Curry R. Blake - John G Lakes Ministry

JGLM E-Newsletter Jan. '09 Some of you may know that the Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. As we start this new year, I was reminded of some of the amazing things God said about you and I through the Apostle Paul in this small yet powerful book.1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: We know first off that we are being referred to because he says himself that he was writing to the saints which are at Ephesus AND to the faithful in Christ Jesus. If we are faithful in Christ Jesus, then he is writing to us. 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, we are told that it is God's Will for us to have grace and peace, not just grace, grace and peace. There are so many "Christians" that I meet everyday that do not have peace. They are worried over current events in the world situation or circumstances and situations in their own lives. They demonstrate anything but the peace of God. Usually they are just as fearful as the people of the world around them. If you are under constant fear, go back to the point of your salvation and remember the peace that flooded you the moment you made Jesus your Lord. Maybe the problem is that you did not make Jesus your Lord, maybe you only made Him your Savior from sin.If so, fix it now. Bow your knee and your heart and your will. Decide to give Him your life, knowing that what He owns, He takes care of. You are of much more value to your Heavenly Father than a bird or flowers, yet He takes care of them. Trust in His love and provision. If He doesn't provide, He doesn't love. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: In this verse, it literally says that God has said every good thing about you He could possibly say. Since He said everything before you were even born, He could not have said it based upon what you had done. He said what He did based upon how He felt about you, not based upon your performance. If God has said every good thing He could say about you, then it means that He has said that you are healed and healthy (1 Peter 2:24; Isa. 53:4; 3 John 2), so as far as God is concerned He has already sent word that you are healed (Ps. 107:20). If that is not the reality you are walking in, I am sure He is puzzled as to why not. If He has said every good thing about you that He can say, then He has said your sins are forgiven, never to be remembered (by Him) again (Rom 4:7; Eph 4:32; Col 2:13; James 5:15; 1 John 2:12), if your sins are forgiven then you are a new person and should live and walk that way (2 CO 5:17-18; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10). If you are a new person, saved, forgiven, healed, and financially blessed, then there is no reason for you not to walk like Jesus did, (John 15:12; 1 John 2:6; 1 Pet. 2:21; Rom 13:8; 1 Thess 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11; 1 John 4:12; 2 John 5) 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: This verse proves that God chose us and spoke every good thing about us He could, even before the foundation of the world, it also shows us how we should respond to such love, by living holy and blameless by walking in the love of God toward all people. Notice we were chosen "in Him" that means that we did not merit being chosen by anything we did but rather we were chosen when God the Father considered what His Son Jesus did. 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Many are falling prey to an error in doctrine that puts all responsibility on God as to whether they or others get saved or not, this verse says that because God has chosen and predestined us to be in Christ and to be allowed to be saved we should walk in holiness. Many are called but few chosen shows that not all will be saved. God has done His part. 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. What God did through Jesus for us brings praise to the glory of His grace. His great goodness in allowing us to be saved magnifies and exalts His grace, showing how truly magnanimous He is. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Our redemption, our forgiveness is measured against the riches, the depth, the overwhelming magnitude of His grace. Our sins could never bankrupt God's grace. His grace is so much greater and deeper than all the sins of humanity. His goodness is so much greater than our badness could ever be. Does it not matter then if we keep sinning? Of course it matters. If you keep sinning it shows you were not looking for a way out of sin, but a way to get away with sin. If that is true, you have not "repented" (changed your mind about sin) and are therefore still in sin and unsaved. Death was swallowed up in life because Life (God) is so much greater than death. God is so much greater than death and sin that Jesus took death in stride like a speed bump. Jesus had no fear going into death, He knew how much more powerful Life was. He only regretted the time spent apart from God. 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; He has (past tense) overtaken us with Godly wisdom and the mental ability to comprehend it.9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: Here he tells us that God has made His Will known unto us. He also says that God has a plan for us to fulfill, which is why He has made His Will known. 10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: This is both His plan and how He is going to fulfill His Will. He is going to put all the saints in one body. This is the mystery the New Covenant saints now have the ability to walk in that the Old Covenant saints did not have. The Old Covenant saints could only have the Spirit rest upon them, but the New Covenant saints can have the Spirit abide in them and have their minds and nature renewed and changed into the nature of God. The Old Covenant saints were not "in Christ", we are. Jesus has become a "Trojan Horse" to get us into the Kingdom of God. We get in because of what Jesus did. The Old Covenant saints were under law, forced to perform perfectly or be punished. 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Again, "in Him" we find what has been provided for us. We have an inheritance. There is something that has been put aside for us to claim when we are mature. A child does not receive an inheritance, they have a "Trust" that is put in the charge of a "Trustee". The "Trustee" decides everything for the child and distributes the "trust fund" to the child as needed until the child is old enough (when for the time...by reason of use... Heb. 5:11-14). As you grow up and find out what is waiting for you on your "21st birthday", you will start to investigate and research what your new "inheritance" will provide. The more you study, the more excited you will get as you look through the "last will and testament" provided for you. 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Then he goes on to tell us that all this is designed to bring praise to God as we live out what God provided through Jesus. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, This is another reference to the fact that there is a further reception of the Holy Spirit that takes place after salvation.Warning: Opinion following!!!I believe, by both Scripture and common modern Christian experience, that there is a Baptism of the Spirit that far exceeds the currently seen "Holy Spirit Baptisms" in the church today. Most of the current Holy Spirit Baptisms are completely powerless when compared to that of Jesus, His disciples and even the early Pentecostal pioneers. Many have what John Lake called a "Miss Wick type of baptism", which meant an ability to speak in tongues without the full power of the Spirit being manifested later. I believe that we have settled for a "fast-food mentality" when it comes to "the Baptism". We want to hurry and get past the "filling" part so we can get on with the "party". If more people would truly receive the Baptism with the Spirit, they would no longer be spending hours in "so-called" worship services trying to get the power to fall. They would begin to carry the Spirit with them into all the world as Jesus commanded, rather than doing things He never commanded and expecting something they were never promised. Of course if they ever do that, it might wreck their "revival" services in the church buildings, because people would start doing signs and wonders in the streets.14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. The "sealing of the Spirit" mentioned previously is the down payment of our redemption that we are promised. Again notice that all this is for the purpose of bringing praise to God's glory. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,Notice it was the Ephesian saints' love that caught the apostle's attention, not their gifts, or their faith, but their love. 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; Their love was such that it caused the great apostle Paul to pray for them.17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was that they would have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ). This was Paul's main prayer, that all the saints would have wisdom and revelation in their knowledge of Christ. This would lead to real growth and advancement in their walk with God. They would finally know Christ in His resurrection power and they would also find out who they are in Christ. Because whatever He has and is we are and can do. (1 John 4:17) 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, When you have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, your understanding will be such that you will know just how far reaching and impacting your calling by Him is. We have yet to see a person consecrated to God and dead to their own plans and ambitions enough to truly and fully allow Jesus to live His life through them. 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, This one verse could be used as a basis of meditation for years. To the degree that we understand this verse, believe it, and walk it out in our lives, the world will see Jesus walk the earth in flesh again. When we finally die enough to take a chance to believe this verse and believe that God can truly work power (such as the world has never before seen demonstrated) through a man, and can sufficiently forget who we were and believe what God says about who we are, we will see a generation of believers that are not afraid to call God their Father, and of whom God is not ashamed to be called their Father. 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, The power that Paul is talking about is the same power, (in the same amount and demonstrated to the same degree) that was demonstrated when God raised Jesus from the dead. The power God used was enough to seal satan's fate, ensure his defeat and publicly humiliate all the forces of darkness with a beating that is still being talked about 2000 years later. There never was and never will be a greater degree of power unleashed. That was the ultimate power possible, and it is the same power used to raise you up, because what He did for Jesus, He was doing for you. That is also the same degree of power that is at our disposal, if we can ever break free of the mental constraints that we have allowed to be imposed upon us. Jesus showed us how to walk in this power to a limited degree. He calmed storms, opened blind eyes, multiplied food, etc. Some may disagree with my use of the term limited, but let me remind you, Jesus Himself said, we would do the same works... and GREATER, because He went to the Father. We can do... because HE...went to the Father. Jesus is seated and has finished His work. And because He finished His work, now we get to do our work, which is to believe on Him whom the Father sent. If we believe, we will do the works. Our work (believing) accomplishes His works (setting things right on earth as they are in Heaven). It is not us doing it, it is the Father in us, He does the works. We just do the work of believing. And if we believe we will act, and if we believe and act, He will do! 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: Jesus has been seated next to His Father and we are in Him. So we are also seated in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). Since that is our legal position, we have the right to act as Ambassadors of God, bringing the ways and conditions of the Kingdom of God to earth. Jesus' authority not only reaches into heaven, but also even into the world that is to come. We see here that Jesus has no match in the kingdom of darkness. He has triumphed over the champion of evil so completely that He is the undisputed Champion of Everything and Everywhere. None of the dark kings have any hope of even resisting Him or you when you go in His Name. But if you try to go in your name (based upon your works, goodness, etc., you will be soundly defeated, because you have left your place of authority and power, and ability. You must know that when you are weak, He can flow through you and win the situation. But if you think you are smart enough or strong enough due to your past victories or even current disciplines, you will not prevail. Stay in Him, keep your life hidden in Christ. Kill your ego, kill your pride, know that you stand because He props you up. His life flowing through you brings strength, and life to stand and prevail. 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Everything has (already done it, past tense) been put under His feet and by extension, (see next verse) your feet. That means that nothing shall by any means harm you, that means that wherever the enemy is standing in front of you, he is standing in your spot. You can and must decide to take the ground he stands on. Your job is to take back the land. Your destiny is to plant the flag of the Kingdom of Heaven on every spot of earth you can find. If the enemy won't move, pin him to the ground with the flag of your King. The King of Kings. 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. KJV You are the body being talked about here. You are the Body of Christ. There is no building that can be the Church. The church is the Body of Christ. No building made with hands can contain or carry the glory of the Body of the Christ. The church is Christ to the world, and the Christ is in the Church. Today, we make Christ what He is. We make Him victorious to the world or we make Him weak, defeated and wimpy. He has won every battle, He has defeated every enemy. He has so totally defeated His enemies (as far as stripping away all their authority) that He had no one else to beat so He retired undefeated and passed the spoils on to those of us that decide to follow in His footsteps and bring every enemy into true and complete submission to Him.I hope this little study has helped you. If you did not find it boring, let me know and I will do more. Until next month, You ARE BLESSED!!! Curry R. Blake