Tuesday – August 9, 2016
Tuesday is upon us so soon, greetings and blessings from The Three Minute Word Ministries in the name of Jesus. Today I am reminding us all to pray for the many levels of government in the United States and also for our neighbors to the north in Canada. Today I am featuring Nunavut, Canada. The United States and Canada, the whole world, needs the Lord desperately and are not aware of their poverty without Him. The picture to the right is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia showing the Province of Nunavut located within the nation of Canada. Now to our text and study of Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:1-2 (KJV)
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:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is not a single place where we find that Paul is declared to be an Apostle by anyone however he refers to himself as an Apostle and was recognized as such by the Church. We could discuss all day whether Paul brought new revelation to those who would choose to worship God or whether he brought to light what was all the time shrouded in the Old Testament. He and others brought into focus that this new man, this new creation, in Christ Jesus was not Adam returned by the sacrifice of Jesus but a new creation like never before and never to be again. Let us review at least in part the conversion of Saul (later called Paul, the Apostle).
Acts 9:3-6 (KJV)
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
A few chapters later we find Barnabas and Saul being separated to the Holy Ghost for the work they had been called to do by the Lord. The prophets and teachers (frequently the same people) at Antioch prayed and obeyed (after a delay) the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and released them, sending them away. Perhaps that process was necessary for the folks at Antioch didn’t want to let them go. They were told in verse two to send them out but they persisted in fasting prayer. Why? Notice verse four tells us they were actually sent forth by the Holy Ghost. Apostles may operate within a particular Church but for the most part are independent of a particular Church and answer directly to the Lord Jesus Christ. The same is generally true of others called to the fivefold ministry gifts. Many if not all denominations make a big deal of ordaining and sending out but the Truth is that they are ordained and sent out by God.
Acts 13:1-4 (KJV)
1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
The Apostle Paul brought the revelation to the whole Church including the Church of the circumcision (Jews) that Jesus had brought redemption not just to the Jew but the whole world. Paul was gifted to bring the revelation (uncover) of Jesus Christ contained in the Old Testament into the full light for all who chose to see and hear. The Apostle Paul established Churches, brought revelation, and he brought correction as needed. The ministry of Jesus in many ways was a major correction to the thinking of those who said they were God’s people. Paul’s letters in large part unveil Jesus Christ (The Word) and the realities of the new creation (you and me).
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
