RMFJ 2022
18 May
Ephesians 1
Powerful RMFJ men’s discipleship zoom group last night
Right in the middle, this verse clearly spoke to that earlier sinner question from other groups.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8
We dealt with real heart issues in our group, and we were all deeply impacted
As noted before, one key point is the point of reference
Let another’s lips praise you
We only become like Him insomuch as we are daily broken before Him so He can raise us up in becoming ever more like Him
They did not call themselves Christians or saints. Others called them that. Paul called the Ephesians saints. He called himself chief of sinners, in truth.
One older brother last night encouraged a younger saying he believes God is pleased with the younger brother’s efforts. He said it was hard to express what he was trying to say. After he finished, we agreed his heart seems aimed at the right truth and that the WORD would give clarity so we read R9:16 and were able to discover literally how step by step from works to efforts to desire to heart hunger, the LORD stripped back the requirements until the only true requirement for receiving His justification is faith in Him because nothing at all of our own is anything but filthy rags. Then He wants us daily to be broken before Him so His righteousness can begin to grow and we can actually begin to be recognized by Him “in His sight” as holy and as saints not because of our own efforts or actions but because of his righteousness and actual refining of our lives.
As this older brother then repeated a number of times, echoing the words of John B:
Less of me
More of Him
Wisdom in the WORD 
Powerful!
In the same vein, God allowed the children of Israel to be hungry absent His provision to show them their need for Him.
“He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 8:3
Jesus expressed this same principle:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Matthew 5:6
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Yes! Thank you for sharing that. That lines up exactly with another followup to last night’s group which brought a couple of us to this passage:
“I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!”
Ezekiel 36:30-32
So at all times, in all generations, even in the new hidden under the old covenant it has ALWAYS been HIS kindness which leads us to repentance!
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