Background to Ephesians

Good evening,

God is definetly leading me to study Ephesians and Paul's writings. This morning both Joyce Meyers and "Creflo Dollar" spoke about Ephesians. Joyce Meyers in particular said we should pay attention to the way Paul prayed-apparently he never asked for any tangible physical things for either himself or others...so I'll explore all of this and learn about Ephesians & Paul's writings.

To get the background of Ephesians I'll begin in Acts.
Acts 18:18, Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquilla. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, "I'll come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.

[Paul then went to Caesarea, Antioch and then throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia strengthening all the disciples there...He then went back to Ephesus.
Acts 19:1...there he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"

They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?"
"John's baptism," they replied.
4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spiritis tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? [what authority do u have to tell me to come out?] 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. [they did not stand on the authority given to us by Christ Jesus].

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, the were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas (a silver coin worth about a day's wages). 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." 22 He sent two of his helpers Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

THE RIOT IN EPHESUS
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that out trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.

28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristachus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia and rushed as one man into the theater. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32 The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it. 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Conclusion of Ephesians 1

As we have already learned, Paul was sent to the Gentiles as Peter was sent to the Jews to proclaim the teachings of Christ Jesus.

From Paul we can learn quite a few things

A) We learn more about God
-vs 3 God the father of JC has blessed us in the heavenly realms/ places with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If we position ourselves in the heavenly places we will be able to obtain God's spiritual blessings.
-vs 4 God chose each and everyone of us before the creation of the world...but it doesn't stop there yes we are precious to God but He also called us to be holy and blameless in His sight.
-vs 5 God predestined us to be adopted as His sons through JC and no other way!!!!
-vs 11 God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His Will.
-vs 22 God placed all things under JC' feet and appointed Him to be the head over everything.

B) We learn how to pray
-vs 17 Father may YOu give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know You better.
-va 18 Father may You enlighten or flood our eyes with light so that we may know the hope to which You have called us, so that we may know the riches of Your glorious inheritance and so that we may know Your incomparably great power for us who believe. That means God's will not be great if you do not believe.

Ephesians 1:2

Paul an apostle of JC was appointed by (the will of) GOd.
Paul was writing to the saints in Ephesus- who were faithful in JC.

in just the opening Paul gave a powerful statement by sayn:
vs 2 " Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord JC."

-Grace means favour, kindness, God's forgiving mercy, gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues etc.

-To explain God's peace I'll turn to John 14:27 Amp version where JC is speakn: Peace I leave with you, My (own) peace I now give, not as the world gives do I give you {the world gives expecting sumtng in return/ with a motive}. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled).

The Reason for Paul

From Ephesians one to Galatians chp 1 & 2

Summary
1 Paul, an apostle- sent not from men nor by man but by Jesus Christ & God the Father, who raised JC from the dead.
11 Paul speakn to the Galatians....I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that men made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from JC.

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus (where he first got transformed/born again).

18 Then after 3 years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles- only James, the Lord's brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me (Amen, God can use anyone of us regardless of our past to bring Him glory-the worse u were the better the testimony of transformation).

Paul Accepted by the Apostles-Chapter 2

Paul continues to write....14 years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Amp: I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. However, I presented the matter privately before those of repute (for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference) that I was not running or had not run in vain (guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done)...we all feel insecure to declare God's message when we are not sure how it will be received-even Paul felt this way.

3 Amp contd...But all went well! even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled (as some had anticipated) to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. NIV 4 This matter arose because some falsse brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves (bring us into bondage under the law of Moses). 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. (We need to have the confidence that if God called us to do something He will be with us every step of the way...Amen).

6 As for those who seemed to be important- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Ephesians 1:1

Today we are taking a break from John and looking at Ephesians

Ephesians Chapter 1

verse 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

An apostle is a person sent by another; a messenger; It is, generally used to describe Jesus' disciples.

A little bio on Saul/ Paul

Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul, and probably the name Paul was also given to him as a child to use in the Gentile world. "Saul" would be his Hebrew “home-name”. His home was Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, a Roman province in the south-east of Asia Minor.
Tarsus was also home to a famous university. Here Saul spent his youth, enjoying the best education his native city. His father was a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Jewish blood (Acts 23:6; Phil. 3:5).
We read of his sister and his sister's son (Acts 23:16), and of other relatives (Rom. 16:7, 11, 12). Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this privilege we are not informed. "It might have been bought, or obtained by distinguished service to the state…we don’t know what matters is that Saul was born free-this was a great privilege in those days, and it was great use to Paul
It was decided that Saul should go to college and become a rabbi, that is, a minister, a teacher, and a lawyer all in one."
Saul finished the first part of his education and was sent at the age of 13 to the great Jewish school of sacred learning to learn the law. There he became a pupil of Rabbi Gamaliel, and he spent many years studying the scriptures.
Many years went by after school…. however, after the crucifixion of Jesus Saul found himself in Jerusalem, where there was a new group emerging the “Nazarenes (believers in Jesus Christ).
For some two years after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly spreading its influence-that Jesus was the Messiah- in Jerusalem. Opposition towards the Nazarenes was serious and Saul was one of the ring leaders (a member of the Sanhedrin-the Jewish Ruling Council).
Next, we all know the story of Saul’s revelation on the way to Damascus to persecute more Nazarenes. If not here is the story… As Paul and his companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul fell to the ground in terror, a voice sounding in his ears, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The risen Saviour was there, clothed in his glorified humanity. Saul asked, "Who are you, Lord?". "I am Jesus who you persecute" (Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:15).
After this Saul changed his life and became a missionary of Jesus Christ…on his third missionary tour, he journeyed by land in the eastern parts of Asia Minor,to Ephesus, where he worked for at least three years. Ephesus was at the time a major city of the Mediterranean. It was a city of great wealth, and it had every kind of pleasure. This was a great opportunity for Saul to do effective work.