UNRAVELLING OF THE MYSTERIES OF EPHESIANS - PART 2

It has taken over a year, but we have completed our journey through the Kingdom of God Ephesians Bible Study. We are from different cultures and backgrounds, each one on a journey. It has been a special time of learning from each other, but most of all gaining a greater understanding of God’s intended meaning of Ephesians has been the ultimate for me. The letter to those in Ephesus has come alive, not just for me but for each one of us. Here are some of our reflections.

‘When I did the armour of God session in the Kingdom of God Ephesians Bible Study, my whole perspective was changed. I used to think that I had to put on the armour of God each day because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have it on. That’s how I was taught in the past. This didn’t make logical sense to me. But when I did the Kingdom of God Ephesians Bible Study I came to know that I always have God’s armour on, as it was given to me at the moment of receiving Jesus. This was very liberating to me. It was clear that the invitation now is to simply stand and abide in that knowledge. Simply stand in the truth. I love that I can take this truth and share it with others.’

‘I found it powerful that God provides practical ways, even in the midst of our flesh, to be empowered. He understands our humanity and provides ways for us to be free in that space.’

‘I’ve read this wives and husbands text many times and normally push past it because ‘submit’ doesn’t make sense. However going back to Genesis, trying to understand where we [humanity] are coming from really helped me. Especially taking it back to God’s original intent of how we are meant to live and how God created us to be, gave me a lot of clarity. It really made sense to me that the head of the household is not to be bossy, but it is about nurturing, caring and nourishing.’

‘When we read, “We are His body of His flesh and bones…” to me that was a very powerful analogy. As the first man said of the woman, flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. It speaks to me of the oneness and very closeness we have to God in accepting Jesus’ sacrifice in becoming human.’

‘For me it just solidifies that when God created man and woman, He didn’t create them as unequal. If there has to be a head and a body, the only way it can work is if we surrender our selfish desires to control and manipulate each other. Learning that being the head is not a dominance thing has really helped to solidify what is truth in my mind. Now I will be able to put it into words to someone else.’

‘I read this passage many times but it is now very clear that Jesus as the head does not dominate, does not oppress, does not make us do something to get what self wants. I now have an amazing sense of what it is to be the head from God’s perspective. The picture we have of what it is to be the head is so wrong. It is not like what God is like. When we list out all the things God is, that really touches me and gives me God’s truth on what the head is.’

‘I learnt that Paul is not giving instructions on how to behave, but revealing who were are in Christ and it is God who transforms. This truth brings true freedom.’