“I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” - Revelation 2:3   In His letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus acknowledges the church’s perseverance through hardships. He sees their steadfastness and commends them for enduring trials without growing weary.  Life is filled with challenges and hardships. We face trials in our personal lives, work, re...  Read More

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.” - Revelation 2:2   In the letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus acknowledges their unwavering commitment to the truth. This was a church that held a deep passion for sound doctrine. They opened their B...  Read More

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” - Revelation 2:4   As we dive into Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in Revelation, one striking aspect stands out: Jesus doesn’t just praise these churches or merely criticize them. Instead, He offers a balanced perspective, pointing out both their strengths and their weaknesses. This approach is something we can lear...  Read More

“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” - Revelation 1:19   In the book of Revelation, we find letters addressed to seven literal churches. These messages aren't just for those churches; they reveal seven types of church members, too. As we dive into these letters over the next few days, let’s set the stage by understanding a bit more about the author, J...  Read More

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." - Hebrews 11:6   In our journey with God, faith serves as the cornerstone on which our relationship is built. It's not merely a component; it's the very essence of our connection to Him. Our faith manifests in various dimensions: in what ...  Read More

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:4-7   D...  Read More

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also." - Eph...  Read More

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins." — Ephesians 2:1   I experienced the need for salvation for the very first time as a young boy—not in a spiritual sense, but in a physical sense. One summer Saturday in Texas, my family was enjoying some time at our local lake when I was probably 9 or 10 years old. I'll never forget the scene that day. There was a beach where people would hang out, a...  Read More

"In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory." — Ephesians 1:13-14   Over the past couple of weeks, we have been looking at who we are in Christ. Paul’s words in Ephesians 1 ar...  Read More

"He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him." — Ephesians 1:9-10   In Old Testament times, God's plans and goals weren’t as clear as they are today. We have clarity now regarding God’s purpose and the “mystery of His will”...  Read More

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." — Ephesians 1:7   One significant spiritual blessing we experience "in Christ" is our redemption. The concept of being redeemed refers to the act of buying something out of the market, and in biblical terms, it paints the picture of a slave market. Because of the sins in our live...  Read More

"He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." — Ephesians 1:5   The Bible tells us that when we are saved, we immediately become part of the family of God. This adoption into God's family is not something we earn; it happens instantly upon salvation. As children of the King, we receive the same rights as Jesus Himself. In th...  Read More