~ Intro: Have you ever heard of "Hetty" Green, known as "America's Greatest
Miser"? She died in 1916, and left an estate worth over $100 million (almost 2.8 billion today) $2,865,431,192.66. Yet, it is said that...
• She ate oatmeal cold, because it costs to heat it
• Her son's leg was amputated, because she delayed too long looking for a free clinic
Sounds crazy, doesn't it? For someone who had such great assets, to go through life miserable. Living the life of a pauper, when great wealth was at her disposal. But the same could be said of many Christians today...
For in Christ Jesus, we have countless spiritual blessings! However, many of these blessings go unused. Blessings that are wonderful, but unappreciated by many
resulting in some Christ followers living what Thoreau would call "lives of quiet desperation" or as the title says posing as paupers.
But you might be wondering, why do you think we are rich? Well let’s look at our text for today. Ephesians 1:1
1. Remember, it has always been the plan for His people.(vrs 1-3)
• God’s plan has always been to bless us in spiritual ways.
- The fulfillment of these blessings will be in heaven.
• The blessings can only be fully experienced in community.
- We need to remember that Ephesians was written to the church in Ephesus … just like all the other letters in the N.T.
- There is no way one individual can posses all of these so the way we can be blessed by all of them is by ourselves.
- Yet in community we have access to every spiritual blessings
So what are these blessings?
2. The blessings of belonging.(vrs 3-14)
• This list obviously cannot be all inclusive but it highlights some important parts.
• We are blameless in His sight.
- You were chosen before the beginning of time to be Holy.
~ Follower of Jesue aren’t supposed to act like unbelievers.
• We are chosen to be His child, adopted into His family.
- To chose: to select for one’s self
- God wanted you and me to be a part of His family.
• We are redeemed; bought with a price to make us priceless.
- God took us to the redemption Center---located at the foot of the cross we were taken from the category of sinner to saint.
- We are remade from something that is full of worth; shiny and new. Clean.
- That’s why Paul tells us that “if anyone is “in Christ” he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold the new has come. We are redeemed!.
• We are chosen on purpose for a purpose.
- We were not a mistake.
- From before creation God had us in mind---and was intentional about the way he made us.
- This purpose can only be lived out in community.
~ We can’t utilize the gifts of the Spirit or the fruit of the Spirit in isolation.
• We are marked with a seal.
- A seal of God’s approval His protection and His provision.
~ The seal of the Holy Spirit.
- Once you understand who you are as sons and daughter in Christ you will begin to understand your purpose.
• Years ago, a man who was quite wealthy shared a passion with his son for fine paintings/artwork. So together they collected art, Picasso, Van Goh Monet, priceless works. They hung all over the house. As the boy grew older war broke out and the young man left to serve his country.
After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram from the army …informing him … that his son … had been killed in battle … while carrying a fellow soldier to a medic. That Christmas a knock came at the door of the old man’s home and as he opened the door, … he was greeted by a soldier … with a large package … in his hand. The soldier introduced himself to the man … by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing … when he died. He said, “May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.”
The soldier said, “I’m an artist and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way … and it revealed a portrait … of his son. The painting did feature the young man’s face in striking detail, and seemed to capture his personality. He was so pleased to receive it. The following spring, the old man became quite ill …and passed away. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works … were to be auctioned. The day soon arrived, and art collectors from around the world … gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular … paintings.
The auction began with a painting … that was not on any … of the museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked.” Minutes passed with not a sound from those … who came to buy. From the back of the room someone called out, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Move on to the important stuff. Van Gogh, Picasso. But the auctioneer replied, … “No, we have to sell this one first. Now, who will take the painting of the son?” Finally,… a friend of the old man spoke. “I knew the boy,… so I’d like to have it. I will bid the $100. “I have a bid for $100,” called the auctioneer. “Will anyone go higher?” After a long silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once. Going twice. Gone.” The gavel fell.
Someone cried out, now we can move on to the important stuff. At that point the auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. They were stunned. Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son.
What about all of these other paintings? There are millions of dollars’ worth of art here! We demand an explanation. The auctioneer replied, “It’s really very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son... receives everything.”
- This is true for us today, if we accept God’s Son, we receive everything.
Now if we stop here we might be tempted to think that church is all about us and what we get out of it. But we must be careful to note something that is repeated throughout the text …
3. The church is all about God and His glory.
• v.3 “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
• v.6 “ to the praise of his glorious grace”
• v.12 “so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory”
• v.14 “to the praise of his glory”
• Song: Jesus, Lover Of My Soul
Jesus, lover of my soul, All consuming fire is in your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know, I will follow You all my days
For no one else in history is like you, and history itself belongs to You
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me, And I will share eternity with you
It's all about You, Jesus, and all this is for You
for You glory and your fame
It's not about me, as if You should do things my way
You alone are God and I surrender, to your ways
• If the church ever becomes about us, our desires and needs we are in trouble.
~ Conclusion:
