Blessed Be The Lord Series

BLESSED BE THE LORD (EPHESIANS 1)

If you have seen Fiddler on the Roof, you may remember that the rabbi of the tiny Jewish community in Russia was asked by a student concerning a blessing for the Tzar of Russia. With the song “Tradition” playing in the background, the student came up to the beloved rabbi, the town’s most important person, and asked him how to Pray for the powerful Tzar: “Rabbi ( Rabbi), may I ask you a question?” “Of course, Leibesh” the rabbi replied. “Is there a proper blessing for the Tzar?” Everybody can’t help but roared in laughter when the Rabbi said, “A blessing for the Tzar? Of course. May God bless and keep the Tzar…far away from us!”

The ancient Jewish greeting “Shalom, aleichem” or “Shalom, peace to you” is one of the most ancient of blessings.

Paul founded the church in Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21) and spent three years there (Acts 20:31), but his correspondence was from the jail:

“I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles” (Eph 3:1)

“As a prisoner for the Lord” (Eph 4:1)

“I am an ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:20)

My good friend and colleague preached an excellent message on Ephesians 2 two months ago (Nov 12, 2023) that made me envious, so I asked him, Why didn’t you preach chapter 1?” He said, “because it’s too hard!

Chapter 1 in the Greek text, are two long sentences (1:3-14, 15-23), of which the first is considered by some scholars to be the most cumbersome sentence in the Greek language and probably the longest sentence in the Bible. The other six lengthy sentences in Ephesians in chapters 2, 3, 4 and 6 (2:1-7; 3:1-13, 14-19; 4:1-7, 11-16; 6:14-20).

How are we bless to the Lord, how does the Lord bless us and how are we to bless others?

Praise in Testimony

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.

The 2023 Commercial Radio Ultimate Song Chart Awards took place on the first day of the 2024 New Year. The prestigious Ultimate Song Chart Awards were bestowed upon the most celebrated stars of the Hong Kong music scene. The surprised winner of the coveted Favourite Male Singer of the year chosen by fans was not the MIRROR trio of Keung To, Ian Lo or and Ian, but Hins Cheung, as the in the coveted “Ultimate Song Chart” category.

Hins Cheung came from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and toiled for 23 years. When he won the Hong Kong favourite male singer for 2023, he said, “So I’m going to give the trophy (jiang bei) and all glory and praise to my Heavenly Father!”

Have you been grateful for what has been done for you?

Paul began with the adjective “blessed”(v 3, eu-logetos or “well-speaking”), the verb “bless” (eu-logeo) and the noun “blessing” (eu-logia). Our blessedness comes from His work in the past – “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (vv 4-6) What is blessed? Blessed means acclamation, admiration and appreciation for who He is and what He has done. The past refers to “before the creation of the world” (v 4). God has chosen us before there was heaven and earth. The purpose was to be holy and blameless. The duo purpose to be “holy and blameless” occurs twice in the book (1:4, 5:27). Holy is to be clean before God, blameless is to have character before others.