Know I

Eph.1:¹ “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.”

The purpose of Bible study to inspire you to dive deeper into God’s Word. In the course of our study, I am going to be pointing you in certain directions, giving you certain scriptures for you to go and crack in your personal or collaborative Bible study. It is my prayer that as you yield yourself to God’s Word, He will open the Books of Remembrance concerning you because you pay attention to His Word. May God breathe on you and cause His Word and presence to change your life. Please study Ephesians chapter 1.

Eph.1:¹ (NRSV) “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus”. The statement, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus“, almost sounds blasphemous. This Paul was the one who single-handedly persecuted the New Testament church the most. Paul personally supervised the killing of Stephen. Paul was going from city to city obtaining legal approval to persecute the church. These letters were written to the church in Ephesus towards the end of Paul’s life. This same Paul is addressing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.

In other words, left to the other apostles alone, Paul will not be chosen. In fact, when Paul became an apostle, nobody wanted to associate with him. Paul knew that if there was an election for apostles even in Bethlehem his village, he will not win. If God had asked for a vote for would be apostles and Paul’s name came out, he probably would not get a single vote. Yet he is Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, not by the will of men, but by the will of God. You are going to be all that God has called you to be, not because of your siblings or because your kinsmen like it but by the will of God.

Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ; not Paul an Evangelist of Jesus Christ. He could be because he was evangelistic. It is not Paul a Pastor for Jesus Christ, even though he pastored people. He was not Paul, a teacher for Jesus Christ, even though he taught. He did not say Paul a prophet for Jesus Christ, even though he was prophetic. He said he saw some things in the supernatural that it was not lawful for him to put down in writing. But it is Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ. It is important for us to all know what we are called to be, and this is not about titles, but about calling.

Prayer: Father, I ask for spiritual intelligence, for wisdom and revelation so that I will know You and understand the hope to which You have called me, in Jesus Name. Amen!