Paul’s Burden for the Church in Ephesus
I thought of this verse in Ephesians 1:17: “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” This is Paul’s burden and desire for the brothers and sisters in Ephesus. Ephesus is the church where Paul stayed for almost three years, preaching day and night with tears. He had much burden and love for this church. The verse continues, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Paul’s burden was not that they just hear a message or read a letter, but that their hearts may be enlightened to see something they have never seen, to taste something of the power and love of God which they have never experienced in their lives. I believe this is the longing and desire of God’s heart, that He can reveal Himself to each one of us in a measure we can understand and know Him.
Personal Reflection on God’s Work Through Encounters
As I said, it’s not just a message. When I think of all the years, how the Lord has helped us and helped me in the church, I’ve been blessed and challenged by a number of messages we heard. There are truths which can set us free, truths which can lead us to more liberty in our spirit. But it’s also about encounters with God and godly men that influenced not only my life but many of our lives very clearly.
The Encounter with Melchizedek
We can see this in Genesis 14:17-18: “Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.” He blessed Abraham and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” It was less than a minute; his message was not long. He spoke for a moment, but it did something to the soul and heart of Abraham. That’s why, when the king of Sodom offered his gifts, Abraham said in Genesis 14:22-23: “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours.” He used the same words Melchizedek used: “Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth.” Abraham was battling an earthly battle, a real struggle. But this man came and lifted Abraham’s eyes to the heavenlies, and he could see the Lord God Most High. It’s not my victory, this is not my battle, Lord; it is You who granted me victory. I don’t want to touch Your glory or give the glory to this king. So he made a commitment in his heart: “Lord, I will not touch what is not mine.”
The Power of Jesus’ Look and Presence
There are many circumstances. Think of Jesus, the way He looked at Peter. I don’t think Peter would ever forget that wonderful look, that beautiful look of mercy, compassion, and love when he was at his lowest, having failed. Most of you know that incident when Jesus warned him in Luke 22:31-32, 61: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers… And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” When Peter denied Jesus three times, it says Jesus looked at him, and Peter saw that and went and wept. It was not a look of judgment or “I told you.” It was a look of compassion. Peter would never forget that in his life.
Even think of that breakfast they had on the seashore in John 21:1-17. They tried all night, caught nothing, and left their calling. They were discouraged, gloomy. Peter went back and called his friends to go fishing. But Jesus met them there and invited them for breakfast. He didn’t speak a long message about backsliding or preach too many verses. They had their breakfast, and I believe Jesus could see their faces, and they could see Jesus’ face. You can think of it as a breakfast with the backsliders. There, Jesus asked Peter, “Peter, do you love me?” three times. I wish, brothers and sisters, we have more encounters like this, not just hearing a message and going back, but encountering Christ in our gatherings. When we have one-to-one conversations with brothers, we touch and sense something of the Lord, something to encourage and lift us up.
Personal Testimony of Encouragement
I remember yesterday I was going through a little misunderstanding or some event that was sorrowful. I called a brother and spoke about it, and he started laughing. He said, “Brother, for us, these things can work for our good.” That really changed my heart. I prayed, “Oh, thank you, Lord. Even though it looks like I made a blunder or something which was not right, all these things can work together for good for those who love God, those who are called according to God’s purpose” (Romans 8:28). The main thing we need to check in our heart is, “Lord, I want to love You. I want to follow You. I don’t have any other intention in my heart but to complete Your plan for my life. It is Your will that I want to accomplish.” Then I know that I love You with all my heart. It’s not just an emotional love but a love that leads us to obedience, as we often hear in the church.
God’s Unique Plan for Each Believer
Let’s turn to Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Another version, the Living Translation, says, “We are God’s masterpiece. God has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things which He planned for us long ago.” There is a unique plan, a unique purpose for which God has called each one of us. It is a function you have in the body of Christ, a ministry each of us needs to fulfill. Jesus said toward the end of His life, “Father, I have glorified You by completing the work which You have asked Me to do” (John 17:4). We hear in the church that it’s primarily not our ministry but our life. God is not impressed by the message but the man behind the message. It’s not the offering but the man who does the offering. Still, we know there is a plan and purpose, a little function you have to fulfill in the body of Christ.
I heard from Brother Zach that we should never become a paralyzed member in the body. I pray often, and even now, “Lord, I don’t want to be a paralyzed member in the body. I want to be an effective member.” That doesn’t mean longing for a public ministry or any outward gift, but an effective member. The heart pumping blood is never seen outside, nor are the kidneys purifying the blood, but they have a unique function you can’t replace. So, brothers and sisters, I want to encourage the young people, children, and older brothers and sisters that God has a plan and purpose.
Caleb’s Faith at 85
Turn to Joshua 14:10-12: Caleb said, “Behold, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken.” This is a man who understood God’s power. That’s why he wasn’t worried about his age. We don’t need to worry about our age if the power is the Lord’s. You have a ministry, a specific calling in the body of Christ. It’s God’s will and purpose that you fulfill that ministry. Maybe, like Melchizedek, it’s giving a little food and a one-minute message, but Abraham would never forget that encounter.
The Reality of Spiritual Paralysis
Having said that, I realize that in our practical, day-to-day life, it’s not fully true that I always feel unparalyzed. Most of the time, we feel paralyzed by fear, worries, or the cares of life. We feel helpless. When Jesus sent the disciples, He prayed in John 17:11, 15: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are… I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” Jesus longed for unity among the disciples, not unity of opinion or temperament, but unity of spirit. He was aware of the danger that the devil, though his power would be taken away at the cross, would still have some power to influence Christians. Jesus prayed to keep His disciples from the evil one.
The Power of the Devil Rendered Powerless
Turn to Hebrews 2:14-15: “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Jesus has made the devil powerless; he no longer has the power of death over our lives. We no longer fear the devil or even death, the greatest of all fears, and we walk in liberty and freedom. Brother Zach wrote in an article that we must never forget this verse: the devil’s power has been taken away. Another verse, 1 John 4:4: “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
Yet, in the New Testament, in the Acts of the Apostles, we see God allowed the disciples to face the devil. In God’s wisdom, He allowed Jesus to be tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:1: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” This was just after His baptism, a heavenly experience, but immediately, He was led by the Spirit to be tempted. The Holy Spirit and God will not tempt us, but He can lead us to the wilderness where we may be tempted by the devil. God permits spiritual conflicts in our lives, not so we hang our heads in shame, condemnation, or defeat, but so we overcome. God told Cain, “Your enemy is so near, but you must overcome him” (Genesis 4:7).
In Matthew 4:13-14, it says, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” It’s wonderful—Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, but after finishing all the temptations, He returned even stronger, in the power of the Holy Spirit. None of us can fulfill God’s plan, even a small ministry, in our own strength. We need the power of the Holy Spirit, and God will allow us to be tempted to strengthen and refine us, making us more conformed to the image of Christ. We don’t need to fear but be alert, as Paul writes, “We are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus and Spiritual Warfare
In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul summarizes his letter: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Paul stayed in Ephesus for almost three years, as we read in Acts 19-20. Some people there practiced magic and burned their books, worth 50,000 silver coins, paying a great price to become Christians. Paul admonished, encouraged, challenged, and guided them with tears day and night. The Ephesian letter is one of the most spiritual, with the first three chapters reminding us of the blessings we received and the next three outlining our responsibilities.
Paul wrote this letter from a prison in Rome, where he was chained for two years. Yet, he uses the term “heavenly places” six times in Ephesians, showing his mind was occupied with heavenly realities despite his physical chains. He writes about blessings in the heavenly places, that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3, 2:6), and that the manifold wisdom of God might be revealed through the church in the heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10). This is reality. Jesus, Peter, and Paul didn’t constantly think about the devil or demons, but when they faced conflict, God gave them grace to come through successfully. The devil left Jesus for a time, so we don’t continually look for demons but walk in faith, trust in the Lord, and the joy of the Lord. When we encounter the devil, we resist him, as the Bible says (James 4:7).
Our Struggle and the Enemy’s Schemes
Paul writes, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood,” which encourages me. Paul wasn’t ashamed to acknowledge there is struggle and conflict within him. He faced persecution, even near death, in that first-century prison, yet he experienced the same struggle we face today. Jesus told Paul, “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16). There is a suffering God has designed for each of us, according to our capacity. Paul recognized the enemy behind the persecution, not the men themselves but the devil’s power. Like radars detecting drones and missiles, Paul’s heart was alert to the enemy’s nearness.
In 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Paul addresses lawsuits among believers in Corinth, where they were fighting each other, unable to see the enemy behind trying to bring division and confusion. We don’t need to feel condemned if someone pulls us into court, but we must be careful not to initiate such actions out of covetousness. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, it says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” I don’t fully understand this, but when negative thoughts, condemnation, or accusations come, especially about someone close to us, we need to be careful. Wisdom from above is full of mercy and compassion (James 3:17). If a thought produces hate or hindrance, it’s not from the Lord. God’s voice produces love, a good conscience, and faith.
Three Areas to Be Alert Against the Devil
I want to mention three areas briefly where we need to be alert to the devil’s schemes, as Paul said, “We are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
1. The Accuser of the Brethren
In Revelation 12:10, it says, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.’” The devil accuses us before God, about ourselves, and about others in our hearts. Paul, in Ephesians 6:16, says, “In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The devil might have said to Paul, “You gave permission to kill disciples. Do you think God can forgive you or fulfill His plan through you? You’re not worthy to be an apostle. You keep falling into the same sin.” Paul urges us to take the shield of faith to extinguish these flaming arrows. The fact of justification, as taught in this church, is that Christ’s blood not only cleanses but justifies us.
In Acts 3:13-14, Peter says to the Jews, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate… But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One.” Yet, Peter himself had disowned Jesus two days earlier. Was he a hypocrite? No, this is the power of justification, the blood of Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Peter didn’t look back at his baggage but left it behind, looked at Jesus, and ran the race. This is a great privilege for us.
2. Self-Pity and Anxiety
The second point is not to yield to self-pity or anxiety. Be watchful. Oswald Chambers said, “Self-pity is of the devil. If you yield to it, you will not be able to fulfill God’s plan in your life.” In Matthew 16:21-22, it says, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things… and be killed. But Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’” Peter spoke out of concern and love, but it was human love and sympathy. Jesus didn’t move with human sympathy but with divine compassion. Human sympathy is like a rich man giving to the poor out of abundance, but divine compassion is different. Jesus didn’t desire human sympathy, though He sought encouragement, saying in Matthew 26:38, “My soul is deeply grieved… stay here and keep watch with Me.”
We need encouragement, but we must be sensitive not to contribute to others’ anxiety. Years ago, a sister was told her child was too lean, causing anxiety. We need divine compassion, not human sympathy. Jesus saw through Peter’s human sympathy because He had divine compassion and wasn’t trying to impress him. We must remove the critical attitude from our hearts to see clearly and help others.
In 1 Peter 5:7-8, it says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Anxiety is a weapon of the devil, especially for mothers with children. It can weigh on our spirit, cloud our vision, and lead to overreactions. In times of anxiety, we must not lose hope. Even at 85, like Caleb, we can say, “The strength is not with me but with You.”
3. Losing Simplicity and Purity of Devotion to Christ
The last point, which I fear most, is in 2 Corinthians 11:3: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” This is very relevant today. We were reminded in the conference to value that simple, pure relationship with the Lord. The good can be the enemy of the best. God desires us, not primarily our gifts or service. James 4:5 says, “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us.” Solomon, who wrote Song of Solomon, a devotional picture of Christ and His bride, wandered from faith. The elder in Ephesus, in Revelation 2:4, lost his first love despite many gifts. I never want to come to a place where my motive is not driven by love for Christ. The motive behind all our actions should be love for Christ.
The Woman’s Act of Love
I want to conclude with a story in Luke 7:36-44: “Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears… Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.’” Simon prepared a great dish, but what touched Jesus was this woman’s act of love. Simon thought Jesus was a fake, but Jesus saw her heart.
We in the church have a clear understanding of the gospel and doctrines, but it’s the love in our heart that the Lord looks for. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” three times (John 21:15-17). This is how Jesus ordained Peter, wanting to know, “Peter, do you love Me?” May the Lord find in our hearts that pure love and faith. When the Lord comes, may He give us grace to endure in this simple, pure devotion till the end. Amen.
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