Understanding The Baseline Series

A Walk That is Worthy Part 1

Understanding The Baseline

Text: Eph 1:1-10

Intro:

This morning I would like to begin a series entiled “A Walk that is Worthy.” In the coming months we are going to be traveling through the book of Ephesians.

In this process we are going to be hearing the heartbeat of the Father through the Apostle Paul concerning you and I. The title of the Series is taken from Ephesians 4:1 “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” This is the theme that runs throughout the entirety of this letter to the church in Ephesus.

Specifically my message this morning is entitled…

”Understanding the Baseline”

Illus:

In our EMT training we are told taught to gather vital sign readings such blood pressure, pulse, respirations, skin color and condition, as soon as we possibly can. These first readings of the most vital indicators concerning the patients health are so important. Because with out them we cannot tell if the patient in getting better or worse as we roll down the road. It is a place of evaluation that we must begin with.

In our text this morning we have been given some baseline vitals concerning our position with the Lord.

For us to walk worthy of the calling that God has given us, we must understand exactly the position He has placed us in.

Illus:

Have you ever stepped into a situation in which your information was wrong. Maybe it was a wedding rehearsal that was announced as casual attire.

But what you soon discovered was that your definition of casual and their definition of casual were two different things. Maybe it was a potluck dinner in which you were instructed to bring finger food.

But your finger food did not quite fit in the same category. I remember a potluck dinner for my high school wrestling team in which my mother brought cabbage rolls. As we sat down as a family to eat, my dad broke his cheap plastic fork trying to cut up the meaty cabbage roll. I remember eating that supper to the sound of many forks breaking as people tried to cut up their cabbage rolls with cheap forks. slightly embarrassing for my mother.

Paul gives us a baseline estimation as to exactly what our position is as believers. I would like to take a look at 7 things this morning that give basis to the entire book of Ephesians, and basis for my title this morning.

7 things that should cause us to live a life that is worthy.

1. Blessed With Every Spiritual Blessing v3

Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. The first thing we must understand is that God has opened up the resources

of His kingdom to equip us.

Illus:

Whenever you are working on a project you want somebody helping who has all of the tools. I can remember my dad getting so frustrated with us spending a lot of time trying to turn a bolt loose with a box end wrench. He would go get a ratchet and say here … use this.

The proper tool for the proper job. This is what God does for us. He blesses us with exactly what we need.

Eph 3:17b-19 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”

Through salvation Christ paid the price for us to have a bottomless cup of the fullness of God.

We can keep coming back and getting a refill.This is our baseline…this is where we begin.

2. He Chose Us in Christ v 4

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

How many remember those brutal playground games where you two captains got to pick sides.

What was the biggest fear? That you would be picked last! Listen Christ has chosen you. He has chosen each one hear this morning. John 3:6 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This is where we all begin.

We are all chosen in Christ to bear his name if we so choose. How does this work…well it leads us to the third point.

3. It was His Pleasure to Adopt us as Sons

vv 4b-5a

He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.