Review of Ephesians 1 by Emilie Gate

Ephesians 1

Review by Emilie Gate
Chapters 1-3 are about “who you are” and chapters 3-6 are about “how you walk into the reality of “who you are.”

Last week Kathi Vod asked us to think about how different life would be if we really believed that we are who God says we are.  Part of being in Knit Together is being in a safe place to walk out this truth.

Kathi read I John 3:1

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Kathi Vod marveled on how great it will be when we start to love the body (double entendre, our own and the body of Christ) that He has given us.  She called us sisters in Christ, members of the body and proposed that we can love one another.

She read Ephesians 1 (and in writing this review, I can tell you that the presence of the Holy Spirit dropped and fell heavily in the room at this time).

There is a book called Believing God by Beth Moore. Beth Moore emphasizes that we need to learn to believe that we indeed are who God says we are.  And at the same time, we want to walk into believing that God is who He says He is.

Beth’s Moore’s list of identity nametags from God:

• Blessed
• Chosen
• Adopted
• Favored
• Redeemed and
• Forgiven 

God gave us our identity. 

Chosen

Kathi shared how her childhood memories were fully lacking in the competitive realm.  As a result, her coordination was undernourished (not going to name her a bad name) and so her opportunities in the sports realm were … say lacking.  She was not chosen on teams to play competitive games, so her chosenness was also undernourished.  Her earthly experience gave her messages about herself.

God, on the other hand, did not choose you because he felt sorry for you, but he chose  you before the creation of the world (verse 4).  Kathi invited us to swim deep in the waters He chose for you BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.  Did you hear me?  (I am shouting).  HE CHOSE YOU.  YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD.  Insecurities?   Where did they come from?  Not the author of your story.   There is a place where insecurities can be healed.  Do you want to go there?

Eugene Peterson says, “Before you knew there was any action God had you in on the action!"

Your heavenly maker whispers “Blessed, Chosen, Adopted…” and He is whispering about you.  Do you hear Him?

Kathi talked about being predestined.  When we look at the word “destination,” we think of boundary.  God puts us into a place with boundaries, He wants us to be nurtured in a safe place, a place with boundaries, not an endless scene where we can wander off without limits.

Kathi gave the analogy of our destiny, our “road,” our “map” can be likened to a road trip.  She and Trip drove to Maine from Florida (I know, what was she thinking?).  The trip was a plan in and of itself.  Because of “relationship,” the road trip was fun.  Picture the entire Vodenicker clan (three kids, mom and dad) in the minivian, luggage, tent, bikes, etc.  I am chuckling just thinking about it!

Along the way, she actually worried about getting lost (see this week’s quote of the week, quite in sync with this mom worry).  When she drove through Brooklyn, she had a feeling of  beinglost and taking the wrong turn. She wondered, “Will I ever get back to where I am meant to go?”

God has a plan and a destination for each of you.  How many of you are looking over your shoulder to look for someone else, because you don’t actually believe this for yourself.  Are you lost?  Do you need help?  Directions?  When we're lost we cry out “God show us where to go... “ and then oftentimes we turn off the GPS. Yet once He shows us where to go, we need to stay by His side, keep on letting Him be our guide, our GPS.

We are in the show but we are not running it. Did you hear that loud enough? We are a part, an integral part of this “show” called life, but we are not in charge.  God’s plan, His destiny is better than any road trip we could ever plan for ourselves!

Sometimes we get lost and need women who are wiser and need women to speak into our lives.  If we do not hold onto God’s truth of our chosenness, we can end up going in the wrong direction.  The “lostness” is a lonely place.  Beth Moore’s book uses the word  'favored,' whereas Eugene Peterson says in Luke 1:28 greeting you who are “highly favored.”

If your  kids hate you, if your husband and you are fighting, if your friends gossip about you, you might see this this all as rejection, yet God has still chosen you and wants your identity to be in what He thinks of you.

We can end up putting the coat of rejection on us that ends up being a strait jacket. But God wants us to know we have been cloaked in righteousness.  We need to know and receive the amazing truths that we are accepted, chosen, and beloved. He wants us to come to a place where we hear only His voice and choose to receive the truth.
The creator defines the creation. We are the chosen by God!