Gracious Heavenly Father, as I come to you today the sins of my youth are brought to remembrance. How, even as a confessed Believer from an early age – I was not the godly child I ought to have been for many years. And how thankful I am today both for your forgiveness and for the godly parents you gave me who in patience and prayer labored through my obstreperous nature, and to faithfully display and impress your Gospel and goodness to me. What an inestimable gift.

In like kind Father – as a father myself I am conscious of how I failed in that roll, but how in all overcoming grace, you still wrought in my daughter’s heart and mind to bring her to yourself. And how she has grown into the godly, faithful and loving wife and mother she has become. THANK YOU!

So too now I pray that as a grandfather I might not provoke these dear and tender souls to wrath in any way, ever, but instead contribute what I can to their being brought up in your discipline and instruction. Make them fully your own in all their years and generations (as long as Christ should tarry) – that this line may never lack and unbroken chain of offspring who seek to know and love you with all their heart, mind soul and strength – and to both revel in and live and preach your Gospel in any walk your Providence deems best fit for your glory and their good. Make them fully your own in every way in Christ.

In any capacity where I might find myself under the employ, service or authority of others – let me serve in sincerity of heart as I would obey Christ – and not just to please them when being observed. Let me always do your will in those places from a willing heart with good will and not as unto men only – but as unto you. Whether I serve or oversee – each of us will receive what is proper given our station without partiality from your hand. And when I am in a position of power or authority, let me exercise my office without threats or heavy-handedness. Let me do so knowing full well that both they and I se4rve you equally – and that you will deal with us both with no favoritism whatever. Keep me humble.

Father, teach me by your Spirit how to appropriate all of your provisions in the spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh and the devil and all of the enemy’s agents and machinations. Help me to stand firm for your kingdom and glory.

Keep me always in the truth as it is in Christ, surrounding and securing me like a belt.

Keep my heart safe in the breastplate of righteousness.

Help me to stand steadfast and secure on the truth and safety of your Gospel.

Grant faith in trusting your perfect, holy character and Word so as to be fully protected from the enemy’s fiery darts.

Let me mind be always that of a redeemed man, never straying from the realities of Christ. ]

And help me to take your Word carefully and skillfully – for it is the very revelation of yourself in Christ Jesus.

Let your Spirit of prayer become my very breath at all times and in all places; in my heart, audibly, in private, with the saints, in pleadings, praises, thanksgivings and in seeking communion with you.

Grant me a watchful heart in prayer for my brothers and sisters in Christ in all they face – and for the souls of those in my orbit who do not yet know your saving grace.

And give me Gospel boldness and ability to share, preach and proclaim your Gospel – seizing upon every opportuniy to do so as is only fitting to glorify you.

In Christ’s precious name – Amen.

Heavenly Father, as Paul, who at that time was a literal prisoner in the Lord urged his readers by The Spirit – grant that I would truly walk in a manner worthy of the calling I have received. Work in me humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with others in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Help me Father to live ever mindful that there is one body and one Spirit, one hope to which I was called; serving you the one Lord, in one faith, by one baptism; looking to you, the one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Help me to grasp what it means not only to each one of us – but to me personally – that grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. This is why your Word says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.” What does Jesus “ascended” mean, except that He also descended to this earth? He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Let me take full advantage of all these gifts you have given us in Christ, so that I will no longer be an immature infant, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Grant me lips so that I always speak the truth in love, so that I may in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

So work in my heart by your Spirit that I no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They (as I once was) are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

But this is not the way I came to know Christ. I have heard of Him by your grace, and was taught in Him—let me keep with the truth that is in Jesus— to put off completely my former way of life, my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; and let me be renewed in the spirit of my mind; and put on the new self, created to be like you in true righteousness and holiness.

I plead Father, empower me to put off falsehood and speak truthfully to my neighbors in Christ, recognizing we are all members of one another. Teach me how to “Be angry, yet do not sin.” To not let the sun set upon my anger, to never let it be the last word so that I do not give the devil a foothold. Keep me from a covetous, thieving heart, and to steal no longer, but work, doing good with my own hands, that I may have something to share with those in need. Let no unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building up others in need and bringing grace to those who listen. Keep me from grieving your Holy Spirit, in whom I was sealed for the day of redemption. Work in me to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Give me a kind heart, tenderhearted to one another, and a lavishly generous and forgiving spirit, just as in Christ you have forgiven me.

For Jesus’ sake I pray – Amen.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for one like the Apostle Paul, who was a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of Gentiles like me. I have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to him for the likes of me, that is, the mystery you made known to him by revelation, as you have reiterated in your Word. In reading these truths, you have enabled the lowest believer like myself to understand Paul’s own insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to your holy apostles and prophets. This mystery that through the gospel even Gentiles like me are made fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Paul became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given to him through the working of your power. And though he was less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given to him: to preach to the likes of me, the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in you, who created all things.

Wonder upon wonder upon wonder!

Help me to grasp this Father; your purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to the eternal purpose that you accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Help me top grasp such a cosmic reality.

In Christ and through faith in Him you have allowed me to enter your presence with boldness and confidence. No wonder then Paul could ask his original readers not to be discouraged because of his sufferings for them, and by extension us, which are our glory. Seeing what things you have wrought in Christ for us, for me, makes all suffering and discomfort for the Gospel fade into the darkest night.

And so, given all this Father, with Paul and the rest of the saints, for this reason I bow my knees before you Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I too ask that out of the riches of your glory you may strengthen me with power through your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. Then, being rooted and grounded in love, I would have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled with all your own fullness.

Now to you who are able to do so much more than all I can ask or even imagine, according to your power that is at work within me, to you be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.

And now Father, how can I possibly praise and thank you sufficiently when I consider that I was once dead in my trespasses and sins, in which I used to walk when I was conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience? I and all of my brothers and sister also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. But because of your great love for us, you Father, who is rich in mercy, made us, made ME alive with Christ even when I was dead in my trespasses.

It is by your grace that I have been saved!

And you raised me up with Christ and seated me with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages you might display the surpassing riches of your grace, demonstrated by your kindness to me in Christ Jesus.

Again! It is by grace I have been saved through faith, and this is not from myself; it is your gift, not by works, so that I cannot possibly boast.

Father, I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which you prepared in advance as my way of life. Therefore I need to constantly remember that formerly, I who am a Gentile in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— I need to remember that at that time I was separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and a total stranger to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without you in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus I and those like me who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees.

Hallelujah!

Jesus did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of us to yourself in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished our hostility.

Jesus Christ came and preached peace to me who was far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to you Father by one Spirit. Therefore I am no longer a stranger and foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints and a member of your own household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

I can see now that in Christ the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the you. And in Him I too am being built together with all the other believers into a dwelling place for you in His Spirit.

Heavenly Father, words cannot express the wonder of such grace. Glory to your everlasting name!

Ephesians 1 – Blessed be you God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You have blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For you chose me in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in your presence. In love you predestined me for adoption as your son through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of your will, Oh! praise your glorious grace, which you have freely given me in the Beloved One.

In Jesus I have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of my trespasses, according to the riches of your grace that you lavished on me with all wisdom and understanding. And you have made known to me and to all in Christ the mystery of your will according to your good pleasure, which you purposed in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

In Jesus I was also chosen as your own, having been predestined according to your plan; you who works out everything by the counsel of your will; in order that I, who am now among those who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of your glory.

And in Christ, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of my salvation—you sealed me with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of all the Believer’s inheritance until the redemption of all we who are your possession, to the praise of your glory.

For this reason, even those like Paul before me ever since he heard about the faith of Believers in the Lord Jesus and our love for all the saints, he had not stopped giving thanks for the Believers, remembering them in his prayers, that you, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in our knowledge of Christ.

Paul asked, and I do now, that the eyes of my heart  may be enlightened, so that I may know the hope of your calling, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of your power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of your mighty strength, which you exerted in Christ when you raised Him from the dead and seated Him at your own right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

And you Father, put everything under Jesus’ feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of you who fills all in all.

Whether you are a preacher or teacher – or not – getting the most out of your personal Bible study takes effort.

In our generation we are blessed to have more tools for understanding God’s Word at our disposal than all of the previous generations before us. God be praised!

At the same time, we can rely so much on what others have done for us, that we can grow a bit lazy at working at the text personally. And I’m not talking about learning the original languages yet or anything of the sort. I am talking about simply taking more time with the text to understand what the authors through the Holy Spirit were arguing. I remember hearing John Piper once say he had a Copernican revelation the day he discovered Paul actually made arguments in his letters. That Bible verses weren’t discreet little packages of information without regard to what surrounded them.

In 1382, the Wycliffe Bible was the first one to even sport chapter divisions. It wouldn’t be until the Geneva Bible in 1560 that we got a Bible with verses marked all the way through. These were tremendous innovations that allowed us to locate passages easily. At the same time, in parts like Paul’s letters, the tendency to stop reading those portions like letters, and more like disconnected fragments crept in.

This tendency can more readily be seen in preaching I think. Preachers began to pick a verse here or there and run with their ideas about the verse, without regard to how one got to the verse or what came after it. And, even for us common readers, we began to think that the chapter and verse divisions were themselves inspired, rather than mere tools to help us manage locating passages.

There has been a very welcome recent movement by some Bible publishers like Crossway, to produce “Reader’s” editions – where chapter and verse markers are removed. If you haven’t availed yourself of something similar, I highly recommend it. It really does change how you read.

That all said, another recent tool which has come out is the Berean Standard Bible by the folks at Bible Hub. In this interesting composite translation, the originators have also given it to us without copyright, so that I can do what I have done below.

And what have I done below?

First, I copied the BSB version of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians into a word processor, without chapter or verse divisions.

Second, I began to work through the text in a way I think the thoughts work. Those “annotations” are marked by brackets [ ]. And, you’ll see how I arranged the text as well. It is simply an example of one way, one poor reader like myself might think through how the text; how Paul’s arguments and ideas work and flow. I will no doubt revise it over and over in due time. But the idea in giving it to you here, is simply this – to get YOU to try approaching the text similarly.

The idea it not to become the world’s best exegete – but simply to work more carefully through what is on the page, in a way you may not have before. And then to use the tools of commentaries and dictionaries and other resources, to help refine and clarify your own attempts.

This is just an exercise. But here, I give and example for the sole purpose of getting you to read the text differently for yourself. I pray you find something in it helpful. Have fun.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints in Ephesus, [who are also] the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with

[A] every spiritual blessing

[B] in the heavenly realms.

[1] For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence.

[2] In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,

to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.

[3] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

[4] And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

[5] In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be

for the praise of His glory.

[6] And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession,

to the praise of His glory.

For this reason [or: for the reasons just cited – AND…],

[7] ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

[Prayer 1] I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

[A] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.

[B] I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know

                [a] the hope of His calling,

                [b] the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,

                [c] and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe.

These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

And [when He found you] you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when

[A] you conformed to the ways of this world

[B] and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

All of us also lived among them [the ways of the world and the devil] at one time,

[what did that look like?] fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts.

Like the rest [of all fallen human kind], we were by nature children of wrath.

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

[A] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

[B] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and

this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Therefore [since all we have said so far is true] remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were

[1] separate from Christ,

[2] alienated from the commonwealth of Israel,

and

[3] strangers to the covenants of the promise,

[4] without hope

and

[5] without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been

[1] brought near through the blood of Christ.

For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two [believing Jews and Gentiles] one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees.

He did this [in order] to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility. He came and preached peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away and peace to those [Jews] who were near.

For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

And

in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

For this reason [Once again, because all of this is true…] I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles…(Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.) In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

This mystery is… that through the gospel the Gentiles are

[A] fellow heirs,

[B] fellow members of the body,

and

[C] fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to

[A] preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

and

[B] to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery,

which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.

So [Given all of this] I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. … for this reason I

[Prayer 2] bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may

[1] strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,

[2] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

[3] Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ,

[4] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge,

[5] that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

[NOW!]  As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all

[A] humility

and

[B] gentleness,

with

[C] patience, bearing with one another in love,

and

[D] with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

[After all] There is[but…]

[1] one body

[2] and one Spirit,

just as you were called to

[3] one hope when you were called;

[4] one Lord,

[5] one faith,

[6] one baptism;

[7] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”

What does “He a-scended” mean, except that He also de-scended to the lower parts of the earth? He who de-scended is the very One who a-scended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

And it was He who gave

[A] some to be apostles,

[B] some to be prophets,

[C] some to be evangelists,

[D] and some to be pastors and teachers,

To…

[A] equip the saints for works of ministry

and

[B] to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. [With the result] Then [that] we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

From Him the whole body,

fitted and held together by every supporting ligament,

grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are

[A] darkened in their understanding

and

[B] alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.

Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more. But… this is not the way you came to know Christ.

Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus— to…

[A] put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

[B] to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;

and

[C] to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore [this is why] each of you must…

[A] put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.

[B] “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.

[C] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

[D] Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

And

[E] do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

[F] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.

[G] Be kind and tenderhearted to one another,

[H] forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

[I] Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

and [having done this]

[1} walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be

[A] even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity,

[B] or of greed.

Nor should there be

[C] obscenity,

[D] foolish talk,

[E] or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

[Regarding this reality] Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

[2] Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

[A] Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

[B] Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

[3] Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

[A] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

[B] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion.

[C] Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

[D] Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

[E] Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

[F] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[G] Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

[This now is what walking in love, light and wisdom looks like lived out]

[For example] Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

[For example] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. For we are members of His body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

[For example] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

[For example] Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

[For example] Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

[For example] And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Finally, [in order to live this way you must] be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power [How?]. [By] Put[ing] on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with

[1] the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

[2] with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,

and

[3] with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this,

[4] take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

And

[5] take the helmet of salvation

and

[6] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

[7] Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.

To this end,

[8] stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

Pray also for me,

[1] that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

[2] Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing. I have sent him to you for this very purpose,

[A] that you may know about us,

and

[B] that he may encourage your hearts.

Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Astrology & Psychic Phenomena is a worthy read indeed. Not just for the information it contains, but because of its premise, and because of the current rise in quasi-supernaturalism which is growing in the Church through the influence of the New Apostolic Reformation.

If you are not familiar with that last appellation – the NAR is a movement which started to rise in the 1980’s within Charismatic circles. It’s foundational concept is that early in the Church, apostles and prophets as the leaders of the Church were suppressed. Now, in a new movement of God, apostles and prophets are being restored to their proper place of authority. Geivett and Pivic in their important book state: “The biggest innovation of NAR is the belief that apostles, working together with prophets, must take over governance of the church—taking the reins from the pastors, elders, and denominational leaders—so that God’s end-time plans can be fulfilled and Christ can return. Churches that do not submit to the authority of these present-day apostles and prophets will sit on the sidelines as mere spectators.” ^{Geivett, R. Douglas; Pivec, Holly. A New Apostolic Reformation?: A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement (p. 14). Lexham Press. Kindle Edition.}

Accompanying this move, indeed, inherent in it – is a rise of interest in supernaturalism of all sorts. Healings, miracles, supposed words of knowledge and prophecies are modeled, taught and proliferate at a staggering rate. There is even within the move a sanctifying of sorts of psychic phenomena and abilities. These are seen as spiritual gifts which some use for evil (like witches with the black arts) but which Christians can reappropriate for good. So there are even versions of so-called Christian Tarot cards and other devices and methods to tap into the supernatural. In essence, spiritual gifts in the Church begin to function like the Star Wars universe. There is “the Force” and we can all just tap into the pipeline and harness its power for good, even as some bad people have done for evil.

I digress. As deserving as all of this is, I need to get back to the book at hand.

There have always been branches of the Church which have been preoccupied with supernatural things. Don’t get me wrong, Christianity is a supernatural wonder. The Old Testament accounts of prophets and miracles. The incarnation. Jesus’ miracles. The new birth. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. The giving of the Holy Spirit. These are truly supernatural realities.

Where things go awry can be seen in two main streams. First, as already mentioned, a preoccupation with the supernatural that goes beyond the teaching of Scripture. Second, is a sort of superstitious folklore which grows out of the preoccupation. So Christians can be found treating their Bibles more like good luck charms – putting them under their kid’s pillow to impart some sort of spiritual benefit. Indiscriminately anointing objects with oil. And an over fascination with angels and demons. So much so in the latter case, that whole ministries are devoted to dealing with it all. Take for instance Isaiah Saldivar and his “Demon Slayer Podcast.” On his podcast he often hosts any number of NAR leaders who seem to be taking on demons like Dr. Strange of comic book fame. It would be hilarious if so many people weren’t taken in by it and real harm being done.

Enter the book which is the subject of this post.

Andre Kole and Terry Holley are two committed Christians, who have worked professionally as illusionists, magicians and mentalists. Kole, has collaborated with David Copperfield in helping his craft some of his most famous illusions. And what they argue in their book is that no one with their particular skillset and experience, have applied themselves to examining the supposed miraculous supernatural powers of the modern day prophets and apostles.

Their critique is devastating. Pivic’s interview with Holley on this is very useful. You can find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/1Cgk6-QhhC8?si=deRPEXAWr9ixmT2h

What ends up happening is that by virtue of their Biblical analysis, their research on the paranormal, astrology, psychic phenomena etc., the superstitious side of Christianity starts to get dismantled.

Are there demons and evil spirits? You bet. Is the vast majority of what we see attributed to them real? Most probably not. Are angels real? Yes. Does the Bible instruct us to be consciously seeking interaction with them? No. Are the most often reported manifestations of prophecies, words of knowledge and quasi-miracles more likely the product of theatrical magicians and illusionists? Probably so.

The Holy Spirit wasn’t given to perform parlor tricks – but to point us to and conform us to – the image of Christ. And on the flip side – the devil and his minions probably aren’t interested in performing parlor tricks either. That is the domain of modern-day hucksters in the name of Christ. It is an abomination.

As Christians we recognize, experience and interact with the supernatural. But not everything that appears supernatural is. And when we are diverted from the core teaching and purpose of Scripture and Scriptural revelation – sidetracked by superstition – no matter how dressed up in Christianese – we’re in trouble.

Kole and Holley will help divest you of unhealthy assignations of the supernatural while looking to the Bible’s actual teachings on a host of what we may have been led to believe were spirits in action. Good and bad. Their’s is a grounding book. It will help you cast aside distracting nonsense. It will help you deconstruct vestiges of Christianized superstition. It is well worth the read.

With the (genuine) Apostle John “I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink.” There is tons more to say on this topic. But it will have to wait future opportunities.