THE BLESSING OF BEING IN CHRIST
EPHESIANS 1:1-23
INTRO-
GOD HAD BEEN DOING A NEW THING.HE HAS ALLOWED US TO GET INTO HIS PRESENCE. HE HAS ALLOWED US TO SEE THAT HE DESIRES TO BE WITH US AND HE WANTS TO USE US FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. APOSTLE PAUL IS WRITING TO THE EPHESIANS, TO BELIEVERS, TO THE CHURCH, HE CALLS THEM THE FAITHFUL.
ILLUSTRATION-
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, OFF THE COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS, A SHIP RAMMED A SUBMARINE. THE SUBMARINE SANK BEFORE ANYONE COULD ESCAPE. THE ENTIRE CREW WAS TRAPPED. SHIPS RUSHED TO THE SCENE OF THE DISASTER, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ANY OF THEM COULD DO. DIVERS WERE SENT DOWN TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION. ONE MAN PUT HIS HELMETED EAR AGAINST THE VESSEL AND LISTENED FOR ANY SOUNDS. WHAT HE HEARD WAS SOMEONE TAPPING IN MORSE CODE. BECAUSE HE KNEW MORSE CODE HE COULD DECIPHER THE MESSAGE. IT WAS THIS: IS-THERE-ANY- HOPE?
THE WORLD IS ASKING THE SAME THING TODAY. IS THERE ANY HOPE ? HAVE WE GONE TO FAR? DOES GOD STILL CARE? THE WORLD IS HUNGRY FOR HOPE, BUT THE WORLD ISN’T READY TO HEAR WHERE THE HOPE LAYS. HOPE IS A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION. THE POWER IS NOT TO MERELY HAVE A HOPE IN HOPE ITSELF. THE POINT IS WE HAVE SOMETHING AND SOMEONE IN WHICH WE CAN PLACE OUR HOPE. WE HAVE HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE IS THE ONE THAT OFFERS ETERNAL LIFE.
PAUL DIRECTS THE READER TO SEE THAT ANY HOPE THAT WILL MATTER WILL BE THE HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST. AS A BELIEVER, THAT HEAVEN HAS OPENED UP BLESSINGS TO THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN JESUS AS LORD.
HERE’S THE POINTS THIS MORNING:
I. HE CHOSE TO REDEEM MANKIND BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. GOD HAD A PLAN.
II. GOD HAS ADOPTED US AS HIS CHILDREN IN JESUS CHRIST
III. WE HAVE THE SEAL AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
LETS TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HE IS SAYING TO US THIS MORNING.
I. HE CHOSE TO REDEEM MANKIND
WHEN SATAN SAW THAT CRIST WAS ON THE CROSS, HE JUMPED FOR JOY. HE THOUGHT THAT HE HAD DEFEATED WHAT GOD INTENDED TO DO.
ILLUSTRATION-
IN BANGLADESH, THEY SHOWED THE JESUS FILM, PEOPLE YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP AS JESUS WAS PUT ON THE CROSS. THE UNBELIEF AND SADNESS THAT THE SON OF GOD WOULD SOON DIE. IN A EMOTIONAL MOMENT, A YOUNG BOY STANDS UP AND CRIES, “DON’T BE AFRAID, HE GET’S UP, I SAW THIS BEFORE. THE BOYS CRY GAVE NEW LIFE TO THE VIEWERS OF THE FILM. THE DEVIL THREW HIS BEST SHOT, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A COMEBACK. YOU CANNOT KEEP GOD IN THE GRAVE YOU CANNOT KEEP GOD DOWN
GOD CHOSE TO REDEEM MANKIND.
DEATH IS MAN’S GREATEST ENEMY, BUT GOD HAS DEFEATED DEATH. GOD DISARMED IT FOR US NOW, WHEN WE DIE AND WAKE IN GLORY, IT WILL HAVE BEEN DEFEATED HALLELUJAH
V7- IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE THAT HE LAVISHED ON US WITH ALL HIS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING, AND HE MADE KNOWN TO US THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE WHICH HE PURPOSED IN CHRIST.
IN HIM:
THERE IS SALVATION-
THERE IS FORGIVENESS-
THERE IS REDEMPTION/ DELIVERANCE
THERE IS GOD’S GRACE/ WISDOM
WE CAN KNOW (ABSOLUTELY KNOW) THE WILL OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.
AND HE CAN SEAL IT BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE THAT CALL JESUS LORD
CHRISTIANS ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRIST WITHIN THE WORLD, BUT THEY ARE NOT LEFT TO CARRY OUT THAT TASK IN THEIR OWN STRENGTH. THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF CHRIST IS WITHIN US. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ATTRACTIVE IF WE AS BELIEVERS ARE NOT CHRIST-LIKE IN OUR LIVES. EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS A HUMAN ADDRESS AND A DIVINE ADDRESS. WHEN THE POWER OF HEAVEN RESIDES IN YOU, YOU WILL LIVE A LIFE THAT OTHERS WILL WANT. IT IS THE SECRET OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
ALISTAR MACLEON:
“MY SECRET IS TO SAIL THE SEAS, AND ALWAYS TO KEEP MY HEART IN PORT” WHEREVER GOD PUTS US, OUR HEARTS MUST BELONG TO GOD.
PAUL TELLS US HE BELONGS TO CHRIST
HIS LIFE IS NOT HIS OWN
HE HAS A MESSAGE TO GET OUT.
ANY POWER / ANY GOOD THING HE DOES IS BY THE DELEGATED POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTIVE IN HIS LIFE. GOD HAS A PLAN-IT IS TO REDEEM MANKIND. TO TAKE A FALLEN PEOPLE AND RESTORE THEM BACK INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
II. GOD HAS ADOPTED US INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
V 5-6- HE DETERMINED IN HIS LOVE BEFORE TIME BEGAN TO ADOPT US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, IN THE GOOD PURPOSE OF HIS WILL, SO THAT ALL MIGHT PRAISE THE GLORY OF THE GENEROUS GIFT WHICH HE FREELY GAVE US IN THE BELOVED. GOD ADOPTED US INTO HIS FAMILY. ANCIENT ROMAN LAW TELLS US THAT THE FATHER HAD COMPLETE POWER OF HIS SON FOREVER. CHILDREN WERE NOT ALLOWED TO POSSESS ANYTHING. ANY INHERITANCE, GIFTS, MONEY, BECAME THE PROPERTY OF THE FATHER. THE RITUAL OF ADOPTION WAS A SERIOUS THING. SYMBOLICALLY, 2 TIMES THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER WOULD SELL HIS SON AND THEN BUY HIM BACK. THE THIRD TIME , HE WOULD NOT BUY HIM BACK. THE ADOPTING FATHER HAD TO GO TO THE MAGISTRATE AND PLEAD FOR HIS CASE OF ADOPTION. THEN THE ADOPTION WAS COMPLETE. HE THEN HAD ALL THE RIGHTS IN HIS NEW FAMILY. HE LOST ALL RIGHTS IN THE OLD FAMILY. IN THE EYES OF THE LAW, HE WAS A NEW PERSON. THIS IS WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US. WE WERE ABSOLUTELY IN THE POWER OF SIN AND THE WORLD, GOD THROUGH JESUS, TOOK US OUT OF THAT POWER AND INTO HIS, AND THAT ADOPTION WIPES OUT THE PAST AND MAKES US NEW .HERE’S THE CHALLENGE THE MODERN CHURCH HAS BEEN SLOW TO FACE. THE MODERN CHURCH WANTS TO WATER DOWN THE ADOPTION PROCESS, WE ARE TO BE NEW PEOPLE, THE OLD IS GONE, AND THE NEW TAKES PRECEDENCE. TO MAKE IT SIMPLE- JESUS CAN MAKE BAD PEOPLE GOOD. PEACE OF GOD IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLES, IT IS KNOWING THE PURPOSE AND PLAN THAT GOD CHOOSES FOR YOUR LIFE.
ILLUSTRATION-
JOHNNY WAS A HANDSOME BACHELOR IN A VILLAGE WHERE THE CUSTOM WAS THAT A MAN WOULD PAY A DOWRY TO THE FATHER IN ORDER TO BE GRANTED PERMISSION TO MARRY THE DAUGHTER. THE AVERAGE DOWRY PRICE FOR A MAIDEN WAS THREE COWS, ALTHOUGH AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL GIRL MIGHT GO AS HIGH AS FIVE COWS. ONE DAY, JOHNNY WENT TO THE FATHER OF SARITA TO NEGOTIATE A DOWRY. TONGUES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO WAG, FOR IT WAS WELL KNOWN THAT SARITA WAS NOT VERY PRETTY. IN FACT, SHE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE RATHER PLAIN. ON THE OTHER HAND, JOHNNY, WAS KNOWN FOR BEING SUCH A SHARP NEGOTIATOR THAT SOME THOUGHT THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN SARITA FOR AS LOW AS ONE COW. HOW EVER, JOHNNY DID NOTHING OF THE SORT. HE MARCHED UP TO SARITA’S FATHER AND OFFERED EIGHT COWS FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE. EIGHT COWS IT WAS UNHEARD OF NO ONE HAD EVER PAID SUCH A HIGH PRICE FOR A BRIDE. AND FOR SUCH A PLAIN GIRL AS SARITA. BUT AFTER THE WEDDING, A STRANGE THING HAPPENED. SARITA BEGAN TO TAKE ON A NOBLE BEARING. HER HEAD WAS HIGH. HER EYES SPARKLED. SHE BEAMED WITH AN INNER GLOW. AND IN THE YEARS TO COME, SHE BECAME RENOWN AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN THE VILLAGE. PEOPLE WOULD COME FROM AFAR TO SEE HER AS THE RADIANT GRACE BECAME ALMOST LEGENDARY. ONE DAY, JOHNNY WAS ASKED WHY HE HAD PAID SUCH A EXORBITANT PRICE FOR A WIFE. HE REPLIED, “I LOVED SARITA AND WANTED TO EXPRESS THE HIGH VALUE OF OUR MARRIAGE. HER SELF ESTEEM HAS BEEN GREATLY ELEVATED AS SHE REALIZES THAT HER DOWRY PRICE WAS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER WOMEN IN THE VILLAGE. THEN WITH A GRIN, HE ADDED, BUT THE OTHER REASON I HAD WAS THAT I WANTED TO MARRY AND EIGHT COW WIFE.”
GOD PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR YOU. NOT MERELY IN COWS, BUT IN HIS ONLY SON. THAT MAKES YOU A PRIZED POSSESSION.
ILLUSTRATION-
MARTIN LUTHER WAS ONCE SO DEPRESS OVER A PROLONGED PERIOD THAT ONE DAY HIS WIFE CAME DOWNSTAIRS WEARING ALL BLACK. MARTIN LUTHER SAID, WHO DIED, SHE SAID GOD HAS, HE SAID, GOD HAS NOT DIED, TO WHICH SHE SAID, WELL, LIVE LIKE IT, AND ACT LIKE IT.”
III. THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
V 13- HAVING BELIEVED (ELIMINATING ONCE SAVED , ALWAYS SAVED) YOU WERE MARKED IN HIM WITH A SEAL, THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THOSE WHO ARE GOD’S POSSESSION. THE GRACE OF GOD IS A GIFT, AN UNDESERVED GIFT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN FOR OURSELVES, IT CAN NEVER BE EARNED. IT IS THE GENEROSITY FROM THE HEART OF GOD.
ILLUSTRATION-
IT WAS ALMOST 1:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE PHONE RANG. DR. LEO WINTERS, THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED CHICAGO SURGEON, WAS ABRUPTLY AWAKENED. THERE HAD BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND HIS SKILL HANDS WERE NEEDED FOR IMMEDIATE SURGERY. THE QUICKEST ROUTE HAPPENED TO BE THROUGH A RATHER TOUGH AREA, BUT WITH TIME BEING A CRITICAL FACTOR, IT WAS WORTH THE RISK. AT ONE OF THE STOP LIGHTS HIS DOOR WAS YANKED OPEN BY A MAN WITH A GRAY HAT AND A DIRTY FLANNEL SHIRT,.” I GOT TO HAVE YOUR CAR ! THE MAN SCREAMED, PULLING HIM FROM HIS SEAT. WINTERS TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION BUT THE MAN WOULD NOT LISTEN. WHEN THE DOCTOR WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET A TAXI TO THE HOSPITAL OVER AN HOUR HAD ELAPSED AND IT WAS TO LATE AS THE PATIENT HAD PASSED AWAY 30 MINUTES EARLIER. THE NURSE TOLD HIM THAT THE FATHER OF THE VICTIM HAD GONE TO THE CHAPEL WONDERING WHY THE DOCTOR NEVER CAME. DR. WINTERS WALKED HURRIEDLY TO GET TO THE CHAPEL AND WHEN HE ENTERED HE SAW THE FATHER....WAS WEARING A GRAY HAT AND DIRTY FLANNEL SHIRT. TRAGICALLY, HE HAD PUSHED FROM HIS LIFE THE ONE WHO COULD SAVE HIS SON.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE HELD CAPTIVE BY SIN THAT MESSES UP YOUR LIFE. DO NOT TURN AWAY THE VERY ONE THAT CAN HELP YOU.
CLOSING:
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT THAT WE ARE LIVING IN THE FIRST CENTURY AND PAUL HAS WRITTEN US A LETTER, LIKE THE ONE HE WROTE TO THE EPHESIANS. PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE SAINTS OF ROSEDALE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE. WOULD YOU RESPOND?
EPHESIANS 1:15-23 READ CLEARLY
CAN A REAL CHRISTIAN BE CONTENT WITH ONLY A CASUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? YOU DECIDE.
WILLIAM BOOTH FOUNDER OF THE SALVATION ARMY SAYS- “I TOLD THE LORD THAT HE COULD HAVE ALL THAT THERE IS OF WILLIAM BOOTH”
WE WHO HAVE CHRIST HAVE AN INHERITANCE, AND NOW OUR LIVES ARE FOR HIS PURPOSE. CHRIST OFFERS TO REDEEM US. WE CAN LIVE DIFFERENTLY. WE CAN GAIN THE VICTORY OVER THOSE SINS THAT SO EASILY BESET US.
REACH OUT TO CHRIST
SURRENDER TO HIS LORDSHIP
ALLOW HIM TO WORK IN YOUR LIFE
DON’T PUSH FROM YOUR LIFE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YOU
ALTAR CALL
