Flattery, politico, ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ ideology, secular humanism  are all examples of mental corruption that really tear into a person. What appear on the senses level seem nice and advantageous but in absolute reality are flimsy manipulations of the mind. Truth is what genuinely builds individuals up in strength, boldness and success.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

What is corrupt communication? Like the verse says it is communication that doesn’t edify. So what is edification? It is life as it is built up on the strong, sound foundation of Jesus Christ.  All else is sinking sand. It is as simple as that!

To minister grace is to join someone to the power, rights and privileges of God.  It is the vital true way to walk in sonship and claim all the promises of God. As each member in the body of Christ rises up to his own individual trust, respect and love for God an environment of unfailing power prevails. It is a vital manifestation of the grace administration that we are now privileged to live.

We don’t need a huge cathedral with special lighting, pews, and a formal bell-ringing, liturgical service. God’s word says it take two or three gathered as the body of Christ to change the course of someone’s life. Maybe all you need is a living room, a coffee shop, hospital room, park, grocery store, school, dorm or wherever else people get together. It doesn’t matter. When God is in the middle of a small group of people, they can change the course of history!

Security and Esteem

"Most people with low self-esteem have earned it." is an interesting quote by George Carlin. It certainly has merit because it is about 'merit'. He is saying insecurity may be earned. It certainly doesn't come from grace! Thank God!

For people life may be a constant struggle to find security and meaning even when things are going well as well as when things are 

going bad. Without understanding what God really can impart to us when we believe, it can get pretty heart wrenching. Often well-meaning religious people push the hurt even deeper. 

I have met people who think they know all about God and their lives are wrapped up and focused on judgement and performance.

Because of what God wrought in Christ we don't have to swallow and accept this as 'life just as it is'!

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

We don't have to earn anything, we just have to accept that something bigger than us has given us our value that is far greater than what we could gain from a title, wealth, prestige, education or from religion (Yes religion!). We just have to believe it and use it! It is not earned!
 Remember chapter 1:6 of Ephesians (What a book!) We are to be: 

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

So why waste all that effort on low self-esteem. Give it up! and read Ephesians!





Glory

In chapter 1 of Ephesians, the phrase 'to the praise of His glory' is used three times. In that chapter, there are some great things listed that God has done for us. A big one is that he has 'blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ'. We have been given the very nature of what He is in the form of a full measure of holy spirit. When we walk in the light and direction of this spirit we can do great things and bring the good pleasure of His will into view. That is why he makes us accepted when we trust the reality of the wholeness only He can provide for us and we become 'sealed with that holy spirit of promise'. It is all to be to the praise of His glory (His magnificent splendor). That is quite a privilege for us.

Ephesians 1:17-19That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

 We are a very blessed people! We have so much to offer people who are trapped or cornered or enveloped in heavy darkness. We are to the praise of His glory!

Isaiah 60:1-2 (Amplified Bible) ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.

Ephesians 4:15

Ephesians is a great book! It contains important keys to maturing as a Christian. You don't have to know Greek or Aramaic to understand its breath-taking truths. My favorite verse is Ephesians 4:15:

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

There is a beautiful 3-part  precept magnificently displayed in this verse. To grow up: 1) we speak, 2) the truth 3) in love. All three components are vital elements to our growth. We can speak the truth certainly. So can legalists, religionists, quoters; anyone can speak truth. We can speak in love, but we might be humanists, people pleasers, and even flatterers. We can love truth but how does that help anyone else or help us mature. We need all three elements if we want to really help people know God  better as we  mature  in the unselfish nature that Jesus Christ so exemplified.

Ephesians is Our Complete Package From God

Seated in the heavenlies

s

1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

2:5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Walking worthy

5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Able to Stand

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: