THE CHURCH FOUNDATION
Ephesians 2:20–22 says, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
We today do not lay any foundation again, by claiming to be Apostles, Pastors or Prophets. Rather, we build on the foundational truths God established so firmly through His inspired apostles and prophets, like Paul, Peter and other fellow–apostles. We build with full confidence, knowing how completely Christ has defeated Satan and the sinful world. But He says still, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” See John 16:33, it says, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. This is done by Christ not by anybody else. See Colossians 2:15–17 says, and having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. In 1st John 2:14, it says, I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
The evil one cannot harm us – no matter what happens to us. This foundational truth remains steady and sure, whether our feelings go up or down. God’s love never change. His love is far greater than our changing emotions and circumstances. We should rely on God, not on our feelings, for God is far greater than the human heart. See 1st John 3:19–20, it says, This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.
God makes possible for us even that which seems impossible. Ephesians 3:16–19 says, I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. This is a prayer for us to know love that is beyond knowing. Pray that prayer for yourself and for your family members. As you pray, take to heart the source of your winning strength – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – whose unlimited power does the impossible, even filling you with all the fullness of God. See Ephesians 3:14–20, It says, For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
God bless you and be thankful.
This week Reflection Questions:-
(1a). whom has Jesus defeated and disarmed?
Read John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Read also Colossians 2:15, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”
(1b) what does this for us?
Read 1st John 2:14 and verse 24, “I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.”
(2) What reasons caused Paul and cause us today not to lose heart?
Read 2nd Corinthians 4:16–18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Read also Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
(3) How does God use “weakness”? What are examples of this kind of weakness?
Read 2nd Corinthians 12:9–10, “But He said to me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”
Ephesians 2:20–22 says, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
We today do not lay any foundation again, by claiming to be Apostles, Pastors or Prophets. Rather, we build on the foundational truths God established so firmly through His inspired apostles and prophets, like Paul, Peter and other fellow–apostles. We build with full confidence, knowing how completely Christ has defeated Satan and the sinful world. But He says still, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” See John 16:33, it says, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. This is done by Christ not by anybody else. See Colossians 2:15–17 says, and having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. In 1st John 2:14, it says, I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
The evil one cannot harm us – no matter what happens to us. This foundational truth remains steady and sure, whether our feelings go up or down. God’s love never change. His love is far greater than our changing emotions and circumstances. We should rely on God, not on our feelings, for God is far greater than the human heart. See 1st John 3:19–20, it says, This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.
God makes possible for us even that which seems impossible. Ephesians 3:16–19 says, I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. This is a prayer for us to know love that is beyond knowing. Pray that prayer for yourself and for your family members. As you pray, take to heart the source of your winning strength – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – whose unlimited power does the impossible, even filling you with all the fullness of God. See Ephesians 3:14–20, It says, For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
God bless you and be thankful.
This week Reflection Questions:-
(1a). whom has Jesus defeated and disarmed?
Read John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Read also Colossians 2:15, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”
(1b) what does this for us?
Read 1st John 2:14 and verse 24, “I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.”
(2) What reasons caused Paul and cause us today not to lose heart?
Read 2nd Corinthians 4:16–18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Read also Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
(3) How does God use “weakness”? What are examples of this kind of weakness?
Read 2nd Corinthians 12:9–10, “But He said to me. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”