Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Thought:  To me, our first openness to God is vitally important and crucial to further enlightenment.

Question:  Have I "hardened my heart" against God?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:18 (NIV):  "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."

Here is Paul's description of "futile gentile thinking."  It is "dark", lacking "light" which illuminates the understanding.  It is "separated from the life of God."  This clearly shows death to be a "separation" from God:  they are not near "the life of God."  The fleshly existance they have is not real living.  And don't we see that from time to time in very evil people?  They exist like animals rather than living a quality life.  This physical existance that never touches or knows God (Who created all life, including their's) is an ignorant life.  They are ignorant of Who God is.  They do not regard Him as Creator, or rightful owner, or Sovereign Lord, or Master, or King, or anything.  Why do they not, when others have?  Paul here says they do not know because they have chosen not to know.  This is what a "hard heart" is:  an initial choice against the instinctive implication that there is a God and that they should be accountable to Him.  They immediately resist these ideas:  1) if God is real they choose not to know Him, and, 2) if God is real they do not want to be accountable to Him.  These initial mindsets harden the heart, making God's entrance into it even more difficult.  A hardened heart is forever getting harder and harder.

Prayer:  Oh, Father!  Prevent my heart from ever being hardened against understanding You!  And for others I know who are considering You, help them to become vulnerable enough to let You "in."  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, any thoughts of mine that entertain an "anti-Christian" approach to life must be stopped--nipped in the bud!

Question:  Has my reasoning process been revolutionized by Chist?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:17 (NIV):  "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking."

Paul has just finished speaking at length about the unity of the body of Christ and the overall goal of growth into maturity.  To have a need for growth implies immaturity that must be dealt with and put aside.  The immaturity that apposes God's ways is here described as the lifestyle of the gentiles, not that gentiles are more evil than Jews, but that any person left to his own devices turns away from God and in so doing, aims himself toward death and disaster.  The gentiles needed saving from this directionless, Creator-less, lawless lifestyle that left them trapped in the hands of Satan.  And Paul now urges new believers to "no longer live as the gentiles do."  He emphasizes this personal word of advice by adding that he insists "on it in the Lord."  Christianity as a way of life must characterize itself in a show of separation from worldly ways and philosophies.  Actually the separation should come automatically.  If we receive God inside by receiving Christ, He will begin to change us from the inside out.  We shouldn't be able to help being changed!  (Unless we resist His change and fight against the Holy Spirit.)  So Paul is right to urge us to work at living a different lifestyle because a new believer can remain in old ways and grieve The Holy Spirit within.  We have to exercise an effort to cooperate with The Holy Spirit.

The first practical area Paul addresses is that new believers should think differently.  When we accept that God created everything and owns it all still, it dramatically alters our thinking.  "Gentile thinking" is futile because it strikes out independently of God and will obviously end in disaster if it fails to see Who's in charge of all things!  The human effort begun in "futile gentile thinking" will dissolve, be cut off, die and abruptly end when God, Who owns every soul, no longer tolerates being ignored.  The "futile thinking" has produced a "vain life."  So Paul commands that we recognize the futile way of thinking and give it up.  Think like a Christian now!  Christ-like thinking is not futile!

Prayer:  Lord, make Jesus the respected "Captain" of all my thinking.  In Your power I pray!  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, I would do well to remember every day, every moment, that Christ is the "Head" of my own body, as well as of the church (universal) body.

Question:  Am I "doing the work" that builds up others in love?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:16 (NIV):  "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds intself up in love, as each part does its work."

Christ is Our Head and we the body.  Recall that our theme in this chapter is "unity."  How are the ruling head and unintelligent body parts united?  How can the (physical) brain run the arms and legs and mouth and eyes, etc.?  Well, very successfully as we know.  We all are fine examples of brain-control.  We walk, we talk, we function well most of the time.  Observe a stroke victim, however, and it becomes clear how that even a small glitch in the brain can bring major devastation to the body.

"From him", that is, Christ, "the whole body...grows..."  Growth is a function of the body but it's instigation and implementation is vested in the brain.  The church "grows", both in quantity and quality, but the starting and processing and blessing is all up to Jesus Christ.  Sever the head, the body dies.  Sever Christ, the church dies.  The "whole body" is Christ's, that is, the church universal, the worldwide body of Christ, not just one local church group.

The growth is characterized by a building up "in love."  Again we see that love bathes everything Christ does for us.  He does all He does in love.  It is His primary motivation, and should therefore also be ours.

The body is "joined and held together by every supporting ligament."  We have Christ, the brain and eyes, ears, nose, mouth of the head, and we have the limbs of the body.  The limbs are "held together", or, kept in place, by "supporting ligaments."  To me, these "ligaments" could be the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers of verse 11.  We remain connected in doctrine and truth through their words and teaching.  The "common" people, not gifted in these leadership ways, (but definitely in other ways), are "supported" by leadership--"held together."  This is the unity factor again, seen quite clearly in the analogy of the body.  Our limbs can flow quite smoothly in functions, being even graceful, as scores of small parts operate together.  Bone, tendon, nerve, glands, blood, muscle, organs and tissues, each unique and vital, all unit into body; and we belong to Our Masterful Head, Jesus Christ, and His decisions, His guidance, His Ways--Praise The Lord!

The body only functions "as each part does its work."  We know firsthand the misery and suffering when even a tiny part of the body fails in its function.  I wonder how the 2008 body of Jesus Christ is functioning?  Which parts are failing to "do their work"?  Me?  

The growth process is normal.  Children, small versions of adults, have completely functioning bodies.  But illness and disease is abnormal, and adults who suffer dysfunctionally in their bodies are not pleasing to us or to the Lord.  Allegorically the same is true spiritually:  when a believer is not as he or she should be, the whole body of Christ will suffer.  This is the flip-side effect of the aspect of unity.

Prayer:  Father, You have ordained Your Son as my Head and Lord:  help me not to become a "dysfunctional body part", but rather, a "supporting" unifier/builder to honor You.  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, the truth of Christ is the best protection against the deceptions of the enemy.

Question:  Do I "speak the truth in love"?  What does this mean?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:15 (NIV):  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

Truth stands up against the "deceitful scheming" in the previous verse.  Knowing truth is the key to growth and maturity.  So, rather than being caught in "infancy" and spiritual immaturity, we can "grow up into him", Christ Jesus.  This verse states that the primary way we grow up is to receive truth; receive it until we also speak it out lovingly to others.  Remember, Jesus said, "I am the truth..."  (John 14:6).  So receiving truth is receiving Christ; speaking truth is talking about Jesus Christ.  The more filled up we are with Christ, the more mature and grown up we are, and the more truth we possess--truth about how everything really began, where it all came from, Who God really is, why we're here, where we're going, etc., etc.

"We will in all things grow up..."  Not some things, but in all things.  The apostles spoke truth, the prophets certainly did, evangelists do, and so do pastors and teachers.  As they speak truth "we will in all things grow up."  There is a vital connection here.  Truth must be given, spoken out, before an "infant" will grow.  And it must be spoken "in love."  Think of the nurturing care of a parent, a mother.  The best children are ones tenderly loved while given real truth about things.  Thus, under the motherly nurturing of "truth in love", "we will...grow up", and we will do so "in all things".  (God is thorough and will see to the well-roundedness of our spiritual education!)

Now, when we do grow up. we find ourselves growing up "into him", into Christ.  And He is Our Head.  We are the body.  The head rules the body.  Christ rules us.  We are never disconnected from His authority.  (Thank Goodness!)  We see Paul's "Ephesian theme" sticking out again:  "in Christ."  Everything good is "in Christ", and good growth also, apparently, is the kind of growth that lifts us closer to Jesus.  If we do not sense being closer today to Jesus than yesterday or last week, we are not "growing."

Prayer:  Lord, help me grow closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Then I will be a person of truthful integrity.  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, unity, fullness of Christ and maturity are the only hope against weak infancy and gullibility.

Question:  Am I an "infant", deceived and manipulated, or am I on the road to growth and maturity?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:14 (NIV):  "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."

When will we no longer be like infants?  When we reach unity in faith and knowledge and thus become mature.  And this maturity is through the gifted pastor-teachers, evangelists, prophets, etc., working to build us up.  My job is to listen, to learn, to grow under their teaching.  For a time, then, I am dependent upon them.  But I am also gifted and graced to unite with these leaders in unity, in one church (universal) body.  My dependency cannot be entirely or only upon such leaders.  I must be dependent on God and the Holy Spirit.  Infants are dependent on others more mature than they for everything they need.  Infants have nothing to give in return.  Unity in faith and knowledge is a growing process that brings us gradually out of this kind of other-dependence and makes us God-dependent.  God-dependency is maturity, and those leaning on God are best equipped to give to others and serve others, unlike weak infants.

Because being totally other-dependent is a characteristic of "infants", there is real room for false teachers to come in and influence them.  The "sounds" of other teachings "blow" around on immature ears.  Many of these sounds or calls are heeded by the weak believers, and they are victimized by the "cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."  The fact that this is described here indicates it can and does occur.  The remedy is to be "built up" (verse 12) by the serving work of gifted leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers).  Christ gifted such men (and women) in order to provide the needed remedy to immaturity.  He did not instantly send wisdom to the "infants" but rather arranged for an educational process, (much as we do for our own children), which involved the mature Christians in roles of leadership and teaching.  God likes us involved with each other!  He likes process!  He likes nurturing unto growth on our part over the "infants" probably because we also learn a lot from teaching.

Prayer:  Lord, I don't want to remain in infancy!  Help me grow, Father, as You have willed.  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, every possibility of mature Christian perfection is presently available to me--in Christ!

Question:  Do I "hold onto" any amount of self, preventing Christ's fullness in me?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:13 (NIV):  "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Paul returns (though never having left) to his original theme of chapter 4, the unity of all believers.  The end of God's purpose is grand unity and fullness of Spirit.  Christ is the greatest unifier of the human race ever.  He died to unify us back under God's authority.  He arose again to unite us to the eternal life we forfeited in Eden.  He gave gifts to men and led captive souls free to unify all believers together!  We, the church, are still working with His giftings to bring to a close the full fruit of the church age, which all works together in a grand unification drawing all like souls together in salvation, and conforms those saved souls into one likeness of Christ Himself.

The gifts will continue to be given and used "until we all reach unity...and become mature."  God The Father knows when maturity is reached, we don't.  God knows how many souls total will comprise the body, we don't.  We just need to keep on developing the gifts and working in service one to another, perfecting our faiths.

The "maturity" is described here in two facets:  1) "faith of the Son of God", and 2) "knowledge of the Son of God."  All maturing, apparently, falls into one area or the other.  Our faith revolves around The Son of God.  He is of utmost importance.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ is everything.  Then we need to grow in relationship in two ways, 1) faith in (Him) and, 2) knowledge of (Him).  What do we believe about Christ and how far will our beliefs carry us?  What do we know about Jesus and will what we know cause trust to keep growing every day?  What is happening to me now that stretches trust?  What did we learn today about Christ that was new?  If these thought exercises are kept every day we will not grow stagnant, first of all, and we will not cease improving, second of all.  It is then that we begin to see that the life of faith is a continual growth process and that maturity is still ahead of us and continually unattainable.  To be as good as Jesus Christ is basically not possible except as we empty ourselves of self-will and yield more and more to Him.  "The whole measure of the fullness of Christ" therefore, is never my ability to be as good as Christ was; but rather an ability to continually empty self-will out whenever it rises or flares up, and trade for Christ's Spirit to take its place.  Perhaps the most mature Christian is the one who never again yields to flesh but, every time flesh tempts, turns to the control of Spirit.  It takes a while to learn this.  Then it takes awhile to decide to obey.

Christ "apportioned" (verse 7) grace in His gift-giving.  Now we see His portions working together with other portions (gifts) until all of us come all the way to "full measure" maturity.  Interestingly, we all need each other, don't we?  We have to remember that we are pieces of His body, interdependent and incomplete alone.  We also have to remember that grace in the first place is God giving bits of Himself away to us in order for us to get a feel of Who He is.  We are indulged by His graces.  He is too kind.  But it is nice to learn that God is "too kind."

"Fullness of Christ" is what I want.  I covet it with most all of my heart.  (I'm being honest!  A part of my heart still wants space for self-indulgence!)  This is what God has to purge out of me.  This is the immaturity in me that needs to be destroyed!

Prayer:  Great, Almighty Father, help me yield 100% of myself so that I can reach maturity and the "whole measure of the fullness of Christ."  Amen! 

Thought:  To me, Christ's provisions for the needs of the church are perfect and beautifully well-organized.

Question:  Do I allow myself to be "built up" by gifted men?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:12 (NIV):  "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"

There is much purpose in God's empowering Christ to give gifts to men.  The church is Christ's body; it is part of Him.  He became flesh so that we could become spiritual.  He is Our Head and we are joined forever to Him.  Thus we must continue in spiritual learning and growth while He has been taken away from us, back up into Heaven.  The gifts given "prepare" us to carry on without Jesus Christ present in bodily form. We are at "work" in our faith, serving one another, especially to promote the gospel abroad in the earth.  The church body will be built stronger and larger because of these good gifts given to us by Christ.  They will enable us to go forward in faith and to do properly for one another, acts of true spiritual service.  Without gifts from Christ we merely aid people in our own strength--nothing spiritual is passed on.  The life of Christ is in the spirit, thus He gives spiritual gifts to people:  the Holy Spirit is present with each gifting.

To me, "built up" means both in quality and guantity.  The church must enlarge in number as well as be purified in character and power, the individuals drawing closer to the image of Christ that God intended.  Similarly I believe that scriptural fruitfulness is both seen in souls added by one's witness, and in evidence of the fruits of the Spirit being added to one's character.

Prayer:  We have an awesomely compassionate Savior, Father:  Your Son, Jesus Christ, has thought of every single need we have.  Thank You!  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, what the church is today, is due to the gifts given to men by Jesus Christ.

Question:  Am I thankful for, and obedient to, the gifted teachers or Pastors over me?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:11 (NIV):  "it was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,"

At that time of descension and subsequent ascension, Christ not only led the captives in hades free, but also received power to distribute graces to many living individuals.  These gifts of grace all differed one from another.  Some were gifted to become apostles.  Apostles, as I understand, were a one-time group commissioned to form the foundation of the church.  Christ is cornerstone with the 12 apostles, originally the 12 disciples minus Judas Iscariot plus Paul "born out of season", forming the rest of the foundation.  Peter was declared "head apostle", if you will, the great leader of the Jews, and Paul was gifted to minister to gentiles.

Also graced were those who could bring the Word of God to the people:  prophets.  I know of no other prophets in the new testament era than the apostles themselves, from among whom was authored the entire new testament, except Luke who was not an apostle.  But the Lord knows if there are more!  John the Baptist was considered a prophet, the last of the old testament prophets at that; but he did not author scripture to my knowledge.

Evangelists are ones especially gifted by Christ to win souls.  Many, if not all the apostles, also fit this category.  But there are and were, no doubt, many others.

Pastors and teachers, and to some, "pastor-teachers", are another gifted group.  Paul begins at the "top", as it were, of special gifts, and goes down through to all levels.  Many, many are graced to lead various groups of all sizes, and to teach God's Word as well.  Even children can teach other children and be said to be "gifted" by Christ to do so.

To me, these giftings are still going on.  Each teacher, pastor, evangelist and prophet today, is still receiving the grace and wisdom to do what he or she does, from Jesus Christ.  The access into Christ and therefore into God's power, is made possible by Christ's descension and ascension.  Christ is authorized with gracing ability because He alone achieved so much in His death and subsequent resurrection.  Christ received the honor and ability of gracing men when He died and rose, but the giving of those graces continues today and on throughout the church-age.

Prayer:  Thank You, Father, for empowering Your Son to give gifts to men.  Without those gifts I am sure we would flounder.  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, Christ's greatness indeed "fills the whole universe"!

Question:  Do I praise Christ enough for His greatness? 

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:10 (NIV):  "He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)"

Christ is the very one who descended.  We know this is true because Christ's whole purpose in coming to earth in human form was to die.  In dying, He was subjected to the power of death which pulled Him down into hades.  But because He was sinless, God The Father could pull Him up, back into life where Christ showed Himself alive on earth for 40 days, and then pulled Him higher yet, up into the highest level of Heaven where He was exalted and given a Name higher than any other.  The process of dying and being pulled back to life on earth was the familiar 3-day space between Good Friday and Easter.

Now it can be said that Christ "fills the whole universe."  He has come in contact with the lowest parts, where death reigns, and also the very highest parts, where He Himself has been given supreme authority by His Father, plus providing for all of earth in between.  He is The One qualified, thusly, to judge men, rule on earth and intercede for them before God's throne.  He is The Only One qualified.

Prayer:  Praise to You, dear Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!  You have done it all!  Amen. 

Thought:  To me, the very physical movement of Christ's descension and subsequent ascension reflects His awesome authority as King of Kings.

Question:  Do I appreciate the magnitude of Christ's descension and ascension?

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:9 (NIV):  "(What does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?"

Paul starts a parenthetical statement in this verse.  He shows us how Christ moved quite low into the depths of hades, or as the NIV footnotes, "the depths of the earth", then also moved quite high up into the highest of heavens.  (See Ephesians 1:19-23, wherein God The Father's power raises Christ from lowness of death's hades, up to the highest of positions, exalting His Name above all others.)  Paul is right:  one cannot "ascend" unless He first "descends".

Prayer:  Thank You, Magnificent God, for pulling Your Son back up from hades to stand once again on earth!  And thank You for then lifting Him to be seated at Your right hand in the heavens!  Amen. 

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