Paul visited Ephesus during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18-21).  He spent three years in Ephesus on his third tour (Acts 19).  His warning to the elders of the Ephesian congregation in Miletus, thirty five miles to the north (Acts 20:16-32).  Written from Rome around 60-64 A.D.  Jesus' message to the church in Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7).

Christ

1:3-13,

Heavenlies

1:3, 20, 2:6, 3:10; 6:12

Spiritual warfare

4:27; 6:11-18

Grace

1:2,6; 2:7-8; 3:2,7,8; 4:7; 6:24

Love

4:15; 5:2,25,28, 33; 6:23,24

Salvation

1:7; 2:8-9

Christian identity

1:1,3,5, 2:6; 4:24 

Walk of the Christian

1:4, 4:1, 4:2-3; 4:14-15; 5:1, 15-16; 2716-19; 3:12; 3:14-19; 4:11-16;

Power

1:19, 3:16, 20; 6:10

Faith

1:1,15, 2:8; 6:16

Prayer

1:16-19; 3:12, 14-19; 6:18-19

Sin

2:1-3; 4:22; 5:3,5

Proper church function

4:11-16; 5:18-21 

Family life

5:22-33; 6:1-4

Evangelism

3:8; 6:15, 19-20

Truth

4:15, 25; 6:14

Holy Spirit

1:13-14; 3:16; 4:3, 30; 5:18; 6:18

Unity

4:3-6

Understand the times and what to do.

1 Chron 12:32

We need to OCCUPY in these last times, and not be PREOCCUPIED with the times

We must understand the times, but also make the most of our time, and give the devil no time.  Prioritize time.  Get back to reading the Bible

Why read the Bible?

1 Tim 4:13

Mt 4:4

2 Tim 3:16-17

1 Pet 2:2

Before reading:

1 Jn 2:27 acknowledge the Holy Spirit is the teacher of learning

1 Pet 2:1  removal of sin is a prerequisite for learning

Jam 1:21

Heb 5:14   discernment comes from practice

Spiritual discernment reveals two great problems with the Americanized Church

Most churches are anti-family: don't protect children from public schools, Drag Queen story hour, filth on internet/tv; men's group sausage biscuit ministry; women princess hour; no teaching on manhood, home devotions, spiritual leadership; soft on divorce;

Most churches aren't preaching why Christ came nor who Christ is. 

Why did Christ die?  Who is Christ? Savior and Lord

Why Christ came

Gal 1:4

Tit 2:14

2 Cor 5:15

1 Pet 4:1-2

Who is Christ? Lord and Savior

John 1:12

Rom 10:9-10

Rom 14:7-9

Acts 16:29-31

2 Cor 4:4-5

Col 2:6

Drklouslive Jan 7  Year 2020 a year of Identity in Christ not Crisis Identity

Read devotion p. 7.

Our Leader is proven, our calling is clear, our mission is divine, our victory is sure, our weapons are superior, and our adversary is overcome when the Lord's army is obedient.

Christians alone have all authority, every spiritual blessing, God's great and magnificent promises, all sufficient God-inspired Scripture, supernatural power, heavenly wisdom, full armor, and full support of the Triune God to preach the only Gospel and advance His Kingdom.  There is no excuse for sitting and complaining, but every reason to go and conquer.  Christians are commanded to lay aside every encumbrance, sin and worldly preoccupation that so easily entangles and run the race and finish the course.  We don't follow dead religious leaders buried six feet under but follow Jesus who won and is ascended above the heavens.

All that is left to do is merely to go and DO, hastening His return, not waiting for our rapture. The perhaps the greatest real challenge to all the above is to find others so inclined and who make the time, which can be as hard as raising the dead and stopping time.

First it is comforting to know that God is on your side when we are in His will

Mt 28:18-20

Rom 8:31,36

2 Chron 16:9

Ps 22:3

Jn 4:23

Heb 11:6

Jer 29:11-13

IDENTITY IN CHRIST

(Think about this when you are witnessing. It's not just about "getting saved"

Supernaturally recreated: 2 Cor 5:17

Fully blessed: Eph 1:3

Victoriously seated: Eph 2:6

Spiritually armed: Eph 6:11

Heaven citizenship: Phil 3:20

Delivered from sin's bondage: Rom 6:6, 22; Gal 5:24

Promises of God: 2 Pet 1:4

Taught by God: 1 Cor 2:12-13

Equipped and prepared by Scripture: 2 Tim 3:16-17

Divinely empowered: Acts 1:8; Phil 4:13; Eph 1:19

Divinely cared for: Rom 8:28

Resist the devil: Jam 4:7  ctr with sons of Sceva

Made complete: Col 2:10

Royal priesthood: 1 Pet 2:5, 9

Throne invitation: Heb 4:16