Ephesians 2- Part 2

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Study and learn. Be changed.  Ephesians 2 Made Alive in Christ 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not
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How can we know God...

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There are times we just can't "figure out" the mind of God. We don't know why He would allow something or bless us with some HUGE blessing.  There are times that we aren't sure what He wants us to do, so what to do???    His word says His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9).  However, He calls us to seek Him. 
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel
“Seek me and live.” Amos 5:4


You will seek me and find me when you seek me
with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

The calling is clear.  Seek Him!  Know Him!  How?  Get into His word.  Spend time with Him in prayer.  Don't think someone else (a pastor, Bible study teacher, etc) can do the work for you and you can have the same kind of "knowing"... as it doesn't work.

God gave me such a good picture of this fact this morning.  I was getting ready for my 6:30 a.m. Bible study... and my husband comes into the bathroom to get his shower and start his day.  He asks me if I slept well. I signed  so-so..and I pointed at him.  He knew this meant,  "I slept ok"   ..."How did you sleep?".   Just with a point , he knew me well enough to know what I meant.   He knows, after being married for 23 years, that I am a  mime for the first hour of the day.   Just like a mime uses no words,  but only hand signals and body language to communicate, so do I...for the first hour of the day. Words just will NOT come out of my mouth.  My husband knows how to read my signs and what I am saying..... with not a sound.  No one would guess this about me, because the rest of the hours in the day, I am a talker.    How does he know?  He spends time with me.  He knows me by studying who I am.  

Knowing takes time.... Knowing takes "seeking".   If you want to know God , seek Him.  He will always bless that!

2 Timothy 3
14 But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them],
15 And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the [b]leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
16 Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),
17 So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.



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