  I can sympathize with how they feel.  They have a legitimate fear of being demeaned, taken advantage of, controlled, stifled and undervalued.  I have two daughters and I bristle at the thought of someone treating them like they were second-class citizens or crushing their spirit in any way.  

Jesus values women, and so should every man who has the privilege to marry one of God's daughters.  The Lord doesn't take the way we treat our wives lightly, and He has warned us that men can expect to be held accountable for how they treat their wives.  1 Peter 5:5 tells us, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  And 1 Peter 3:7 explains that husbands are to live with their wives in an understanding way and show them honor "so that your prayers may not be hindered."  So it's made clear to men in several ways that if they lack humility, and are disrespectful both in how they treat their wives and exercise leadership in their home, God will actively remedy the situation, and the man will be taught a painful lesson.

Marriage is meant to serve as a visible picture of the love of Jesus for His church.  Jesus is the loving, compassionate, just, strong, nurturing head of the church.  He chose His bride.  He loves His bride.  He protects and defends His bride.  He provides for His bride, and He leads His bride with grace, mercy, and righteousness.  The response of His bride is to be one of joyful submission to His leadership. Knowing that He is actively working for our good, and keeping in mind that He gave Himself up for us, the concept of submitting to Jesus should be a delight to us.  But our old nature is strong, and it battles against the desires of our new nature.  Instead of joyfully submitting to Jesus, we, His bride, have a strong tendency to go our own way and ignore the loving leadership of Christ.  Naturally speaking, we do not excel at the practice of submission, even submission to our Savior.

Our struggle to submit finds a way to creep into our marriages as well.  Jesus has called husbands to represent Him and serve as agents of His loving leadership in their homes.  Jesus has called wives to represent the object of His affection, the church, in their homes.  As the church is called to respect and submit to the leadership of Jesus, wives are called to submit to the leadership of their husbands in the home.  In our culture, that is a strongly resisted concept, and I'm sure that statement would sound offensive to many people, even though I don't mean it to be.  Most often, it's an offensive concept to us because we don't really know how to implement it.

Submission involves esteeming and elevating the leadership of someone else.  It means to honor, yield to, and carry out the decisions of the leader.  It involves showing genuine respect, and requires a high level of trust.  It is always easier to submit to the leadership of those who are mindful of the fact that they must likewise submit to Jesus.  When husbands are allowing Jesus to develop their hearts and motivations to mirror His, they tend to lead well, and their leadership is valued and appreciated by their wives and children.  When husbands forget that God will hold them accountable for how they treat their wives, they get off track and behave selfishly instead of serving sacrificially.

Submission does not mean a wife cannot express her insights and opinion.  It does not devalue her role as a leader in the home.  It should result in her feeling honored, cared for, sacrificed for, provided for, and protected.

I appreciate the ways that I see this work out in my household.  My wife and I are both oldest children.  As such, we both have "take charge" kinds of personalities.  In most contexts of life, both prior to marriage and since becoming married, we were both frequently called upon to serve in roles of leadership.  How can you merge two personalities like ours into one household without experiencing a ridiculous amount of conflict?  The answer is that it requires the intervention of Jesus, and heavy doses of His grace, mercy, and humility in how we have learned to relate to each other.

Because my wife and I both take Ephesians 5 seriously, we make it a point to try to live out the pattern expressed in that chapter.  I seek to lovingly lead our household, and she seeks to joyfully respect my leadership.  This works when both parties are convinced that the other is seeking what is in their best interest and sacrificing for their good.  I try not to be an inconsiderate jerk, and she tries not to undercut my authority.  We treat my decisions as the "final word" on the subject, but I don't make those decisions without seeking her input and advice.  In humility, we seek to put each other first.  As objects of the love of Jesus, we desire to demonstrate His unconditional love toward each other in the ways that we are called to lead and submit.

Here's an interesting twist to the concept of submission.  While it's clear that Christ has called men to serve as the "head" of their households, leadership isn't for the faint of heart.  All good leaders quickly learn that the word "leader" is really just a synonym for "chief servant."  A careful reading of Ephesians 5 reveals that every person who is part of the church is called to be actively "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."  (Eph. 5:21).  This applies to every relationship among believers and should stand out prominently within every Christian marriage.

The only perfect marriage is the marriage Jesus shares with His church.  Our earthly marriages struggle to match that example, but a marriage that chooses not to incorporate a healthy understanding of the important role of humble, biblical submission, is destined to experience serious disappointment and heartache, much of which is preventable.

Learn to love like Jesus. Don't be afraid to practice biblical submission. Do whatever it takes to build a healthy marriage that reflects the heart of Christ and the devotion of the church to Him.

© John Stange, 2021

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Are you making the best use of your time?

In 2008, we bought our home and one of the first purchases we made after we got moved in was a new television. I was pretty excited about it too because it was bigger than the TV it was replacing. It was also a flat screen TV, which was pretty novel for the time. I couldn't wait to use it, and I actually felt a little protective of it.

I don't know how long I expected that TV to last, but a couple years after we bought it, it started making strange static noises. I didn't know how to correct that problem, so I just ignored it and hoped it would stop on its own. It didn't. In fact, soon after, it started to give off a strange smell. It was subtle, but I definitely noticed it.

Then that TV did something I never had a TV do before. As we were watching it one evening, it made the noise and gave off the smell, but then smoke started rising out of the back of the television. At that point, I unplugged it and contacted the manufacturer. They took a long time to respond, but eventually sent us a replacement TV.

While we were waiting to see if they were going to do anything, we decided to go buy a new TV. The television we bought was even larger than the one it replaced, and I was really excited to put it to use. I loved it at first, but in time, my perspective toward that TV began to change. We still own it, but at this point, I barely use it. A few years ago, I made the decision to purposely watch less TV so I could use that time in the evenings for conversation with my family, as well as reading, writing, and recording.

So now I have a big TV that gets turned on once or twice a week. It may last forever because it's rarely used. I'm using the time I used to spend watching it in more productive ways.

Have you ever taken a good look at how you're choosing to use your time? Do you think about how to make better use of the time you've been blessed with?

That's the kind of question I believe Paul wanted us to ask ourselves when he wrote Ephesians 5:15-21. Take a look at his suggestions as to how we as growing believers should be using the time we've been given.

I. Access and implement the wisdom of God

““Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.””

— Ephesians 5:15-17

Do you understand the Lord's will for your life? God's will is one of the big questions many of us spend considerable time wondering about. Who should we marry? What career should we pursue? How should we invest? When should we retire? How should we use our retirement years? What kind of legacy should we leave for our children and grandchildren?

In this passage, Paul encourages us to understand what the will of the Lord is, but how is the will of God understood? There are two aspects to the will of God that we need to be aware of if we're going to understand how His will works. There are aspects of God's will that I think of as His "moral will" and other aspects that I typically call His "sovereign will."

God's moral will is very clear. It isn't mysterious at all. His moral will has been clearly revealed in His word. I don't have to wonder if it's God's will for me to steal because His word directly tells me not to steal. I don't have to wonder if it's God's will for me to be unkind because His word tells me to show mercy and compassion, just as those things have been shown to me by Jesus.

The part that tends to confuse many people is the sovereign will of God. We ask questions like, "Where does God want me to live?," or "Should I start a new career in this field?" Those are challenging questions to discern an answer to, but let me share something I have learned that has helped me greatly. If I'm not fighting God about listening to the counsel of His moral will, I also tend to find it much easier to discern His sovereign will. If the pattern of my life becomes one of listening to God's voice without resistance, I tend to hear Him clearer in all areas.

““Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.””

— Romans 12:2

Paul told the Romans to stop conforming to this world's way of thinking and living, and to welcome the transformation of mind that the Holy Spirit accomplishes in the life of a believer. If they did so, they would be able to understand God's will more clearly. That's the same counsel he is giving to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 5. He challenged them to avoid walking in foolishness and evil if they truly wanted to understand the will of God.

So how about us? Do we want to know God's will? Through faith in Jesus, we are given confident access to the Father. Through faith in Jesus, we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, we have what we need in order to grow in grace and wisdom. Is that what we want to do, or is our time still primarily consumed with chasing after lesser things? Are we being entertained by foolishness, or enlightened by the wisdom of our Creator?

II. Live under the control of the Holy Spirit

““And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” ”

— Ephesians 5:18-20

Over the course of my life, I have discovered that many people have different opinions about drinking alcohol. Those opinions vary among Christians as well, and I'm regularly asked about my opinion, so I'll give you my honest thoughts on the matter (and please feel free to challenge me on these opinions if you feel differently).

I decided when I was 15-years-old not to drink alcohol any more. Prior to that, I was more than willing to drink it any time it was offered to me, but since that time it dawned on me that I couldn't think of a single good thing that could come into my life through consuming it. I could, however, list quite a few negative things that might happen if I welcomed it into my life.

I have friends and family members who have become severely addicted to it. I have seen marriages and lives destroyed because of it. I have one friend that directly died in a vehicle wreck after an evening of drinking. I have another friend whose life was thankfully saved after his stomach was pumped following a night of drinking. I know of a church about a half hour away that closed as the result of the chain of events that can be tied back to their pastor's drinking habits.

So, those are my thoughts on the matter. For me, it would be a violation of my conscience to drink alcohol. But whatever your opinions on the matter happen to be, even if they differ from mine, I think we can all agree that Paul gives good counsel when he encourages us not to get drunk. That's not a debatable matter. And the positive alternative to drunkenness that he gives us is to "be filled with the Spirit." What does he mean by that?

Another way to describe being filled with the Spirit is to be "controlled" by the Spirit. It's a manner of describing what it means to be under His influence. As a believer in Christ, I don't want to come under the influence of anything that might have the capacity to control me in a foolish or evil way. As my faith grows and I become more serious about my walk with Christ, I desire more passionately to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Just consider for a moment what kind of impact living under the Spirit's influence and control will have on you? The examples Paul gives in this passage tell us that we will begin addressing one another differently. We'll speak to each other with grace and goodness. The fruit of the Spirit will be demonstrated in our lives.

And in addition to that, our mouths will express thanks to the Father for everything through the Son, Jesus Christ. This, by the way, is the recipe for a joyful and content life. It's a life that realizes that only Jesus can satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. And when our souls are satisfied in Christ, our mouths will express that contentment, peace, and joy.

III. Demonstrate your reverence for Christ in how you treat His bride

“ “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.””

— Ephesians 5:21

What does it take to become a good leader? That's a question I have often asked my children during times of family discussion, and I think an important aspect of that answer can be derived from Paul's counsel in this passage.

I don't think you can become a good leader if you don't first experience the process of allowing yourself to be led. I don't think you can lead well unless you are willing to answer to a higher authority that you're willing to be accountable to.

Christ is the head of the church. Each of us, as members of His body, should willfully submit to Him and show Him reverence. I don't think any of us would argue against that theologically, but admittedly, there are times when it feels much easier to go our own way or defer to our own counsel instead of submitting to Christ's leadership.

That's a struggle for us relationally as well. One of the things Jesus demonstrated to us during the course of His earthly ministry was a willingness to put the needs of others above His own comfort. Is that something we'd be willing to do for each other? Would we be willing to submit our preferences to the preferences of another brother or sister in Christ? Would we be willing to follow Christ's example in how we treated them?

One of the most powerful ways we can demonstrate our reverence for Christ is by how we choose to treat His bride. Scripture refers to the church as the bride of Christ. I have to tell you that as a husband, my response to you will be directly impacted by how you treat my bride. It would be wise to treat her well, if you know what I mean.

If we love Jesus, we should also love who He loves. He loves His church, and He wants each member of the church to love one another since we're united to Him and united to one another. Instead of cutting one another down, we're called to build one another up. Instead of elevating ourselves over each other, we're called to submit to one another. What matters to you should matter to me, and what matters to me should matter to you.

I have a group of good friends who demonstrate this really well. Every two months, we grab lunch together. In fact, that's what we did less than a week ago. Here's what I observed at that lunch. One of the guys owns a farm that he's converting into a retreat center. He invited each of us to stay, at his expense, when we need a break. Another friend paid for lunch for all six people. Two people brought books to share with others because they wanted to encourage them. Then all six of us took time to listen to what was going on in the lives of the other friends and to offer counsel or receive counsel when appropriate. At the end of it all, the last people to leave prayed together in the parking lot. It was a very good use of our time, and all of us grew a little stronger because of it. I think we demonstrate reverence for Christ by how we treat His bride.

Our earthly lives are relatively brief, and it's hard to make up for lost time. So with an eye toward our limited time, let's implement the counsel we're given in God's word. Let's make the best use of our time by embracing the wisdom of God, living under the control of His Spirit, and revering Christ by treating His bride well.

© John Stange, 2021

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Are we living to please Jesus, or dying to please ourselves?

The other day, I was reading a book that summarized the history of the nation of Israel during the era of the Judges. It was an interesting, yet strange time in their history, and one statement stands out to just about any person who reads what Scripture teaches about the hearts of the people during that era of history. We're told that in those days, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25)

What do you think about that statement? When you read it, do you cringe for the people living during that era? I certainly do, but I have to admit that it sounds a lot like what I'm seeing today. I wish that wasn't the case, but I'd be lying if I wasn't willing to admit that.

Then again, I guess I shouldn't be surprised when the unbelieving world acts like unbelievers act. That seems entirely logical. In fact, if I'm going to be surprised, I should probably be surprised when someone who doesn't share our faith in Christ demonstrates character and behavior that aligns with His counsel.

But that's not Paul's primary concern in Ephesians 5:1-14. In fact, in this passage, he speaks about Christians who profess to believe in Jesus, yet demonstrate hearts that are still aligned with worldly values and practices. So the question we're going to wrestle with as we look at the words of this passage is, "Are we living to please Jesus, or dying to please ourselves?" What can we expect to see in a life that makes Christ's pleasure its priority?

I. Walk in love

““Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.””

— Ephesians 5:1-2

Do you ever feel like as a Christian you're constantly trying to overcome stereotypes and characterizations of what people expect you to do or what they expect you to be like? I experience that frequently, especially when people learn that I serve as a pastor. I still remember a few years ago, another family in our neighborhood invited us to a birthday party. At the party, they were playing music from the 1980's, and they seemed shocked that I knew the words.

Sometimes, unfortunately, the stereotype or expectation someone might have of you or me is that we're going to be harsh and judgmental. They think that the only thing we're going to notice are the things we think they're doing that are wrong, and they expect us to have a critical spirit. That reputation is probably deserved, and there's certainly a place for expressing displeasure with certain activities (something Paul does in this portion of Scripture), but God's word explains that we're called to be known for more than merely what we're against. As followers of Christ, we're called to be beacons of His genuine and sacrificial love.

So, what does the love of God look like, and how was it demonstrated to us? The example that was given to us in this passage points us back to the sacrificial love of Jesus. We're told that He demonstrated His love through sacrifice. He gave Himself up for us. He endured the wrath that we deserved. His life was given in a sacrificial way in order to bless those He loved.

As Children of God who are dearly loved by Him, we're called to imitate that example by walking in love. And please notice that this Scripture isn't speaking about walking in "warm feelings." That's not the nature of the love being expressed in this passage. The kind of love we're being called to walk in is a sacrificial love. It's a love that looks at the needs of someone else and attempts to meet those needs. I heard two great examples of that recently.

Bobby Eaton was a well known professional wrestler in the 1980's and 1990's. I don't know anything about his religious faith, but I do know about the kind of impact he made on his peers because of his sacrificial spirit. When the wrestling promotions would tour around the country, he would pack what he needed for the trip, but he would pack many items in triplicate just in case someone else forgot to bring something. Chris Jericho tells the story of when he forgot to bring a toothbrush on one of those trips, and Bobby gave him one of the extras he brought.

I also was just told a story from one of my friends. They were walking with their three children near a beach. It was starting to get cold out, and one of their sons noticed a man who seemed like he might be homeless. He walked over to the man, took off his coat, gave it to him, then returned to walking with his family.

That's the kind of sacrificial love Jesus invites us to show each other. That's what He's encouraging us to imitate as we first observe that kind of love being shown in His actions.

II. Don't give in to deception

““But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.  For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.””

— Ephesians 5:3-6

Admittedly, it can be difficult to think in a long-term way when we're facing so many present-day trials. Right now, I have close friends that are experiencing major health concerns, financial concerns, and family concerns. When those issues are pressing in on you, it can be challenging to think about anything other than today's struggles, but I'm grateful that the Lord gives us a glimpse into the future that's far greater than our present pain.

In multiple places in Scripture, the Lord speaks about our eternal inheritance in His kingdom. This is something that is being held secure for all who have genuine faith in Jesus Christ. We have an inheritance in God's eternal kingdom that cannot be corrupted, damaged, or stolen. That inheritance is only for those who know Jesus. And as Paul explains in this passage, those who still worship themselves and idolize the desires of their sin nature will not share in this inheritance.

Why would anyone trade the opportunity to have an incorruptible inheritance in the kingdom of God for a corruptible inheritance in the kingdom of man? The reason the human heart is willing to do that is because we are easily deceived. From our earliest days, Satan has taken great delight in convincing us that the fleeting pleasures of this world are more satisfying than the treasures of heaven. And sometimes, even we as believers can be deceived into believing that lie. How do I know that?

I know that because we often give in to our temptations. Paul lists many of the things we're tempted by in this passage. We're tempted to engage in sexual sin, covetousness, course humor, and foolishness. Sometimes, I think we're easy prey to give in to these things because there's a part of us that might actually want to be deceived. We want to believe these things will bring some level of satisfaction to our hearts, so we commonly find ourselves drifting away from Jesus and toward the very things that love to drag us down.

But Jesus came to this earth to lift us up. He knew the momentary and eternal consequences of our rebellion better than we did, so He reached into our mess, convinced our hearts that the promises of this world are empty, and offered Himself as the solution to our emptiness. It might take a while for us to realize that giving in to the deceptiveness of sin will leave us feeling utterly depressed, but once we get sick of sin's aftertaste, maybe our hearts will finally be ready to find joy, hope, and satisfaction in Christ.

III. Live in the light

“Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,    and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.” ”

— Ephesians 5:7-14

I feel bad for kids living in this day and age. When I was a kid, it was easy to prank call people or ring their doorbells and run away without them having any idea who did it. Now that we have Caller ID and video doorbells, that's impossible. In fact, just the other day, one of the kids in our neighborhood rang our doorbell and ran away, and I didn't even get up from my chair to see who it was. I just watched the video of him doing it from my phone, then I shared it with everyone in our home.

This portion of Scripture reminds us that we used to live our lives like we were trying to get away with something under the cover of darkness. We thought we could sneak our way through life and that our craftiness would go unexposed, but that's not the case at all. Scripture teaches that eventually, everything will be exposed to the light. There will be no secrets or hidden motives. It's all going to come out eventually. And since we have been blessed with the light of Christ, and removed from the domain of darkness, there's no need for us to live in darkness any longer.

In fact, it's apparent from Paul's words that the early church used to sing about this very fact. He even quotes one of their songs when he says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Some believe this may have been a hymn the church used to sing when a new believer was being baptized.

Our calling is to walk in the light, not partner with the darkness. We're called to live the kind of life that we wouldn't feel ashamed to let others closely examine. We're called to be the same person in private that we appear to be when we're in front of others. And thankfully, through faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live in the light of Christ.

Are we living to please Jesus, or dying to please ourselves? Genuine faith is pleasing to the Lord, and faith that is genuine walks in the light of Christ, not the darkness of this world's empty promises.

© John Stange, 2021

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Mature Christians have a different way of doing things

I came across a video the other day of a man who recently found a notebook from his senior year of high school. He graduated more than 30 years ago, so it definitely was a glimpse into his life and mind during a drastically different season of life from where he is at right now.

When I started watching the video, I was pretty curious about what he was going to find as he started paging through it, but then he paused the footage and gave this warning; "When I wrote and drew what is on these pages, I was a much younger person. I was interested in crass and obnoxious things. I was fascinated with all kinds of vulgarity, and I want to warn you before you watch any further that if you don't find things like that funny, you definitely aren't going to enjoy what I'm about to show you." I took that as my cue to end the video there.

But that got me thinking about some of the things I was interested in and fascinated by during earlier seasons of my life. Have you ever stopped to analyze how your interests, priorities, and goals have been changing over time? Do the things you were interested in during elementary school still matter to you now? Does the kind of humor you enjoyed in high school still seem funny? Do the goals you pursued in your 20's still motivate you? Are you serving in the kind of career you daydreamed about in college?

My guess is that some, if not most of those questions can highlight noticeable differences between your earlier years and present day. If we're healthy and we're growing, we're also going to develop wisdom and maturity. Over time, that's what we experience socially and relationally, but that's particularly important when we're talking about our spiritual development as well.

In Ephesians 4:17-32, Paul paints a valuable picture of spiritual maturity and the many ways a believer in Christ thinks, functions, and interacts differently from the unbelieving world.

I. We think differently

““Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.  They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.  But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” ”

— Ephesians 4:17-24

Have you ever gone through a season of life that was so difficult and so draining that you said, "I don't have any idea how I would have gotten through this without the Lord's help." The longer I have known the Lord, the more I find myself wondering about that very thing when it comes to some of my unbelieving friends. I wonder what they're telling themselves when they go through dark and challenging seasons. I wonder if they're trying to see beyond those moments or if they're ignoring their pain because they can't see beyond it.

When someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ, their entire life changes. They aren't who they once were. They become a new creation in Christ, with new priorities, a new perspective, and a greater hope. At one time, they may have lived their life consumed with the priorities of this world and the limited thinking that goes along with that, but now they have the mind of Christ and can see with the eyes of God.

Paul tells us that a mature Christian isn't to continue thinking like an unbeliever. In this passage, he describes an unbeliever's thinking as futile, darkened, ignorant, and hardened. He explains that that leads to callousness, sensuality, greed, and impurity. Basically, he saying that a dark way of thinking will lead to a dark way of living, and the ultimate outcome will be destructive instead of productive.

But believers in Christ don't need to fall into that pattern of thinking any longer. We have become enlightened to the liberating truth of the gospel. We have been empowered to put off the garment of our old desires, and to put on our new self which has been renewed through Jesus. In Christ, we're granted a deeper level of understanding, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we're enabled to walk in righteousness and holiness.

Isn't it such a relief to be graced with the divinely empowered ability to see things differently? Sometimes, it feels like you're able to see right through the deceptive promises of this world. The Spirit of God is opening our eyes and our minds to value what He values, and to respond like He responds when the challenges and temptations of this world are presented before us.

II. We function differently

““Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” ”

— Ephesians 4:25-28

One afternoon in 10th grade, I walked into our Biology class and discovered a surprise that very much caught my attention. In the display case that faced the outside hallway, there was a tarantula inside a plastic aquarium. Normally, that display case was locked, but on this day, it wasn't. I don't know where our teacher was, but she wasn't in the classroom when I arrived. The only people there were several of my friends who also arrived early for class.

As soon as I put two and two together, they could see a flash of light in my eyes and a smirk on my face. I knew this was going to be the perfect opportunity to release that tarantula in the school, and I knew my friends wouldn't snitch on me after I did it. A year earlier, I did something similar in another science classroom with a fish that I took out of a tank, so they had no doubt about what was going to happen next.

I slid open the door to the display case and picked up the little aquarium. Then I popped open the lid and prepared to shake the spider onto the floor. But then I paused. Several months earlier, I had asked the Lord to help me grow mature in my faith, and I could hear His voice in my conscience saying, "Don't do it." So I lowered the lid, put the aquarium back, closed the display, and took a seat. I can still remember one of my friends saying, "What happened to you? You've changed. The old John Stange would have done that." He was 100% right, but I wasn't the old John Stange any more.

A mature Christian functions differently in this world. As the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and grips our conscience, we begin to treat each other differently, we stop giving the devil opportunities to deceive us, and we start thinking more about how our actions are going to impact the lives of other people.

Paul gives three examples of how this typically plays out in the life of a growing believer.

• 1. We speak truth instead of falsehood.

• 2. We don't hold onto our anger and allow it to become bitterness.

• 3. We stop stealing and become honest workers who look for opportunities to share our blessings.

If we truly trust in Jesus as our Lord, and sincerely yield our lives over to the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, I believe this is going to be the kind of fruit we'll begin to see. Our manner of speaking will change. Our desire to forgive will grow, and our drive to generously bless others will be noticeably heightened. It's all evidence that through Christ, we've been given a new way of doing things.

III. We interact differently

““Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” ”

— Ephesians 4:29-32

One of the most powerful demonstrations we possess of the power of Christ, is the way in which He has enabled and inspired us to interact differently. In many ways, that will be displayed in the ways in which we speak. I think about that specific concept frequently.

It has become obvious to me that the primary way the Lord has been opening doors for me to serve other people is through a microphone and a keyboard. I preach, teach, write, record, counsel, and pray. So when I read this passage of Scripture, my eyes are drawn to the invitation to "give grace to those who hear." That's precisely what's motivating me. As I have received the grace of Jesus, I want to generously share His grace through the words that come out of my mouth.

I look at it this way, I can either glorify the Lord with my words and the ways in which I interact with people, or I can grieve His Spirit. Glorify or grieve. Those are my options. I'm choosing to glorify.

Does it surprise you to think that you can grieve the Holy Spirit? I think many people tend to think of God as unemotional and unfeeling, but that doesn't make sense. He created us in His image, and if I speak disrespectfully to someone, or fail to treat them with kindness, what kind of emotional response would they be likely to give? It's usually a response that demonstrates that their heart has been grieved. So in this passage, Paul is attempting to speak to us on an emotional level. He wants us to see the heart and face of God in our interactions with others. I need to know if the way I speak to and interact with others is bringing a smile to God's face, or if I'm grieving His heart.

And what sense does it make for a believer in Christ to grieve the same Spirit with which we've been "sealed?" What does it mean to be sealed by the Spirit? All believers are protected and preserved by the Spirit of God during this time while we await the day of our ultimate redemption and eternal glorification. He is actively working in our lives to see us through to the end. His presence in our lives certifies and confirms that we belong to God and are part of God's family. As part of that family, I don't want to misrepresent the head of the family, nor do I want to give our spiritual family a bad name by living like my father might actually be the evil one. It reminds me of what Jesus said in John 8:42-44...

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.  Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.””

— John 8:42-44

All that to say, mature Christians have a drastically different way of doing things. Through faith in Jesus Christ, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we think, function, and interact in a brand new way. Let's embrace that truth, and continue to press on toward spiritual maturity and a deeper faith in Jesus.

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© John Stange, 2021

You have a ministry. Have you discovered what it is?

In addition to my role as a local church pastor, I also serve as the director of a mission board that plants and revitalizes churches throughout the United States. We're currently working to establish eight different churches, and it looks like we may be starting a ninth sometime soon.

Until someone attempts to plant a church, they usually don't understand the emotional cost it will require to get it established and help it grow. I have a monthly meeting with our church planters because they frequently struggle with feelings of loneliness and isolation. During the early days of their work, they are often forced to wear multiple hats and serve in ways they don't really feel equipped to serve, but because they don't have an established congregation or a long-term team of volunteers, most responsibilities fall on their shoulders.

That can be tolerated for a short season, but if it continues for longer than it should, it results in burn-out, exhaustion, and discouragement. So one of our goals as a board is to assist our planters when it comes to organizing their newly established churches, showing them how to develop additional leaders, and helping them develop ministry teams to assist with the work.

In general, churches that prioritize leadership development and a team approach to ministry tend to thrive, while churches that place too many ministry responsibilities on the shoulders of too few people, tend to struggle and decline.

In Ephesians 4:7-16, Paul explains the ways in which Christ has equipped all believers to find a role of service in the church. Investing ourselves in that role of service benefits all believers. It contributes to the maturity of our own faith, and fosters the maturity of others as well.

I. All believers have received a gift of grace

“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,    and he gave gifts to men.”

(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  ”

— Ephesians 4:7-10

Something I have discovered over the course of my life is that one of the most enjoyable ways to use your blessings is to shower them upon others. When we use what the Lord has blessed us with to be a blessing to someone else, we get a small taste of how He feels when He extends His generosity toward us.

According to Scripture, all believers have been blessed in Christ. We've been given the generous gift of His grace, and as we see this concept developed in the coming verses, we'll see that this means we've been spiritually equipped with God-given abilities to serve each other.

Paul describes these gifts being distributed like a king returning back from a battle and sharing the spoils of war with those who are united to him. He quotes from Psalm 68:18 to make his point, and he gives us a picture of the ongoing benefits of the victory Jesus secured.

Jesus came to this earth, conquered the foes of sin, Satan, and death, then He ascended above all the heavens with power and authority over all creation. In the meantime, He desires to see His church built on this earth, so He supplies all believers with the gifts that are necessary to make that happen.

That's an important thing to notice, especially if you're a new believer who doesn't yet understand your role, or if you have a behind-the-scenes personality that might mistakenly think the only ways to serve in the church are from a stage or a pulpit. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, there's a ministry you have been specifically equipped to do. That statement is true of every single believer, so why does it seem like a minority of believers are willing to answer their calling to serve?

II. We're called to use this gift to build one another up

““And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,””

— Ephesians 4:11-12

Recently, while my family was away on vacation, we asked a young man from our church family if he would be willing to preach in my place. He agreed, and he did an excellent job. He has experience teaching, but this was the first time he ever delivered a sermon. I don't think most people realized that though because he was clearly doing the type of thing the Lord had equipped him to do as he preached.

A few days later, during our mid-week Bible study, I asked people if they would be willing to give him helpful feedback on his message and delivery. The feedback was very encouraging and helpful, and several people expressed surprise to learn that preaching wasn't something he was doing regularly.

I was grateful for that moment, because in my mind, this is a great example of how the church is called to operate. We're called to value each others' gifts and give each other opportunities to put those gifts into practice. I believe the Lord is also glorified when we express our thankfulness for how these gifts are used, and testify to how we were blessed in the usage.

Because the Lord loves the church and wants it to be healthy, He calls us and equips is in multiple ways. Our areas of service vary, and our roles of leadership differ. Look at the variety of leadership roles Paul mentions in this passage. Christ called some of the early church leaders to serve as apostles of the faith. He called others to operate in a prophetic role and gave them the ability to foretell future events or speak in a way that would directly impact the conscience of the hearers. Christ has also called people to serve in evangelistic roles, pastoral roles, and teaching roles.

When leadership is shared, the entire church benefits. When leadership is concentrated in just one or two people, many important gifts go unused. That's why in our church we're continuing to develop our teams of elders and ministry directors, while encouraging them to develop teams that serve alongside them. If we ignore this responsibility, we won't enjoy many of the benefits that are described in this chapter of Ephesians.

III. Using our gifts contributes to maturity in the church

““until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.””

— Ephesians 4:13-14

In your opinion, what does maturity look like?

Recently, while our family was renting a cabin, we heard a whimpering sound at the front door. When we opened the door, a small beagle puppy came bounding inside. It took two laps around the cabin, then jumped up onto the couch with me, leaned her head against my side, then took a nap. When she woke back up, she was thrilled to get a considerable amount of attention from our family. In her excitement, she ran out to the garbage can, took a box out of the trash and started chewing on it. Then she jumped on top of an end table, knocked my wife's coffee over, then jumped back down on the floor and started pulling up the carpet with her teeth.

That beagle was cute, but it certainly wasn't mature. It needed to be taught, trained, disciplined, and loved. And in my estimation, there are still many Christians, of all ages, that seem to have the spiritual maturity of that puppy. They're cute, cuddly, and fun, but they really need some discipline, structure, and guidance.

Many believers don't know the Scriptures. Why is that? Because they don't care enough to learn them. It's really that simple. And in the absence of biblical knowledge, they're easily led astray by worldly beliefs, false doctrines, and the schemes of the evil one. Don't let that be you.

Use your spiritual gifts and let others use theirs in your life. Walk by faith in Jesus. Commit His word to memory, and grow mature in your walk with Him. There are few things as sad as someone who has claimed to know Jesus for decades, but still has an untrained, unstructured, undisciplined faith like a spiritual puppy. It stops being cute once you have to replace the carpet.

IV. We are being built up in the love of Christ

““Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.””

— Ephesians 4:15-16

As Paul concludes these verses, he does so with a challenge to speak to one another in love. But please notice what we're called to speak to one another. We're called to speak the truth. If we aren't speaking the truth, or if we're avoiding uncomfortable truths, we're not really benefitting one another like we've been called to.

In love, we can point out error. In love, we can challenge the wandering. In love, we can comfort the grieving. Because of our common faith in Christ, we are united to one another like one body, so let's do our part to contribute to each other's spiritual health.

Several years ago, a member of my extended family went through a very lean time financially. She was out of work, as was her husband. One evening, she stopped to put gas in her van, and just before she paid, a friend who was at the same gas station and knew her situation swiped his card and bought her a full tank of gas. He could have withheld that blessing, but he didn't.

Have you ever considered the fact that choosing not to use the gift of grace Christ has given you to serve your brothers and sisters in the church is the same as withholding your love? It's like having the ability to meet a need out of your abundance, but choosing to keep the gift for yourself.

For Christ's glory, and in view of His great love, let's use our gifts to build one another's faith. Let's grow mature together.

© John Stange, 2021

Challenging the myth of the starving pastor

A guest post from Les Hughes from EntrePastors.com …

The model we call church is broken and it’s time to fix it!

I was a boy the first time I saw the above print hanging on a wall over a kitchen table. I assumed the old man was a pastor. In the painting is a thick book, to me a Bible, some reading glasses, a bowl of soup, and a loaf of bread.

A simple meal.

I remember feeling a little guilty when I looked at the picture. I thought, “I have so much. That man has very little to eat, and he’s praying.” My young, immature mind associated scarcity with closeness to God. I made assumptions that weren’t necessarily based on reality, but now as an adult, I realize many others make those same assumptions, sometimes to their detriment.

So before we address the model of the starving pastor, let’s address the broader misconception that poverty is synonymous with godliness. Where did that idea come from?

Early in our nation’s history, as communities began to pop up across the heartland, so did churches. After all, religious liberty was one of the reasons the early settlers of our nation came to the New World. Since Americans lived in a more agrarian culture back then, pastors and their families experienced basically the same standard of living as other families in the community. People ate what they grew and shared with their neighbors, especially during lean seasons.

Then came the industrial revolution and things changed. Cities were built. Factories hired workers and guaranteed them certain wages. Our education system grew. New professions emerged, and people were able to scale their ability to produce wealth. Then some people used that wealth to make the world a better place.

Somewhere along the way, the accumulation of wealth and possessions became synonymous with worldliness and greed, especially among people in the church. That image of the old man and the simple meal, along with the attitude I had as a child when I saw it, is still pervasive among many in the Christian community. It’s time for that image and attitude to change.

One of the reasons Jon Sanders and I started EntrePastors is to blow up the model and stereotype of the starving pastor. The reasons are many:

• Additional and unnecessary stress that distracts the pastor from his primary calling to spread the gospel and make disciples.

• A lack of resources in the hands of very generous people (namely pastors and missionaries) who could support causes worthy of and in need of financial support.

• Adult kids of pastors and missionaries who struggle with their mindset around money.

• Resentment and bitterness by the pastor and family.

• Pastors who unwittingly sabotage their ministries as a way out, when other far more healthy options exist.

On average 1500 to 1800 pastors leave vocational ministry every month, and their departures are not always for healthy reasons.

Pastors leave vocational ministry for a variety of reasons, but we’d like to take one of those reasons off the table – a lack of money.

Here are just a few reasons it’s a good thing for a pastor to have financial freedom?

• It eliminates financial stress and pressure on his family.

• It allows for necessary periods of rest and relaxation. (It’s hard to get away when you have no resources.)

• It allows the pastor to focus on something he can control (another sources of income) instead of being dependent upon external factors he cannot control (giving, church budget, etc.)

• It provides the pastor freedom to boldly lead as God has called him to without fear of man. Proverbs 29:25 reads, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

• It’s impossible to serve out of an empty cup.

What would be possible 12-18 months from now if your income was doubled or tripled?

What if the only thing holding you back from experiencing that reality is a shift in your mindset and a few bold steps of action?

So what are some healthy ways to consider this important issue? Well, as always we should look to Scripture as our guide.

In Jesus’ parable of talents, the Lord taught that God has not gifted everyone equally. And not only is God OK with you maximizing your life based on the tools he’s given you. He actually expects you to.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 reads, “Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.”

What if God were to give you the capacity to do more than you’re currently doing, such as reaching a broader audience; speaking with a louder voice; or building a larger platform?

Paul wrote, The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (I Timothy 5:17-18).

The above verses are sometimes used to encourage the church to faithfully take care of and provide for the pastor or teaching elder; but what if there’s another application? What if Paul was also saying not to muzzle the ox (hinder the pastor) who’s out there using his God-given skills and gifts to provide for his family and increase his income to advance the work of the kingdom?

But wait a second; didn’t’ Paul also write, “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit” (2 Cor. 2:17). This can be a troubling statement; but it’s also sort of vague. What does it mean to “peddle the word of God for profit”? Were they changing the message so they would be financially rewarded? Or were they faithfully preaching the word while also demanding payment? Paul’s statement a few verses later gives us a clue: “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (4:2). If that sheds light on 2:17 then peddling the word of God for profit means distorting it for a financial reward. And Paul makes a distinction between his practice and their practice.

The bottom line for Paul seems to be that by working and sort of eating what he killed, he created open doors for the gospel. He gave himself the opportunity to befriend fellow tradesmen, share the gospel with them, and create a professional network. And this professional network would have provided him with the necessary introductions to begin working in new cities.

The reason we want to blow up the model of the starving pastor, and the reason we started EntrePastors for that matter, isn’t to talk anyone into leaving their calling or walk away from their church; on the contrary. We want to help pastors, missionaries, and others in vocational ministry to have the freedom to answer God’s call on their lives, regardless of how that decision affects their checking account.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have the boldness and freedom to do what God calls you today and have the financial freedom to know you can provide for your family?

It is possible, and there is a path for you.

If you need help in your journey, you’re in the right place. Feel free to reach out to John Stange, Jon Sanders, or myself. We’d love to help you.

If you’d like to reach out to me personally my email address is Les@entrepastors.com.

I’d love to hear from you.

For His Kingdom,
Les Hughes

Cultivating the ideal culture in the church

When I was in college, I spent my summers working at two Christian summer camps. I enjoyed working at them both, and those experiences taught me a lot about life, leadership, and the importance of hospitality.

At one of the camps, the director and his wife had a gift for hospitality. They knew that living in a cabin all summer might start to get old because of the lack of creature comforts, so they took a room in their house and turned it into a staff lounge, then they gave us permission to come and go as we pleased. It was immensely helpful and a nice way to rest up and regain strength on our breaks.

Showing hospitality and creating a loving culture matters more than we sometimes realize. It can help us gain rest. It can help us calm our thinking. It can even help us recover from our stresses, and contribute to our readiness to approach a new day or a new week.

That's one of the ways the church I grew up in often ministered to me as a child. When it felt like there were many stresses and points of chaos in the other areas of my life, I always knew Sunday morning was coming when I could worship together with my church family and stop dwelling on the things that tended to wear me out.

Even still, I'm so grateful for the fact that my week starts with worship among people who demonstrate the love of Christ in so many ways.

The culture we facilitate in the local church can either reflect the heart of Christ, or it can discourage people from getting to know Him in a deeper way. What then does it look like for the church to cultivate the ideal culture among those who are part of it? In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul explains some key facets of the healthy, joyous, and loving culture Jesus wants to see exhibited in the church.

I. Begin by paying attention to your own walk

“ “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,””

— Ephesians 4:1

Several years ago, I was walking with a friend of mine who is about 20 years older than me. He's a pastor and a real storyteller, and as he was talking, he stopped paying attention to where he was walking. There was an edge to the sidewalk that was rather steep, and unfortunately, he stepped off the edge. Amazingly, he caught his balance and didn't break an ankle, but that could have ended much worse.

In Scripture, there are frequent challenges given to us to watch how we're walking. That's another way of encouraging us to keep an eye on how we're living our lives. We will either be devoted to Jesus and walking on the narrow path that leads to life, or we will take our eyes off Him and begin drifting down the wide path of this world that leads to destruction.

As Paul was writing this letter to the church, he wanted them to understand how the church operates when it's healthy, and that starts with the individual members paying close attention to their own walk. In life, it can be much easier to pay attention to the errors and missteps of others while overlooking areas of concern in our own lives. But as believers in Christ, we're being called to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

Paul was a credible witness whose instruction in this area was worth listening to. He reminds his readers in this passage that he was a prisoner. I'm sure the Roman government would have called Paul their prisoner, but that's not how he described his imprisonment. Paul called himself, "a prisoner for the Lord." For Christ's glory and in service to Christ's bride, the church, Paul was willing to be unjustly imprisoned because of his willingness to preach the gospel.

When I think about the things he was enduring, it forces me to ask myself, "Are you willing to live out your faith clearly and openly, even in a hostile environment, that might result in your suffering, discomfort, or imprisonment. Many people would not, but I want to be someone who is willing to.

I saw an example of this recently. Right now, there are plenty of places in this world where hosting a worship service is considered illegal and pastors who dare to do so are being arrested. The willingness of these men to experience incarceration for leading their churches stands out to me in a powerful way.

Are we paying close attention to our walk with Christ? If that walk gets tested, are we willing to keep putting one foot in front of the other and press forward? A healthy church is made up of Christians who are willing to walk the walk.

II. Show your church family that you value them

““with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” ”

— Ephesians 4:2

Last week was a week that was filled with interesting conversations. I spoke with new friends, old friends, and some people that I admire. In the midst of those conversations, there are several moments I can point to when the person I was speaking with made a point to demonstrate that they valued me. Typically, that was done by offering an encouraging word, but that's only one of the ways we can demonstrate the fact that we value one another.

Admittedly, there are many people in this world who care much more about themselves than they care about anyone else in their life, and they probably don't spend much time thinking about what they can offer someone else or how they can be a blessing to the people God has placed in their life.

But that should never be the case within the church. The church is made up of all kinds of people. Every personality type and every personal sensitivity is represented in the church. God has structured His church this way on purpose in order to teach us patience. He's also doing this to create a context in which we can make up for each others' weaknesses and teach us that we can never say that we don't need each other.

Showing love and forbearance toward those who are different from us isn't always an easy thing to do, however. Yet that's exactly what Christ has done for us, and precisely what He calls us to do for one another. As the Spirit spoke through Paul's words, the church was challenged to demonstrate humility, gentleness, and patience toward each brother and sister in Christ. We're called to bear with one another in love, not because it's easy, but because it reflects the heart of Christ who chose to treat us the very same way. And as we bear with one another in love, and show one another that we're valued, we'll help foster a healthy church culture.

III. Don't let petty arguments cause division

“ “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.””

— Ephesians 4:3

I was talking with a few musicians last week, and I asked them how they developed such a deep interest in creating music. They explained to me that nearly everyone in their immediate and extended family played an instrument, and every time their family got together while they were growing up, they made music and sang. I joked with them that every time my family got together when I was growing up, we complained. Then I asked, "That's a form of singing, isn't it?"

We have been united as one body by the Holy Spirit. He wants us to make music together as a family and lift up our praises with one voice. He empowers us to maintain the unity and peace He initiated among us in the first place. Petty arguments and selfish ambition shouldn't come between believers who have been bound together by the Spirit.

How many arguments have you ever engaged in over the course of your life that were actually about something important? The truth is that in life, in marriage, and in the church, most arguments are over issues that have no eternal significance, but the devil is happy to use these petty things to divide believers who were previously living in peace.

We're invited to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. Not eager to divide, but eager to come together. Eager to walk in the Spirit and not be outwitted by the evil one.

IV. Reflect the heart of God and the plan of God in how you function as a family

“ “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.””

— Ephesians 4:4-6

There are two perspectives toward unity that I frequently hear discussed. One perspective teaches a form of unity at the cost of truth, while the other teaches that true unity can only be obtained when it's anchored in truth.

In these verses, Paul speaks of the great theological truths that our unity is anchored in, and he repeatedly uses the word "one" to drive that point home.

• There is one body, not many bodies. This is his way of saying that in the eyes of God, there is one church, not many splintered churches.

• There is one Holy Spirit who lives within all believers and binds us to one another.

• There is one hope, the hope of the gospel. Our singular hope is in Jesus Christ through whom true life is found.

• There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, and one faith of which He is the cornerstone.

• There is one baptism. At the moment of our salvation, we are spiritually baptized by the Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:13) Water baptism is the outward picture of the baptism referenced here.

• There is one God and Father over, through, and in all believers.

Our God is a God of order, and He desires that we, His children, reflect both His heart and His plan as we function together as family. The unity that we're blessed with isn't a shallow unity that overlooks glaring issues. It's a unity that acknowledges the nature of God, the purpose of the church, and the manner in which the Lord has designed His body to operate. When a family is united, it's powerful, and it gets things done.

A few months ago, I got a call from one of my sons. He said, "Dad, I'm on the side of the road and I'm not sure what to do. My car stopped running and I'm stuck." Once he described where he was, I sent a tow truck. It arrived quickly, and brought him and his car back to our house. Based on what the car did, I realized his alternator called it quits, so I called my other son and said, "I'm in the process of getting your brother's car towed home, would you be willing to pick up an alternator for him and help him install it."

Within three hours of that car breaking down, it was up and running again. My son said to me later that night, "That right there is a great example of the power of family. I was stuck on the side of the road, and within minutes you guys sprung into action, got my car back home, picked up the parts I needed, and repaired it. All I had to do to get that in motion was make a phone call."

In a very real way, I think that's a picture of what the Lord wants to see taking place in the church. We call on Him, He unites us as family, we share a common hope, and aim toward a common objective. We take breaks from our own concerns to meet one another's needs, and we do so to give glory to Christ through whom we find salvation.

© John Stange, 2021

God will supply the strength that you need

At present, our family doesn't have any pets, but I'll admit that my attention is easily gripped by interesting animal videos that get shared online. Just this week, I was watching a video of a family that adopted five dogs, and all five dogs loved swimming in their backyard pool. It was a fun video to watch, and the happiness of the dogs made me feel happy.

A few weeks ago, I saw another video. It was a video of an elephant that got stuck in a ravine. As it tried to climb out, the walls of the ravine would crumble and cause the elephant to lose its footing. It tried over and over to escape, but couldn't, and it grew absolutely exhausted in the process.

Nearby, a construction crew happened to notice the elephant's plight and decided to help. They took a large excavator and began carving out one side of the ravine so it could function like a set of stairs. The elephant seemed to understand that the men were trying to help, and she made a few additional attempts to get out, but she was so worn out that even with their help, and even with better footing, she still struggled.

After many attempts, she started to make some progress, but then found herself losing her footing yet again and nearly giving up. That's when the man driving the excavator brought the digging arm of the machine behind the elephant and propped her in place so she could lean on it. Then, very gently, he nudged her further up the steep hill, and with his help, she finally made it to the top where she was out of danger and could reconnect with her herd.

Have you ever felt too weak for the challenges that you were facing? Have you ever come to the point when you realized you had exhausted your strength and were near giving up?

Without a doubt, we need strength to navigate life's trials and challenges, and I'm grateful to know that the Lord graciously offers His strength to His children. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul takes time to explain the fact that the Lord supplies the strength that we need in the ways we need it most.

I. Your greatest form of inner strength doesn't come from you

““For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith””

— Ephesians 3:14-17a

In the verses preceding this passage, Paul made it clear that he was in the midst of suffering. I don't get the impression that it was the worst suffering he had ever experienced, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. He remained in Rome under home confinement, at his own expense, waiting for a trial before the civic authorities. And even though Paul regularly welcomed visitors who came to Rome to visit him, I get the impression that he greatly missed the liberty he once enjoyed to travel freely.

But in the midst of this, Paul was confident that God had a purpose for what he was going through. He was also confident that he could bring his concerns to the Lord in prayer, and that's what Paul regularly chose to do. But Paul wasn't only praying for himself. Paul spent much of his time in prayer for the church in Ephesus and believers throughout the world.

When you're in a position of spiritual leadership like Paul was, you develop a great concern for the spiritual growth of those you're leading and influencing. You think of them often. You lift them up before the Lord. You ask God to intervene on their behalf, much like a loving parent prays for their children. Paul was doing that very thing for the believers he addressed this letter to. He asked the Lord to give them strength and make them strong.

I love how Paul made a point, not only to tell them that he was praying for their strength, but to articulate how that strength would be facilitated in their life. As believers in Christ, the Holy Spirit was living in them. Through Him, they would be granted the power they needed in this world.

“ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.””

— John 14:15-17

Paul wrote to the church to remind these believers that they would have the strength they needed, but that strength wouldn't find its source in them. Most of the humanistic philosophies I hear espoused in our day are trying to convince us that we have everything we need within us already. We don't. If we did, we wouldn't have needed Jesus to come and rescue us.

But we do have the privilege to welcome Jesus to dwell in our hearts through faith, just like Paul expresses. As Paul speaks of the heart, he's talking about the center of our emotions and will. If we welcome Christ to reign in that place, we'll see a demonstration of His power, and we'll become convinced that our greatest form of inner strength isn't actually coming from us. It's found in Him and revealed through Him.

II. It takes the strength of Christ to comprehend the love of Christ

““—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17b-19)”

— Ephesians 3:17b-19

During the course of my adult life, I have purchased four homes. Two were purchased as investment properties, and two were our primary residences. Only one of those four homes was in ideal condition when we bought it. The rest required a lot of work, inside and outside.

One of the homes had very large rhododendrons growing right next to the front foundation. They were very large and were poised to damage the house, so I decided to remove them. I cut all the branches off, dug around the trunks, then tried my best to remove the stumps by rocking them back and forth. But those things didn't want to budge. They were rooted too deeply. Nothing I did seemed to help. I got to the point where it felt like I might be spending the rest of my life trying to get them out of the ground, but eventually, I succeeded.

When you think about the nature of your life in Christ, how deeply rooted does it seem to be? How easy is it to make you budge? How connected are you to the love of Christ? Do you understand how significant His love really is?

Jesus loved us when we were still His enemies. Jesus loved us even though we vicariously participated in His crucifixion by making it necessary. Jesus loves us even though we're prone to rebellion. Jesus loves us even though there's nothing we can offer Him that He truly needs.

As our faith in Christ matures, our understanding of the nature of His love should be magnified. When we grow closer to Him, we start to realize just how far we really were from Him in the first place. As we grow in holiness, we start to realize just how entranced we were with our sin.

Paul was praying for believers to develop an understanding of the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love. But to understand the love of Christ, we need to be empowered by the strength of Christ. We're not strong enough or smart enough to "get it" with our own limited understanding. His strength is sufficient in our weakness.

And as we draw closer to Him in this manner, Paul speaks of us being "filled with all the fullness of God." He's speaking of living in such a way that we develop an appreciation for the fact that there is nothing lacking in our relationship with the Lord. When we have Jesus, we truly have all we need in this world.

Growing up, our family experienced a long stretch of poverty, so I used to think having a nice home, healthy finances, and cars that didn't constantly break down (in the center of town in front of my friends) would satisfy my heart. At this season of my life, the Lord has chosen to bless me with everything that I thought I was lacking during that season, and here's what I've learned; I'd rather have Jesus. Nothing else that I've ever obtained has satisfied me like He has. But I didn't come to that realization on my own. It has taken the strength of Christ to enable me to comprehend the nature of the love of Christ.

III. Get ready for God to exceed your expectations

““Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” ”

— Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20-21 marks the halfway point of Paul's letter. Up to this point, he's been explaining the "behind the scenes" activities of the Lord. In the second half of the book, he's going to demonstrate how we're supposed to live in response to everything God has done and is doing for us.

But here's what I know about my understanding of what God has done. He is able to do even more than I can wrap my mind around. He can do more than I could imagine in my most elaborate daydreams. And that makes me wonder if my prayers are far too small. I'm wondering if the Lord is waiting for me (and you) to begin praying with real faith, the kind of faith that isn't afraid to ask Him to do impossible things.

In all honesty, I think we frequently come to God with really safe and sanitized prayers. We ask for His intervention in ways that seem to indicate that we're not really confident He's going to act on our behalf. But God is able to do far beyond what we've ever asked Him to do. He can save the most distant person. He can correct societal problems. He can fix the most messed up situations. In fact, He promises to restore the entire creation and rule and reign here in the most personal way with perfect benevolence.

As we trust in Jesus, and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, please keep in mind that the same power that will one day restore this entire creation is already at work within us and accessible to us. That's not a statement about a future reality. That's a fact about our present reality, right now!

I became a pastor nearly 25 years ago, and most every day of my life since that time has allowed me to speak with brothers and sisters in Christ who are experiencing trials and struggles of all kinds, some of their own making and some completely out of their control. More often than not, they have also expressed the opinion that they were powerless to do anything about their struggles. They felt powerless to overcome temptation, despair, conflict, sorrow, or fear.

But we haven't been left powerless in this world, so let's start preaching a message to our hearts that lines up with the word of God more accurately. And let's get ready for God to start exceeding our expectations.

The Father will supply the strength you require. In fact, He already has through the Son and the Spirit. You have what you need, but it didn't come from you.

As Paul was praying for the early believers to walk in the strength of Christ, let's join him in that prayer by praying the very same thing for ourselves and one another.

© John Stange, 2021

What was hidden will be made known

I have been known to play jokes on my family. It's not the most mature aspect of my personality, and to be honest, it's a little hypocritical because I don't usually enjoy when people play jokes on me, but I guess it is what it is.

At this point, three of my four children are drivers and they own their own cars. When they bought their vehicles, I asked them to give me a copy of the keys, knowing it was highly likely that would come in handy. It has more times than I can remember.

But one particular afternoon, I took advantage of the fact that I had keys to my oldest daughter's car. I happened to notice it parked in a shopping center in the middle of town, so I pulled into the parking lot, unlocked her car, started it up, then moved it to a completely different location. After that, I sat in my car for a few minutes to watch her reaction when she came outside.

I know it doesn't make me sound like a very mature parent to admit that I giggled for a couple minutes as I watched her walk around the lot, confused, trying to locate her car while questioning her own judgment and sanity. When the joke had gone on long enough, I emerged from my car and solved the mystery for her by telling her what I had done. Thankfully, she's a good sport (a much better sport than I think I would have been).

Ephesians 3:1-13 tells us about a prophetic mystery that was kept hidden for many generations until God chose to make it known. It's a mystery that directly benefits every man or woman who is part of the church through faith in Jesus Christ.

I. We've been granted spiritual insight

““For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” ”

— Ephesians 3:1-6

As Paul was writing this spiritually rich letter, please remember where he was. He was in the midst of a multiple year home confinement in Rome. There are certainly worse forms of imprisonment than that, but I'm confident that was miserable at times for Paul to endure. Yet he had a clear understanding why he was called to endure this. This was the result of his willingness to make the gospel known in the midst of a hostile, unbelieving culture. Paul was willing to endure this because of his love for Jesus and his calling to spread the gospel.

Clearly, one of the major reasons the Lord allowed Paul to experience imprisonment was to give him ample time to pause from his labors so he could write many of the letters that are included in the New Testament. As the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to pen these letters, he took the opportunity to explain deeper-level theology to the church.

In this passage in particular, Paul speaks of a mystery that he was shown by divine revelation. When he speaks of a mystery, he's talking about something that wasn't made known in the past. This was information that God was waiting to reveal at a later time.

The mystery that the Lord revealed to Paul was that Gentiles who came to faith in Jesus would be united to the Jews who believed in Jesus into one body called the church. Together, both would share the same inheritance and become joint partakers of the promises given to us by Jesus through His gospel. In the Old Testament, there are references to the fact that the day was coming when Gentiles would believe in the Lord, but it wasn't yet revealed that Jews and Gentiles would be united as one body.

When was this revelation given to Paul? Scripture gives us multiple examples of Paul's interactions with Jesus after His resurrection. We see their first interaction in Acts 9 when Jesus appears to Paul on the road to Damascus. We also see a direct reference to Paul being told these things in Galatians 1:12.

““For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.””

— Galatians 1:12

And amazingly, you and I are blessed with spiritual insight into these things by reading the words Paul wrote down, and coming to embrace these concepts as the Holy Spirit helps us to understand them. What a blessing it is to be able to comprehend ideas that even the ancient prophets weren't made aware of. And not only can we comprehend these things, we can also live them out. These are promises and blessings that directly pertain to God's relationship with us!

II. Grace is given to seemingly unlikely candidates

“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,””

— Ephesians 3:7-9

The pastor of the church I grew up in has been serving there for quite a while now. In fact, I helped him move into his house a week before I graduated from high school. One of the stories he frequently tells is the story of how he came to faith in Jesus.

As a young man, he wasn't doing so well. He looked like a pretty rough guy, he was doing a lot of drugs, and he wasn't the kind of person that people found easy to trust, but he was looking for work. One of the men in a local church suggested that they hire him to be the custodian. There were some people that disagreed, but enough of the board agreed to give him a shot, so they hired him. (Ironically, his future wife's parents made the comment about him that if there was ever someone they didn't want their daughter to marry, it was him).

In time, while working at that church, he was introduced to the gospel and he came to faith in Jesus Christ. Soon after, he enrolled in Bible college and seminary, showed a strong aptitude for understanding Scripture and theology, and eventually was called into the pastorate where he's been successfully serving ever since. Many people would have thought that was highly unlikely just a few years earlier.

When you take a look at Paul's early life, the years he spent hating Jesus and persecuting the early church, he would have been the first to admit that he too seemed like the least likely person to come to faith in Jesus, then give the rest of his life to serving the church and making the gospel known. But that's exactly what the Lord did for Paul. Paul was given new life through Christ, and he made great use of that blessing.

Paul was made a minister of God's grace. The power of God was demonstrated in miraculous ways through his life. Paul was empowered and given opportunity to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the unbelieving world, and the Lord used him as a light in the midst of darkness. God spoke through Paul to make His plan for humanity known.

This is a good portion of Scripture to revisit from time to time, especially if you tend to think of yourself as an unlikely candidate for God to do something special through. But God delights to show His grace to unlikely candidates, and if you're willing to entrust your life over to Him, get ready to experience some amazing surprises when He shows you what He plans to do with it.

III. The wisdom of God is demonstrated through the church

““so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” ”

— Ephesians 3:10

It's exciting to see God work, but keep in mind, we aren't the only ones watching what He's doing. Just like we're learning and growing in our understanding, so are spiritual beings. Only God is omniscient. That means humans, angels, and demons are not. So when God reveals spiritual mysteries, He's not only revealing them to us. Those things are also being revealed to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Isn't it amazing to think that angels are observing the miraculous work God is doing in and through the church, and they're marveling at it? They're learning something new when they watch God take rebels like us and make us family. They're being given new reasons to praise Jesus when they see Jews and Gentiles being united into one body, the church.

Let's make this even more personal. God is demonstrating His power and wisdom to the spiritual realm through your life and what He's doing in it. Has that ever occurred to you?

IV. Let your faith in Christ produce boldness in your life

““This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.” ”

— Ephesians 3:11-13

In Christ, we are rescued, redeemed, and granted new life that is both abundant and eternal. From eternity past, it has always been the Father's intention to accomplish these things through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Christ, we're also given confident access to the Father's throne. We can come before Him boldly, knowing that we're welcomed into His presence because we're dearly loved. When He looks at us, He sees His Son living within us.

As Paul was writing these things, he was rejoicing in the midst of his suffering. It most certainly was unpleasant for him to be imprisoned, but even that didn't stop him from being a bold witness for Christ in his generation.

My youngest daughter, a high school sophomore, made me proud the other day. One of her teachers is a believer in Christ, and he doesn't make that a secret. He has also come to know that Julia follows Jesus, but he made a point recently to tell her that he will be careful not to call her out or make a big deal about that in front of her classmates. I really appreciated her reply, however, because she said, "I don't care if you do call me out about my faith in Jesus. You're always welcome to do that. I'm not keeping it a secret."

If you're grateful that the Lord allows you to be bold when you approach His throne in prayer, what would it look like for that same boldness of faith to begin showing up in the rest of your life? Will you be bold with your witness? Will you endure critique? Are you working harder at keeping your faith a secret than you are at making it known?

If ever there was a time when this world needed some bold witnesses for Christ, now is that time. And if you want to know what I really think, I believe the church is about to experience a time of testing when the nature of our faith will become apparent. It will be shown for what it is. Some will fall away, demonstrating the shallow or non-existent nature of their faith in Christ, while others will experience testing and refinement just like Paul experienced.

Do you feel worried or do you feel ready?

It's time to get ready because what was hidden is about to be made known. May Christ be glorified in our bold proclamation of the mystery He has now revealed.

© John Stange, 2021

You don't need to be alienated. You aren't alone.

Prior to becoming a pastor, I used to daydream a lot about what my life would be like when I was actively pastoring a church. I wondered where I would serve and what kind of context I would serve in. I also wondered if I would lead a church in a traditional sense or if I might become more directly involved in church planting. By God's grace, He has allowed me to do both, and I'm truly grateful for the amazing things He has allowed me to witness in the process.

Several years ago, a church about 30 minutes away from where we live closed down. The building was turned over to us and we were given the opportunity to attempt to plant a new church in the location. The building needed lots of repair, and we also needed to find long-term leadership to serve there once we got it going. That process is still underway, but I'm grateful for some of the things the Lord has already done in that location.

One of the greatest blessings we've experienced there has been to see what the Lord is doing in the life of a woman named Beth. Beth has lived in the town for decades, and just before we opened the church, her husband passed away at a relatively young age. Beth's background is Jewish, and she could sense that in the midst of her grief, she really needed the presence of God in her life. When she heard that the church was opening up in town, she decided to come and visit to see what it was all about.

Soon after, Beth came to faith in Jesus. She has come to trust in Him as her Messiah and Lord. Her faith is still new, and there's a lot of things she's currently attempting to learn about Scripture, but recently she asked me to clarify some details about what the Bible teaches regarding God's plan for the Jewish people. It was a fascinating discussion, and one of the books of the New Testament that I encouraged her to read was Ephesians because it teaches us how God desires to unite Jews who believe in Jesus and Gentiles who believe in Jesus into one new body, the church.

The portion of Scripture we're looking at today emphasizes that union. It also demonstrates that God has not called us to live our lives spiritually alone, or spiritually alienated from Him and His promises.

I. Jesus invites us to be near to Him

““Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” ”

— Ephesians 2:11-13

Have you ever felt insulted or put down? How does it make you feel? How does it impact the nature of your relationships with those who choose to do that? Recently, it started to become obvious to me that a friend of mine has a bad habit of doing that. I still consider him a friend, but his humor mainly consists of put downs, and he usually focuses on appearance or physical characteristics. I know enough psychology to realize that most likely means he's feeling insecure about these traits himself, but I definitely don't appreciate the things he jokes about.

In this portion of Scripture, Paul begins by reminding his readers of an insult or put-down that they were familiar with. In that era, it was an insult for a Gentile to be referred to as "uncircumcised" by a Jewish person. Physically speaking, it may have been accurate, but it was meant to demean more so than to describe. It was a way for a Jewish person to say, "You are obviously outside of the covenental blessings of God and I think of you as an unclean person. You are not part of our fellowship You are excluded."

“And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?””

— 1 Samuel 17:26

Paul, a man who grew up Jewish, used that as an example to the early believers who weren't Jewish by birth to illustrate something special Jesus has done for those who were once spiritually ostracized. It's true that the Gentiles were once separated from Christ, alienated from God, unfamiliar with the promises of God, and without hope in this world. But Jesus came to fix all of that.

When Christ gave His life and shed His blood on the cross, He atoned for the sins of all who trust in Him, regardless of their ethnic background. His blood cleanses Jews who trust in Him and Gentiles who do so. And He gives us a new identity in Him as He draws us unto Himself. We who were once distant from Him are invited to come near to Him.

As you examine your heart, are you convinced that Jesus is near to you and that He welcomes you into His presence?

II. Jesus is offering us peace through Him

“ “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”  ”

— Ephesians 2:14-18

When I was in high school, I distinctly remember the Berlin Wall in Germany being torn down. I remember how excited people were to see East and West Germany united together again. And even though those events were taking place in a different culture from our own, many patriotic Americans celebrated this union because it also offered visible evidence that communism was collapsing as well.

During the era of the Cold War, there was considerable hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union collapsed, that hostility lessened, at least to a degree. But if you want to see an example of hostility that has existed for many centuries, just look at the historical interactions between the Gentile nations and the Jewish people. It isn't pretty. When you look into the history of what has taken place, there are some dark and murderous examples of how that division was acted upon.

But Jesus came to tear down that wall of hostility and offer us peace through Him. Scripture tells us that Jesus came to fulfill the righteous requirements of the Old Testament law, and then make peace between Jews and Gentiles by uniting us into one body, the church.

As Jesus was crucified and His arms were stretched out on that cross, you can say that in a sense, one arm was reaching into the past toward the Jewish people whom the covenants were given to and the prophets were sent to, and one arm was reaching into the future toward the Gentiles who were also being invited to become part of the family of God.

In His sacrificial death, Jesus was seeking to reconcile us. To reconcile means to take something that's far away and bring it near. Through Jesus, we who were distant from God are brought near to Him and made part of His family. And as He offers that kind of reconciliation for Jews and Gentiles at the same time, what He's also doing is granting us the opportunity to be reconciled to each other as well. In His work on the cross, Jesus tore down the dividing wall of hostility, and we don't need to live with that kind of animosity toward one another any longer.

And as Jesus offers us this kind of spiritual reconciliation, don't forget that this is meant to be lived out in our daily lives as well. We live as men and women who are confident that we're welcomed into the presence of God, and we're also called to demonstrate that same kind of reconciliation toward the people God has placed in our lives. Who are you living at a distance from that the Lord might be impressing upon your heart to reconcile with?

III. The Holy Spirit is building up those who are united to Jesus

“ “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” ”

— Ephesians 2:19-22

Many people know that I'm a big music fan. I enjoy just about all genres, and one of the heavier sounding bands that I've been enjoying for a long time is a group called Skillet. A few months ago, I had the privilege to meet John Cooper, the lead singer, and our conversation went so well that he invited my family to hang out with the band prior to one of the their concerts. We were strangers, but now I consider him a friend.

And on a deeper level, isn't it a relief to know that through Christ, we are friends of God? Isn't it a relief to know that we aren't considered strangers or aliens to the kingdom of God? Through Jesus, we have been given citizenship in God's kingdom and we've been made members of His own household.

As men and women who are united to Christ, we're also being invested in. The Holy Spirit is actively building us up. The ministry He accomplished through the lives and the teaching of the apostles and the prophets is having an impact on our present day growth. And all believers, regardless of background or heritage, are being built into a holy temple where the presence of God is dwelling. Jesus is the cornerstone of this temple.

When you look at many buildings, you'll find a cornerstone, and the date of the building's construction is often etched into it.

““In relation to architecture, a cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid for a structure, with all other stones laid in reference. A cornerstone marks the geographical location by orienting a building in a specific direction.” ”

— https://www.newstudioarchitecture.com/newstudio-blog/architectural-cornerstones

How perfectly fitting is it that Paul refers to Jesus as the cornerstone of our faith. As the church is built, one life at a time, one living stone at a time, we're being pointed toward Jesus, and all aspects of our lives are to be lived in reference to Him and in reverence for Him.

It takes time, patience, and a lot of work to build a building or to build a life. Some people spend their lives like wrecking balls or arsonists that just want to tear others down. Maybe you've been on the receiving end of that kind of activity. But we can be grateful that the Spirit of God is actively building us up in Christ.

As you reflect on what has been revealed to us in Ephesians 2:11-22, please remember that Jesus invites us to be near Him, Jesus offers us peace through Him, and the Holy Spirit is actively building up those who are united to Him.

© John Stange, 2021

We've been given a gift we don't deserve

The other day, I had the privilege to interview Dr. Alveda King. Alveda King is the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A.D. King, and the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During her childhood she experienced the tragedies of her uncle being murdered, her father being murdered, and her grandmother being murdered. That's more tragedy than most people can fathom, yet Alveda speaks and carries herself with the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Alveda certainly grew up hearing a lot about Jesus, but it wasn't until 1983 when she received His gift of salvation. Since that time, she has experienced a radical transformation of life, perspective, and purpose. As someone who is highly conscious of the new and abundant life she's been given by Jesus, she has chosen to dedicate her life toward creating a culture of life in this country.

It's amazing to see what the Lord has been doing in her life and how He has blessed her with the ability to see beyond the trials of life in this world. That's something Jesus wants to do for us as well. He wants to bless us with the gift of new life in Him. He wants to bless us with a brand new outlook that finds rest in the hope He offers. He wants to prevent our hearts from becoming bitter and calloused. But the gifts He offers aren't always accepted and opened.

Years ago, my wife and I gave a financial gift to a friend who got married. We couldn't attend the wedding in person, but we sent a card with a check inside. Our friend never deposited the check. We followed up with her a couple times, and she told us she intended to deposit it, but her good intentions never resulted in the money being deposited in her account.

Let's be more than just well-intentioned toward God. Let's aim to understand, value, and receive the gift of salvation Jesus is offering us. Open the gift. Let it be deposited into your account. And let the presence of His Spirit in your life transform everything about you.

I. Remember what you used to be

““And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” ”

— Ephesians 2:1-3

I often joke with my wife that I'm glad she met me when she did because if she met me just a few years earlier, I doubt she would have said yes when I asked her out. My wife met me after I became serious about trusting and following Jesus. If our paths crossed at an earlier season of life, she would have met someone who was very much caught up in the things of this world, trying to satisfy his heart with things that did't have the capacity to do so.

Look at how this passage describes our spiritual condition before meeting Christ. We weren't just awkward or off base. We were spiritually dead and unable to do anything to correct that problem. In our trespasses, we had lost our way and were taking a journey that leads to destruction. In our sin, we were missing the mark or missing the point of life. We had no idea where true life could be found so we weren't even aiming for it.

Paul reminds us that we used to live according to the thought patterns of this world that are under the direct influence of Satan. The ironic thing about that is that we were completely unaware of that, just like most people today demonstrate. Most people have no idea that they're buying into ideologies that have hatred and opposition toward God at their root. But that's what's at the core of the dominant patterns of thinking in this world.

In fact, just last week, I read an article that summarized the teaching of a particular professor. According to him, this world would be much better off if a large segment of humanity killed themselves. Why would he say something like that? His comments demonstrate that he has no understanding of the fact that mankind has been created in the image of God. His manner of teaching elevates some people groups over others and fails to value to human life as the miracle that it is.

Every worldly philosophy that treats people like a problem to be eradicated instead of a precious creation in need of redemption, is not of God. Every worldly philosophy the promotes hatred for, or harm to the human body, is of Satan. Please regularly examine your philosophical and social beliefs to make certain you're not buying into something satanic.

Because that's precisely what we used to buy into. And because we believed these things, we devoted our lives toward gratifying the passions of our flesh. We were under the illusion that the void in our souls could be satisfied with the temptations this world dangled in front of us, but giving into those things only led us us to shame, needless regrets, and self-destruction.

And if God wanted to, He could have left us in that mess. But thankfully, in His great compassion, He has offered us the only way out.

II. Acknowledge where God has brought you

““But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” ”

— Ephesians 2:4-7

Have you ever been stuck in a jam with absolutely no idea what to do? Have you ever been in a spot where you knew that without the help of someone else, you were without hope?

Just a few days ago, my friend Rich told me a story and I asked his permission to share it. His oldest daughter is attending college in Virginia which is about eight hours from their home. The other evening, she was driving her car on unfamiliar roads about thirty minutes from her university. Unfortunately, she got a flat tire and had to pull over. She didn't know what to do, so she called her father. As Rich sat there on the phone with her, trying to figure out how best to coach her and help from a distance, a truck pulled up to the car. It was a Michelin tire truck. Within minutes, they fixed her tire and wouldn't accept any money, all while Rich was still on the phone with her. He was amazed at how quickly the Lord provided the help she needed.

Consider the helpless condition we were in when God found us. He showed up when we were spiritually dead and weren't seeking Him. We were still convinced that we didn't need Him, and without even realizing it, we were living like His enemies. Yet God demonstrated His great mercy to us by opening our eyes to see our need for help. Then He graciously provided that help through His Son, Jesus Christ. As we receive Christ's help by faith, we are united to Christ and made alive in Him. And in addition to that, we're promised a glorious future instead of the condemnation we deserved.

It's amazing to me to consider God's willingness to do this for us, but that's exactly what He has done. And I don't ever want to forget where He has brought me. I don't ever want to make the mistake of believing that somehow I did this for myself. I don't ever want to become ungrateful to Him, nor do I want to forget the fact that He rescued me when I was stranded.

I say all that because I know we're forgetful people. We can get so used to God's blessings that we eventually begin to think we may not have needed His help in the first place. And when that happens, we might not value our relationship with Him like we should. To me, it's also an issue of loyalty. I need to remain loyal to the one who redeemed me and gave me life.

I was talking to a friend about the concept of loyalty just a few weeks ago. He runs a coaching business and had recently helped someone whose business had gone through a very rough patch and was near closing. Thankfully, her business was saved, but then she basically abandoned my friend and made him feel disposable. To me, that was an issue of loyalty, and it illustrated how easily we can make that mistake, relationally and spiritually.

We should acknowledge where God has brought us and what He rescued us from. Our loyalty to Him shouldn't waver once He places us on solid ground.

III. Give God the credit He's due

““For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ”

— Ephesians 2:8-10

You learn a lot about what people are placing their hope in when you officiate a funeral. At this point, I don't know how many I have spoken at, but it's a lot. After one of the more recent funerals, a man walked up to me and told me he was concerned about when the day came for his funeral because his former priest wasn't going to be able to officiate. When I asked him why that troubled him, he told me, "I was counting on that guy to get me into Heaven, but now he's dead and I didn't have a plan B."

It's interesting, and often very sad to hear what people are really trusting to save their souls. Some are trusting in their priest, their pastor, their church attendance, their donations, or most commonly, their good works. But the reality is, none of these options are sufficient to save a soul. Salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for our efforts. In fact, Scripture is very clear that because of our sin, the only payment we earned in the spiritual realm was death. The only way we will experience salvation is by accepting it as a free gift that was paid for by Jesus.

““For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ”

— Romans 6:23

Paul reveals to us in Ephesians that we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. This isn't our own doing, and it isn't something we can boast about as if we've earned it. We can trust in the work Jesus did for us, but we can't trust in the work we've done for ourselves. If salvation was a reward for our effort, we'd be able to boast about having it. But because it's a gift that was paid for by Jesus, all we can ever do is boast in the work He did on our behalf. I can brag about the perfect life Jesus lived. I can brag about the death He died on the cross. I can brag about His resurrection, but I can't brag about myself because the only thing I contributed to my salvation was the sin that made it necessary.

And when that's straight in our minds, we can respond in a joyful and exciting way. The work we do now isn't to earn salvation, rather it's to express our thankfulness to God who saved us. When we serve one another, we can say "thank you" to Jesus who gave us the new desire to serve. When we give to one another, we can say "thank you" to Jesus who gave us the best gift in this age and in the age to come.

Because we've been given a new mind through Christ, we can realize that real life isn't about trying to gain glory for ourselves. Real life is about giving Him glory. He has prepared opportunities for us to serve so we can glorify His name, not covet His glory for ourselves.

Our new life in Christ isn't a reward for our service, it's a gift that was paid for with His service. So let's receive that gift humbly. Let's remember what God rescued us from. Let's give God the credit He's due, and let's trust Jesus completely with every ounce of our being.

© John Stange, 2021

Do you express what you're thankful for?

With two of my children in college, and a third less than a year away, I am frequently reminded about what that season of life was like for me as well. Overall I had a very positive college experience. I learned important things. I made great friends. I met my wife, and the Lord made clear to me how He wanted me to use the years following graduation.

But some aspects of college were less than ideal. One issue that started to become pretty noticeable to me was the prevalence of complaining. I still remember when it dawned on me that a large segment of my friends were doing that with regularity. Every time we got together, the complaints began. I heard complaints about professors, assignments, dorm life, and the preferences of other students. It started to grate on me and I wanted to get away from it, especially at meals.

I still remember when I suggested to Andrea that we try to find more positive people to sit with when we were eating. "Don't you think our friends are going to notice that we aren't sitting with them anymore?," she asked. I replied, "They might, but I really need a break from all of this negativity." So for a season, we sat with other friends.

That was a long time ago now, but I've noticed something as I've been living my adult life. It isn't just college students who complain. People at every season of life can easily make that a habit of their conversations if they aren't careful and intentional about it. In fact, I think if you closely listen to the conversations that come from the mouths of those you spend time with, you'll see they probably complain more than they express any kind of thankfulness.

Ephesians 1:15-23 is a thankful portion of Scripture. In it, Paul expresses his thankfulness for other believers, for the power of God, and for the authority of Jesus Christ. How might we be able to express that same kind of thankfulness? One way we can express it is in how we're praying for those we love.

I. How should you pray for those you love?

““For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,””

— Ephesians 1:15-18

Prayer is a gift from God. It is an undeserved blessing that He allows His children to be able to utilize. Through prayer, we express our trust, confess our mistakes, offer thanksgiving, and seek God's intervention in our lives. Paul was eager to pray for those he loved, and we should be as well.

As Paul was writing this letter from his house imprisonment in Rome, the faith of the Ephesian believers was on his mind. Word of their growth in Christ and love for one another had reached his ears, and he made it a regular habit to remember these Christians in prayer. Paul even listed some of the specific things he was praying about.

Years ago, I asked a close family member to pray about something specific for me. "I can't do that," she said. When I asked her why, she admitted, "I have a hard time asking God for specific things."

As long as we're entrusting our requests to God's will, and not asking Him to violate His nature or the clear teaching of His word, I don't believe it's wrong to make specific requests of God in our times of prayer. It's up to Him to answer however He chooses, and it's up to us to humbly accept His decision, but that doesn't prevent us from seeking His intervention in very specific ways. Look at some of the specific things Paul prayed about on behalf of the church at Ephesus.

Paul prayed that through the Holy Spirit, these believers would be blessed with wisdom and revelation. He prayed that they would know the Lord deeply. He prayed that their hearts would be enlightened and they would have deeper spiritual insight into God's nature and will. Paul prayed that they would have a deep and abiding confidence in the hope the Lord had blessed them with through Christ and that they would grasp the richness of their spiritual inheritance as believers.

Paul made some very specific requests, and as you read his list, can I challenge you to do something in particular with it? Would you be willing to begin praying for the same exact things on behalf of those you love? Pray these things for your spouse, children, and grandchildren. Pray them for your friends. Pray them for your church family. I'd even suggest that you begin praying them for yourself as well, and see what begins to happen in your life.

II. Do you know what it means to rely on God's power?

““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,” ”

— Ephesians 1:19-20

It's no secret that I find it relaxing to work in my yard. I like taking care of it. I find it to be a helpful diversion from some of my other responsibilities. And when different tools for lawn care are invented, I tend to be an early adopter.

About twenty years ago, I saw a battery-powered weed trimmer for sale and I took a chance on it. It was certainly more convenient to use than a gas-powered trimmer, at least for a little while, but the battery in it didn't hold up like I wished. Eventually, I stopped using it and reverted back to gas. But just last year, I was persuaded to try a battery-powered option again. Two seasons into using it, I can testify that it works just as promised and is holding up fine.

Power is something we need in all spheres of life. God makes a point to offer us His power, but do we understand what it means to actually utilize it and rely on it? As Paul was praying for the Ephesian believers, he also made a point to pray that they would be highly acquainted with and make great use of God's power because His divine power is available to all who trust in Jesus Christ.

God's power is the "working of His great might." His power is active and energetic. His power is mighty and overcomes what's set against it. We see that displayed in particular when we observe the miracles Jesus accomplished in the gospel accounts.

By nature, God is strong. Strength is an inherent quality of who He is. And His mighty power was put on full display when Christ was raised from the dead and seated at the Father's right hand.

It's one thing to understand these concepts academically, but are these concepts we understand in practice as well? Are you approaching each day of your life with profound confidence that the same power that raised Jesus from death is also at work in you? Are you making use of God's power? Do you even believe you can use it, or are you attempting to live a powerless life because you haven't yet developed a mature understanding of the benefits of your union with Christ?

When you're going through a season of temptation, do you seek God's power to overcome it, or do you keep telling yourself the lie that you're powerless? When your doctors tell you that it would take a miracle to restore your health or the health of a loved one, do you ask God for that miracle, or do you sulk and adopt a fatalistic stance instead?

Paul wanted the Ephesians to understand, rely on, and utilize God's power. Let's make that our aim as well. If the power of God is something we're thankful for, let's live and pray like we actually believe we have access to it.

III. Are you willing to submit to Christ's authority?

““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.  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” ”

— Ephesians 1:21-23

I saw a statistic this week that estimated that in the coming year, we can expect 41% of all employees to change jobs or resign from their positions. Some have made their decision based on a desire to experience a different kind of work, but others are making their decisions based on the fact that they are tired of dealing with poor leadership in their place of employment.

Most of us have to deal with that at some point. Personally, I have worked with all kinds of bosses. Some were a joy to work with, while others were miserable and didn't seem to understand how to lead or motivate people.

This world is filled with leaders, authorities, and spiritual forces that selfishly hold onto power and lord it over as many people as they can, but the kind of leadership we experience from Jesus, and the kind of authority He wields, is vastly different.

Scripture tells us that Jesus is above any human, demonic, or angelic authority. That is true in the present age and will be particularly obvious in the age to come as well. The Father placed all things under the authority of Christ and made Him head of the church.

By the grace of God, we are welcomed into His family, the church, when we trust in Christ for salvation. We are likewise, as this Scripture teaches, "filled" or "blessed and gifted" in Christ. We've been blessed with the glorious hope of being able to see beyond our present circumstances, and we're granted His supernatural power so that we may serve one another and build each other up. Our service toward one another is all done under the authority of Christ.

As we finish our look at this passage, let me ask you to contemplate your willingness to submit to Christ's authority. When you're making decisions, how are those decisions made? Do you primarily make your choices based on your feelings? Do you make your choices based on what you think will benefit you? Or can you confidently say you have submitted your will to Jesus and He's the one calling the shots in your life?

Ole Hallesby was a conservative, Norwegian Lutheran theologian who passed away in 1961. During World War 2, he was an outspoken opponent of the Nazi occupation of Norway, which led to him being arrested and detained in a concentration camp for two years (until the end of the war). That experience reinforced his trust in Jesus, and he remained confident in Christ's power and authority in the midst of this trial.

I love what he had to say about prayer, power, and authority. He commented, "Prayer is the risen Jesus coming in with His resurrection power, given free rein in our lives, and then using His authority to enter any situation and change things."

I'm thankful that Jesus has done so much on our behalf. I'm thankful that He continues to intervene in our lives, and I'm thankful that He grants us the grace to express our thankfulness through prayer and submission to Him.

© John Stange, 2021