Just the word “submission” likely makes some of you reading this bristle. “I don’t want to hear about that,” may be a thought that is running through your mind. Don’t resist or reject what the Bible commands. 1 Peter 2:13 clearly commands “submit yourself to every ordinance of man, for the Lord’s sake.”The word "submission" simply means "being under," or being willing to cooperate with another. It...  Read More

God has established structures of authority in all areas of life. Government is one of His established structures.  1 Peter 2:13–14 says, “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,  or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.” Peter wrote for Christians to ...  Read More

1 Peter 2:13a (NKJV) - Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake…The middle letter of sin is “I”, and our own rebellion and stubbornness is the problem keeping us from biblical submission. Right after prophetically describing how Jesus would be punished for our sins (Isaiah 53:3-5), verse 6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own wa...  Read More

Ephesians 3:17-19 — "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."Before we look at Paul's requests, see this. Paul says in verse 16 that God gives...  Read More

Ephesians 3:14 - "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..."Notice Who Paul is bowing his knee to. He does not just say God, even though He is God. He says to Abba. To Daddy. Do you have that relationship with your Heavenly Father?Now I know that when I mention the Fatherhood of God, it can produce a very mixed response in people. Some have had troubled relationships...  Read More

Ephesians 3:14 — "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,"Notice Paul's posture in this prayer. Paul is actually in prison when he writes this. He may not have been physically able to kneel. Yet he says that he is going to pray by getting on his knees. It's as if he is making a statement of humility and submission with this posture.There have been definite times in m...  Read More

Ephesians 3:16-19 — "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that...  Read More

Galatians 5:16 — "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."Is the answer to temptation more guardrails? I once had the chance to teach a group of young men about purity. We were wrestling with how a young man keeps his way pure. One guy stopped me in my tracks. He told me flatly that he could not conquer his addictions. So I began offering practical solution...  Read More

Ephesians 3:4 (NKJV) "By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ."Paul describes the mystery of Christ. Jesus came, and He was a mystery to those who saw Him in the first century. He comes to us today from the pages of the written Word, and we still do not quite know what to make of Him, Who He is, what He means to us.Remember, when Paul uses the word "myster...  Read More

Ephesians 3:1-2 (NKJV) "For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you." Paul knew he was called and equipped to share the gospel. But notice, it was not a general calling. It was specific. He says in 3:1, "the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles." In 3:2, "given to me for ...  Read More

Ephesians 3:1, 13 (NKJV) "For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles... Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory."Paul writes Ephesians from prison, not from an ivory tower somewhere. He is in a hard place... I can imagine him being kind of confused in prison, asking, "Why am I still locked up? There is a hunger inside o...  Read More

"Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." (Ephesians 3:13)Paul finishes this section by telling the Ephesians not to lose heart over his tribulations, difficulties, pressure, and pain. But when he says "for you, Gentiles" in Ephesians 3:1 and again in Ephesians 3:13, he isn't trying to guilt them into feeling sorry for him. He's actually saying s...  Read More