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Ephesians 4:10 – Not Worth Arguing

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Will

He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Truth to Learn

Some Biblical truths are very important to understand correctly, others are not worth arguing about.

Behind the Words

Both the words translated “descended” and “ascended” are expressed here as aorist participles. Thus, we could translate the first part of this verse as “the one having descended is also the one having ascended.” Although some translations say “came down” or “went down” and “went up,” the direction of travel (came or went) is not indicated by the Greek text.

“Far above” is translated from the Greek word huperanō. This word is made up of huper (or hyper), meaning “over” or “above” and the adverb anō, meaning “upward” or “on top.” So we see that huperanō literally means “above upward” or “above on top.” The best translation of this word into English is probably “high above” or “far above.”

The word “heavens” is from ouranos, which is probably based on the verb orō, meaning “to rise.” According to Jewish beliefs, there are three distinct heavenly regions. The first is the atmosphere of the earth (where the birds fly and the clouds exist). The second is the universe (where all the celestial bodies exist). The third is God’s abode, or God’s throne room, to which only God and the angelic beings have access today.

“Fill” is from the verb plēroō, which means “to cram completely full, such that no more can be added.”

Meaning Explained

As we pointed out in yesterday’s verse, there are some who believe that the statement in verse nine that He “descended into the lower parts of the earth” means the He “descended into the lower earthly regions.” In other words, they argue that it is a reference to Christ coming to earth as a man. Others, adhering to a more literal translation, believe it is a reference to Christ’s descent into Hades (Paradise) as we explained yesterday.

No matter which of these two views you prefer, today’s verse is clearly a statement regarding Christ’s resurrection. But, as scholars are wont to do, there is even disagreement as to what Paul meant in today’s verse when he referred to “the One who ascended far above all the heavens.” As we noted above, the Jewish concept of plural heavens pictures three heavens: the atmosphere, the universe, and God’s abode. Does today’s verse mean that He ascended above the atmosphere and the known universe, into His own realm (the third heaven), or does it mean that he ascended even above that? Again, a literal interpretation indicates that He ascended above “all the heavens,” which implies more than two.

But let’s not get distracted by such minor concerns. Paul’s message in these verses is not so much about where Christ descended to and where He ascended to, but the fact that when He did, He gave spiritual gifts to men. Some of these gifts are described in the next verse.

Application

Some Biblical teachings are foundational to our beliefs and how we relate to God. Others are less important. Let’s focus our attention on the important matters and not get hung-up on unimportant matters. Whatever we believe and do, let us do it so that God will get the glory and honor.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:9 – Jesus In Hades

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Will

(And that, He ascended, what is it except that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Truth to Learn

Our Lord experienced physical death for us.

Behind the Words

The word “first” is translated from prōton, which is based on the superlative of pro (toward or forward). Thus, prōton refers to “that which is the forward-most, or first.” It can refer to “first in time” or “first in position.”

“Descended” is from the Greek verb katabainō, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” and bainō, meaning “to come” or “to go.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicative mood which indicates an act that occurred at a point in time in the past.

“Lower” is translated from katōteros, which is the comparative of katō, which means “below.” Therefore, we see that lower is an accurate translation of this word.

The word “parts” is from meros, which refers to “a part” or “a share.”

The word “earth” is the translation of the Greek word gē, which refers to “soil,” “dirt,” or “ground.” It is also used to refer to a country, a region, a territory, a land, or the earth.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is a continuation of a subject that Paul introduced in the previous verse. In that verse he was quoting from Psalms 68:18:

You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, even the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell there. (Psalms 68:18)

In order to fully grasp what is being said in these verses we need to understand a little about one of the customs of the times in which these verses (both Old and New Testament) were written. It was common for a conquering king to distribute gifts to his subjects upon his return from conquering his enemy. Here we have a picture of our King of Kings returning from His victory over Satan and death. Upon His return to His land (Heaven) He distributed gifts to His subjects.

In today’s verse Paul is making a point that He who ascended had to first descend. In his gospel account, John quoted our Lord saying essentially the same thing:

And no one has ascended into heaven but the One having came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (John 3:13)

Some have argued that the expression “descended into the lower parts of the earth” is a reference to Christ having left Heaven and having come to earth as a lowly servant. However, a literal reading of the verse says that “He descended into the lower parts of the ground.” That can only be a description of His descent into Paradise (within hades/sheol) immediately after having given up his life on the cross.

Application

Jesus Christ did not simply pass-out on the cross. He experienced physical death and was taken to the place where all souls go upon death. The glorious news is that He didn’t stay physically dead. He rose from the dead! He is now enthroned in heaven. Hellelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:8 – Moving Day

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Will

Therefore He says: "Having ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ moved Paradise and gave all Christians gifts.

Behind the Words

The word “says” is from the Greek verb legō, which literally means “to lay forth,” that is, “to express something in words.” There is no subject given in the Greek text, so scholars are split between “He [God] says” and “it [Scripture] says.”

“Having ascended” is translated from anabaino, which means “to go up.” It is expressed as an aorist participle, so it could be translated “having gone up.”

“On high” is from eis hupsos. A literal translation of these two words would be “into elevation,” or “into the heights.”

The words “he led … captive” are translated from the verb aichmalōteuō, which is based on aichmalōtos, meaning “a captive of war.” The verb form, aichmalōteuō literally means “to captivate” or “to lead away captive.”

“Captivity” is from the noun aichmalōsia, which is also based on aichmalōtos. This form of the word refers to “the condition, or state, of being a captive.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about all of us fulfilling our calling with special attention to maintaining the unity of the church. He is now going to talk about some of the gifts that God gives to us which enable us to perform our function within the body of Christ. In today’s verse Paul tells us when those gifts were bestowed by God.

In order to fully understand, however, we need to do a quick mini-lesson about Hell. In the Old Testament it is most often referred to as sheol, the place of the departed dead. In the New Testament it is referred to as hades. From Numbers 16:33 we learn that sheol is in the center of the earth. And, from Luke 16:22, 23 we learn that there are two different areas of hades, the place of torment (where the rich man was) and a place of rest (where Lazarus was). In the Old Testament, the unrighteous people went to the place of torments and the righteous (like Abraham and Lazarus) went to the place of rest.

Hang-in with me now. On the cross, Jesus told one of the thieves crucified beside Him that on that very day they would both be in Paradise, that is, the place of rest where Abraham was. However, in 2Corinthians 12:4 Paul tells us that he was caught up into Paradise. In fact, a close reading will show us that in this verse Paradise is up at the third heaven (God’s throne room). So, at some point in time Paradise moved.

That movement of Paradise is what Paul is describing in today’s verse. When Christ died, he went down to sheol (hades). However, when He rose from the dead he “led captivity captive.” In other words, Christ took Paradise out of sheol (hades) and took it and all the righteous dead “up to” the third heaven (2Corinthians 2:2).

At that same time, Paul tells us here, Christ gave gifts to men.

Application

You and I have special gifts (spiritual gifts or abilities) given to us by Jesus Christ. These gifts are what enable us to serve Him effectively in the local church.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:7 – God’s Gifting

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Will

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Truth to Learn

Each Christian has a job function to perform within the church based on how God has gifted him or her.

Behind the Words

The word “each” is from heskatos, which indicates “each” or “every;” that is, not just some, but all.

“One” is from heis. The fact that Paul says, “each one” indicates “every one of us, individually.”

“Grace” is translated from charis, which is derived from the verb chairō, meaning “to rejoice.” Charis refers specifically to “that which causes joy or gratification.” When used in reference to God, it always refers to “an unearned and undeserved favor done by Him without expectation of anything to be done in return.”

The words “was … given” are translated from the verb didōmi, meaning “to give.” This Greek word is expressed in the aorist tense, passive voice, and indicative mood. This indicates that it was done completely to the subject (each one of us).at a point in time in the past

“Measure” is from metron (from which we get our English word “metric”), meaning “a measure of length or capacity.”

Meaning Explained

In this chapter the Apostle Paul has been teaching us how to behave within the body of Christ, the church. He has told us that we are to be humble, gentle, patient, supportive servants who are eager to work toward unity and peace. In the past few verses he gave us a number of examples of reasons why we should be working toward this unity.

Now, in achieving that unity we each have a calling, or a job, to perform. Even though we are all one in Christ, we are still individuals and each one of us has a different function to perform. Paul tells us that God bestows His favor on each one of us in the form of a gift or gifts. These undeserved gifts have been given to us to be used within the church. As we will learn a few verses from now, the purpose of these gifts is to enable us to minister to one another, the result of which will be, “the edifying of the body of Christ.” In other words, these gifts are not given to us for our own personal use or personal benefit. They are given to us to benefit others in the church.

We are also told here that God’s grace is bestowed on each of us, “according to the measure of Christ's gift.” What Paul means is that God determines which gift or gifts to bestow on us and He determines how much of each gift to give to each Christian. We do not all have the same gift, and we do not decide which gift or gifts He gives us, nor do we determine how much of the gift we are to receive. It is all determined by God and by Him alone. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:1 that we are to desire certain gifts, but we don’t determine them.

Application

I have been in churches where a specific gift is so sought after that people are convinced you are not completely saved unless you have that specific gift. Paul would say, “Hogwash!” More literally, he would say mē genoito, or “No way!” God determines your gift or gifts. Your only responsibility with regard to His gift is that you use it to the best of your ability to build up the body of Christ. Is that what you’re doing?

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:6 – One Father God

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Will

one God and Father of all, the One above all, and through all, and in you all.

Truth to Learn

All Christians are united under our Father God.

Behind the Words

“God” is translated from the Greek word theos, from which we get our English word “theology,” meaning the study of God. The word theos was originally used by the Greeks to refer to any of their gods. In the New Testament, however, it is almost exclusively used in reference to the one true God. Theos is probably derived from the Greek word theteres, meaning “placers,” for the Greeks thought the gods were makers and disposers of all things. The ancient Greeks believed that elements had their own “placers.” Thus they had the god of fire, the god of the winds, the god of money, etc.

The word patēr is translated here as “father.” Generally in Greek, patēr refers to “the male parent.” In its plural form, however, it can refer to both father and mother or to ancestors in general.

“Above” is from the Greek preposition epi. This word can mean “above,” “over,” or “upon.”

“Through” is translated from the preposition dia, which can indicate motion through (with regard to both space and time) or instrumentality. Here it indicates motion (or presence) throughout all things.

The word translated “you” is not in the best manuscripts, so the end of this verses should read, “and in all.” Some of the older manuscripts read, “and in us all.”

Meaning Explained

As part of his treatise on unity within the church, Paul points out to us a few things about our God. In the previous verse we learned that we have one Lord, and in that context we saw that Jesus proclaimed “the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” Even though we know that there are three persons in the Godhead, Paul says that He is our Lord and He is (they are) one. This is not an easy concept for our feeble human minds to comprehend. Nonetheless, God declares it to be so.

Because both the Greeks and the Romans worshipped many gods and the Roman emperors even proclaimed themselves to be gods, Paul makes it very clear now that there is only one God. Jehovah is the only true God. Keep in mind, Paul is teaching about unity within the church, so his statement that God is the Father of all should be taken in this context. Not only is Paul declaring that God is supreme over all creation, but specifically He is over all (and Father of all) in the church. Also, according to Romans chapter eight:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God … The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:14, 16)

So, what Paul is teaching here is that God is the Father of all Christians. He also teaches us that our God is above all. Certainly, he is above all creation, but within the context of Paul’s teaching here, God is the supreme authority over all Christians. And, He permeates all parts of all Christians – body, soul, and spirit.

Since God is the Father of all Christians, He is supreme over all Christians, and He indwells and permeates all Christians, we should act like a single unified body.

Application

Are all your words and actions within the church promoting unity within the body? If not, they should be!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:5 – More Oneness

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Will

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

Truth to Learn

There are several aspects of oneness in the church.

Behind the Words

“Lord” is translated from the Greek noun kurios. This word is derived from kuros, meaning “authority” or “supremacy.” The basic meaning of kurios is “owner, master, or lord.” It refers to the person who has absolute ownership rights or full and final authority over another. It is also used as a sign of respect very much like our English “sir” or “mister.”

The word “faith” is translated from pistis. It is derived from the verb peithō, meaning “to win over, to persuade, or to convince.” Pistis refers to a firmly held conviction. Subjectively it refers to belief or faith in something. Objectively it refers to that which is believed.

“Baptism” is not a translation but a transliteration (a word of one language spelled with the letters of another language) from the Greek word baptisma. This Greek word is based on the verb baptō, meaning “to dip, to dunk, or to place into.” The ma ending indicates the result of the action.

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has been challenging us to work hard at promoting unity within the church. He is now giving us a number of examples of the existence of the unity which characterize the church. Previously, he said there is only one body of Christ, there is only one Holy Spirit empowering the church, and there is a single hope (eternal bliss in God’s presence) that all Christians expect at the end of this life.

Now he gives us three more unifying characteristics of the church. The first of these is that we all have the same Lord. All members of the church have the same owner and supreme authority governing their lives. And there is only one God. When asked by one of the scribes what the first commandment is, Jesus responded:

… "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. (Mark 12:29)

Since we all have the same master, and He is not divided, but one, we are all members of the same household.

The second thing we are told here is that there is only one faith. Not only did we all have to exercise the same faith in order to be saved, we all have the same object of our faith, the sacrificial death of Jesus as payment for our sins.

The third thing mentioned in today’s verse is one baptism. The baptism referred to here could be the water baptism that we submitted ourselves to as a testimony of our saving faith in Jesus Christ. However, it is more likely that Paul is referring to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is not referring to the supernatural enabling with special gifts, for that is not the meaning of the word “baptism.” Paul explains this Holy Spirit baptism to the Corinthians this way:

For also we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body… (1 Corinthians 12:13a)

At the moment we believed, each one of us was “placed into” (baptized into) the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. That’s Spirit baptism.

Application

Since all Christians have the same owner, have the same saving faith, and were all placed into the same body by the same Holy Spirit, we should all strive for unity of purpose and peace.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:4 – Only One

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Will

There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

Truth to Learn

All Christians are to work toward unity within the church.

Behind the Words

“One” is translated from the Greek word heis (pronounced hice). This is the masculine form of the word. The feminine form of this word is mia and the neuter form is hen. All three of these forms refer to the first cardinal numeral, one.

The word “body” is translated from sōma, meaning “an organized whole made up of parts and members.” It is the word commonly used to refer to a physical body or a representative body. In today’s verse it is a reference to the body made up of all Christians around the world, whether past, present, or future. Paul refers to us as “the body of Christ.”

“Spirit” is from pneuma, which is based on the verb pneō, meaning “to breathe” or “to blow.” Thus, pneuma literally refers to “a current of air.” Figuratively, it refers to “a spirit” or “a ghost.”

Elpis, is the word translated “hope.” This word is based on the verb elpō, which means “to anticipate” or “to welcome.” Whereas the English word “hope” implies a wish or a desire for something to occur, elpis expresses “an expectation of what is sure.” We can define elpis as “a hope for something, with the full expectation that it will happen.”

Meaning Explained

In this fourth chapter of his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul is instructing us regarding how we are to behave as Christians. This is in contrast to the first three chapters where he taught us what to believe. In the first verse of this chapter we were told to “walk worthy” of our calling. That is, we should behave in a manner consistent with God’s character and the job that He has given us to perform.

In yesterday’s verse Paul instructed us to be fast, that is, eager or diligent to guard the unity of the Spirit within the church. In other words, he is exhorting us to work hard at avoiding division. In today’s verse and the following two, he reinforces his argument by showing numerous examples of the unity that exists within the church.

He starts off reminding us that there is only one body of Christ. Sadly, throughout the centuries since the original formation of the church on the day of Pentecost (see Acts chapter 2), there have been divisions within the church. On the human level, the church is made up of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. There are even divisions within each of these, most notably the Protestants of which there are numerous denominations. From God’s perspective, however, there is only one body, united by one Holy Spirit and infused with the same hope in our calling. That common hope is the assurance, or expectation, that we will exist eternally in God’s presence.

Application

Are you walking worthy of the calling with which you have been called? Are you diligent in performing your given responsibility in a manner that promotes unity within the body of Christ? If so, Paul would be proud of you!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:3 – Peaceful Unity

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Will

being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Truth to Learn

Our service within the church should promote unity and peace.

Behind the Words

“Being diligent” is translated from spoudadzō. This word is derived from the noun spoudē, meaning “speed.” However, by implication and common usage, spoudē refers to eagerness or diligence. Thus, spoudadzō (expressed here as a participle) means “being eager,” “making haste,” or “being diligent.”

The verb “keep” is from tereō, which means “to watch” or “to guard from loss or injury.” It is the word used of a soldier keeping guard over a prisoner.

“Unity” is translated from henotēs, which is derived from heis, referring to the number “one.” Therefore, we can see that henotēs literally refers to “oneness” or “unity.”

“Bond” is from the Greek word sundesmos. This is a compound word made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of desmon, (this word literally refers to a ligament, which binds muscle to bone) meaning “a binding.” Thus, sundesmos refers to that which binds things together.

Meaning Explained

Paul is in the midst of teaching us how to behave as we perform the function to which we have been called within the church. Throughout his writings, the Apostle repeatedly uses two analogies when referring to the church. One is “the body of Christ” and the other is “the temple of God.” At the end of chapter two of this letter, he referred to us (both Jews and Gentiles) as being building materials in the temple, the dwelling place of God. Later in this chapter he will refer to us as part of the body in which “every part does its share.”

In yesterday’s verse we were instructed about our attitudes while fulfilling our calling: we are to have an attitude of humbleness about ourselves, and we are to have an attitude of gentleness and long-suffering toward others as we work to build up other members of the body. Now Paul tells us why those attitudes are of such importance. As the body of Christ, we are one body. We are no longer separated from the Jews and from God’s covenants. And, even though there are numerous denominations and designations by which we refer to ourselves, we are one body, the body of Christ.

Therefore, through our attitudes of humility, gentleness, and longsuffering, we are to be eagerly diligent in maintaining the unity of the body of Christ. But this is not to be done through human effort and strength; it is to be done through the power of the Holy Spirit. When this unity is accomplished by the Holy Spirit within us, peace will be the bond that holds us all together.

Before we leave this subject, let me present this word of caution. Keeping peace within the church does not mean allowing each of us to believe whatever we want. Remember, Paul taught us doctrine before he taught us duty. What we believe is just as important as how we behave. Although God hates division within the body, He hates heresy even more.

Application

As you perform your calling within the body of Christ, your goals should be to serve God with humility, to build up others with gentleness, and to build a bond of peace with others.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:2 – Humble, Gentle, Patience

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Will

with all humility and meekness, with longsuffering, holding up one another in love,

Truth to Learn

As we serve God and others within the church, we need to keep in mind how He treats us.

Behind the Words

The word “humility” is translated from the Greek noun tapeinophrosunē. This is made up of tapeinos, meaning “lowly attitude or low social position” and a form of phrēn, which refers to “a person’s feelings.” Tapeinophrosunē refers to “an attitude of humility” or “humbleness.” This word implies an attitude about self (humble, not proud).

“Meekness” is translated from praotēs, which refers to “meekness, mildness, or gentleness.” This word implies an attitude toward others (not harsh, demanding, or judgmental) and how we feel about what others do to us.

The word “longsuffering” is from makrothumia, which is a compound word made up of makros, meaning “long” and thumos, which refers to “fierceness” or “wrath.” It refers to the ability to patiently endure adversity or unfair treatment without getting angry.

Anechomai is the Greek verb translated here as “holding up.” It is composed of ana, meaning “up” and a form of echo, meaning “to hold.” So, it means “to hold oneself up;” that is, “to restrain oneself.” When referring to our actions towards others, it means “to bear up, to hold up (support), or to patiently endure.”

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse Paul urged us to live our lives in a manner that is consistent with our calling from God. In our discussion of that verse we talked about the fact that every Christian has a calling, that is, an area of service within the church. In today’s verse he tells us how we are to perform that calling. Whether your function involves a lot of responsibility or a little, you are to perform it with a humble spirit. This is especially true of a position that requires a lot of talent and/or training, or one of leadership. Let us take Moses as our example here. In spite of the stubbornness and rebellion of the Israelites even to the point of questioning his leadership, we are told this about him:

And the man Moses was very humble, more than any of the men who were on the face of the earth.) (Numbers 12:3)

In addition to having a humble attitude about ourselves, we are to perform our calling with meekness and gentleness towards others. Since every function within the church involves others, it is easy for some of us to get impatient or judgmental with those who don’t respond to us the way we want them to. Nonetheless, Paul tells us to be gentle with others. And this leads us to the third thing Paul teaches us about performing our calling. We are to do it with patient endurance. We are not to be easily angered or frustrated by what others do or don’t do. Instead, we are to restrain ourselves and patiently endure so that we can strengthen each other with our acts of love.

Application

This is a tall order that Paul gives us as we serve God within the church. None of us will do it perfectly. Nonetheless, if we keep in mind how gentle and patient God is with us, it will be easier for us to treat others the same way. Let us serve Him as humble, gentle, patient, supportive servants.

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 4:1 – Serve One, Serve All

Posted on October 19, 2015 by Will

Therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, encourage you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Truth to Learn

We are all called to serve in God’s church.

Behind the Words

“Prisoner” is from desmios, which is derived from the verb desmeō, meaning “to bind.” Thus, desmios means “someone in bonds” or “a prisoner.”

The word “encourage” is translated from the Greek verb parakaleō, which is made up of para, meaning “to the side of” or “near” and kaleō, meaning “to call.” Therefore, we can see that literally this word means “to call near.” In usage, the basic meaning is “to comfort,” “to encourage,” or “to challenge.”

“Walk” is from peripateō. This is made up of peri, meaning “around,” “through,” or “with respect to” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” This Greek word means “to walk around.” It is used as a metaphor of how a person lives his or her life.

The word “calling” is klēsis, which is derived from kaleō, “to call.” It refers to “an invitation.”

“You were called” is translated from the verb kaleō, “to call.” It is expressed in the aorist tense indicating past completed action which occurred at a point in time (not a process).

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul starts off this verse reminding his readers that he is a prisoner of the Lord. This is very similar to the way he started off the previous chapter. There, he did so to introduce his ministry to the Gentiles and the mystery regarding the church. Here, he reminds them that he is a prisoner, because he is about to challenge his readers to live a life that is characterized by service to others rather than serving self. As a prisoner, he is a supreme example of this.

Most of the first three chapters of this letter were focused on teaching doctrine. In the remainder of the letter, Paul focuses on duty. Another way to say this is, previously he taught us what to believe; now he will teach us how to behave.

As you can see from Behind the Words, in this verse Paul uses several forms of the word kaleō (to call). This is typical Pauline style. He likes to play on words like this as a device to drive home his message. He is in prison because God called him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, thus angering religious Jews who thought he was perverting Judaism. He was more concerned with serving God than he was with protecting himself. In fact, before his final trip to Jerusalem, where he was arrested, he was told by a prophet that he would end up in chains:

And [the prophet Agabus] coming to us and taking Paul's belt and binding his hands and feet, said, "The Holy Spirit says this, In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' " (Acts 21:11)

Paul was totally dedicated to the ministry to which he had been called, in spite of the warning from other mature spiritual people. Now he will be challenging us to be just as dedicated to the ministry to which each of us has been called.

Application

Every Christian has been called by God to serve within the body of Christ. Each of us has a function to perform for which God has specifically gifted us. There is no excuse for any of us not to be serving. Are you performing the ministry to which you have been called by God?

In God's service, for His glory,