Ephesians 6:18-19 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Great summation, how do I get there?

1+2+3+4+5=15 With very little training summations can be accomplished. Many of us do not even need a piece of paper to work this problem. It is easy for us and perhaps not as easy for others. The more complex the problem the more of a mystery it becomes.

Imagine someone shows you this beautiful pristine beach with shimmering sand and inviting clear blue waters. It is within your desire to be there, so you ask, “How do I get there?” Now his answer comes back, “You must find your own way.” Now is that fair?

I dare say that if you read all of Ephesians you will come to a better understanding of what Paul is saying when he invites you to become a partaker of the mystery of the gospel. I also say that those words do not contain all there is to learn about coming to a knowledge of that mystery.

To all those who say to me, “I read the end of the book. We win.” I ask, “Did you enter the battle?”

1 Timothy 4:15-16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Jesus comes first. His name is at the top of the list. This begs to ask, “What about me?”

I look at all the time and trouble that God has invested in me and I cannot help but think I have to be important to God because He has paid so much attention to my health and wellbeing. OK, I may not be first, but He has proven to me that He loves me so much, I cannot help but think I am important to Him.

I was important enough that Christ died for me, doesn’t that count for something? The answer isn’t obvious because we don’t think like God thinks. I am number one on the list and so are you. If you are wondering how that can be true, then please see it this way.

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Read Ephesians and count the number of times Paul refers to our being “in Christ”. Our position is in first place because we are “in Christ.” All that we are, all that we claim, all that believe by faith is due to this one great fact, we are “in Christ”.

So why don’t we feel that way? Simply put the answer is sin. The truth is that the Holy Spirit has the responsibility to deal with sin in our lives. The work of the Holy Spirit is to place sin where it belongs, on the Cross of Christ. The work of the cross was to crucify sin in our lives. If we have not repented of these sins, taken them to the Cross, then that is what the Holy Spirit focuses on, putting us first in line for sanctification.

When He has nailed that to the Cross, then He can turn outward to do the will of the Father thru us.

Luke 14:27 whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.