Holy Intimacy and Power
Each article is the draft of the chapter that appeard in
Tim's book, "A Life of Holy Intimacy and Power: The
Radical Message of Ephesians for Believers".
Reasons to Pray (Ephesians 6:18-24)
August 28, 2007
The Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus closes with reminders that prayer is to be an integral part of the Christian life, and that we are to pray "in the Spirit".
War of the Worlds (Ephesians 6:10-17)
August 13, 2007
Paul winds down his letter with a reminder that we who follow Jesus live in a war zone. Worse, we are actually targetted by the enemy. Paul does not want us simply to duck and hide, but to fight and win.
The Workplace and the Role of Government There (Ephesians 6:5-9)
June 30, 2007
If Jesus was a citizen of the United States, would He be a political conservative, or a liberal? Trick question... Jesus always seemed to be able to transcend politics, turning conventional wisdom on end. This set of verses focuses on the boss-employee relationship.
Advice for Parents and Children (Ephesians 6:1-4)
June 13, 2007
The Apostle Paul addresses how faith ought to effect the relationship between a father and his children. Here, we explore the implications of what he wrote.
Sex, Intimacy, and God (Ephesians 5:31-33)
April 11, 2007
Paul surprises us with quoting a famous passage from the book of Genesis dealing with marriage, and tells us that its deeper revelation is how the marriage relationship is meant to help us understand the profound mystery of the relationship between Christ and the Church.
Marriage (Part 2) (Ephesians 5:21-30)
March 19, 2007
In this second half of this commentary on marriage, we focus on the role of the husband. Paul establishes a standard for the husband that is impossible for the husband to achieve: that the husband is to love his wife as Jesus loved (and loves) the Church. Who can really love another to the same degree as Jesus loves?
Marriage (Part 1) (Ephesians 5:21-30)
February 2, 2007
In the first part of the commentary on this passage dealing with Christian marriage, we focus on a general overview and then move into looking at the role of the wife. One of the most harmful uses of Scripture has been the effort of some conservative and fundamentalist teachers who have taken only a shallow look at this passage, and used it to propagate an authoritarianism in the home that God never intended to be there. The beginning of this passage, verse 21, tells us that each believer is to submit to other believers out of reverence for Christ.
Led by the Spirit and Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-20)
November 21, 2006
The passage we examine here concludes Paul's general thoughts on how to live as a Christian. On the one extreme are those believers who map out there lives. At the other extreme are those who just wander through life, "being led by the Spirit". The Apostle Paul is arguing for a middle ground, blending the best of both camps.
It's Time to Decide Who You Really Are (Ephesians 5:8-14)
November 11, 2006
This passage is really a story about an ugly duckling who realizes he is really an eagle. And that eagle is you!
External Truth-Tellers and the Focus of a Believer (Ephesians 5:3-7)
October 25, 2006
This passage develops the idea first given in verse 1 of chapter 5, telling us how to be imitators of God.
Dearly Loved Children Can Dearly Love (Ephesians 5:1-2)
September 13, 2006
The first verse begins with an exhortation to be imitators of God. The phrase which comes next helps motivate why we should follow his example, and makes plain a truth that Paul keeps coming back to in the book of Ephesians: we are dearly loved children of God. Awesome!
Faith, Words, and Anger (Ephesians 4:25-32)
August 30, 2006
Much practical advice on how to deal with anger.
To Be New Outwardly, Start with How We Think Inwardly (Ephesians 4:17-24)
May 14, 2006
This passage highlights the amazing transformation that took place in us when we put our faith in Jesus. While we have experienced a real change of identity, it isn't always reflected in outward changes of behavior, or even inward ways of thinking. This takes some doing on our part.
Overcoming False Religion with Truth Spoken in Love (Ephesians 4:14-16)
May 8, 2006
As the Church matures, we will be able to speak the truth about false teachings, and the Church will be in general agreement to what is spoken, and turn away from what is a distortion of the truth.
Each of Us Has a Ministry (Ephesians 4:7-13)
April 5, 2006
A discussion about how God works through people to build up and strengthen His Church. God's plan is to build up the church through gifts He gives to various people.
Doing Our Part to Keep Unity in the Church (Ephesians 4:1-6)
March 5, 2006
Chapter 4 marks a major transition in the book of Ephesians. Here, Paul's plea is that in light of what he himself was suffering, and in light of all that he just taught us about our privileged relationship with God because of His great grace and mercy, we should respond with behavior consistent with our gratefulness for all God has done on our behalf.
Wow God! (Ephesians 3:20-21)
February 19, 2006
Verses 20 and 21 conclude the Apostle Paul's great prayer, but what a powerful conclusion! This conclusion gives high praise to God the Father, and along the way reminds us of His greatness and power.
The Secret to Having the Fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19)
August 16, 2008
This passage is among the most powerful and important in the entire Bible. It tells us the secret of how to be filled with "all the fullness of God". And the answer may surprise you...
Boldly Go... Into His Presence (Ephesians 3:10-15)
January 29, 2006
What "manifold wisdom" of God is being expressed through the Church? Perhaps the wisdom is that humans can be transformed into God's image by God living in our hearts, which occurs as a result of faith in Jesus's work on the cross.
The Call, the Impartation, and the Adventure (Ephesians 3:7-9)
January 15, 2006
Paul explains a little about why his declaration of the Good News, earlier called "the mystery of Christ", could be trusted. The reason he gives here: because he was granted God's grace to do this by God's power, and because he in fact was commanded by God to proclaim it.
Are We Prisoners of Christ Like Paul? (Ephesians 3:1-6)
January 1, 2006
Paul's love for God was so much that his heart's desire was to do only what His first love bid him do. So in the sense of his heart being captivated by Jesus, Paul was God's prisoner.
We are the Temple of God (Ephesians 2:19-22)
December 11, 2005
The work of building the Temple (the collective Church) is not yet complete -- it is an ongoing project. This not only implies that the number of the Church is being added to everyday, but also that each of us are being worked on so that we can form the parts of the Temple that we are meant to be.
Jesus Brings Jews and Gentiles Together in His Family (Ephesians 2:11-18)
December 4, 2005
The Law kept people at arm's length from God -- some people moreso than others. But through Jesus, all may draw near to God. It is not simply that Jesus made Gentiles good enough to worship God just like the Jewish people who did not put their trust in the Messiah -- what Jesus gave us far surpassed anything that an unredeemed Jewish person could hope to experience.
God Has Some Exciting Things for Us to Do! (Ephesians 2:8-10)
November 20, 2005
Paul tells us how grace and faith interact, and what grace is not: it is not a payment for something we did. Grace is a gift. A gift is not earned. God is in the business of transforming us, and as He transforms us, we are made more suitable for the things God has planned for us. God has things He wants us to do, good things that He wants us to accomplish on His behalf.
Better Than We Could Have Imagined (Ephesians 2:4-7)
November 6, 2005
This passage contrasts the description of what we deserved to receive as enemies of God to what we actually received. It is because God's love is so great for us that He implemented a plan to rescue us and put us in the place He desired most: in fellowship with Him.
Worse Than We Thought (Ephesians 2:1-3)
October 22, 2005
In order to appreciate what God did for us through Jesus, we have to appreciate the state we were in: we were dead because of the work of sin in our lives; the way of sin was our pattern; Satan was constantly at work in our lives; Satan was our ruler; we followed his ways of disobedience; we were slaves to our flesh and our fancies; we were fully and completely deserving of God?s anger and punishment.
Putting Easter Back into the Gospel (Ephesians 1:19-23)
March 28, 2005
I've heard a lot of different presentations of the Gospel message, the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, and they all seem to focus on the cross. It is a "Good Friday" Gospel being preached. But the message proclaimed by the apostles seems to be a different one. The message is one that puts at least as much emphasis on Jesus being raised from the dead as on Jesus dying on the cross.
Holy Intimacy and Power (Ephesians 1:17-19)
March 21, 2005
This is perhaps one of the greatest passages in the entire Bible! Paul prays that we might know God deeply and intimately. That is, Paul is asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit to give us revelation of the nature and character and personality of God, so that we would indeed know Him at a very intimate level.
Being Aware of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-16)
April 4, 2005
When we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, we are given the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Holy Spirit living in us is not just supposed to be a doctrinal point of view -- rather, it is supposed to be an experiential reality. Yet many believers do not seem to be aware of the Holy Spirit living within them. They do not feel His presence or hear His voice.
God's Lavish Outpouring to Us: Grace (Ephesians 1:7-10)
October 15, 2005
These verses continue the theme of grace. God's great sacrifice for us indicates not only His love for us but how valuable we are to Him. We are forgiven and set free!
What Does it Mean to be Chosen and Predestined? (Ephesians 1:4-6;11-12)
April 25, 2005
These verses, which focus on being chosen by God, take on a new understanding when we consider the parable Jesus told about the banquet at the wedding feast.
Dare to Imagine God Doing Great Things Through You (Ephesians 1:1-3)
May 9, 2005
In this introduction to the letter to the Ephesians, we see that Paul knew exactly who he was and what he was called to do and who called him to do it. And that should inspire us, as well, as we serve our God in whatever role He gives us.