Bible League: Living His Word [I pray that]… you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe.— Ephesians 1:19 ERV When the Apostle Paul prayed for people, he prayed for a number of different things. In the context of our verse for today, for example, he prayed that they would have the power to know God better (Ephesians 1:17) and the power to know that “the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious” (Ephesians 1:18). In our verse for today, however, he prayed for something more than the power to know or do certain things. Instead of praying that they would come to know this or that particular manifestation of God’s power, he prayed that they would come to know the greatness of God’s power. One might say that he prayed they would come to know the greatness of God’s power whenever they operated in any of its particular manifestations. How great can this power get? Paul gives us a prime example. The power can get as powerful as “the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 19-20). Paul wanted more for the church than that they would come to know God’s power. He wanted them to come to know God’s power in the fullness of its greatness. He wanted them to know the very resurrection power of God. The Christian faith is a religion of power. From first to last, Christians operate in the power of God. In every area of life Christians go forth empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. In every area of life Christians experience this power changing things for the better. They experience it in their physical bodies, in their spiritual life, in their family life, in their work and finances, in church, and in every other area. The power of God can go to work anywhere and everywhere. Indeed, it was the power of God that led us to faith in the first place. That’s why Paul called faith a “gift from God” (Ephesians 2:8). What Paul prayed for and what we should pray for, then, is that the power of God at work in our lives would rise up all the way to the greatness of resurrection power. We should pray that we would know and experience this resurrection power in every area of our lives. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzra 9, 10 Ezra 9 -- Ezra's Prayer About Intermarriage NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezra 10 -- The People Confess; Listing of Those Guilty of Intermarriage NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 1 Acts 1 -- The Ascension; Matthias Chosen by Lot NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.Insight The possibility of losing their lives was very real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Real discipleship implies real commitment—pledging our whole existence to his service. Challenge If we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing our true eternal life. If we protect ourselves from pain, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our lives in service to Christ, however, we discover the real purpose of living. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Revelation 3:7 He openeth, and no man shutteth.Jesus is the keeper of the gates of paradise and before every believing soul he setteth an open door, which no man or devil shall be able to close against it. What joy it will be to find that faith in him is the golden key to the everlasting doors. My soul, dost thou carry this key in thy bosom, or art thou trusting to some deceitful pick-lock, which will fail thee at last? Hear this parable of the preacher, and remember it. The great King has made a banquet, and he has proclaimed to all the world that none shall enter but those who bring with them the fairest flower that blooms. The spirits of men advance to the gate by thousands, and they bring each one the flower which he esteems the queen of the garden; but in crowds they are driven from the royal presence, and enter not into the festive halls. Some bear in their hand the deadly nightshade of superstition, or the flaunting poppies of Rome, or the hemlock of self- righteousness, but these are not dear to the King, the bearers are shut out of the pearly gates. My soul, hast thou gathered the rose of Sharon? Dost thou wear the lily of the valley in thy bosom constantly? If so, when thou comest up to the gates of heaven thou wilt know its value, for thou hast only to show this choicest of flowers, and the Porter will open: not for a moment will he deny thee admission, for to that rose the Porter openeth ever. Thou shalt find thy way with the rose of Sharon in thy hand up to the throne of God himself, for heaven itself possesses nothing that excels its radiant beauty, and of all the flowers that bloom in paradise there is none that can rival the lily of the valley. My soul, get Calvary's blood-red rose into thy hand by faith, by love wear it, by communion preserve it, by daily watchfulness make it thine all in all, and thou shalt be blessed beyond all bliss, happy beyond a dream. Jesus, be mine forever, my God, my heaven, my all. Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.John 16:23,24 "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. • "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 1 John 5:14,15 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. • And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:7,8 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. • So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 Rejoice always; • pray without ceasing; • in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. • Do not quench the Spirit; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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