Ephesians 1

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

March 30, 2020 

In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

In the time of the Apostle Paul, Ephesus was the most important city in Asia Minor (now Turkey). It ranked with Rome, Corinth, Antioch, and Alexandria among the foremost urban centers of the Roman Empire with a population of 250,000 It was a commercial center at an intersection of major trade routes with a sea port access to the Mediterranean Sea. The site of the city is now covered with ruins, the only inhabited part being a small Turkish village.

Paul made Ephesus a center for evangelism for at least two years and three months (Acts 19:8, 10) and as much as three years (Acts 20:31), the longest period of time he spent anywhere. He had lived, labored, warned, and wept for both the community and individuals as the apostolic teacher with a pastor's heart. At Ephesus he took an important and historic first step, the "separation" of the disciples from the Synagogue to a different place of teaching and worship, "the school of Tyrannus," the lecture hall of a friendly professor (Acts 19:9). That bold move undoubtedly caused much consternation and animosity among the Jews.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is different than most of the other New Testament letters he wrote. Like Romans, Ephesians was not written to address specific problems in a particular church; it was written to explain some of the great themes and doctrines of Christianity. It carries the thought of the Book of Romans forward to a higher level. The Epistle to the Romans focuses more on God's work in the individual Christian such as the standing of the sinner in Christ, as having died and risen with Him. Ephesians includes the great themes of God's work in the church, the community of believers. Note that in Ephesians, Paul never sends personal greetings to any individual The first three chapters concern our standing in Christ, with an absolute emphasis on the sovereignty, preeminence, centrality, and supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The last three chapters speak of our spiritual walk, our practices, and our responsibilities. This shows that sound doctrine is the foundation and source of right practice. Without the truth of the first three chapters being made flesh within us, any attempt to fulfill any part of the last three chapters is not possible.

Among the Epistles written by Paul there is none greater than this. Why? because the first half of the book only glorifies God. In those first three chapters, the words "He, Him, His, and Himself" appear 30 times. That does not include all of the times that the phrase, "who, whom. Christ, God," etc. The word "I" appears only twice in those three chapters, in Ephesians 2:1. As a result, Ephesians has been called "the Queen of the Epistles," "the most divine composition of man," "the Epistle of Grace," and probably many other titles. The sustained majesty and magnificence in its teaching and expression of the gospel has deeply impressed the greatest minds throughout the centuries. If anyone desires to understand Christianity but could read only one book, then it should be the Epistle to the Ephesians. In looking at the great, majestic themes of Ephesians, it is important to remember that Paul wrote this letter from prison!

The letter was also intended to circulate among Christians as a great statement of God's eternal purpose and plan, worked out in the church and in individual Christian lives. As such, it applies to every true believer throughout the history of time. The overall emphasis of Ephesians is the unity of the Church in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. In our previous message we shared about the difference of being in Christ and Christ in you, the hope of glory, neither of which are the same as being born again.

Ephesians begins with love (1:4) and ends with love (6:23-24). Paul uses the noun or verb form of agape love 19 times. Likewise, grace, which occurs 12 times in Ephesians, is like the "bookends" of this letter; Paul begins (1:2) and ends with a prayer for grace for the saints. Ephesians 6:24 says, "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." [or with a love incorruptible; a never diminishing love, one not even capable of being corrupted] The church at Ephesus apparently flourished for some time, because

Acts 19:10, "And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks."

ALL they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord! Amazing! Further, 

So mightily grew the word of God [in Ephesus] and prevailed. Acts 19:20

However, no more than 30 years later, the church at Ephesus needed the warning of Revelation 2:1-7. That means that some of the original elders at Ephesus, who had heard all the counsel of God through Paul and all of his warnings, had slipped from their original relatonship with the Lord; or perhaps more accurately they had never attained to the spiritual maturity that Paul taught them about. Among other things, that speaks loud and clear that the very best of Christian teaching, although needful, is not sufficient to ensure spiritual maturity. Indeed, from Colossians 1:28, God's priority order is (1) preach Christ (not simply what He has done for us); (2) warn every man; and (3) teach every man in all wisdom. Today, the Church focuses on priority three. And whether or not the teaching today is in all wisdom is debatable because who declares all the counsel of God? Moreover, who even understands all the counsel of God much less walk in it?

Apparently, even though the church at Ephesus had received a tremendous amount of light through the Apostle Paul, after a short time period, the believers there became more enamored with the gifts than the Giver ... more interested in fresh revelation. Revelation 2:4 says that they had left their first love ... the love they had at first for Christ and for one another. They did not lose it; they left it. We can lose something accidentally, but we leave something deliberately. Although each of the seven letters in the Book of Revelation has significance, warning, and exhortation for us today, the message to the church of Ephesus is particularly appropriate for the charismatic community of today. Never in the history of mankind (after the days of the early church) have a people been exposed to so much light as we have been. But to whom much is given, much is required. Human nature has never changed.

About 51 years ago I read a little booklet by Watchman Nee titled, "Sit, Walk, Stand." I do not remember one word that he said in that booklet, and I have not been able to find that booklet again, but I assume he used themes from the Book of Ephesians to illustrate our journey with the Lord. Now let us turn to Ephesians, Chapter 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: Ephesians 1:1

We want to share with you our understanding of the words "apostle," "the will of God," "saints," and "the faithful in Christ Jesus."

Apostle

The word "apostle" in the Greek means a messenger, or one who has been sent out. Although the word can be used purely in the natural realm, Paul says he was sent out by Jesus Christ. He also says in Galatians 1:1 that he was NOT an apostle of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ. Any true apostle must be sent by Jesus Christ, never by man or any group of men; for example, Paul and Barnabas were sent forth by the Holy Ghost (Acts 13). Also, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John" (John 1:6). Likewise, Jesus was sent by the Father (John 4:34; John 5:30; John 6:38, and other). Therefore, Jesus not only was (is) an apostle, He is our Apostle and High Priest (Hebrews 3:1).

Starting a church or two does not make one an apostle. Traveling to various local churches to teach and preach does not make one an apostle. Only God makes an apostle and only God sends an apostle out. In my lifetime I have met quite a number of men who either called themselves apostles or were called apostles by others. Many of those, in my opinion, were self-proclaimed apostles.

The Will of God

The word, "will," can be translated as "desire or determination." We human beings have been created with a body, soul, and spirit. Our soul consists of our emotions (or feelings), our mind (or intellect), and our will (which involves our decision making capablity). The will of man is a very strong pull. We can be pulled in two different directions ... on the one hand to satisfy our fleshly lusts and desires, and, on the other hand, to satisfy the will of God for our life. Each individual must decide for himself/herself. That decision is based upon an act of our free will. Many are called but few are chosen, because few choose.

The will of God is His desire ... His determination ... and His decree. Is the will of God always done or accomplished? Yes and no. NO, because otherwise Jesus would never have commanded us to pray that "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). A multitude of things happen every day which are NOT in accordance with the will of God. But that is in the realm of time and on earth, where the prince of the power of the air, who has been defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ, still seduces the minds of men. Again, is the will of God always done? YES, according to Matthew 6:10, the will of God IS done in heaven. Jesus, as a Man, fulfilled the will of God on earth. Further, we know that the time will come (actually at the end of time), when "EVERY knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2:10-11). In truth, the kingdom of heaven (or the kingdom of God) is that spiritual realm where the will of God is ALWAYS done. That is why John the Baptist came preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). That is also why Jesus came preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is not simply a turning away from something (our will) but a turning toward something (His will).

Much of our theology today is oriented to us humans: human nature begin with men ... humanism or that kind of theology in which the human is stressed. But in the Bible, our Lord, the apostles, and the prophets begin from the standpoint of God. They don't do away with human responsibility, but they look at everything from God's perspective.

The will of the Father was the Son's all consuming concern. Jesus said,

My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work. John 4:34

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me. John 5:30

For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. John 6:38

 

17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh His glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. John 7:1718

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. John 9:31

Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. Hebrews 10:9

What is the first that Jesus took away? the old Aaronic priesthood. What is the second that He established? the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec. What is the first that Jesus took away? the old covenant. What is the second that He established? the new covenant. What is the first that Jesus took away? the first Adam. What is the second that He established? the last Adam. In addition, the perfect sacrifice of Himself, offered in complete submission to the Father, supersedes and therefore replaces all previous sacrifices.

Jesus also prayed,

Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done. Luke 22:42

Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.

John 17:24

Please note that Jesus did NOT pray that we might be with Him where He would be later, but where He was at that same point in time! Where was Jesus before His crucifixion and resurrection? He was in the realm of the Spirit, the kingdom of God, that place where the will of the Father is ALWAYS done. No one would argue that Jesus ALWAYS did the will of the Father. That is also the goal for every believer because that is what Jesus asked the Father ... that we might be with Him where He IS! This requires a Divine Rectification in our thinking.

Many years ago, long before the Lord manifestly apprehended me in time, I taught electronics for four years in the Air Force. One of the courses I taught was "Vacuum Tubes." Vacuum tubes, of course, have long ago gone out of existence, being replaced by transistors and integrated circuits. One specific circuit that I taught was a rectifier, whose purpose was (and still is) to change the wave shape of an audio or radio frequency wave from a sine wave to a square wave. Another way of saying that is that a rectifier converts alternating current into direct current, which is needful for computers. The rectifier actually cuts off the top and bottom of the sine wave, thus approximating a square wave. So a rectifier drastically changes the shape of a sine wave.

In like manner, after we believers have been apprehended by the Lord Jesus, we need (must have) a Divine rectification in our thinking, which must no longer be according to the old man, whose focus is on me, my, and mine, but rather on the Lord Himself. This requires us to cut off from our minds our selfish focus on self and to understand and agree with the will of the Lord. The Lord will NOT cut off from our minds our selfish focus on self. That requires a continual, daily, decision on our part! But let us see how that applies to John 17:24, when Jesus prayed,

"Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am." 

Let us remember that Jesus asked the Father to grant that prayer BEFORE the crucifixion, while He was still on earth in the same bodily form that we are.

Now jog your memory and think about the times when prayer has been made for specific believers. If you don't remember, then be attuned to this the next time you are in a gathering of believers when prayer is made for other believers. Frequently, the prayer is of this type: "Lord, please come and heal Aunt Sally." In other words, we believers pray that the Lord will descend and do some work of grace in the life of a believer. But we don't want to pull the Lord down to where we are! He wants us to rise into the realm where HE IS! Where is He? the same place now as before His crucifixion ... in the realm of the Spirit ... the kingdom of God... that place where the will of the Father is always done.

Let us put that another way. When the Lord apprehended Moses in the mountain of God, Mount Horeb, the Lord told Moses that He was sending him unto Pharaoh to deliver the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Moses gave the Lord every excuse possible as to why he (Moses) was not equipped for such a task. After hearing all of the excuses from Moses, the anger of the Lord was finally kindled against Moses (Exodus 4:14). Just prior to that point of anger, in His attempt to Divinely rectify the thinking of Moses,


2 And the Lord said unto him [Moses], What is that in thine hand? And he said, a rod.

3 And He said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: Exodus 4:2-4

A rod is a symbol of authority. The Lord was telling Moses that He was delegating authority to Moses to go forth and deliver His people from their bondage in Egypt. From those verses we should note that it is much easier to cast down our purpose and calling for the Lord than it is to pick it up again.

Now let us apply that same principle in our every day life as believers. The Lord would say to us, who are a stubborn people, just as was Moses, "What is that in thine mouth?" It is the word of the Lord! 

"The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach" (Romans 10:8). 

That verse was quoted by Paul from Deuteronomy. It would be profitable for all of us to reread the rewards or results of repentance found in Deuteronomy 30:1-14. Let us look at just a few verses from that passage. 

10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it?

14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. Deuteronomy 30:1014

So what is the word in our mouth and in our heart? It is a word of healing, a word of deliverance, a word of miracles, a word of faith, a word of hope, a word of comfort, a word of exhortation, a word of warning. in short, it is the word of the Lord which is in our mouth and in our heart for any specific situation. So instead of us petitioning the Lord to come and touch Aunt Sally, we need to speak forth that word of faith to Aunt Sally our self! We need to go forth, just as Moses, and speak the word of deliverance to His people who are in bondage in present-day Egypt (the Church united with the ways of the world). Lord, help us to rectify our thinking!

Some of you may be familiar with the fact that sixty or seventy years ago, a prevalent teaching was that Christians are called to a life of poverty. This line of thinking still exists to a small degree in some circles. Then, about 40 years ago, a new line of teaching began to come forth, a teaching that Christians should be prosperous financially and that all we need to do is to believe that or have faith in that prosperity and it will come to pass. I heard a Spirit-filled believer say that this newer faith/prosperity message was allowed by God to balance out the previous, erroneous teaching of poverty. I do not agree! Two wrongs do not make a right and BOTH those teachings are in error. The REASON why they are both in error is because they are BOTH man-centered! They emphasize what we, as believers, do or do not "get." Now I am NOT downgrading the grace of God that brings salvation for me, healing for me, deliverance for me, the baptism with the Holy Ghost for me, and on and on and on. Those are all WONDERFUL gifts to us by our Lord. BUT, who is interested in what the Lord "gets"? Who is intested in His will, not my will? Where are the men (and women) of God who will engage in gut wrenching intercession that His plans and purposes might be fulfilled in earth as it is in heaven? Indeed, who even sees a NEED for such intercession?Paul said,

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to the good pleasure which He had purposed in Himself. Ephesians 1:9

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.

Ephesians 1:11

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:17

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Colossians 1:9

If Paul prayed that the brethren in the Colossian churches might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding, does that imply that they did not yet have that knowledge? Is it also possible that we today are not yet filled with that knowledge?

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of man, but to the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1-2

Perhaps we should pause for just a moment and ask the question, "What IS the will of the Lord?" One answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, where Paul outlines how we should live to please God. 

1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

5 Not in the lust of concupiscence [sensual desire], even as the Gentiles which know not God:

6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed ye do it towards all the brehren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Another answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Yet again in 1 Peter 2:15, 

"For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."

Further, our motivation or attitude is VERY important. God is not looking for a bunch of robots.

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. Ephesians 6:5-6

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36

Furthermore, it is not in ourselves to do the will of God. Only Christ in us can do the will of God.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13

 

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

Scripture is clear that we, as believers, must understand what the will of the Lord is. Then we must DO the will of God from our heart, sincerely, with no thought as to what we may or may not get out of it for our self. It is true that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all of these [other needful] things will be added unto us. But if my mind is set on all of these other needful things, then my heart is not right.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

Please note that the word "that" is in italics, which means that it is not in the original Greek text. So we should translate the above verse as,

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

In other words, we do NOT have to believe that He will reward us. Whether or not He rewards us should be neither here nor there in our minds. The only question is, do we really want to do the will of the Lord? Many years ago, in the first meeting in our home, which was an evangelistic type of meeting, one married woman came one night and said that she needed to confess something to the entire group (about eight of us). As soon as she said that, the Spirit brought to my mind the eighth chapter of John, where the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus. Sure enough, the woman that night said that she had had an affair with a neighbor, who was also a married man. She then said that she believed that she had committed the "unpardonable sin." However, she said, "even though I am cut off from the Lord forever, I am still going to serve Him on this earth." That is what I call commitment! That was an example of someone who no longer was concerned about what she thought she might get for herself. We quickly assured the woman that she had NOT committed the unpardonable sin and that the Lord forgave her sins, just as He did to the woman in the eighth chapter of John. She still serves the Lord today.

The certainties of faith are also very clear. 

14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us:

15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

The desired results do not follow if we simply ask something according to my will. Just because we are born from above, does not eliminate my will, which is capable of overriding the will of God at any time.

Saints

The word "saints" is the Greek word hagios, which means holy, or separated, ones. The first occurrence of the word "saints" was spoken by Moses, a true word of prophecy way beyond his years: 

1 And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints: from His right hand went a fiery law for them.

3 Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in Thy hand: and they sat down at Thy feet; every one shall receive of Thy words. Deuteronomy 33:1-3 

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungdly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. Jude 14-15

The above quotation is from the Book of Enoch, which apparently was written by the Enoch who walked with God. The Book of Enoch was a highly respected writing in New Testament times. However, that book was apparently lost until the 18th century. That the Book of Enoch was not canonized does not mean that it contained no truth. Note that the second coming of the Lord is spoken of throughout the Bible. (See also Daniel 7:9-14 and Zechariah 14:1-5.) The Gospel, or the Good News, is not complete without the second coming of the Lord. Now let me re-read Ephesians 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: Ephesians 1:1

Now we want to look at the phrase, "The faithful in Christ Jesus" in comparison to the word "saints." We did that in our previous message but I want to clarify and amplify what I shared previously.

As I shared in my last message, the phrase "in Christ" or "in Christ Jesus," or "in Whom" occurs more than 100 times in the New Testament. But I believe that in the whole range of Christian doctrine or belief, there is nothing more expressive and yet nothing less understood, appreciated, or appropriated than the phrase "in Christ."

We know that Paul uses a similar phrase in Colossians 1:1-2. 

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Consider "the saints and faithful brethren in Colossians" and "the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus." Does that speak of two categories of Christians or only one category? I am quite certain that you can read and/or hear three different answers. Most Evangelicals and many commentators would say "only one category." A few, including myself, will say two categories; and a third group might say, "Who cares?" Let me ask a few questions and read what the Lord Jesus said to help you make up your own mind.

Presumably there were many saints (born-again believers) in the Church at Corinth. Were they all faithful? including the man who committed fornication with his father's wife? (1 Corinthians 5:1) How about all of the carnality in the Church at Corinth? Was that being faithful?

What about the Church at Ephesus? Were they being faithful when they left their first love and were in danger of having their candlestick removed?

The Lord told the angel of the church in Smyrna, 

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Revelation 2:10-11

So what is the Lord looking for? just a multitude of baby Christians who have been born again by His grace? I think not. He is looking for those believers who will be faithful unto death ... the overcomers. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, may we all be found faithful.