GodExcels

As a faith community we believe that baptism brings us closer to Christ. And as with our salvation, witness and testimony we have come to the same Christ through different experiences, understandings and practices, so with baptism it is no different. One baptism is interpreted in many ways and we should practice grace and humility as the Spirit reveals and teaches the body how to respond, practice and demonstrate baptism. But in the struggle for mutual awareness, those who have been blessed with understanding should be patient as others are learning. Yet we should not deny the truth that has been revealed to us for walking in the truth as we understand it is what God asks of us. As Christ remains the center and focus of the Good News all other things shall come to life and truth in the Spirits timing.

We are all of ONE body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and One God and Father. The two most compelling are the idea of ONE God and Father and ONE hope. We love and serve the same true one God and live by the same hope of Christ's provisions and return. We come to God in many ways, worship Him from different lenses and we strive for Him through different means but our diversity does not dilute our community of faith it enhances it for we love and serve the ONE TRUE God and Father with the same glorious hope.

The Spirit of God brings unity, and we the body of Christ are to maintain it. The bond of peace seems to mean bringing together different people into a peace filled relationship. Unity is primary because we are reminded through scripture about the house that is divided and the horrible impact of that division. So many provisions for us are made through unity within the body of Christ.

The essentials for maintaining unity in the church are: humility, gentleness, openness, patience, forbearance and agape love. All are important because different people, different situations and different styles of church will require different degrees and approaches. They are equally difficult when we are fighting or ignoring what the Spirit would have us to do. We have to be careful not to fall into false doctrine, false teaching, a wolves den, or any other thing not in alignment with God. We sometimes try so hard to be like Jesus and forgive or turn the other cheek, or try to love someone into heaven that we negate God's counsel and wisdom. These essentials come into practice as we become more in tune with the will of God, and most importantly in all things we must be careful to pray and ask God how to respond. Any of these essentials can become potential idols, stumbling blocks or personal badges of honor if God is not the center of the glory.

Our calling is to follow Christ in Word and deed; it is an equal calling for all who have been drawn by God. We are to follow Christ's example and Spirit no matter our station or position in life. To lead a life that is worthy means we are demonstrating Christ as best we can while being living examples of the fruit of the Spirit. We are growing as a light for the world which God can use to keep our community of faith together and draw others to Himself. How and who we conduct ourselves with says alot about our commitment and faith in our calling to Him. Our lives and living should reflect the scripture- not seeking perfection or personal glory- it is a means to delighting God and receiving what God has for us. So by contrast, we should not be in association with or in the habit of being anyone or anything that God has not prepared us for; God knows what we are capable of so His calling is that which He has made us able to bear, accomplish and bring Him glory. Worthy of our calling means for me accepting Christ's life, death and resurrection and living faithfully for His return as a living witness of faith.

We come to God as an individual to learn of Him personally so as we come together corporately we are able to share His truths and spread our witness. God chooses to bring us together so He may dwell "LIVE" among us. He is active within us therefore we too are being built by Him for action. Our lives and the congregation grows spiritually is evident by the fruits of the Spirit that we display towards others. As God draws us and others closer to Himself we become instruments and light sources for others to receive what God desires to share with them and prayerfully they too will delight in His indwelling.

Apostles and prophets left there legacy to me through scripture, we can learn and grow from their accounts and teachings. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone because He taught, inspired, commissioned and equipped the apostles and prophets and us today to carry out the Good News to those whom God has drawn near. As we grow in our relationship with God we grow and rise into the believers He has called us to be. Our relationship is based on His Word, our prayers and our open hearts. We grow and rise as we open ourselves up to be who He desires us to be.

The nature of the church and God should be the same in that we share our love for one another regardless of our testimony. God has called together, and will continue to add to us, a unique conglomeration of believers to demonstrate and appreciate His love. Our fellowship has to be open to the diversity which God brings together. It is not easy but it is key. God uses love as our common bond and we as believers share in our trust in Jesus Christ. Be careful not to cause someone to fall away from the church. Fellowship is to be inviting and encouraging not a penalty or measuring stick. God judges the heart not attendance. People fellowship, or tend to fellowship, where the Spirit of the Lord is evident. So let love, truth, justice of the Lord shine.

Jews and Gentiles share the citizenship as God's people in His household. We are His holy people who are set apart and dedicated to do His work; foreigners to this world but not to the King of Kings.

Access is important so that we can talk with God and to God and enter into a true relationship with Him. This access was made possible by Jesus Christ dying on the cross and rising again. It is like diplomatic relations because we were once like a foreign people to Him unable to communicate and ignorant of our need for a relationship with Him. Having access fulfills the 2 great commandments in that are relationship with God allows us to begin to know Him and love Him with our heart, mind and soul. And we then learn to love our neighbors like ourselves through this relationship with God. The more we are in Christ the more we desire to please God and fulfill these two great commands.

God's power works in us, a power that is greater than our imaginations. Our unbelief keeps us from experiencing the fullness of that power as a church. Faith is key, expectation and hope are vital- believing without first seeing. By exercising the power given to us we demonstrate the power and authority of the Gift Giver!

since Christ is the head of the church- with all power and authority- the church becomes His instrument to demonstrate that power, authority and grace. Christ works through us to fulfill His plans and purpose. The church's power must line up with the will and purpose of Christ our source; without Him we are nothing and without that relationship in Christ our power and purpose will become nothing.

I trust that Paul is saying that being placed positionally with Christ gives us the same authority and footing over all things. Lest we forget that God is still in control. By His grace are we placed at His right hand and the power and authority we have is to be subject to God and His delight.

The Ephesians understood that when God seated Jesus at His right hand God was distinguishing Jesus to a place of high honor. Jesus was given all authority and all power over everyone and everything when he was placed there. The imagery of Jesus having all things under His feet is powerful. The lesson teaches that a conquering king would have the fallen king's neck be placed under his feet to visually demonstrate that he has conquered that king and his kingdom. So if all things are under Jesus' feet that would include spirit beings and power. ALL THINGS ARE UNDER JESUS' CONTROL AND AUTHORITY. So to Jesus we must give our allegiance FOR IT IS DUE HIM.

Hi my name is Marsha Jones and I am new to this Bible study format. The great take away from this lesson is that God is our source for the power that we need to be who He has designed us to be. Like the Ephesians, I have to pray to have my eyes reopened to the power of the God I serve- on occasions. I have to ask God to open my heart to receive what He has for me. The greatest power is the power to believe and have faith in God despite what we see, hear, know to be true and sometimes expect. The power to believe that God can... I have to re-embrace the hope I have in Christ, the faith in my inheritance, and trust in the power He has in me as a believer in Him. But that power is reserved for His believers! And that power was masterfully evident when He raised Jesus from the dead. I am blessed for this lesson and its reminders of the True God that I love and serve .