Series: Action [#167]
A CHRISTIAN’S CHECKBOOK- DO THE MATH
Ephesians 1:15-23
Introduction:
Paul opened the chapter describing our blessings in the Father, our benefits in the Son, and our belongings in the Holy Spirit. We are blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed, accepted, sealed, and sanctified in the Holy Spirit. In Christ, you are rich beyond understanding. I was recently asked, “How do some people seem to handle whatever happens to them with no problem, while others are just a wreck”? That’s a great question and my answer to you is, “Do the math”. That phrase means to put everything together and come up with the correct answer. Not only does each person need to have a personal relationship with God; but we need to have a growing relationship with Him. What do we need to do to have a closer relationship with God? Let’s do the math.
Ephesians 1:15-23
A closer relationship with God…
1. Requires love.
Hopefully, each of you knows that God loves you more than anything. If He didn’t, He would not have sent Jesus to this Earth to pay the price for our sins with His blood. The way that you show God your love is through obeying His commands and loving others as you love yourself. That sounds easy enough; but the problem is others means everyone. How do you love those who hate you? How do you love like Jesus loves us?
You love others by…
* Thanking God for them.
How often do you thank God for those that are a part of your life? Paul said he thanked God for the fact that the people at the Church in Ephesus had a love for all the saints- That’s every Christian. I have heard people say about other Christians, “I love them with the love of the Lord”. Let me translate that for you. “I hate that person’s guts; but I can’t say that because it is not very godly of me”.
You love others by…
* Remembering them in your prayers.
Your intercessory prayers for others is the most important thing you can do for them. Your prayer life shouldn’t be focused on just you and yours. Christians should be praying for other Christians all of the time.
You love others by…
* Desiring that they know God better.
Paul prayed that God the Father would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they would know God better. The Holy Spirit will show us how to use the knowledge that we have to be more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit will also reveal the Word to us so that we can know God the Father even more.
A closer relationship with God…
2. Requires open heart eyes.
We sing about opening the eyes of our heart; but do we know what that means? Our carnal minds can never think of spiritual things. You need the Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart so that you can see the spiritual things going on.
Open heart eyes result in…
* Knowledge of the hope that God has called you to.
I don’t think that most Christians have a clue about what you can do through Christ. I know that I have eternal hope through Jesus; but I also have hope that God can work through me in a way that only He can do.
Open heart eyes result in…
* Knowledge of your rich inheritance in Christ.
Do you ever sit and think about what Heaven will be like? As wonderful as I know Heaven will be; it will be a million times better.
Open heart eyes result in…
* Knowledge of your power in Christ.
Christian, if you are sitting around thinking about how defeated you are; and how you don’t know what to do- Stop it. When you were saved, you were given the power and strength of Christ. There is great power in the Word of God. There is great power in prayer. There is great power in worship. There is great power in Christian fellowship.
A closer relationship with God…
3. Requires that you depend on the power of God.
Christian, not only do you have access to the power of God; you need to depend on it.
The power of God…
* Raised Jesus from the dead.
Jesus had become the sin of the world and went to Hell. While Jesus was there, He shared with the fallen angels that are locked up of His victory over sin, death, Hell, and Satan. Through the power of God, Jesus was raised from the dead. The resurrecting power of God is the same power that we can have.
The power of God…
* Sat Jesus at the Father’s right hand.
After Jesus completed His work on the cross and was resurrected from the dead, He was on the Earth for 40 days. After that, He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.
The power of God…
* Placed Jesus as the Head of everything.
Jesus is the Head of the body of Christ. That means that He is over everything. He should completely control not just the Church; but every Christian.
Conclusion:
The passage ends by saying, Jesus ”fills everything in every way.” Jesus is all you need. Christians, you have access to the knowledge, wisdom, inheritance, spiritual eyes, and power of God. Do the math- With Jesus, you have victory. You do not have to wait until you die and go to Heaven to have these things- You can live in victory today, through Jesus Christ.
