List Of All Studies From 2010

I thought it might be beneficial to list all studies/devotionals that I have put in this blog, for those who want to be able to quickly find one again, or for those who may be perusing this blog and are wondering what is in it. I have put an * beside the studies that were a tremendous blessing or encouragement to me when studying them out. Any messages that I preached at the Gospel Mission have @ beside them. All links below will open in a separate window.

If you read only one article on this website, please let this be it:
God's Simple Plan of Salvation
It concerns the most important decision you will ever make in your life!
Don't let this opportunity to be saved pass you by.

Note: My original Bible study site is Eagle's Wings Ministries (this link takes you to the Table Of Contents for it). In light of the repeated hacks on our main domain (ie. Earnestlycontending.com and the loss of all previous content, I am duplicating the studies here so as to avoid having to remake and reformat all the previous content from scratch again. The link above takes you to the new page on this blog with all the active links. They will be changed/updated as I transfer them to this blog. All links will work, even if they take you to my older site. I would encourage you to bookmark this link, as it will give you access to all my older studies that were posted on my original site. Newer studies are posted on the various Table Of Contents below.

Click here for the List Of All Studies From 2006

Click here for the List Of All Studies From 2007

Click here for the List Of All Studies From 2008/2009

Click here for the List of All Studies from 2022-2025

Audio Of Poems Presented In Church In 2022

Table Of Contents For All Studies Posted 2010

February 2010:

True Friendships *@
What God Wrote @

March 2010:

A Psalm Of Guidance (Psalm 25) - Part One *@
A Look Back
Three Avenues Of Temptation
The Touch Of Faith
A Look Back (my testimony on this time in my life)

The Story Of Four Gardens:
Part One - The Garden Of Eden @
Part Two - The Garden Of Gethsemane @
Part Three - The Garden With The Empty Tomb (Lord willing, will be preached March 22nd, and written up asap)
Part Four - Paradise, The Garden Of Eternity (coming soon)

Six Things The Lord Opened @

May 2010:

Continue *@
The Giver, Or The Gifts? @
Who I Am *@

October 2010:

Thankful For The Love Of God *@


Series TOC's:
(These studies are also listed above, in the order they were posted)

Genesis
Psalms
Song Of Solomon

Expositional Studies

60 Day Devotional Series: Numbers In The Bible

What God Wrote

What God Wrote

I love reading about what God wrote! We know He inspired and wrote the whole Bible, so that is not what I mean here (or not solely - I do love reading His Word!) What I am referring to here is the statements in Scripture like this:

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Exodus 32:16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

Each context is different - but when God writes something (with His finger or His Spirit), it is something only He could do!

Statement made by Pharaoh's lost magicians - who could not copy God's miracles and plagues:

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

God writing about the judgment of Babylon, literally moments before it happened:

Daniel 5:5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Sure the Devil can lie and make up his own false prophecies - but here we see God foretelling exactly what He was going to do, and nothing could stop Him or hinder Him from fulfilling His judgment on Babylon.

Jesus' power and authority to cast out devils:

Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

I find this passage really neat - it doesn't say what Jesus wrote - but here we see the finger of God writing again:

John 8:3-11 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Notice in the above passage, it was the Word of God that Jesus spoke that convicted them of their sins, not what was written on the ground - but perhaps the writing recalled to mind the rest of the Law of Moses. To me, when I read that passage, it makes me think of mercy. Jesus wasn't writing to condemn, but to offer forgiveness and mercy. First, He had to confront them with their sin and the Law they had broken, then mercy was available to forgive.

My favourite, and one that is directly applicable to all believers today:

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2 Corinthians 3:5-8 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

The writing of the Holy Spirit of God upon our hearts is more glorious than the writing of the Law on stone tablets. Written in stone and written in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As we gaze steadfastly into the Word of God, which the Holy Spirit inspired and moved holy men of God to pen down for us (see 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21), and behold the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ therein - in the volume of the book (Hebrews 10:7), from cover to cover - as we see Jesus in the pages of the Bible and let the Holy Spirit do His wondrous work in our hearts and lives, we are transformed into His image.

What is God writing in you?

January 30th/06
Jerry Bouey

True Friendships

This is the message I preached today at the Gospel Mission.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives this as his first definition for friend: "One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy."

He also defines friendly as: "Having the temper and disposition of a friend; kind; favorable; disposed to promote the good of another." While we cannot be friends with everyone we meet, we can always choose to be friendly.

Last week, I preached again on The Work Of Thy Hands, and in it I also covered the verses about God being the Father of the fatherless and setting the solitary in families. Afterwards, I had someone come up to me and make this statement: "I would rather be surrounded by friends than family because you can choose your friends; you can't choose your family." How true that is, when it comes to our physical families.

Yesterday, I asked several friends to come up with some statements about friendships, such as "a friend loves you" and "a friend encourages you." Here are some of the statements or descriptions they gave me: Cares for you, will earnestly pray for you, will want to be around you, will tell you when you are wrong, will encourage you, will teach you God’s Word; patient, forgiving, forbearing, sacrificing/self-denying, honest (truthful), edifying/nurturing, encouraging; reaching out, watching your back/looking out for you, rescue/help you when needed.

Clarence Sexton gave the following three main points in his sermon on Friendship: Compassion, Confidence (ie. someone you can confide in), Companionship.

All of these are essential elements of true friendships. It is interesting to note that all of these qualities can be found in our Lord Jesus Christ's friendship towards us.

The best Biblical examples of friendship are Jonathan and David in the Old Testament, and Christ toward fallen man (especially those who trust Him for salvation). If you want to learn how to be a true friend to those the Lord places in your life, study out how Jonathan befriended and watched out for David when his father Saul was seeking to kill him, and how David took care of Jonathan's son after Jonathan was killed; then see Jesus' compassion and love to those He encountered day by day during His years of public ministry. There is much we can glean from these examples.

Three times in the Bible Abraham is called the friend of God (see 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; and James 2:23). We can study out Abraham's relationship and fellowship with the Lord to learn more about this theme.

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

One of the saddest notes in all of Scripture is related in the following passages:

Zechariah 13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Jesus came to the house of Israel, became a man, a descendant of the Jewish nation, to one day die on the cross for our sins. While we knew this had to happen to pay the price for our redemption, it is so sad to note that it was the nation of His friends that were directly involved in His death (though ALL of mankind is guilty in this regard - it is the sins of all mankind that sent Him to the cross). He was even betrayed by someone He called His friend - Judas Iscariot.

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Matthew 26:47-50 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

For the rest of this study, I mostly want to focus on some positive statements about friends from the book of Proverbs and the Gospels. As you read the following passages, consider where you can apply these principles in your own life.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Troublesome times in our lives will prove whether our friends are true friends, or just "friends" when it is convenient for them, friends only while the money and gifts are flowing. (See Proverbs 19:4, 6-7.) A true friend will stick by you no matter what, and will be there for you when the trials come.

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

I have always been a loner for as long as I can remember. It is often hard for me to reach out to others whom I do not know. Because of this drawback in my character, I am grateful to be working at a Gospel Mission where I am forced out of my comfort zone and continually interacting with new people, where I am in a position to touch lives I might otherwise have not. If we want friends, WE need to be friendly! I remember speaking to a young man once shortly after I got saved. He was grumbling about how no one in church would reach out to him - yet he stayed by himself and didn't reach out to anyone else either! Yes, more mature believers should be doing what they can to make visitors feel welcome into their fellowship, BUT God's Word says if we want friends, we need to be friendly. God's Word is true, even when it contradicts us.

I love the second half of this verse: there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. That True Friend is Jesus! Even the best of our earthly friends cannot always be there. Perhaps they may move away or pass on, perhaps something may happen to strain our relationship, but the Lord Jesus Christ is the Friend that will always stick with those that place their faith in Him. He will never leave us or forsake us!

Proverbs 27:5-6 Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

An enemy or false friend will flatter you, but a true friend will always speak the truth. Rebuke not only refers to correction, but carries the idea of reproving with the intent of stopping the errant behaviour. That honest confrontation from a friend may hurt at first, but it shows that they really care. Consider the following verses about rebuking in the context of loving someone else:

Leviticus 19:17-18 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

In a time where tolerance is preached, we need to listen to God's Word again, and love our neighbours and friends God's way, in a way that shows we care by taking a stand against the sins that are destroying them and harming their families. Rescue the perishing; have compassion, making a difference.

Jude 1:22-23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

When we seek to encourage and edify our friends, the words spoken are sweet to their soul. I could probably do a whole message on this theme. Lord willing, I will save it for another time.

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

True friendships will sharpen one another. Sometimes this may result in sparks flying, but the end result is that their friend’s personality, efforts, thoughts, etc. are challenged and transformed for the better.

Countenance means "face." How often have you seen someone's face or eyes light up when their friends were near or when they talked about them? One man at the Mission told me and another coworker last month that he saw the way our faces brightened up whenever we spoke about Jesus, and that caused him to desire what we have! The excitement and changes in this man have been amazing. His face is always lighting up when he sees me and several of the other workers at the Mission, and when he hears our devotions or testimonies we share at the Mission.

Song of Solomon 5:9, 16 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?... yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

Jesus is altogether lovely! He doesn't just desire to be your Saviour, but He longs to be your Friend. That is a more tender relationship, a closeness, an intimacy that this world can never give us.

Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Jesus' enemies slandered Him during His ministry, yet I find their charge against Him a reason for tremendous comfort. Jesus is a friend of publicans and sinners. He is the Friend of the outcast in society, a Friend to the one who is down and out and in need of help. He is a Friend to the sinner. In fact, He came to die on the cross and shed His blood so that sinners could be reconciled to Him - because He loves us! Truly, He is the Greatest Friend any of us could ever ask for!

John 15:9-17 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Some points from this passage:

A. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

The Old Testament teaches us to love one another, but it is in the New Testament that we are shown love by Jesus' example. Now we can know what it means to love one another as He loved us.

B. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

True friendship will involve sacrificial love, self-denying for the good of others. Jesus provided the best example of sacrificial love by dying on the cross for us. He laid down His life for His friends.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

C. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

The Bible is filled with commands from cover to cover - not just the 10 Commandments. Many find the thought of obedience to these commands burdensome; but the true believer who desires to do the Father's will seeks to obey the Lord out of love - because he cares about his Saviour and desires to please Him in all things. This is what true friendship involves: learning what pleases our friends, and seeking to do those things out of love. It is interesting to note that Jesus told us these things so that our joy might be full.

I came across this quote shortly after preaching this devotion today, yet it fit so well, I wanted to include it in this study:

"Paul is saying that you can keep every commandment and still not live the Christian life. You can not only keep all Ten Commandments, you can follow every commandment others put down for you to live by, and you still would not be living the Christian life. Also there are the antinomians who think they can do as they please and be living the Christian life. These folk are as extreme as the legalists. The Christian life is not either one; it is liberty in Christ. 'Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.' What does the gospel of grace do for the believer? It is grace, not law, that frees us from doing wrong and allows us to do right. Grace does not set us free to sin, but it sets us free from sin. You see, the believer should desire to please God, not because he must please Him like a slave, but because he is a son and he wills to please his Father. He does what God wants, not because he fears to do otherwise like an enemy, but because he wants to do it, for God is his friend." (J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary, Volume 5, page 187.)

D. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

While we are to serve the Lord, Jesus considers us more than mere servants - He considers us friends. Part of true friendship involves telling each other what is important to us, what pleases us, what we want them to know - and Jesus does that in His Word. He teaches us how to live for Him, reveals what the future holds, and exhorts us to be faithful until His return.

What a Friend we have in Jesus! He surely is a True Friend to us! Let's take His example and be a true friend to those around us.

February 15th/2010
Jerry Bouey

God's Word Is Forever

God's Word Is Forever

By way of introduction, I want to use the following quote from Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary regarding the definitions of the words used in reference to the Word of God in Psalm 119. I have bolded the ones I will specifically refer to in the study that follows:

"There are ten different words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm, and they are synonymous, each of them expressive of the whole compass of it (both that which tells us what God expects from us and that which tells us that we may expect from him) and of the system of religion which is founded upon it and guided by it. The things contained in the scripture, and drawn from it, are here called, 1. God's law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign. 2. His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of our obedience. 3. His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and attested beyond contradiction. 4. His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word signifies) lodged with us as a trust. 5. His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent. 6. His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it. 7. His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by them we must both judge and be judged. 8. His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness. 9. His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation. 10. His truth, or faithfulness, because the principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths."

There are seven direct or indirect references in Psalm 119 to God's Word enduring or lasting forever.

1) Psalms 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

In order for the Psalmist to keep God's Word forever, it must be preserved and available to God's people forever. And this is exactly what we see promised by the Lord elsewhere in the books of Psalms and Isaiah:

Psalms 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

2) Psalms 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

God's Word is settled and established in Heaven. Ungodly men may strive to destroy the Bible, but they will never succeed. Sure, they may destroy certain copies, but they can never destroy it completely. There are only four things in this universe that are eternal: the Godhead (Trinity), the angels God has created, man's soul, and the Holy Scriptures - and God said His Word would last forever!

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Not only will God preserve the general content of His Word, He will preserve the individual words, letters, jots (like the dots over the "i"s) and tittles (the accent marks that affect translation and can change the meaning between words having the exact same letters, but differing accent marks).

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Greek word for "scriptures" used in 2 Timothy 3:15 is different from the Greek word used elsewhere in the rest of the New Testament meaning "writings" or books/documents. Here the word actually refers to "letters." (This word is used in one other place to refer to the Scriptures though: in John 5:47, it is translated as "writings," in reference to the Pentateuch.)

God promised to preserve His Word totally, including the very content, not just the ideas or "thoughts." We don't have to guess what God said or try to recover some lost or corrupted manuscripts - we have His exact words preserved in the Hebrew Masoretic Old Testament and the Greek Textus Receptus, and translated faithfully for us in English in the King James Bible. We have God's Word and we can hold it in our very hands, to read from, memorize and meditate upon, and study.

3) Psalms 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

The testimony of the Scriptures will last forever - there will always be a record of God's goodness to fallen man: the testimony of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ dying for the sins of men upon the cross of Calvary, the triumph of His resurrection from the dead after three days and three nights in the tomb, the loving call of salvation and Jesus' saving power, the wonderful hope of His work in and through the lives of His people, and His glorious returning again one day to take home to Heaven all those who have placed their faith in Him.

Because these testimonies will be preserved forever, God's children can rejoice in them and in the inheritance the Lord has laid up for them in Christ. Not only is our inheritance in the Saviour, but these testimonies are part of that inheritance - something we will be praising the Lord for and singing about for all eternity.

No wonder they were valuable to the Psalmist!

Psalms 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Psalms 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellers.

Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Psalms 119:119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

Psalms 119:129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.

Psalms 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.

How much do you value God's Word?

4) Psalms 119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

In order for God's saints to follow and obey the statutes He has given us in His Word, the Lord must make those same statutes accessible to us forever - He must preserve His Word for all generations.

Notice the seven times this Psalmist cries out for the Lord to "teach me thy statutes":

Psalms 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Psalms 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

Psalms 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

Psalms 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Psalms 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

Psalms 119:124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

Psalms 119:135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

We must be taught God's Word, including His statutes, before we can apply and obey it.

Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Leviticus 19:37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Joshua 1:7-9 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The Lord has promised to be with His people until the end of the world (this is referring to the endtimes when He will return again for His own at the rapture and then set in motion the final events leading to His literal reign from Jerusalem). It is interesting to note that the same Gospel that promises that Jesus will be with us always and teaches us to observe all things He has commanded us also teaches that we are to live by every word from God - that means that we must always have His Word preserved and available to us in order to live by it and observe all of it.

5) Psalms 119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

Psalms 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

The righteousness of God's Word is a reflection of the righteousness of God Himself. His Word is righteous because it reveals to us what true righteousness is, reinforces the fact that righteousness is found only in Him, relates to us how we can have Christ's righteousness, and redirects our steps to walk in that righteousness.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Six times Psalm 119 refers to God's Word as "righteous judgments" (see verses 7, 62, 106, 137, 160, 164), because it is His Word that teaches us how to judge righteously.

Psalms 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Psalms 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Psalms 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Psalms 119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

Psalms 119:123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

Psalms 119:137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

Psalms 119:138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Psalms 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Psalms 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

6) Psalms 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines "found" (in the sense used here) as:

"1. To lay the basis of any thing; to set, or place, as on something solid for support. 2. To begin and build; to lay the foundation, and raise a superstructure; as, to found a city. 3. To set or place; to establish, as on something solid or durable; as, to found a government on principles of liberty. 4. To begin; to form or lay the basis; as, to found a college or a library... 6. To set; to place; to establish on a basis. Christianity is founded on the rock of ages... 7. To fix firmly."

Proverbs 3:19-20 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Webster's defines "foundation" as: "1. The basis of an edifice; that part of a building which lies on the ground; usually a wall of stone which supports the edifice... 3. The basis or ground work, or any thing; that on which any thing stands, and by which it is supported... Christ is the foundation of the church."

We see in the Scriptures that both the Lord Jesus Christ (the Incarnate Word of God) and the Bible (the written Word of God) are to be the "foundation" of our lives.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Luke 6:47-49 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Does having the Word of God as the foundation of your life make a difference to you? It should!

7) Psalms 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

The Psalmist declared that God's Word is true - in fact, it is the source of truth and only objective standard by which we are to gauge everything in life by.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Daniel even referred to God's Word as "the scripture of truth" (see Daniel 10:21).

God's Word is truth because God Himself is truth.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Charles Spurgeon made this intriguing statement: "Other men had the threads of truth; but Christ took the threads, and wove them into a glorious robe, put it on, and came forth clothed with every truth of God."

There is only one true God, revealed in the persons of the Trinity:

Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

God's Word is true - and the truth of that Word (it is all true) will endure forever!

Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalms 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

God has promised that His truth would endure forever - by extension that also means God would keep His Word forever. Praise the Lord for His lovingkindness in giving us the truth! It is the foundation we are to build our lives upon and live by every day, until we are taken home to Heaven - to be forever with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Truth.

Psalms 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psalms 43:3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Psalms 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

John 8:31-32, 36 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Ephesians 1:12-13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 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,

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 3:15-16 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Psalms 19:7-10 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

God's Word is true, righteous, and preserved - God's Word is forever! Do you value it? What are you doing with His Word now that He has entrusted you with it? Are you reading it, studying it, devouring it, rightly dividing it, living it?

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

October 29th/09
Jerry Bouey

The primary seven verses in this study were saved as a Draft in Blogger on June 20/2007, so I must have originally thought of it as a potential study for mine and Kate Plourde's series on Numbers In The Bible, but I never did anything with it. I came across it again last night when I was trying to find another study. It was a blessing to work on it today.

Our Walk In Ephesians - Part Three

Our Walk In Ephesians - Part Three

In this section of the book of Ephesians, we are challenged to live differently, in a worthy manner, and shown how we are equipped to do so.

3) Walking Worthy Of Our Calling

Chapter four of Ephesians starts off with "therefore", pointing back to the previous chapters, the three chapters where the Apostle Paul laid the doctrinal foundation that we are to build our spiritual walks upon. We are shown where we came from, how we are given an inheritance and victory through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, then chapter three ends with this wonderful prayer of Paul's:

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

I love what Matthew Henry has to say about this passage, and how he makes a parallel between God's statements about the range of wisdom in the book of Job and applies it to love here:

"The dimensions of redeeming love are admirable: The breadth, and length, and depth, and height. By enumerating these dimensions, the apostle designs to signify the exceeding greatness of the love of Christ, the unsearchable riches of his love, which is higher than heaven, deeper than hell, longer than the earth, and broader than the sea, Job 11:8-9. Some describe the particulars thus: By the breadth of it we may understand the extent of it to all ages, nations, and ranks of men; by the length of it, its continuance from everlasting to everlasting; by the depth of it, its stooping to the lowest condition, with a design to relieve and save those who have sunk into the depths of sin and misery; by its height, its entitling and raising us up to the heavenly happiness and glory. We should desire to comprehend this love: it is the character of all the saints that they do so; for they all have a complacency and a confidence in the love of Christ."

Earlier in this same chapter, the Apostle Paul wrote:

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

"...the unsearchable riches of Christ..." - "The latter phrase has the sense of being fathomless. There is no end to the discovery of the riches of Christ." [Quoted from David Sorenson's Understanding The Bible commentary on Ephesians, page 367 of the volume entitled Corinthians Through Philemon.] Strong's Concordance defines "unsearchable" as "not tracked out, i.e. (by implication) untraceable:- past finding out."

I was blessed when the Lord pointed out these similar phrases to me: "the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge," and "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (see Philippians 4:7). There is an element of God's love and peace (among other blessings) that we will never fully be able to grasp before we go home to Heaven - but what we can understand and know should change our lives.

If true believers would just get a greater glimpse of the measureless love of Christ, of the glorious riches and inheritance we have in the Lord Jesus Christ, of the tremendous spiritual power that is available to us every day through the indwelling Holy Spirit, I think our lives would be utterly transformed! Too often we forget or neglect these truths - but when we are living in light of them, and walking in the victory that is ours in Christ, there is a world of difference in us and in the work the Lord can do through us.

In fact, the way that these truths affected those Paul ministered to was something he praised the Lord for:

Colossians 1:3-6 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

"Therefore..." - put feet to the truth, and walk accordingly.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Walking worthy of our calling - what does that mean?

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible makes these comments about verse 1: "That you live as becomes those who have been called in this manner into the kingdom of God... To 'walk worthy of that calling,' is to live as becomes a Christian, an heir of glory; to live as Christ did."

Theodore Epp in his commentary on Ephesians [Living Abundantly, Volume 2, page 9], states: "We are to walk worthy as His Body. This means we represent Him by expressing His mind and by living His life. We are not to attempt to merely imitate His life; we are to let Him live His life in and through us."

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

Colossians 1:9-11 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Ephesians 4:2-3 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

"By lowliness we are to understand humility, entertaining mean thoughts of ourselves, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul which makes men unwilling to provoke others, and not easily to be provoked or offended with their infirmities; and it is opposed to angry resentments and peevishness. Long-suffering implies a patient bearing of injuries, without seeking revenge. Forbearing one another in love signifies bearing their infirmities out of a principle of love, and so as not to cease to love them on the account of these... Now without these things unity cannot be preserved. The first step towards unity is humility; without this there will be no meekness, no patience, or forbearance; and without these no unity. Pride and passion break the peace, and make all the mischief. Humility and meekness restore the peace, and keep it." [Matthew Henry]

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The following explanation of Ephesians 4:4-6 is taken from a previous study of mine entitled, The Hope Of Your Calling:

"One of the seven things Paul mentions about the unity of the Spirit is the one hope of their calling. Paul wants the believers in each local church to be united together through the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word of God, and in the midst of the unity of the Trinity (one Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father), one body (whether referring to the unity of the local church, or the future unity we will have as one body in Heaven) and one baptism (water baptism, which is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and our public identification with Him), he emphasizes one faith (THE faith - there is only one true faith - as much as the liberals want to teach otherwise, there can be no compromise on the fundamentals of the faith) and one hope. This hope is the assurance we have in Christ, encompassing many things, but especially His return for His saints and the inheritance we have in Him."

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Webster's defines "measure" as, "Means to an end; an act, step or proceeding towards the accomplishment of an object;"

Strong's Concordance gives an interesting definition of "grace": "The divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude."

Whatever spiritual resources each true believer needs to serve the Lord and to do His will, whatever each believer needs to exercise their gifts effectively in their local church and in the ministries that the Lord has called them to (especially the ministry of reconciliation), God has made available to them - to the end that other believers would be built up in the faith, mature spiritually, and likewise be equipped to serve the Lord day by day.

"Each believer is given a gift so that he may function in the body of believers in a particular way. When he does this, the body functions. That is where we find the unity of the Spirit. Along with the gift it says every one of us is given grace to exercise that gift in the power and fullness of the Spirit of God. When each believer functions in his peculiar gift, it produces a harmony, as does each member of the human body." [J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary, Volume 5, page 253.]

Ephesians 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Jesus first had to descend to the earth from Heaven and descend to the grave (ie. die for our sins and be buried), before He could be resurrected and ascend back into Heaven. (See Romans 10:6-7, where Paul uses similar language to speak of Jesus' incarnation and resurrection.) When He ascended, He took those Old Testament believers up to Heaven with Him (prior to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, their spirits dwelt in Abraham's Bosom, the abode of the righteous saints which had already died).

In Ephesians 4:8, Paul was quoting from the Psalms:

Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

It is worthwhile to note that what the Psalmist prophesied (ie. that Jesus had "received" gifts), Paul declared as fulfilled when Jesus ascended and "gave" those gifts to His body. It is because of all that Jesus has accomplished in our redemption that we have an inheritance in Him and our daily needs met as we walk with the Lord and seek first His kingdom in our lives. The very next verse in the Psalms praises the Lord for this very fact:

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

In this passage, we are given a list of five offices (or ministries) that our Saviour has gifted His church with:

The first two are the Apostles and prophets. That is those who have given the Word of God to us. Though the offices of the Apostles and the prophets finished in the first century (ie. "when that which is perfect" came, the completion of the New Testament Scriptures, and thus of the whole Bible with the penning of the last word in the book of Revelation - see Revelation 22:18-19), local churches are still gifted by these two offices through their writings to us. It is their writings that form the doctrinal foundation of the New Testament church (see Ephesians 2:20 and Acts 2:42).

Evangelists – those who preach the good news (of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ), and who stir up God's people with/by the Word of God.

Pastors – those who lead by example and govern the people of God according to the Word of God. The word "pastor" literally means "shepherd." Pastors are those who watch over and care for each local church, each flock of true believers.

Teachers – those who teach the Word of God to us. While every believer is expected to be able to share their faith with others, and to be able to pass on what they have learned from God's Word (see Hebrews 5:11-14), there are those the Holy Spirit has specifically gifted in this regard.

What is the purpose of these five offices or ministries of gifted servants of the Lord?

Ephesians 4:12-16 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

"The unity of the Spirit" is to be maintained so true believers would mature and come in "the unity of the faith." The ultimate goal is so that every believer in each local New Testament church becomes more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ and is able to adequately and effectively serve Him in this world.

We are to be built up and mature in the faith so that we are not led astray by every wind of doctrine that blows through our lives (and perhaps even our churches). It is spiritual children - the carnal, immature babes - that are in danger of being caught up and deceived by those that would take them away from the Lord and His Word. Godly pastors, evangelists, and teachers are those whom the Lord has given to His church to equip His body for the work of the ministry.

One final point: God's Word states that believers are to be "speaking the truth in love." We are not to be wishy-washy and have a worldly type of love that is void of the truth and lets anything go on in our lives or the lives of our families and friends. Nor are we to be using the Word of God as a hammer that we use to smack down others. We are to speak the truth in love - so that even when we deal with the negative aspects of God's Word (such as sin, judgment, negative consequences, etc.), those around us (and in our churches) can tell we are dealing with these things because we love others and want them to build their lives and eternity upon the truth, and live in such a manner that they please the Lord.

It is the Word of God and the grace of God that equips us to live in a manner worthy of our calling. In light of this, I leave you with three final passages:

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

September 21st/09
Jerry Bouey

There is so much in the Word of God, that sometimes it is hard to know where to start when it comes to tackling Scripture for the purpose of preaching or teaching it. Working on studies such as this (ie. preaching my way through all or most of a book, and developing those messages into more indepth Bible studies) has taught me even more to respect and value those sound commentators of the past, who have spent years putting together their efforts to mine the truths of God's Word. They were not just content to scratch along on the surface, but were dedicated to digging deeper and sharing those wonderful nuggets and treasures that the Holy Spirit brought to light through their diligent efforts. They studied to shew themselves approved unto God and manifested His Word through their preaching and teaching. I praise the Lord for those precious resources that are now available to His children.

Studies in this series of Our Walk In Ephesians:

Part One - Our Walk Without Christ
Part Two - Walking In Good Works
Part Three - Walking Worthy Of Our Calling
Part Four - Walking In Newness Of Life (Coming Soon)
Part Five - Walking In Love (Coming Soon)

Our Walk In Ephesians - Part Two

Our Walk In Ephesians - Part Two

In Part One of this series studying out the seven times our walk is shown in the book of Ephesians, we saw that the first part of chapter two portrays God's view of man and his walk without the Saviour; plus the victory and inheritance we have in Christ when we trust Him alone for salvation (taken primarily from chapter one). Part two deals with the purpose the Lord has for saving us, and how this fits into the construction of His church, His new spiritual temple made up of true believers.

2) Walking In Good Works

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

A) Workmanship

"The word so translated (* poiema) has the idea of 'that which He has made,' 'His creation,' 'His production.' He not only saved us, He has made us a new creature in Christ. Thus, we have been 'created in Christ Jesus unto good works.' God's purpose in saving us, in part was that we might serve Him thereafter. We are not saved by good works. But we surely have been saved to do good works thereafter." [Quoted from David Sorenson's Understanding The Bible commentary on Ephesians, page 360 of the volume entitled Corinthians Through Philemon.]

The word for "workmanship" is poiema, where we get our English word "poem." If you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, you are the Lord's poem, His masterpiece, that He is creating. This same word is translated in Romans 1:20 as "things that are made." Just as God personally made and fashioned all of creation by the work of His hands (see Psalms 8:3, 6; 19:1), you are also His special handiwork. You are a new creature in Christ, created for His glory and pleasure.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

In all my years of being saved, I have always read Ephesians 2:10 with the perspective of the Lord working on the true Christian as an individual believer - however, this time around I am starting to see the bigger picture covered in this chapter. The "we" in "we are his workmanship" refers not just to believers individually but to the church collectively, the church He is building today, and that adds a greater focus and emphasis. Yes, the Lord is perfecting the work He has begun in each believer, but the good works He has ordained for them is with and through the local church that He has placed them in.

"The church is His poem and His new creation. Paul is not talking about the local church here, but rather about that body of believers from the day of Pentecost to the Rapture, the real believers (and most of them are members of local churches). The body of believers is His workmanship and His new creation in Christ Jesus." [J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary, Volume 5, page 237.]

I don't 100% agree with J. Vernon McGee's quote above (though I wanted to give his full statement here), so I will give you another quote for clarification:

"God wants us to be joined together to form a fellowship of saved people we call a church. When we get saved, God places us into His body by His Spirit and we become a part of the body of Christ. When the Bible teaches about the church, the emphasis is on the local church. A local church is a group of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission." [Clarence Sexton, Strengthen Thy Brethren, pages 114-115.]

B) Before Ordained - This phrase means "made ready, prepared in advance." In Romans 9:23, this same Greek word is translated as "afore prepared."

Romans 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Upon studying out the usage of this word (and seeing what some sound commentators had to say), I have found that there are two ideas expressed by it, and I think both are quite applicable here:

- The Lord Jesus Christ has planned good works for believers to walk in, works that He has prepared in advance for them to do in His name.

- He has molded and prepared believers in Christ in such a way that they would be enabled and equipped to walk in these good works that He has planned out.

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Notice that the above passage states that we are to "work out" (not "work for") "your salvation." This will happen on a day by day basis as we serve and follow the Lord. As we submit to God's leading in our walks with Him, He will work in us and through us, so that He is glorified in our lives.

As a younger believer, I had somewhat of the mentality that it was up to me to find good works to do, and then trust and expect the Lord to bless them. Yet in this verse we see that Jesus Christ had already prepared in advance the good works that He wanted me to follow in.

The primary word for "walk" in the New Testament is peripateo, and means "to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary)." Peripateo comes from two root words, one of which basically means "to trample/tread a beaten path."

What this is saying then is that we are simply to follow along in Jesus' footsteps, walking in the path or trail that He has already blazed before us.

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

C) Good Works - The theme of believers doing good works is a prominent one in the New Testament. Grouping these various passages together into categories might help us to better see the range of them. This list below does not contain all the usages of the phrase "good work(s)", but the ones that most fit the theme of this study (ie. the good works we are to walk in). I have chosen to quote these passages in the general order we find them in the Bible.

Praise - Our good works are to bring glory and honour to the Lord:

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Planning Ahead - Laying up treasures in Heaven through our good works to others:

1 Timothy 6:17-18 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Prepared - Ready and equipped for every good work (Notice: it is the Word of God that makes the believer perfect/complete and fully furnished to serve the Lord):

2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

A Pattern - Believers are to be models in their good works for other believers to imitate and follow:

Titus 2:6-8 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Peculiar - God's own people set apart to serve Him in doing good works in His name:

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Practice - Good works are to be maintained regularly, as a way of life:

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Provoke - To stir up and encourage to do good works (Notice: it is in the context of the church fellowshipping and assembling together that we see this command - see Hebrews 10:21):

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

These last two points are listed out of sequence because I want to emphasize them a little more:

Promise - Here is a sevenfold promise that the Lord will provide EVERYTHING you need to do good works to others:

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Prayers - Paul's prayers for New Testament believers that they would be fruitful and perfect/complete in every good work:

Colossians 1:9-11 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

D) One New Man - God's Temple

Ephesians chapter two goes on to describe God's building project, the new man He is making. The Apostle Paul continues by giving us a more indepth look at mankind's condition apart from the Saviour. Notice the seven statements Paul makes here about our past and present condition:

Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time 

1) ye were without Christ, 

2) being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, 

3) and strangers from the covenants of promise, 

4) having no hope, 

5) and without God in the world: 

But now in Christ Jesus 

6) ye who sometimes were far off 

7) are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

But just like the Apostle does in the first part of this chapter, he overturns the bad news with the good news of the hope we have in Christ:

Ephesians 2:14-18 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Paul's two main points are: God has reconciled Jews and Gentiles together in one new man by the death of Christ; and the new body He is making - His workmanship - is the church, God's temple. (There is so much more we can glean from this passage, but that is beyond the scope of this current study.)

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

E) The Habitation Of God

"Habitation" means "place of abode, dwelling place."

It is worth noting that this spiritual temple is referred to in two senses in the New Testament. The first being the body of the individual believer, and the second being the collective or corporate spiritual body of believers gathered together (in each local church) in His name. Both are "the habitation of God through the Spirit," as the Holy Spirit permanently indwells each believer, as well as dwells within the church collectively.

1 Corinthians 3:9, 16 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building... Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

F) Fitly Framed Together

Ephesians 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

"The word so translated (* sunarmlogeo) is of interest. It has the sense of being masterfully designed and crafted together. It bespeaks a master architect and builder." [David Sorenson, page 364.]

This same Greek word is translated in chapter four of Ephesians as "fitly joined together." Strong's Concordance defines it as "(in its original sense of laying); to render close-jointed together, i.e. organize compactly." "Compactly" means "Closely; densely; with close union of parts." Thus this word carries the idea of the members of a body being closely joined together; or that of a building (in this case a temple), where the stones are being layed closely together, all parts united as one.

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1 Peter 2:4-9 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

This poetic work of art, this handiwork that the Lord is building, is individually and collectively God's temple, God's building, God's house. We are not referring to a physical house or building, but a spiritual one, comprised of individual born-again believers joined together into a new entity, the church. An entity that was created to praise and glorify the Lord, and to do His will. A building not made with dead materials, but with living stones built together on the same foundation, built upon the Rock - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

G) Full Of Good Works

One verse that has intrigued me as I have been studying out this theme is:

Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Notice the phrase "full of good works and almsdeeds." "Almsdeeds" means "active compassion exercised towards the poor." In the Bible, when someone was "full" of something (such as being "filled with the Spirit" or "full of joy"), that meant that they were "controlled or influenced by it." Tabitha was "full of good works" - all that she did in her day to day life was influenced by doing good to others. Can we say the same thing about ourselves? It certainly is a challenge to consider as we seek to "walk" in good works.

Under Construction

Under construction by the Lord,
Pieced together in perfect accord,
Bit by bit, each part joined carefully,
Fitted and arranged with wisdom, tenderly.

As the Holy Spirit smoothes the edges,
And transforms His vessel into honour,
These changes, blessed by God's own touch,
Are wrought by His glorious power.

When God's final product is presented,
It will have been tested and proved.
Fired in the kiln of life's afflictions,
Refined and the impurities removed.

Though I can't imagine the end result as yet,
This work of art will someday be done.
Molded by the Potter with His very hands,
Lovingly crafted into the image of His Son.

Poem written August 22nd/1995
Study written September 7th/2009
Jerry Bouey

*Here the commentary author quotes Greek words which this blog is not able to display properly, though the transliteration of each is quoted above.

Studies in this series of Our Walk In Ephesians:

Part One - Our Walk Without Christ
Part Two - Walking In Good Works
Part Three - Walking Worthy Of Our Calling
Part Four - Walking In Newness Of Life (Coming Soon)
Part Five - Walking In Love (Coming Soon)

I realize not everyone reading studies online has access to good study materials or Bible programs, so I wanted to post this excerpt from Torrey's Topical Textbook for further study. It is quoted from his entry entitled Good Works:

SAINTS

Created in Christ unto. Eph 2:10
Exhorted to put on. Col 3:12-14
Are full of. Acts 9:36
Are zealous of. Tit 2:14
Should be furnished unto all. 2 Tim 3:17
Should be rich in. 1 Tim 6:18
Should be careful to maintain. Tit 3:8,14
Should be established in. 2 Thess 2:17
Should be fruitful in. Col 1:10
Should be perfect in. Heb 13:21
Should be prepared unto all. 2 Tim 2:21
Should abound to all. 2 Cor 9:8
Should be ready to all. Tit 3:1
Should manifest, with meekness. James 3:13
Should provoke each other to. Heb 10:24
Should avoid ostentation in. Matt 6:1-18
Bring to the light their. John 3:21
Followed into rest by their. Rev 14:13