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StrengthforTodayandBrightHopeforTomorrow

Introduction:“Attheheartoflibertyistherighttodefineone’sownconceptofexistence,ofmeaning,oftheuniverse,andofthemysteryofhumanlife.”

FromthemajorityopinionoftheSupremeCourtinPlannedParenthoodofSoutheasternPAv.Casey(1992)

Weareapologistsinaspiritualbattle.Thatdoesn’tmeanweapologizeforthegospel.ItmeansthatGod’sWordisalwaysspokenintohumanculture.Godusedprophetsandapostlestospeakrevelationintotheircultures.Nowheuseshisownsonsanddaughterstoshowandtellthegospeltothosewhosemindsare“darkened.”Forthewisdom,courageandpowertodoso,wehavetextslikeEphesians1:15–23.ThetruthstheApostlePaulsoeloquentlyexplainsencouragethechurchtoshowthatGodismorebeautiful,personal,powerfulandlovingthananythingthepaganworldcanoffer.PaulhassetthestageinEph1:1–14:weareblessedintheheavenlies,sinceChristhimselfisthereandwearechosentobeinhim.IfanyofushadbeenwritingEphesians,wewouldhaveputthebattlechapterfirst,thentheeverydaythings,thenthebattle(holding-on-to-the-end),andfinally,promotiontotheheavenlies.Thatisalwaystheorderinpaganspirituality.ButnotinthegospelofJesus!InChristianity,theheavenliesarealreadywon–andthat’swhywecanstandandfightinthetemporary,wiping-upskirmishagainstthedefeatedwickedpowers.

15Forthisreason,becauseIhaveheardofyourfaithintheLordJesusandyourlovetowardallthesaints,16Idonotceasetogivethanksforyou,rememberingyouinmyprayers,

Paulknowsthischurch,whichisfulloffaithandlove.HelovesthemandpraysforthemtohaveEnlightenment,PowerandFullFellowshipwithGodandwithoneanother.

EnlightenmentthattheGodofourLordJesusChrist,theFatherofglory,maygiveyouaspiritofwisdomandofrevelationintheknowledgeofhim,havingtheeyesofyourheartsenlightened,thatyoumayknowwhatisthehopetowhichhehascalledyou,whataretherichesofhisgloriousinheritanceinthesaints,

FalseEnlightenmentOurculturethinksof“enlightenment”asaNewAge,Oneistspiritualexperience.

BasedonexperiencealoneThe“lookwithin”enlightenmentisaddictiveandoftenisolating.Therearehugedifferencesbetweengodlymeditationandpagantrance-inducingmantras.TheBibletellsIsraelnottocopypaganworship:

Deut12:29–32WhentheLORDyourGodcutsoffbeforeyouthenationswhomyougointodispossess,…takecarethat…youdonotinquireabouttheirgods,saying,“Howdidthesenationsservetheirgods?-thatIalsomaydothesame.”YoushallnotworshiptheLORDyour

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Godinthatway,foreveryabominablethingthattheLORDhatestheyhavedonefortheirgods,fortheyevenburntheirsonsandtheirdaughtersinthefiretotheirgods.

1Kgs18:28–29And[thepriestsofBaal]criedaloudandcutthemselvesaftertheircustomwithswordsandlances,untilthebloodgushedoutuponthem.Andasmiddaypassed,theyravedonuntilthetimeoftheofferingoftheoblation,buttherewasnovoice.Nooneanswered;noonepaidattention.

Foundedonone’sownimaginationInJude,paganshavewormedtheirwayintothechurchandfoundawelcome:

Jude1:10–13[T]hesepeopleblasphemeallthattheydonotunderstand,andtheyaredestroyedbyallthatthey,likeunreasoninganimals,understandinstinctively.Woetothem!…Theseareblemishesonyourlovefeasts,astheyfeastwithyouwithoutfear,lookingafterthemselves;waterlessclouds,sweptalongbywinds;fruitlesstreesinlateautumn,twicedead,uprooted;wildwavesofthesea,castingupthefoamoftheirownshame;wanderingstars,forwhomthegloomofutterdarknesshasbeenreservedforever.

BroughtbyevilspiritsPagantrancesandenlightenmentaredemonic.TheUSisbecomingamodern-dayEphesus.From“AGuidetoSpiritAnimals,”forexample:

Incertainculturesandspiritualsystems,thereisabeliefthatweeachtravelwithacadreofspiritguides,whichalsoincludesanimals.Shamanichealerandintuitive,ColleenMcCann,explainsbelowwhatspiritanimalsare,andhowtheycanbeharnessedforhelpinlife,whetherthroughmeditationortotemform.1

LeadingtofearanddespairEphesuswasknownforpowerfulmagictowardoffevilspirits.Similartechniquesareofferedtoday.Paganmeditationtechniquesproduceasemblanceofpeace,whichisreallyafalsedetachment(e.g.Buddhist“mindfulness,”Hindu“yoga”).Watchoutforspiritualsystemsortechniques,someofwhichareeveninthechurch.Pauldoesn’tofferamuletswithJesus’pictureonthem,orspecialplaceswheretheChristiansshouldgotopray.

TrueEnlightenmentHeasksthat“theeyesoftheirheart”(v18)shouldbeopen.ThisexpressionisfoundneitherelsewhereintheBiblenorintheliteratureoftheday.PerhapsPaulisthinkingofthatdramaticdaywhenhelosthisphysicalsight,butgained“eyesoftheheart.”Hispowerful“enlightenment”hadhimpreachingtheresurrectionofChristonlydaysafterbeingflooredbythegloryoftherisenandreigningJesus!HewasforcedtoreevaluateeverythinghehadlearnedabouttheOT,Jahweh,thetemple,andtheMessiah.FromamurderingterroristtoaprayingApostle—amoredramaticchangecanhardlybefound.KnowingGodcomesfromknowinghisrevelationofhimselfinCreation,intheScriptureandinChrist’slife,death,resurrectionandascension(vv20–22).ThisknowledgeleadstoaveryChristian“enlightenment,”whichoftenhasanemotionalelementofcourse!Butwhatevertheemotionthataccompaniesit,trueenlightenmentleadstotruewisdom.

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BasedonknowledgeEph4:17–21[Y]oumustnolongerwalkastheGentilesdo,inthefutilityoftheirminds.Theyaredarkenedintheirunderstanding,alienatedfromthelifeofGodbecauseoftheignorancethatisinthem,duetotheirhardnessofheart.Theyhavebecomecallousandhavegiventhemselvesuptosensuality,greedytopracticeeverykindofimpurity.ButthatisnotthewayyoulearnedChrist!—assumingthatyouhaveheardabouthimandweretaughtinhim,asthetruthisinJesus.

John17:3Andthisiseternallife,thattheyknowyoutheonlytrueGod,andJesusChristwhomyouhavesent.

Wecantruly“knowGod.”NoticethatChristianshave“heard,”been“taught,”and“learned”THEtruthbecauseGodhasrevealedhimself.

DrawnfromrevelationPaganswant“wisdom”or“signs”(andwonders).PaulsaysweknowGodthroughthecross,whichis“foolishness”totheworld.

1Cor1:20–24Whereistheonewhoiswise?Whereisthescribe?Whereisthedebaterofthisage?HasnotGodmadefoolishthewisdomoftheworld?Forsince,inthewisdomofGod,theworlddidnotknowGodthroughwisdom,itpleasedGodthroughthefollyofwhatwepreachtosavethosewhobelieve.ForJewsdemandsignsandGreeksseekwisdom,butwepreachChristcrucified,astumblingblocktoJewsandfollytoGentiles,buttothosewhoarecalled,bothJewsandGreeks,ChristthepowerofGodandthewisdomofGod.

BroughtbytheHolySpiritTrueEnlightenmentisstirredupinourheartsbytheHolySpirit.In2Cor3,Paulspeaks

ofhardmindsanddark,veiledhearts.Thoseheartsareonlyfreedandbroughttogloryby“theLordwhoistheSpirit.”Thisistheenlightenmentoftheheartthatweseeinv.18.

LeadingtothanksgivingandhopeTrueEnlightenmentdrivesoutfearandbringshope.Paulremindsusthatwearecalled,chosen,adopted,redeemed,holy,blameless,blessedandalreadysittingintheheavenlies.Ourinheritanceissure!“Inheritance”–AreweGod’sinheritanceorisGodourinheritance?Scholarsdisagreeforthistext.TheBibleteachesbothtruths.SeeMicah7:14–“theflockofyourinheritance,”;1Pet1:3–5–“bornagaintoalivinghopethroughtheresurrectionofJesusChristfromthedead,toaninheritancethatisimperishable,undefiled,andunfading,keptinheavenforyou”;and1Pet2:9–“apeopleforGod’sownpossession.”InheritancemayalsohaveaspecialmeaningtoPaul,whowasnodoubtdisinheritedbyhisfamily.

Powerandwhatistheimmeasurablegreatnessofhispowertowarduswhobelieve,accordingtotheworkingofhisgreatmightthatheworkedinChristwhenheraisedhimfromthedeadandseatedhimathisrighthandintheheavenlyplaces,faraboveallruleandauthorityandpoweranddominion,andaboveeverynamethatisnamed,notonlyinthisagebutalsointheonetocome.

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ThepaganspiritualityinEphesushadmanywordsforpower,whichtheyusedtomasterlifeandoneanother.2PaulusesallthesetermsinabundanceinEphesianstodescribetherealmofevilspirits,whichhavenoultimateauthority.AsClintonArnoldputsit,

ThosewhoformerlyputtheirfaithinmagicalpracticesandhavesinceprofessedfaithinChristnowhaveapostolicinstructionabouthowtheyaretoregardthedeitiesorspiritsinwhichtheyformerlytrustedinlightoftheirconfessionofChrist.Thepagandeitiesarenotimaginaryorlifelessandthereforeharmless,butneitheraretheyomnipotent.TheyarepowerfulandevilemissariesofthedevilhimselfwhoneedtoberesistedwiththepowerfularmorofGod.3

Falsepower

FromdemonicsourcesTheEphesianssoughtpowerusingthenamesofpowerfulgodsandgoddesses.Theyusedmantras,the“EphesiaGrammata”(specialmagical“letters”andspells),andincantationstowardoffevilspirits,layacurseonsomeoneorcommandthegods.Such“power”worksonlyevilanddependsonusingwickedpowersorcreatedbeings--Spiritguides,spiritualguides,animalspirits,etc.Thinkthisisfarawayandlongago?YoucanbuythePowerAnimalOraclecardappforyouriphone4orthechildren’sSpiritAnimalCardsversion.YouhavefriendswhorelyonkarmaandarrangetheirfurnitureaccordingtoFengShui.Youcanlearnfromapsychictokeepyourroomclean,sinceevilspiritslikemess!OnGlobalWizardry(avolumefromatruthXchangeconference)showstheincredibleglobalsimilaritiesinpaganworship.Spiritualpowercomesfromanindwelling—whetherthechoking,soul-destroyingindwellingofwickedspiritsorthelife-givingindwellingoftheHolySpirit,fromwhichthewateroflifeflows.HereisadescriptionofAfricanpaganismbyDr.YusufuTuraki:

“AnAfricanpaganbelievesthathecan,byavarietyofmethods:1. Communicatewith,andreceivecommunicationfrom,thespiritworld;2. Acquirepowersfromthenaturalandthespiritworld;3. Exercisethosepowersinandthroughhumanbeings,othercreatures,natureand

thespiritworld;4. Experiencespiritualitythroughfestivals,ritualsandceremonies;5. Consultprofessionalcommunicatorswhocontactthespiritworldandhelpthe

practitionerexercisespiritualpower.”“…thespiritworldisdenselypopulatedwith1. Spiritbeings,spirits,andtheliving-deadorthespiritsoftheancestorsand2. Impersonal,mysticalmysterious,unseenpowersandforces.5

ThisdescriptionfitsEphesuswellandisthecontextinwhichtheChristianchurchlived.

ForselfishreasonsFalsepowermanipulatesothersandseesone’sowncomfortasthehighestgood.Lastweek,Rhondareadaspell-likeprayerthatusedincantationsandmagicalwordstocurseacompetitorinachariotrace.Hereisamodernexpressionoftheidealgoalforapaganexerciseofpower:

“Wouldn’titbepowerfulifyoufellinlovewithyourselfsodeeplythatyouwoulddojustaboutanythingifyouknewitwouldmakeyouhappy?”--AlanCohen,Americanauthorandspeaker

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Falsepowerisusedoutoffear.Fearispartoflifeonaplanetaffectedbysin.Thosebornintoaworlddominatedbypaganprinciplesandspiritualitylongforsafetyandusetheonlytechniquestheyknowtoacquireit.

InpossessivewaysFalsepowerisexercisedthroughpossessionandforthepurposeofpossession.NoticethemanydemonicpossessionsaroundwhentheChristcameonthescene!Falsepowertriestotakepossessivepoweroverothers.

TruepowerBasedonChrist’sresurrectionandtransformation;hisauthorityashesitsattherighthandofGod;andisworkingouthisvictoryoverthedevil,deathandsin.6

Personalandtender,evidencedbythetriumphofJesusChristThenameaboveallnames.ThemagicalreligionofEphesusdependedonusingpowerful,oftensecret“names.”Citieswouldbelievetheycouldnotbeconqueredunlesstheirenemylearnedthesecretnamethatprotectedthem.PaulencouragesustorememberthatnonamehasthepowerofthenameofChristandhispoweris“towardthesaints”!

HumbleandsubmissiveChristisraisedtotheheavenlies.Becauseweare“inhim,”wedonothavetoclimbsomepowerladderusingtechniques,meditation,specialwordsornames,relics,,specialScripturereadingmethods,holyroutinesorplaces.Fromheaven,ourLordJesusChristprotectsus,guardsus,watchesoverus,andintercedesforus.Wearealreadythere,inhim–inthepresenceoftheholyGod,acceptedandpure.

TriumphantoverallevilThereisnopoweronearthorinthespiritworldthatisnotunderthepowerofJesusChristintheheavenlies.Herulesoveranddirectsall.

EternalJesus’powerisnotlimitedgeographicallyortemporally.Heisruleroftheages.Let’snotforgetthatwearealreadyINeternallife.OnedayGod’spowerwilltransformus,eradicatingalltraceofsinandremakingourbodiessotheyarefitfortheagetocome.

FullnessAndheputallthingsunderhisfeetandgavehimasheadoverallthingstothechurch,whichishisbody,thefullnessofhimwhofillsallinall.

FalsefullnessEveryonefeelstheworldshouldmakesenseandhavesomekindofunity.However,allthosewhorefusetorecognizetheCreatorendupinthesameplace,despitetheseeming“variety”ofspiritualitiesonoffer.TheymustmakeGodapartofeverything,whichkeepstheideaof“spirituality”andcreatesakindof“fullness”system,oftendescribedassomeversionofacircle.Theonlyreligionthatcan’tfitintothecircleisChristianity.Youwillhearspiritualnotionslikenon-dualspirituality,karma,soul-consciousness,reincarnation,perennialphilosophy,

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contemplation,meditation,mandalas,andsoon.AlloftheseapproachesrejecttheCreatorGodwhorevealstruthandrequiresallegianceandobedience.Suchapproachesseektosuppressthemind.

“themoreirreconcilablevarioustheologicalpositionsappeartobe,thecloserwearetoexperiencingtruth.”--Aleaderintheemergentchurchmovement

“Godhasmadedifferentreligionstosuitdifferentaspirations,timesandcountries…onecanreachGodifonefollowsanyofthepathswithwholehearteddevotion.”Ramakrishna,Hindumystic

Thisfullnesscaneitherbe“religious”(opentoanyandallgods/goddesses)or“secular”(rejectingtheverynotionofspirituality–leavinguswiththeGodofthehumanmind.)Eitherapproachisimpersonalandempty.WoodyAllensaysitclearly:

“Mostoflifeistragic.You’reborn,youdon’tknowwhy.You’rehere,youdon’tknowwhy.Yougo,youdie.Yourfamilydies.Yourfriendsdie.Peoplesuffer.Peopleliveinconstantterror.TheworldisfullofpovertyandcorruptionandwarandNazisandtsunamis.Thenetresultis,youlose—youdon’tbeatthehouse.”7

TruefullnessThe“pleroma”Paulspeaksofisdifferent.ThewordisusedseveraltimesinEphesians,sowewillitasappliedtothebeautiful,cosmicmarriage/unionofChristandhischurch.Godhassethisloveonthechurch.Jesusrulesandreignsforthechurch!Justasahusbandandwifebecomeoneflesh,onebody,sowehavebeenchosentobeunitedtoChristinhisinfinitelovethathesetuponusduetonothingwehavedone.Thisbeautiful,tender,powerfulSaviorrulesoverall,buthispowerdoesnotterrify.Itinspires;itstrengthens;itinhabitsus—bringingconfidence,peace,joy,andthecouragetowalkthroughthelifeWoodyAllendescribessopoignantly.BeingunitedtoChristandexperiencingGod’sfullnessdoesnotdestroyyouridentity,butcreatesit!You,personally,asamemberofhischurch,maintainyourindividuality.Indeedthatindividualitygrows,asitstaysunitedtoChristandstaysinconnectiontohischurch.Donotfeelthatyouareproudbysayingthatthereisonlyonetruereligion—onlyonetruesourceofspiritualpower.Thatisthemosthumblethingthatanyofuscouldsay.AllisofChrist.Herules,heknows,hecares,heloves,heempowers,andhewillonedaybringyousafelytohiseternalfamilyreunion.He’salreadythere—preparingaplaceforyou.

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SourcesArnold,Clinton.Gen.Ed.ZondervanIllustratedBibleBackgroundsCommentary.GrandRapids:

Zondervan,2002.-------------------.PowerandMagic:TheConceptofPowerinEphesians.GrandRapids:Baker

Books,1989,1992.Baugh,S.M.Ephesians.Bellingham,WA:LexhamPress,2016.Bruce,F.F.Paul:ApostleoftheHeartSetFree.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1977.Calvin,Jean.TheEpistlesofPaultheApostletotheGalatians,Ephesians,Philippiansand

Colossians.GrandRapids:Eerdmans,trans.1965.Dowling,MichaelandDowling,Sarah.TellingFables:AmusingTalesaboutTimelyTopicsof

TimelessSignificance.Unpublishedmanuscript,2017.Ferguson,Sinclair.Let’sStudyEphesians.Edinburgh:BannerofTruthTrust,2005.Jones,Peter.Gen.Ed.OnGlobalWizardry:TechniquesofPaganSpiritualityandaChristian

Response.Escondido,CA:MainEntryEditions,2010.

1http://goop.com/guide-spirit-animals.Thesitegoesontosay:“Aspiritanimalischaracterizedasateacherormessengerthatcomesintheformofananimalandhasapersonalrelationshiptoanindividual.Othernamesmightbeanimalguides,spirithelpers,spiritallies,poweranimals,oranimalhelpers.Itisbelievedthatyoudonotchoosetheanimal,ratheritchooses,orhasalreadychosenyou.Theanimalistheretoprovide“medicine”totherecipientintheformofguidance,lessons,protection,power,orwisdom.Shamansworldwidehavereliedontheguidance,wisdom,andsymbolismofspiritanimalsforthousandsofyears.”

2Dunamis(power),energeia(effectivepower),ischus(strength),krato(dominion),exousi(authority),kuriotes(lordship),archon(ruler)andkosmokrator(worldruler),amongothers!

3ClintonArnold,PowerandMagic:TheConceptofPowerinEphesians(GrandRapids:BakerBooks,1989,1992),67.ArnoldalsopointsoutthatPaulusesthelanguageofthetimestodiscuss“rulersofthespiritsoftheair”and“principalities,powers,andauthoritiesinheaven.”

4WiththisOracleCardsappyoucan:Give“oraclereadings”anywhere,anytimeonyouriPhoneoriPodTouch;Choosebetween1-card,3-card,5-cardand12-cardreadings;Saveandloadyour“oraclereadings”forreviewatanytime;E-mail“oraclereadings”tofriends;Flipcardsovertoreadthefullmeaningofeachcard;ReviewtheentiredeckofcardsinBrowsemode.

5OnGlobalWizardry(Escondido,CA:MainEntryEditions,2010),115-6.ThisvolumeisacollectionofessaysaboutthepracticesofpaganspiritualtechniquesandananalysisfromaChristianpointofview.

6SinclairFerguson,Let’sStudyEphesians,32.7FromaninterviewbyDouglasJ.Rowe,publishedbytheAssociatedPress,March25,2005.Quotedby

MichaelDowlinginhisStudyGuideforanasyetunpublishedmanuscript,TellingFables.