In 2 Chronicles 10-12 Rehoboam deals harshly with the people of Israel.  The people of Israel rebel. Rehoboam builds cities to protect Judah. Only the tribe of Benjamin stands with Judah under the king. The priests and Levites come to Jerusalem because Jeroboam of Israel begins to practice pagan worship. God blessed him because of the presence of the priests and Levites.

But Rehoboam abandons the law of God. God sent Shishak of Egypt against him. Rehoboam humbles himself before the Lord. God spares him and Jerusalem.

Ephesians 1 opens with a wonderful description of what Jesus has done for us: making it possible to be God’s children, receiving forgiveness and grace, learning God’s will for our lives and being marked by the Holy Spirit as God’s own people. Paul prays that the Ephesians will experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power in their lives. This power has been put into place at Christ’s resurrection and ascension. Now Jesus is over all including the church, which is his body.