The Key To Overcoming Our Fears

The Key to Overcoming our Insecurities

Ephesians 1:11-14

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

The Oxford dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” Being “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7), that is with minds and bodies that are easily broken, it should not come as surprise that perceived or real threats to our well being provokes fear within our hearts. For example for some people their fears relate to animals such as spiders, dogs, insects; to others their fears relate to the natural environment such as heights, thunder, darkness; to others their fears relate to blood, injury, or medical issues such as broken bones, needles, incurable diseases; and to others their fears relate to specific situations such a public speaking, flying or driving. While all of these items often make us so scared that they rob us of precious sleep, nothing drives us quicker into the fetal position, hugging our security blankets any faster than the threat or thought of our eventual death and what comes afterwards! One would think that those who believe in the way, truth and life would be exempt from this fear but with Jesus’ warning that some will merely think but are not in fact saved (Matthew 7:21-23), doubt and fear often reign supreme within their hearts as well. The following sermon is going to examine Ephesians 1:11-14 and in doing so show how knowing the works of the Holy Spirit is the key to knowing beyond a doubt that we are saved and are eternally safe in the hands of our Father!

The Glorious Calling (11-12, 13b)

The first work of the Holy Spirit is what theologians call “the effectual call.” Without the Spirit’s conviction in relation to “sin, righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8-11), people would not chose to believe in Christ’s atonement, nor make Him the lord of their lives! Since God’s eternal plan has been that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), God has always provided a path for humanity to approach His holy throne. In the Old Testament Israel was chosen to be his portion and light unto the nations (Psalms 33:12; Deuteronomy 4:20; Isaiah 49:6). To keep from “downplaying of Israel’s salvation history in the course of his controversy with the Jewish opponents” Paul stated it was God’s intention by predestination, that the Jews were to be the first to hear (Romans 1:16, 2:9-10), believe and claimed as God’s inheritance and possession in the Lord, Jesus Christ. In verse 13a the “you also” refers to God’s portion also including the Gentile people of whom this letter was specifically addressed. The Gentiles were no longer to “separated from Christ, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world” (2:12), but through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ were grafted into the vine as equal participants of the glorious, eternal inheritance as God’s portion (Romans 11:11-31).

One Church (13a)

The second work of the Holy Spirit that Paul points out is the “making of a new people, the church” of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s usage of the pronouns “we” and “you” is of great significance for both the people of his day, and us today. Christ’s “once and for all” (Romans 6:10) atonement of sin for Paul meant the “barrier” or “dividing wall” of hostility between the Greeks and Romans, rich and poor, slaves and free” has been torn down because all believers are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28-29)! Though differences of age, nationality, sex, wealth of public status might differ in the world’s eyes, for Paul this new church in Christ’s blood had no “first- or second-class citizens.” While the “communication of the Gospel to the Gentiles was undertaken reluctantly” by the first Jewish believers, upon witnessing that the “transforming knowledge” of the Gospel led to the Gentiles being converted, as proven by the presence of the Holy Spirit, many churches formed and lived in harmony consisting of both Jews and Gentiles believers. Peace and unity were maintained in such diversified churches because they had a singular goal of becoming the praise of God’s glory by bowing and submitting their will to the One who bought them at a price!

Word and Spirit (13b)

The third work of the Holy Spirit that Paul points out is the illumination of God’s holy word. Like the Jews, the Gentiles have been received the “message of truth,” “particularly as it is related to His saving purposes and humankind’s place in them.” While all creation “testifies to God’s eternal power and divine nature,” (Romans 1:20) to truly believe in God Apostle Paul told the church of Rome the Gospel must first be preached so that it is heard (Romans 10:14-15)! Even though beautiful are the feet that bring the Good News, just hearing is not enough to guarantee belief in the Son for until the Spirit illuminates spiritual truths in spiritual words they will not penetrate the soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12-13) but instead remain as words of mere foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18) or worse yet offensive to those perishing in their sin. Revelation of God is not given without the Spirit’s aid for one to seek God that person must first be sought by Him! The Protestant Reformers such as Luther, Calvin and others strongly believed in the “work of the Holy Spirit in bringing men and women to faith and in leading and preserving them in that faith once they had believed.” In today’s passage I can’t help but feel Apostle Paul’s overwhelming joy that many of the Jews and Gentiles who had heard the Gospel message believed and became God’s heirs and children forever!