Jacob had 12 sons.
Joseph was his favorite, and his brothers hated him for it.
They sold Joseph into slavery.
He was taken to Egypt and imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit.

One day Joseph was called before Pharaoh. He could interpret dreams and Pharaoh had had a doozie.
Joseph told him that Egypt was headed for trouble. A famine was coming and if he stored up as much food as possible while he could, Egypt would survive.

Pharaoh was impressed by Joseph's God-given gift, and his proposed plan of action, that he gave him the responsibility to carry it out. Pharaoh would handle foreign relations, but Joseph would be in charge of Egypt.
(Genesis 41:40-43)

The famine hit and hit hard. But Joseph was prepared.

What he wasn't quite prepared for was for 10 of his brothers to show up asking for food.

Did Joseph hold a grudge?
No. Why?

Because he knew God had placed him there for that very purpose. They were his family and he loved them, and he wanted to provide for them.

Joseph went from the position of favored son down to that of a slave, then deeper to a prisoner.
Then he was raised to the highest high. He was given rule by the ruler himself.

All so he could save the very people who sold him into slavery in the first place.

Does this story from Genesis sound similar to the life of someone else in the Bible?

Enjoy this week's study.

Please pray before you begin.

Opening Discussion

-What is your view of God?
-Is He close by?
-Is He far away?
-What can He do?
-What can He not do?
-Does He know what He is doing?
-Is He doing a good job?

Read

Ephesians 1:15-23 (The Message)

(I do not recommend The Message as a primary Bible, but it is an excellent study tool.)

15 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus,

16 I couldn't stop thanking God for you-every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks.

17 But I do more than thank. I ask-ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory-to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally,

18 your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers,

19 oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him-endless energy, boundless strength!

20 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven,

21 in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever.

22 He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church.

23 The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

Study

Ephesians 1:15-23 (New King James Version)

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

-What is the "Therefore" there for?
-What did the author say in the previous verses?
-What 2 things did the author hear about?
-What is faith?
-In whom did his reader have faith?
-What is love?
-Whom did they love?
-Who are the saints?

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

-After hearing these things, what did the author do? -How did he do it?

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

-Who does the author pray to?
-How does he describe Him?
-What does he pray we are given?
-What is wisdom?
-What is revelation?
-What is knowledge?
-Who are they to know?

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

-Why does he pray that we are given these things? -What is understanding?
-What is enlightenment?
-What 2 things does the author want us to know? -What is hope?
-Who is calling?
-What is He calling us to do?
-What are the riches?
-What is glory?
-What is an inheritance?
-Is He our inheritance or are we His?

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

-What is the third thing the author wants to know? -Whose power is it?
-How is it described?
-Who is He directing his power towards? -How is it measured?

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

-Who has He already used his power on?
-What did He do with it?
-Why did He do it?
-Where is Christ?

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

-What position does Christ have?
-What things is He above?
-Describe each term?
-Is there anything He is not above?
-How long is He above them?
-What is the age to come?

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

-Who did the putting?
-What did He put?
-Where did He put them?
-Whose feet are they?
-What does it mean to have something under your foot? -What did He give Him?
-What is the church?
-What does it mean to be head over?
-What does "all things" include?
-What does it leave out?

23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

-How is the church described?
-Whose body are they?
-What does it mean that the church is His body?
-What doe is mean that the church is the fullness of Him? -How is He described?
-What have verses 20-23 been describing?
-Who is He directing it towards (verse 19)?

-What do we learn about God?
-Christ?
-The Spirit?
-The church?
-The author?
-His readers?
-His purpose?
-Do you have faith in Jesus Christ?
-How do you know?
-Do you love all fellow children of God?
-Do you thank God for them?
-Do you pray for them?
-What do you pray for them?
-Do you know God?
-Do you know Christ?
-Do you want to get to know them better?
-How can you do that?
-Do you know what His calling is?
-Do you know that God's riches you have access to?
-Do you God's power is available to you?
-Do you know the extent of that power?
-Pray this prayer.
-Pray it for someone you hold dear.
-Pray it for someone you don't like.
-Pray it for yourself.

-BONUS CHALLENGE:
-Read this passage several times.
-Then read this passage with Ephesians 2:1-7.
-Read both passages together several times. -Anticipate what questions and connections I will make next week.

Challenges

This sections provides extra study opportunities for you. This is not homework. Do one. Do them all. Do none of them. It's your choice. Have fun with it.

Challenge #1A: Reading

Are you reading your bible every day?
Read what you can, whether it's a couple verses or one or more chapters.

Proverbs has 31 chapters.
Try reading the chapter that matches the date.
(Ch. 1 on the 1st, ch. 15 0n the 15th, etc.)

Challenge #1B: The Text

Read some or all of the verses listed below.
Note any similarities with this week's passage.
(They may apply to more than one verse.)

Ephesians 1:15 :

Colossians 1:4;
Philemon 5

Ephesians 1:16 :

Romans 1:8-9;
Colossians 1:9

Ephesians 1:17 :

Isaiah 11:2;
John 20:17;
Acts 7:2;
Romans 15:6;
Colossians 1:9;
1 Corinthians 2:8-10; 14:6

Ephesians 1:18 :

Acts 26:1-18;
Romans 11:29;
2 Corinthians 4:6;
Colossians 1:12;
Hebrews 6:4

Ephesians 1:19 :

Philippians 3:21;
Colossians 1:29; 2:12

Ephesians 1:20 :

Psalm 110:1
Mark 16:19;
Acts 2:24

Ephesians 1:21 :

Isaiah 9:6-7;
Matthew 12:32; 28:18;
Luke 1:32-33;
Philippians 2:9;
Colossians 1:16; 2:10;
Revelation 19:12

Ephesians 1:22 :

Psalm 8:6;
1 Corinthians 11:3; 15:27;
Colossians 1:18-19;
Hebrews 2:7

Ephesians 1:23 :

John 1:16;
Romans 12:5
1 Corinthians 12:6, 27;
Colossians 1:18, 24; 2:9; 3:11

Challenge #1C: The Old Testament

Read Genesis 18.

Compare with Ephesians 1:15-23.

Note any similarities between the passages.

Take thorough notes of the key things that occur in Genesis as you will need to refer back to earlier chapters in future challenges.

Remember This is NOT Homework!
Have FUN with it!

Commentary

It's All Greek To Me!

Ephesians 1:17 -Knowledge
Strong's Greek #1922 -Epignosis
"Epi"=Upon "gnosis"=to know.
Literally "to know upon"
To know well or to know thoroughly.

Ephesians 1:18 -Inheritance
Strong's Greek #2817 -Kleronomia
"Klero"=lot. "Nemo"=to assign or distribute.
Literally "to divide by lot".

Ephesians 1:19 -Exceeding
Strong's Greek #5235 -Huperballo
To think well of or have a favorable opinion of.
"Huper"=above. "ballo"=to cast or to put.
Means "to put above".
Surpassing; excessive.
Where we get the word "hyperbole".

Commentary from Last Week
Remember that this commentary is optional!

Paul/Ephesus

We meet Paul at the End of Acts 7, he meets Christ in Acts 9, and he visits Ephesus in Acts 18-19.

Ephesus was located in Asia Minor in modern day Turkey.

Early manuscripts do not contain "in Ephesus" in verse 1.

This, combined with the lack of greetings and the lack of the mention of specific problems in the church, have lead many scholars to believe that this was a general letter of encouragement that was meant to be circulated among many churches in that area.


In the Heavenly Places

There is the physical realm and then there is a spiritual realm.
The spiritual realm is the more important one.
Who we are in this world is an illusion.
Who we are in the spiritual realm is reality.


In Christ Jesus

When we accept Christ as our Lord and savior, He is in us and we are in Him (John 15).

We can do nothing. Christ did it all.

He gets all the praise, glory, honor and blessings, but because He died for sins in our place, we get to stand in His place with Him.

Almost every verse in Ephesians 1:1-14 contains "in Christ" in some fashion
Check out some of the things we are in Him.


Saints

Not super-spiritual people from the past, but anyone who has been set apart by Christ.


Blessed

"Bless" means to be well spoken of. God speaks well of Christ and so speaks well of us as well.


Chosen/Predestined

The Greek word that translates as "chosen" means to choose from many equal choices, not to choose one and rejecting another.

For instance, a person goes to the store to buy soda.

There are 8 different brands of the same flavor soda. The person has to make 2 choices.

The first choice is to pick a brand, thereby rejecting the other 7. This is not the type of choice mentioned in Ephesians 1:4.

The second choice is to pick from the 20 bottles on the shelf. By picking the brand, all 20 bottles are eligible to be "chosen", but only one or two will be going home with the shopper.

People often confuse the two.

They believe that, if they have been chosen by God, they have no free will. Heaven is automatic. They can lie, cheat, steal and murder all they want and still get in.

On the other hand, if they have not been chosen, then they have been "predestined" to Hell, and all our obedience and good works are a meaningless waste.

Predestination is only mentioned 4 times in the Bible. (Here and in Romans 8). It always refers to Heaven. The Bible says nothing to indicate that anyone is automatically going to Hell.

Here's an example:
Anyone who becomes of the United States Army is predestined. I know that those people are predestined to receive green clothing, some big boots, some weapons and the training to know how to use them.

Am I psychic? No!

I have no clue what anyone else is going to wear, because they haven't chosen to be part of that group.

God created mankind to be in relationship with Him. He has chosen everyone (the brand), but only those who accept the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus Christ will be purchased and brought home.

Those are the truly chosen.


Holy and Blameless

Holy, like saints, means set apart, like holiday china or a child's college fund.

We are blameless because Christ wiped our account clean when He died on the cross.


Love

Everything God does in our lives (including the bad stuff) is done out of His love for us.
He wants to have a relationship with us and has done everything to achieve that.


Adoption as Sons

Adopted children are not born of the parents, they are sought out and chosen.
God sought us out and chose us to be part of His family.


The Kind Intention/Good Pleasure of His Will
Freely Bestowed/Lavished
Riches of His Grace

Again, God wants to be with us. He does nothing begrudgingly, or out of obligation.


The Message of Truth and the Gospel of Salvation
Listening and Believing

Believing in Christ does not save us.

Scripture tells us that Satan and his demons believe that Christ is the Son of God.

Hearing, accepting and believing what Christ did for us on the cross is what saves a person.


Sealed

Much like our "Stars and Stripes", kings, kingdoms and nations had symbols to identify them to other nations.

A nation's symbol wouls be on its flags, banners, and sheilds.

The King had a signet ring, a ring with the symbol on it.
Any official letter or document would be sealed with melted wax and the king would press his ring into the hot wax so that his symbol would be seen on the seal.

Anyone to whom the king gave his ring spoke for the king, wielded his power, and acted with his blessing.


The Holy Spirit of Promise

The Old Testament speaks of a time when God's Holy spirit will be available to everyone. (Joel 2:28)

Jesus Christ confirmed this to His disciples. (John 14:6)

The Holy Spirit was poured out, as promised on Pentecost. (Acts 2)


God's Own Possession

God, through Jesus, created everything.

Everything in creation is owned by God.

God allowed His creation to be taken from Him.

Why?

So He could show what lengths He was willing to take to get you back.

God let Satan have you for free and He bought you back with the great price of Jesus' blood.


The Praise of His Glory (The Glory of His Grace)

Ephesians 1:1-14 contains a phrase that occurs 3 times. (Verses 1:6, 12, 14)

Because of what He has done for us God, and His limitless grace get all the glory.

Understanding just a small part of His sacrifice for us should cause us to praise the fact that He gets all the glory.

The three occurrences of this phrase coincide with the three members of the Trinity:

God the Father chose us. (1:3-6)
God the Son redeemed us with His blood. (1:7-12)
God the Holy Spirit sealed us for eternity. (1:13-14)

Other Sessions in this Study:

Session 1: Unwrapping the Gift of Blessings

Session 3: Unwrapping the Gift of Grace

Session 4: Unwrapping the Gift of Unity

Session 5: Unwrapping the Gift of Stewardship

Session 6: Unwrapping the Gift of Fullness

Session 7: Unwrapping the Gift of Oneness

Session 8: Unwrapping the Gift of Renewal

Session 9: Unwrapping the Gift of Forgiveness

Session 10: Unwrapping the Gift of Visibility

Session 11: Unwrapping the Gift of Submission

Session 12: Unwrapping the Gift of Sacrifice

Session 13: Unwrapping the Gift of Protection

Session 14: Wrapping Up God's Gift of Identity

Other Studies

Unwrapping God's Gift of Salvation

Unwrapping God's Gift of Joy

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