P Mike Applying the Word

The Power of God in Christ Audio version https://anchor.fm/mike-sprott/episodes/The-Power-of-God-in-Christ-eahkp4/a-a1co5ji The devotions from Ephesians are previews of what I’ll be preaching Sundays as we go through Paul’s letter to Ephesus. I think it will be profitable. I hope these truths will cement in my heart, and yours, as we spend time in these devotionals and through the preaching of the Word. Today, I want to talk about the key components of the book of Ephesians.   As I mentioned in the last post there are two main sections in the letter:  The Calling of God in Christ Jesus (chapters 1-3)  The Corresponding Conduct of those called in Christ Jesus (chapters 4-6)   The second half of the book of Ephesians has 41 commands for the believer to obey while there is only one in the first 3 chapters. This is an extremely important detail to understand. Why is there such a dramatic contrast? I want to illustrate the contrast’s impo...

The Christian’s Life in Christ Introduction to Ephesians I am including the skeleton of my sermon Sunday to help with background As we read through Ephesians this month.  I suggest reading MacArthur’s Study Bible introduction also.  The Introduction to the book requires some necessary background information for us to understand the book properly As we walk through it.   The Author Paul (1:1; 3:1) Paul was … Paul was an Apostle (1:1) Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,   Paul was a Prisoner (Probably in Rome (3:1, 4:1, 6:20)  Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.   This was during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome Acts 28:30 About 60 ad.  This was probably during his first imprisonment in Rome.   Paul was a Planter - A Church Planter - Paul was a Gentile Church Planter in Asia Minor.  A minister of the blessings of Abraham to the Ge...

Bible Reading Plan Updated!!!! Pmike's Bible reading plan for the year has been updated.  I want to get everybody reading the book  I will be preaching for the next 3 months.  I am looking forward to completely emerging myself in this book of the Bible. The reading of Ephesians starts today in the new plan! I will attempt to post a final devotion on Galatians sometime this week.  I hope to summarize some major application points from the book for us to meditate on.

Arrogance in Opposition https://soundcloud.com/mike-sprott/aaron-rogers-devo The arrogance of your heart has deceived you, You who live in the clefts of the rock, In the loftiness of your dwelling place, Who say in your heart, ‘ Who will bring me down to earth? Obadiah 3 At Edom’s most arrogant, they believed they were indestructible . Their view of themselves was so large they boastfully claimed they couldn’t be defeated. In their riches and their strength, they were blind to their place in this world. They opposed God and his people, Israel. However, God has shown their foolishness.  The Edomites do not exist anymore. In fact, there is no trace of them anywhere on this planet. Their judgment continues into eternity. The prophecies of Obadiah have come true and will continue forever .  Our human condition tells us to elevate ourselves and think little of our Creator. This fallen condition is much worse than we think. We think we are good and stron...

Death Through Christ https://soundcloud.com/mike-sprott/galatians-6-14-voice-devo But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14 As believers in Christ, one of our biggest temptations is allowing the world to become the lord of our hearts. The life of the believer must not be about the world.  Does the world love me?  Does the world hate me?  Am I accepted in this world ?  Am I an outcast ?  The tempting question is, “ Am I significant? ” The apostle Paul in Galatians 6:14 lays out how believers should operate in relation to the world. Accomplishments of the Flesh The Judaizers wanted the Gentiles to identify with Judaism to safeguard themselves from persecution from unbelieving Jews (6:12). If the Gentiles put themselves under the Mosaic Law and Jewish traditions, it would seem as if the Judaizers w...

The Pain of Ministry My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you — but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Galatians 4:19–20 Pain in Rebuke Here  we get a glimpse into the  pain of ministry  for Paul.  Every time I read  Galatians ,  I get more of an understanding of  how grieved Paul was over the Galatian churches.  His tone was  bold . He even sounds angry at times.  The questions were  direct and confrontational. He slammed the false teachers with very little constraint. At one point he even  said, “ I wish they would neuter themselves! ” (5:12).  His reason ing  was  logical . His reasoning was without   the  typical fallacies  many in our day use to argue .  Paul was  s tanding firm  on the  Gospel . But  during   h is stinging rebuke, we get in these...