Loving the Lord, Part 8 (Do you honor your Heavenly Father?)
Ephesians 1:3-10
Introduction
Father’s Day = Honoring "Dad"
In your bibles, go with me to Ephesians, Chapter 1.
Today we will look at our final message in the series, “Loving the Lord”.
Look at one another: “I am going to be challenged today!”
It is very important to note that this message is a culmination of all messages and shows us the practical application of loving the Lord so much that we would live FOR Him in everything we do.
Many in this nation, and perhaps even some here have proved that God is a convenience – He is a genie in the lamp (grab in an emergency only).
Because of God’s love for us – we have an example of what it truly takes to honor Him – if we strive to live like Him.
There is no exception to this Word today – it applies to all of us, no matter how long we have been saved or even if we are not saved – God is our creator and today, we need to understand our place to honor our Heavenly Father.
Read Eph 1:3-10
Pray
Point 1 – God’s example of complete devotion (v3-10)
Let’s look at the entire cycle of how your Heavenly Father loves you.
These few verses tell about the importance of living a life for the believer and we are expected to understand and apply.
Most believers today understand – but lack application – that is, we lack putting into practice what we know we ought to do.
Let’s examine God’s complete devotion to us first.
Taking today’s passage, let’s break it down to a manageable level.
In everything that we have today ... we must understand that God chose:
- First for us to be created: Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Before God created us, we did not exist. This means we owe even the breath in our bodies to the Lord.
- So that we could have Salvation: John 6:44 says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
It is God’s business that we are called to Him, and His desire that none should perish. However, those who disobey choose to.
Application (leave with this): We did not choose God!! (Repeat)
- He then ordained us to be adopted and become heirs of His:
Rom 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
We get to share in the glory of Jesus because we willingly give our lives to Him – we are not required to die for our sins, as we so rightly deserve. (Expound ...)
- Then God gave us grace absolutely free:
Eph 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
- So we would be redeemed (redemption THROUGH the Blood):
Gal 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Jesus became the curse that we should bear today! Wages of sin is death … Jesus took the punishment.
- And so, by giving up the life of Christ for us – we are sanctified:
Heb 10:10 says, “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
- Then (as if that was not enough), God then gave us wisdom of who He is:
Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Extra: Proverbs 9:10 says, “"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
We have all of this knowledge of who God is, for one very important purpose:
- So that we can stand on a promise to be fulfilled:
Phil 1:6 says, “...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Today, WE can love the Lord so much that our lives become a living sacrifice to everything that He has given us.
Looking at all the devotion God gives us freely – what do we give in return? (Re-read Ephesians 1:3-10)
Let’s bring this much closer to home. We come to church to get fed right?
We come to church to be challenged, correct? This is not a social club.
Ask yourself this morning – how devoted is your life to God?
Point 2 – How devoted are we to Him?
Before we go any further, it is important to say that the following applies to everyone who is here this morning. There are no exceptions.
God has willingly given us all this devotion, love, and freedom – so ask yourself how do you repay Him?
Most want to serve … but say “I’m too busy …”
Let’s look at a typical week in the life of a believer.
There are 168 hours in a total week.
So, let’s subtract the obvious hours for:
Work: 40 (if you don’t work full time – you will have this number added)
Sleep: 56 (based on 8 hours per night – if we are lucky)
Eat: 21 (approximately 1 hour a day – 3 times per day)
Bible Study: 2 (based on roughly 15 mins a day average)
Church attendance: 2 (at best)
Add all this together and you get: 121
Total remaining: 47 hours available per week
47 hours per week that we could possibly give back to honor our Heavenly Father for what He has done for us.
Are we too busy?
Let’s go even further and look at that number on a yearly basis.
Take that 47 hours, and multiply it by 4 (4 weeks in a month): 188 monthly
Then multiply by 12 (12 months in a year)
Time available for honoring God per year: 2,256 hours
Now, let’s say you are saved at 15, and live to be 80.
That is 65 years you would be walking with the Lord!!
Multiply that 65 years by the time available to serve God annually and you have:
146,640 hours available (not committed elsewhere) in your Christian walk to serve and honor the Lord
Today is Father’s Day. Consider for a moment your own service to God ...
Real challenge:
The title of this entire series has been “Loving the Lord” ... Are we loving the Lord with our lives?
Or, are we telling ourselves and everyone else that we are too busy to serve God or to honor Him with everything that we have?
Do we say we are too busy to spread the Gospel?
What are we busy with?
We already accounted hours/time for work, sleep, eating, etc. …
What are we too busy doing?
Only you can answer that, but remember last week we discussed Paul’s writing from Galatians 6:7 which said, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
We can no longer afford to mock God as believers.
Ephesians 1:3-10 clearly shows all that God has done for us.
Let today, Father’s Day, be the launching point for honoring and serving God. To choose to do anything less is mocking God for what He has already done for YOU!
Today, do we love the Lord with everything in our lives?
Or, are we doing something less?
Conclusion
Invite singers
Can we stand together?
With every head bowed and every eye closed …
This morning, maybe there are some that need to get their priorities back in order.
God is calling us to be servants and to love Him with everything that is within us – simply because He knew we needed to be loved.
Father’s Day is not just about honoring our Dad’s, but it is an opportunity to give thanks to God in Heaven for all He has done.
Do you need to adjust? Would you raise your hand and admit to God that there is something in your life that is just not right?
Before we partake in the Lord’s Supper, be cautious to not mock God in this area.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:28-30
If you need to come and do business with God, you come this morning.
Pray
Lord’s Supper
