First verse of the song “What the Lord has done for me”
What the Lord has done for me, I cannot tell it all. What the Lord has done for me, I cannot tell it all.
What the Lord has done for me, I cannot tell it all.
He saved me and washed me with His blood!
Indeed we can’t tell it all but Paul gives us a glimpse at it in these verses.
Eph 1:3-14 Lets read it…
In the Greek language… Entire passage is just one sentence.
Doxology. Expression of worship to honor God.
The letter was most likely written from prison (3:1).
General letter to the churches in Ephesus… lacks Paul’s personal greetings
Out of all of his missionary trips, he spent the most time in Ephesus (two years Ac 18:1-21)
Paul was very aware of what was happening in this town
He writes to remind them of exactly what God had done for them to strengthen their faith.
But not just them but even a lesson for each of us as well!
1st blessings through God (3)
2nd blessings through the Son (4-13a)
3rd blessings through the Holy Spirit (13b-14)
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.
We see that the relationship of Jesus with God is much different than that which we have.
Paul praise God nonetheless for He has in the heavenly realms bless us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6 say that God raised us up with Christ. Because we are in Him every blessing given to Christ, Resurrection, ascension, seated at the right had of the father, is also for us to enjoy. Even now.
The phrase in Christ or ones like it is used 12 times in these verses 3 to 14.
Spiritual blessing in Christ 3
Chose us in Him before creation 4
To be holy and blameless in His sight 4
Adopted us as sons through Christ Jesus 5
Grace given us in the One He loves 6
Redemption through His blood 7
Mystery of His will which He purposed in Christ 9
In Him we were also chosen 11
In the purpose of His will 11
We were the first to hope in Christ 12
Included in Christ 13
Marked with Him with a seal, the Holy Spirit. 13
All to remind us of what God has done for us, to remind us that we are all indeed in union with Christ. A part of his body as Paul symbolizes it. And just in case you need to be reminded about what God has done for you let us look at these verses together.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
Issue of being chosen
-Everyone
-Chosen to serve as Jesus concluded before
His ascension
-Chosen to work in His vineyard
-Chosen to share His gospel
Now, holiness is not a prerequisite of the election but the result of the same.
Holiness given to us by the Holy Spirit
Sanctification of each person
Paul does not speak of an election of going to heaven or hell regardless of what you might want.
This predestination is for all of Gods creation and His purpose for none to perish but that all may come to know Him (2 Pe. 3:9)
To be a part of His family
To spend eternity in His presence
The proof is found in verse 5. For in love He predestined us to be his adopted sons through Christ Jesus.
God is all knowing. He knew what we would do if we were given free will. But he did it any ways. From the beginning he knew that a greater sacrifice would be needed. From the beginning a way was set for us, to be free from our sin. Therefore a predestination is set in motion for all who believe in Him.
Why you say? 6 - To the praise of the glorious grace, which He freely gives us in the One He loves.
Why? SO that we can see how awesome God really is
But what else has God done?
In Him we also have redemption though His blood.
Forgiveness of sin according to His grace
Which he lavishes on us with all wisdom and understanding
Gods grace is never cheap. Never what’s left over. But he pours it generously over us. Overflowing us in an abundant way.
Do we do that with God?
Talents
Time
Treasures
You see in the person of Jesus Christ we see what God has done for us. His purpose for us.
But also what we are to be.
The purpose of Christ was to pay for our sins.
Our purpose is to share that priceless gift with the world and to do it without shame, embarrassment or dismay.
All of this to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring it all together. In other words… Because things do not add up at the moment or make any sense, we look forward to the time when everything will be brought into meaningful relationship under the headship of Christ. This is eternity of course
But what about in the mean time?
Stop working?
No. Work harder!
All that God has done has been for a purpose. Not for us to sit around, or to abuse his mercy & love but to spring into action with the knowledge that he has been with us and will continue to do so.
There should be no fear in us to go work for the Lord, because we know before hand that if he is for us, no one will be against us.
For us who respond to Gods calling, to his setting aside, to His choosing according to His plan and His will.
For those whom are the first ones to hope in Christ, and to those who were also included in Christ when we first heard the truth of His gospel of salvation.
A seal has been given.
Requested transcripts from colleges that I have attended through the years. As they send them to me, they have a seal on it. First, tell me what it is. Second, it tell me who it belongs to. And third, the seal lets me know of the importance of the content.
As we are reminded of all that God has done as part of His love and through the person of Jesus Christ, we see that for those of us who believe, a seal is paced on us by the Holy Spirit.
A seal that lets us and others know who we are. Sons and daughters of God. Who we belong to. Our Father in Heaven. And lastly it lets us and others know how important we are. Not for personal boasting but for the glory of God.
This is why I say there should be no fear. For the very Spirit of God, He which was there at creation can and want to be in each of us.
On top of that this seal is also a guarantee for us of the inheritance that we have been promised in Christ Jesus, as we said for those who are Gods possession.
Do you belong to God or to the world? To God or to your job? To God or to your family?
Brothers and sisters as we begin a new chapter in our lives today as part of Gods body here in Burbank. As we remember all that His has done for us.
As we put into perspective all of the blessings already attained through God our father… through our savior and brother Jesus Christ… and through our guide and instructor the Holy Spirit.
As we begin to focus our attention more and more on what God will do in us and through us here in His church.
We can rest assure knowing that we are in His will and working according to His purpose.
We can be assure that as we work for the benefit of His kingdom, sharing our faith without fear, producing spiritual fruits and growing our church both in number and in spiritual discipline, that God will bless us.
Even though we have separated our congregation we are still part of Gods family.
You and I are brothers and sisters in His family.
God = Father Jesus = Brother HS = conscience
We are indeed adopted children who have been given every right under Christ Jesus to be call his kids and who have been entrusted with the family business of sharing Dads love with the world so that all can come to experience the blessings of God as we have done.
This is merely the begin. And I am truly excited for what God will do as we come together under the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
AS we begin again today let us do it knowing that God will help us and bless us if we remain faithful to the calling that we have spoken about. The choosing that he has set forth before the creation of the world.
Are you convince now of all that God has done for you? DO you understand fully the price that was paid and the mercy and love that was given? Then I want to ask you to stand, but before you do let me explain why?
Stand if you agree with what has been said!
Stand if you are ready to put all of your trust in God!
Stand if you believe that God will do a wonderful thing in our church if we fully surrender to His will and work in His vineyard!
Stand if you are ready to star in the work as he guides us from now on!
Stand if you believe God will be faithful as long as we remain faithful to him!
Now don’t stand just because the person next to you did so?
Don’t even stand because you might be worry about what others will say if you don’t?
God requires only our true surrender and faithful willingness. If you can’t agree then don’t stand, but don’t lie. If you do he will reward you and as a consequence he will indeed bless our church.
