Spiritual Blessings (February 17th, 2003)

The Power of Prayer (February 24th, 2003)

God's Mighty Strength (March 2nd, 2003)

(November 2nd, 2003)

Strength

and Honor: a look at

Ephesus

Generally, each sermon is a part of a series, that deals with applying the Bible to real-life issues.  Don't worry if you've missed part of a series.  Each Sunday will work together with the other sermons, or can stand alone to help you deal with the things life brings each day.

where nobody stands alone

Strength and Honor: a look at Ephesus Now:  Play the clip of Aladdin (0:38:50 – 0:40:50).  This is where Aladdin first rubs the lamp and the Genie makes his first Grande entrance and right before he sings. - Many people want to treat God like some kind of genie in the bottle. - They want to be the master and God the slave - They act like the puppeteer leaving God as the puppet - Many people try to manipulate God and who he is in the realm of answering prayers, healing, etc. Then: - We cannot make up a blessing and then get God to do that blessing - We want to conjure up some blessing and then expect God to fulfill it. - We need to come to God and then accept his blessings for us. - Spiritual Blessings are from God and God alone. - When we understand this, then we will be able to embrace strength and honor. - Paul speaks about this in Ephesians 1: 1 – 14 Title:  Spiritual Blessings ** Pray Ephesians 1: 1 – 14 (NASB) I. The Introduction of the Letter (v. 1 – 2) 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ a. This letter was from a great Christian: Paul. v 1 b. This letter came with the greatest credentials: Paul being an apostle. v 1 c. This letter was to the greatest people on earth: Saints. v 2 d. This letter desired the greatest blessings: Grace and peace. v 2 e. This letter was from the greatest source: God and Christ. v 2 f. The purpose i. This letter was not written to confront any heresy or problem ii. To strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the church, the body of Christ. g. To Whom i. The church at Ephesus and all believers everywhere. II. Our Spiritual Blessings (v. 3 – 14) a. These are the sources of our spiritual blessings. v 3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, i. God is the source of all spiritual blessings. v 3 1. James 1:17 (NAS) a. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ii. All spiritual blessings are in Christ. v 3 1. 2 Corinthian 5:17 (NAS) a. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. b. These are the characteristics of our spiritual blessings. vs 4-12 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us.  In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. i. Saints are the adopted sons and daughters of God by regeneration. vs 4-6 1. Micah 7 : 8 (NAS) a. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy.  Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me. 2. Galatians 3:26-29 (NAS) a. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. ii. Christians have had their sins forgiven. v 7 1. Jeremiah 31: 34b, Hebrews 8:12 (NAS) a. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. 2. Isaiah 43: 25 (NAS) a. I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. iii. The disciples have been given the complete revelation of the truth. vs 8-9 1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NAS) a. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2. Colossians 2:2-3 (NAS) a. 2 That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. iv. All Christians can be unified in Christ. v 10 1. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NAS) a. Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 2. John 17:20-22 (NAS) a. 20 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent. 22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; v. All faithful members of the church have a Spiritual Inheritance in heaven. vs 11-12 1. Revelation 21:1-5 (NAS) a. 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”  And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” c. These are the assurances of our spiritual blessings. vs 13-14 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. i. When we became a New Testament Christian, we received the Holy Spirit as a gift v 13 1. Acts 2:38 (NAS) a. 38 Peter {said} to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ii. Christians have been sealed with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that God will keep all of His promises which He has made unto them. 1. Romans 8:14-17 a. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with {Him} so that we may also be glorified with {Him.}

Strength and Honor: a look at Ephesus Title: The Power of Prayer Ephesians 1: 15 - 19 (NAS) 15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which {exists} among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention {of you} in my prayers; - Paul assures his readers of his unceasing gratitude to God for the good news he has received about hem, and assures them of his constant intercession - When was our last time of unceasing thanks / gratitude to God in light of trouble? - The parallelism of this thanksgiving with that in Colossians 1: 3 – 4 in particular is unmistakable. o In both places the readers’ faith and love are tokens of the grace of God which they have received. - With the emphatic “I for my part” may be compared the emphatic “we for our part” o We need to make it all of our part to pray for each other. 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. - As in Colossians 1: 9 (For this reason also, since the day we heard {of it,} we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,) the object of intercessory prayer is that the readers “may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will together with all wisdom and spiritual understanding,” so here prayer is offered that the readers may be given “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (i.e., of God). o The object of intercessory prayer – knowledge, wisdom, understanding, revelation of God’s will - Verses 17 – 19 state the substance of Paul’s unremitting intercession on the readers’ behalf o 2 reasons for his prayer  A “spirit of wisdom and revelation” can be imparted only through him who is the personal Spirit of wisdom and revelation. • The goal of the gift of wisdom and revelation is the personal knowledge of God • This is much more than the bare knowledge of that of the pagan world (Romans 1: 21) o For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 18 {I pray that} the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 2nd reason for prayer  Paul goes on to pray that they may be given enlightened eyes – “the eyes of your heart” or “spiritual eyesight” • Similar Pauline language is found in 2 Corinthians 4: 6 o “the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God (the glorious knowledge of God) in the face of Christ.” - The hope to which he has called them is the hope of glory confirmed to them here and now by the indwelling Christ (Colossians 1: 27) and the seal of the Spirit. o The “hope of the glory of God” in which believers rejoice (Romans 5: 2) is the hope of sharing that glory – the hope of being manifested in glory with Christ ast his appearing (Colossians 3: 4; Romans 8: 17 – 30) - “The glorious wealth of his inheritance” o v. 14 – where God will redeem his possession on the day of consummation. 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. {These are} in accordance with the working of the strength of His might. - Four synonyms are piled up in genitival phrases. o Paul is stressing one message through four words of a similar grammatical structure. o Power, operation, strength, might o Romans 5: 8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. o Romans 6: 4  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. o Romans 8: 11  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. o The effectiveness of prayer  These words effectively conclude the present prayer   of intercession

Strength and Honor:  a look at Ephesus Title:  God’s Mighty Strength Ephesians 1: 19 - 22 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at this right hand in the heavenly realms, 1. 19 The world fears the power of the atom, yet we belong to the God of the universe who not only created that atomic power but also raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  God's incomparably great power is available to help you.  There is nothing too difficult him. • The power with which God works in the lives of the believers is the power by which He raised Christ from death to share His throne. i. The same power that brought Christ up from the grave is the same power that can work in: 1. you marriage 2. your relationships 3. your school 4. your work 2. (v. 20) He not only is living and is just sitting at the right hand of God, but sometimes he will stand. • Acts 7: 56 i.  Stephen is being stoned to death and is allowed a glimpse of heaven. ii.  He doesn't see the Savior sitting but standing. iii.  Why? 1. • The Scripture is not specific, but could it be that Jesus Christ is giving Stephen a standing ovation for the defense that he gave for the faith? 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  3. –(v. 20) Having been raised from the dead Christ and is seated at the right hand of God (as prophesied by Psalms 110:1) is (v. 21) now head of all • The church • Authority of the world • He is now and has always been: i.  The Messiah ii.  God's Anointed One iii.  The One Israel longed for iv.  The One who would set their broken world right • As Christians we can have assurance that God has the final victory in everything. i. God has final say so in all matters because of His mighty power. ii.  The contract has been signed and sealed; we are waiting just a short while for delivery iii.  Paul says in Romans 8: 37 - 39 1. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 4. He has the final victory; therefore He lives right now • -21 We can have confidence in our Lord for he lives. I know that my Redeemer liveth, And on the earth again shall stand; I know eternal life He giveth, That grace and power are in His hand. Refrain I know, I know, that Jesus liveth, And on the earth again shall stand; I know, I know, that life He giveth, That grace and power are in His hand. I know His promise never faileth, The Word He speaks, it cannot die; Though cruel death my flesh assaileth, Yet I shall see Him by and by. Refrain I know my mansion He prepareth, That where He is there I may be; wondrous thought, for me He careth, And He at last will come for me. Refrain 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. I. He placed everything under his feet is a quotation from Psalm 8: 6 a. This is the same language used in Genesis 1: 26 – 28 when speaking about the Creator and His creation. b. Here in Ephesians it is in reference as Christ as the Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15: 27; Hebrews 2: 6 – 9) i. As sin entered through one, redemption has entered through one. II. Verses 22 – 23, express Christ as the universal lordship. a. Christ is head over everything. i. Colossians 1: 18 states that Christ is “the head of the body, and the church” ii. Colossians 2: 10 states that Christ is head of every principality and power. b. Christ is supreme in all areas of life. c. Verse 23 marks a unique distinction i. The organic relation between the head and the body suggests the vital union between Christ and the church. 1. Christ and the church ought to be sharers of a common life, which is his own risen life communicated to his people. d. Verse 23 refers to the word “fullness” as in apposition to the immediately preceding noun “body” i. There is a fullness that can be found from the body of Christ. ii. There is a fullness that can be found when entering fellowship with the body of Christ. iii. There is a fullness that can be found when giving all away and becoming a part of Christ. iv. When we let go of all things that are negative in life and cling to the resurrected body of Christ, then it is then that we can find fullness in life.