Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(Eph 3:14) “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15)  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”If you read this in the context of what is written before and after, you find the phrase “the whole family of heaven and earth” is referring to the saved. Those who have gone on before us in Christ (saved by His blood which includes Old Testament Saints) who are in heaven and those “in Christ” here upon this earth are all one family! This is spelled out to us in the Book of Hebrews, “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.”  I can anywhere, enter a church of saved people, and find family! Praise God!

(Eph 3:13)  “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. (14) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”  The words “wherefore” and “for this cause” refer to those things revealed – the mystery of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles and the blessed access through faith to the presence of He Who now is our Heavenly Father! Praise the Lord, I join the Apostle Paul in bowing my knees before my Great and Mighty God Who is full of mercy! 

(Eph 3:13)  “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”    There are those who think of suffering for Christ as, “Not for me!” Such have not fully considered or believed the amount of suffering the Lord bore to purchase our salvation – to keep us from Hell Fire. The Bible says of  those who respond rightly, that they have “good hearts” (Luk_8:15) “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” The good heart says, “He’s worth it” or “I owe Him that much”, and thus are willing to bow to the will of the Father in all things.

(Eph 3:11)  “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  (12)  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”    So, I pray with confidence. Not confidence that I will get what I want; but confidence that He hears me and will do whatever His will dictates. Our prayers are to be as Jesus’ prayers, “Not My will but Thine be done.”  Amen 

(Eph 3:11)  “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  (12)  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”   “Boldness”. Our prayers brought before Almighty God are not out of the force of our own righteousness, nor is it from any source of merit we might think we possess. Our prayers are brought boldly through that of another – the Son of Almighty God Himself! His righteousness became ours when through the salvation experience we were placed in Him! May we ever be mindful in prayer that our plead comes through the merit of Another, thus His children pray in “Jesus’ Name”. Amen 

Eph 3:10) “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”  Oh, the wisdom of God: (Rom 11:30) “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: (31) Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. (32)  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.  (33) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”  All needed mercy, so the Lord gave it to all! OH the great love of God! Have you experienced that love in reality through the rebirth of salvation? Have you been changed, given a new heart? You can right this minute if you will ask forgiveness of your sinful life and then for the precious gift of everlasting life purchased through the blood of Jesus His Son! 

(Eph 3:9) “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”   Jesus Christ had no beginning, for He is God! The angels did not make the world. God did! “In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth.”  So, without doubt Jesus is held up for the Person hidden from the eyes of the Jewish nation – God! God lived the sinless life in our place. God gave that life in our place. God in the body of the man, Christ Jesus came back to life the third day so that we might be able, through repentance and faith, to receive the gift of that same resurrection life! Praise Him!

(Eph 3:9) “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” It is exciting to live in our day and time, after the mystery of Christ, the cross, and the resurrection has been revealed; having the completed Word of God; to go back and search the pages of the Old Testament. There we find “hints”, “clues”, of the mystery and what it held! If you are not studying your Bible, then you are robbing yourself of the greatest revelation every given to man: that regarding God made flesh for the salvation of sinners like you and me!