Paul was writing to the church at Colossae. He had never been there, but had heard of their faith in Jesus. The book of Colossians is about fighting heresy. We don’t fight against flesh and blood. We fight against spiritual wickedness in high places. How do we fight, with the word of God. We speak the truth in love. Remember the word of God is a two edged sword that cuts both ways. Paul reminded the Colossians who they were in Christ. Also, he told them who Jesus is and what God did for all mankind. You have to remember that our bible wasn’t printed until 1543 AD. They could only use the old testament as a reference. So, Paul wrote letters to each church to explain, encourage and exhort saints to stay on the path of righteousness. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. As God had planned, these letters became the new testament. What we are to learn or remember is who we were, what God has done for us and where we are going. Colossians 1.

Crain Blanchard.

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Over the Easter weekend was my third son’s wedding. It has been raining in south Louisiana for weeks. Cold front have been coming through back to back. It has been unusual. Last Tuesday a front came through. We were praying for good weather for the wedding. We went to set up at her father’s house in the country. He has a beautiful home nestled on 35 acres in a forest. It’s a beautiful place. Thursday it poured down at his house. Friday we went to set up and it rained again. But before we left the sun came out. The ceremony Saturday was simple and beautiful, underneath a spreading oak tree. They said their vows to each. At the reception, which was on the covered deck on the back of the house, they serve boiled crawfish and all the fixings. They had cake and other sweets. My son was nervous and the bride was beautiful. I’ve known her for a year and I love her dearly. As they say, they are a cute couple and will do well together. God blessed us with a wonderful daughter-in-law. God bless my family.

Crain Blanchard.

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Paul wrote to the Ephesians about family values. He wrote about how the husband and wife are to treat each other. Then how children are to obey their parents. God says to tell people the truth in love. It’s the only way people respond. If you condemn them, they won’t listen. The church at Ephesus was like any church. It had problems that needed to be corrected. Paul talked about correcting problems in the family first, then how to deal with the world. He also talked about not fighting people, because they weren’t the problem. The problem is always spiritual. And that is where we do battle. He said that we are to pray always, asking God to correct all the problems. In reading Ephesians, I can see the problems they had and what it did to them. In 40 years that church lost everything. And the center of Christianity moved to Alexandria, Egypt. Reading, listening and doing the word of God is the only way to guarantee your success as a Christian. Otherwise you will lose everything you think you have. Read the word of God and listen to the Holy Ghost and do the word of God.

Crain Blanchard.

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Paul in chapter 5 of Ephesians, talked about being and walking in the Holy Ghost. He said when you do you will prove what is the good and acceptable will of God. Jesus and His disciples had crossed the Jordan river to escape the people hunting Jesus. They got word that a dear friend Lazarus was sick and dying. Jesus waited 2 days before going to see about his friend. Lazarus had died. When Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany, Lazarus was dead 4 days. His sister Martha came to meet Jesus. She told Him that Lazarus was dead. Jesus said he will rise again. Martha said, I know in the resurrection. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in Me, though he were dead yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this? Jesus rose from the dead as He said. He is the resurrection and the life.

Crain Blanchard.

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What happened when Jesus died on the cross? We know that Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in a tomb he owned. They had to do it quickly because Passover was about to begin. Jesus lay in the grave 3 days. So what happened on the second day? The bible is very clear about this. Because Jesus had not risen from the dead, He descended into hades. Hades and hell were both located in the same place. But hades was reserved for the faithful in God. Hell is for sinners and devils. Jesus descended into hades and took the keys of death and hell away from the devil, then led captivity captured. Jesus brought the saints home to heaven. Then on the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead, to make Him Lord of lords and King of kings. Ephesians 4.

Crain Blanchard.

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Paul writing to the Ephesians, chapter 4, starts at the beginning of the gospel and shows the Ephesians are supposed to be. He talks about the gifts God gave to man for the perfecting of the saints. Paul talks about the work Jesus did on earth. But mainly, he talks about the work of the cross. Because we deserved to be the ones crucified. We don’t deserve heaven. It’s only because God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to the cross for us. Then at the cross, God gives us an example of who we are, the two thieves beside Jesus. One thief cursed his way into hell. The other thief saw Jesus for who He is and ask Him to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. Jesus said to him this day you will be with Me in paradise. Today is Good Friday and a time to remember Jesus on the cross and what He did for us. We deserve to die for our sins, but Jesus took them to the cross for us. Remember Jesus this day.

Crain Blanchard.

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Paul’s prayer begins by telling the Ephesians that God called the gentiles to enter into the same gospel that God gave to the Jews. He says that God gave him grace to be a minister to the gentiles. Paul says that there is one body, one Spirit, called into one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. This is that Christ may dwell in you hearts by faith. What was creeping into the church was worldliness, the want and desire to have all the things of this world. Ephesus was one of the wealthiest cities in the first century. It was on the silk road from China. That desire was corrupting the church. They would eventually lose their power and strength in the Holy Ghost. Paul prayed, now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Crain Blanchard.

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In the cajun culture, when a young man found the woman he wanted to marry, their mothers and grandmothers would ask her 3 questions. They were: Are you catholic?, Who’s your momma? and can you make a roux? In Ephesians 2, God ask 3 questions: Where did you come from?, What has God done for you? and Who are you in Christ? Where you leave home, if you don’t remember who you are and where you going,you will lose your way. So Paul writes to the Ephesians to bring them to remembrance where they are headed. There are many worldly distractions that can easily pull you from the right way. Paul wanted the Ephesians to focus their lives on Jesus. It is the same with us. We need to focus on Jesus not to lose our way in this world. This world isn’t our home and we need to keep walking through. So we need to remember, where we came from, what God has done for us and who we are in Christ.

Crain Blanchard.

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Ephesus was a free city in the Roman empire. It was a center for trade in Asia Minor. It was a weathly city. It had street lights, running water, a sewer system and Roman air conditioning. This is where Paul met Priscilla and Aquila, sellers of purple. Paul is writing from prison in Rome to the Ephesians. It was an important city because it was the center of Christianity in the first century. With riches, we have a tendency to become spiritual lazy. Paul, in his letter, reminds the Ephesians about how they were saved by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It was through forgiveness of sin and the grace of God that we are Christians. We are to bring this to remembrance to stay in right relationship with God. No matter what we have on this earth, all that matters is our relationship with God. Ephesians 1.

Crain Blanchard.

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Paul wrote Romans from Cotinth. He was about to go to Jerusalem. He knew that this was God’s will, but he didn’t know what would happen to him. He wanted to teach the church in Rome about justification. God leads us in a certain direction to accomplish His will in our life as well as others. Paul was about finished with his missionary trips. Now he was about to enter captivity. He was going to be brought before kings and rulers. Th only way was in captivity. In the first century, no one would be accepted into another church unless the pastor would a letter and vouched for that person. Paul vouched for more than a dozen people and sent the letter with them. He prayed for the Roman church and his fellow workers. He was hoping to see them again. He was trusting God in all things. For I Crain salute thee, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Crain Blanchard.

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