From: ngninja@baptist.email   
      
   Bible Reading for December 9   
      
   Ephesians Chapter 1   
      
   1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints   
   which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:   
      
   2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord   
   Jesus Christ.   
      
   3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath   
   blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:   
      
   4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the   
   world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:   
      
   5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ   
   to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,   
      
   6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us   
   accepted in the beloved.   
      
   7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,   
   according to the riches of his grace;   
      
   8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;   
      
   9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his   
   good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:   
      
   10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather   
   together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and   
   which are on earth; even in him:   
      
   11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated   
   according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel   
   of his own will:   
      
   12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in   
   Christ.   
      
   13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the   
   gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were   
   sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,   
      
   14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the   
   purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.   
      
   15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and   
   love unto all the saints,   
      
   16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;   
      
   17 That 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:   
      
   18 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,   
      
   19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who   
   believe, according to the working of his mighty power,   
      
   20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set   
   him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,   
      
   21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and   
   every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which   
   is to come:   
      
   22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head   
   over all things to the church,   
      
   23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.   
      
   Ephesians Chapter 2   
      
   1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;   
      
   2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,   
   according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now   
   worketh in the children of disobedience:   
      
   3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts   
   of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and   
   were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.   
      
   4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,   
      
   5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with   
   Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)   
      
   6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly   
   places in Christ Jesus:   
      
   7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his   
   grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.   
      
   8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:   
   it is the gift of God:   
      
   9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.   
      
   10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,   
   which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.   
      
   11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,   
   who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision   
   in the flesh made by hands;   
      
   12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the   
   commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,   
   having no hope, and without God in the world:   
      
   13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh   
   by the blood of Christ.   
      
   14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the   
   middle wall of partition between us;   
      
   15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of   
   commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain   
   one new man, so making peace;   
      
   16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,   
   having slain the enmity thereby:   
      
   17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them   
   that were nigh.   
      
   18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.   
      
   19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but   
   fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;   
      
   20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus   
   Christ himself being the chief corner stone;   
      
   21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy   
   temple in the Lord:   
      
   22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through   
   the Spirit.   
      
   Ephesians Chapter 3   
      
   1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,   
      
   2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is   
   given me to you-ward:   
      
   3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote   
   afore in few words,   
      
   4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery   
   of Christ)   
      
   5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is   
   now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;   
      
   6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and   
   partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:   
      
   7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of   
   God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.   
      
   8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace   
   given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches   
   of Christ;   
      
   9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which   
   from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all   
   things by Jesus Christ:   
      
   10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly   
   places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,   
      
   11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus   
   our Lord:   
      
   12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.   
      
   13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you,   
   which is your glory.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)