Stepping Forward: A 39-Day Walk Through Ephesians

By W. M. Lingenfelter

Ephesians much read, much preached upon, little understood, and even less practiced. Sadly, this New Testament letter is so familiar that we often all but ignore it. And thats what author Mike Lingenfelter wants to change. Clearly, he understands that if we pause, take in and then practice what this letter prescribes, it will change the life and impact of church and believer alike. To make us pay attention, he has pleasingly carved our biblical meal into thirty-nine portions, each of which uncovers a life-giving, result-getting truth that corrects, directs, and empowers Christ-followers. So take another look at this familiar letter. You may find that the truths you encounter in this study arent as familiar as you thought that their impact will change your heart and your walk. I highly recommend this thoughtful work to you.

Dr. Bert Downs, Chancellor, Western Seminary, and Executive Director, Southwest Church Connection

Stepping Forward provides bite-size portions into understanding the book of Ephesians. It is informative, instructional, and often challenging. The emphasis on the practical application of God's Word into our everyday lives is the key to Christian maturity.

Gary Rifenburg, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Fellowship, Stroh, Indiana

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449723569

W. M. Lingenfelter

W. Michael Lingenfelter is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Douglas, Arizona. He is committed to teaching the Word of God verse by verse and he is dedicated to serving the body of Christ. He lives in southern Arizona with his wife and two children. You can find out more about Pastor Lingenfelter and First Baptist Church at www.fbcdouglasaz.org.

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Copyright © 2011 W. M. Lingenfelter. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-2357-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2358-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2356-9 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011914362

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/12/2011

To my brothers and sisters in Christ at First Baptist church

in Douglas, Arizona, where God has called me to preach

His holy, powerful, and life-changing Word.

Contents

Section 1 The Blessings of Believers

Day 1 Blessings from the Father

Day 2 Blessings from the Son

Day 3 Blessings from the Holy Spirit

Section 2 What the Christian Should Know

Day 4 Knowing God

Day 5 Knowing Hope and Riches

Day 6 Knowing God’s Power

Section 3 Past and Present

Day 7 Who Were We?

Day 8 What Did God Do?

Day 9 Who Are We Now?

Section 4 What Jesus Has Done

Day 10 Union Made Possible

Day 11 Explanation of This Union

Day 12 Results of This Union

Section 5 The Mystery?

Day 13 The Mystery

Day 14 The Ministry

Section 6 Prayer

Day 15 Where Prayers Should Begin

Day 16 What to Pray

Day 17 How to End a Prayer

Section 7 Unity in the ChurchPart 1

Day 18 Where Union in the Church Begins

Day 19 How Union in the Church Is Maintained

Day 20 The Reason for Unity in the Church

Section 8 Unity in the ChurchPart 2

Day 21 Gifts for Unity

Day 22 The Goal of the Gifts

Day 23 The Effect of the Gifts

Section 9 Walking as a ChristianPart 1

Day 24 How Not to Walk

Day 25 Put on the New Self

Day 26 Walking in the New Self

Section 10 Walking as a Christian Part 2

Day 27 Walking in Love

Day 28 Walking in the Light

Day 29 Walking Wisely

Section 11 Surrender

Day 30 Surrendered to God

Day 31 Some Results of Surrender

Section 12 Marriage

Day 32 Wives

Day 33 Husbands

Section 13 Christian Responsibilities

Day 34 Christian Children

Day 35 Christian Fathers

Day 36 Christian Workers

Section 14 Spiritual Battle

Day 37 Our Strength

Day 38 Our Armor

Day 39 Our Prayer

Preface

I wrote Stepping Forward because I believe there is a need within the church to encourage Christians to read and apply God’s Word. Unfortunately, some Christians have gone to the secular world to get the answers to life’s questions. Others have placed their Bible on a shelf and look at it only on Sunday mornings or when they are in a sticky situation. And then there are some Christians who don’t yet comprehend the absolute need of God’s Word in their daily lives. In Stepping Forward my hope is that Christians will see the Bible as the answer to life’s questions and that the more God’s Word floods their minds and hearts, the better life is and the less complex it becomes. God’s Word gives us the reason and purpose of life, and it even tells us how and where to walk as it illuminates our path.

This thirty-nine-day journey will take you on a walk through a portion of God’s Word—the letter to the Ephesians. It is my hope and prayer that in the next thirty-nine days you will gain a better understanding of this section of Scripture and how it should be applied to your life today. God has given the true believer many spiritual blessings, and He has placed us in the house of the Father. Regrettably, many of us don’t know where we stand and do not know about the rich grace of God. We just live day by day, hoping for the best. Well, if you want the best, it is found in Christ and what He has said. When we trust in God’s mighty Word and apply it, we can bounce out of the mundane and hopeless life and into a life of joy and meaning. God wants us to have a real relationship with Him, and this can be done when we know Jesus Christ as Savior and obey what He has said.

Take the next thirty-nine days to dive into God’s Word, praying often that He will illuminate His Word by means of His Holy Spirit. Consider the insight and the challenge, and take time to review what He has spoken to you. God wants to tell you who He is, what He has done for you, and how to walk in obedience to what He has said.

Acknowledgement

I want to give a big thanks to my wife, Amy, for all the time and effort she spent in helping me to prepare the manuscript for the editor. She worked countless hours reading and making suggestions for grammatical replacements. In addition, her help, enthusiasm, and support have encouraged me to press on with this project and I am truly grateful. I also want to thank my editor, Jarl Waggoner, for his professional insight in this project and his wonderful ability to smooth out the rough areas. His help is greatly appreciated and he is a pleasure to work with. He certainly knows his line of work. And, of course, I must thank my Savior, Jesus. He continually encourages, helps, and provides living water. I have leaned on Him throughout this project and trusted Him to provide the words to write. He knows my heart is to minister to His people and I know that He will always provide the needed strength and wisdom to do His will.

Section 1

The Blessings of Believers

Day 1

Blessings from the Father

Read: Ephesians 1:1-6

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Insight

The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote to the saints in Ephesus. However, the cold, dark, damp nights and the uncertainty of the days did not stop him from writing to these Gentile believers. There was too much to know, too much to see, and the apostle desired that these believers grasp the reality of their new faith.

The apostle began his letter explaining the blessings of the heavenly Father to the believer in Jesus Christ. The two blessings we will look at today are vitally important to know and are absolutely wonderful to rest in. May we praise God the Father for His marvelous grace and unconditional love, which He has freely given in full measure.

The first blessing stated here is that of the Father choosing individuals to be spotless before Him. What a wonderful privilege it is for those