Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 3: Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 3:

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

In Paul’s 35 years of ministry, since his conversion in Damascus, we have recorded in the Holy Bible many of his epistles, or letters.

Paul’s first journey took place from 33AD (the year of his conversion), through 46AD, leaving Damascus in 38AD.

Paul’s 2^nd journey began in 50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.

Paul’s 3^rd journey began in 55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from 58-60AD. During his 3^rd journey Paul wrote 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, and Romans. We have no record of writings from Paul during his prison time between 58-60AD in Judea.

After his release from Judea, Paul traveled on his voyage to Rome from 60-61AD, writing Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, and finding himself in a Roman prison in 63AD.

Released soon after his incarceration, Paul then writes the epistles Hebrews, 1^st Timothy, Titus and his final letter before his death 2 Timothy, which was written from a Roman prison he was placed in during 66-68AD.

Though the bible does not tell us when or how Paul died, it is believed by scholars that he was beheaded in 68AD in May or June.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Ephesians 1:15-23

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the {a} Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Ephesians

The message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.

    I.      FOR THIS REASON

a. Vs. 13 & 14 “you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

                                                                                  i. The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first Bible to use chapter patterns. 

                                                                               ii. This is why we need to ensure we are taking scripture “in context” when reading.

                                                                            iii. We may need to go back or read ahead to understand a scriptures meaning.

ILLUSTRATION

1 Kings 3:16-28

One day two women^[a] came to King Solomon, ¹⁷ and one of them said:

Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my baby was born at home, ¹⁸ and three days later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with us.

¹⁹ One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died.²⁰ Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her bed, then she put her dead baby next to me.

²¹ In the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn’t my son.

²² “No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is alive!”

“The dead baby is yours,” the first woman yelled. “Mine is alive!”

They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, ²³ until finally he said, “Both of you say this live baby is yours. ²⁴ Someone bring me a sword.”

A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, ²⁵ “Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”

-      If we stop here, we chop babies in half when there is a custody battle.

²⁶ “Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”

The other woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”

²⁷ Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Then he pointed to the first woman, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”

b. BECAUSE (for this reason)

                                                                                  i. The reason being

1. You heard the message of Truth (Gospel of Salvation)

2. You responded appropriately (believed = trusted in)

3. You therefore were marked in Him (Holy Spirit)

4. THE deposit guaranteeing our inheritance

5. THIS IS THE FAITH PAUL IS SPEAKING OF

                                                                               ii. For THIS reason

c. Ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all God’s people

                                                                                  i. Daily Faith, day by day living.

                                                                               ii. I have never stopped giving thanks for you

1. Paul says 23 times in this letter!

                                                                            iii. And remembering you in my prayers

1. Paul’s intercessory prayer life was one of his Spiritual Gifts, however, we should all pray!

2. Remember, why do we pray?

3. We are instructed in scripture to pray

a. This is the manner in which you pray

b. Pray for those who persecute you

c. Pray in the Spirit on all occasions

d. Do not be anxious but with prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God

4. Jesus Prayed regularly

5. Prayer is how we communicate with God

6. Prayer allows us to participate in God’s works

7. Prayer gives us power over evil

8. Prayer is always available

9. Prayer keeps us humble before God

10. Prayer is bringing things to light, situations, needs, and for those who cannot pray for themselves.

a. God does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous, unrepentant, sinners, we pray for them.

b. The only prayer God hears for them is the prayer for Salvation.

II.      I KEEP ASKING GOD TO GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION

a. So you may know Him better

                                                                                  i. Knowledge of Christ we receive through the Word enables the Holy Spirit to increase our wisdom and revelation.

b. I pray the eyes of your heart {having been} enlightened

                                                                                  i. They are in a present state of enlightenment.

                                                                               ii. So you may know the hope to which He has called you

                                                                            iii. The riches of His glorious inheritance (in the Saints!)

1. Saints are God’s inheritance, since we are adopted in!

                                                                              iv. And His incomparably great power for us who believe (put trust in)

1. The power to live a Holy life

c. That power is the same He exerted raising Christ from the dead

                                                                                  i. And seating Him at His right hand

III.      IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS

a. Far above all rule and authority

                                                                                  i. Far above power and dominion

                                                                               ii. Above every name that is invoked

b. Not only in this present age (dispensation) Church Age

                                                                                  i. But also in the one to come

                                                                               ii. Now we are in the “Church Age” or the age of Grace

                                                                            iii. Next (after Rapture, Tribulation and Judgment) is the Kingdom Age, or Age of Christ

c. God placed ALL things under His (Jesus) feet

                                                                                  i. And appointed Him to be head over everything for the church

CONCLUSION – The church, which is his body

The church, His body, which is the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way

Christ is the absolute, ultimate authority because of the cross.

The church has its source of life in Him. Sustained by His power, we are to be the instrument by which He works.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 2: Praising Spiritual Blessings

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 2:

Praising Spiritual Blessings

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

In Paul’s 35 years of ministry, since his conversion in Damascus, we have recorded in the Holy Bible many of his epistles, or letters.

Paul’s first journey took place from 33AD (the year of his conversion), through 46AD, leaving Damascus in 38AD.

Paul’s 2^nd journey began in 50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.

Paul’s 3^rd journey began in 55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from 58-60AD. During his 3^rd journey Paul wrote 1^st and 2^nd Corinthians, and Romans. We have no record of writings from Paul during his prison time between 58-60AD in Judea.

After his release from Judea, Paul traveled on his voyage to Rome from 60-61AD, writing Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, and finding himself in a Roman prison in 63AD.

Released soon after his incarceration, Paul then writes the epistles Hebrews, 1^st Timothy, Titus and his final letter before his death 2 Timothy, which was written from a Roman prison he was placed in during 66-68AD.

Though the bible does not tell us when or how Paul died, it is believed by scholars that he was beheaded in 68AD in May or June.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Ephesians 1:3-14

 ³ 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.⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Paul’s Praise for Spiritual Blessings

The message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.

    I.      WHERE DO OUR BLESSINGS COME FROM?

a. First, give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

                                                                                  i. The Lord’s Prayer

1. Jesus tells us about praising God

2. Matthew 6:5-13 ⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (God in Heaven upon His throne, even His name is Holy)

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (This was given to the disciples BEFORE Jesus went to the cross, the Kingdom is now here because of Christ!)

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread. (Refers to receiving the Holy Spirit DAILY)

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (We need to ask forgiveness for our sins, and forgive those who have sinned against us)

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

a. The manner in which the disciples were to pray was;

                                                                                                                                                                                                            i.      Acknowledge God on Throne

                                                                                                                                                                                                         ii.      Profess His holiness

                                                                                                                                                                                                      iii.      Pray for His will

                                                                                                                                                                                                       iv.      Pray for more of the Holy Spirit

                                                                                                                                                                                                          v.      Ask for forgiveness of sins

                                                                                                                                                                                                       vi.      Forgive those who have sinned against you

                                                                                                                                                                                                    vii.      Pray for protection/deliverance from evil

                                                                                                                                                                                                 viii.      Acknowledge the Kingdom of God and His power, and glory, for eternity.

                                                                               ii. Praising God for being God is a MUST

b. Blessings come from the heavenly realms

                                                                                  i. As the Lord’s Prayer shows us, Jesus is saying that ALL things are from our Father’s hand

                                                                               ii. And we (followers of Christ) have access to these blessings BECAUSE we belong to the Kingdom that was coming with the cross!

c. Our Spiritual blessings come because we are IN Christ

                                                                                  i. This is what Jesus was saying to the disciples in the Lord’s prayer before the cross, Jesus told them to pray, until your kingdom comes, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

                                                                               ii. The kingdom HAS now come!

                                                                            iii. Because of Christ and the cross, we can now be part of that Kingdom!

II.      WE ARE PREDESTINED, YES & NO

a. God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ

                                                                                  i. This is not speaking of individual predestination as some teach.

                                                                               ii. God did NOT determine who is going to heaven and who is going to hell.

1. If this false teaching were true, there would be no reason for preaching the Gospel.

                                                                            iii. God “predestined” everyone to be “adopted” into full sonship through Jesus Christ. (Salvation)

b. In accordance to His pleasure and will

                                                                                  i. Because it pleases God to have us counted among His

                                                                               ii. It is God’s will that ALL are saved!

c. In Him (Christ) we have redemption

III.      WITH ALL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

a. He makes known to us the mystery of His will

                                                                                  i. Through revelation of the Holy Spirit

                                                                               ii. Revealed in the inspired scripture of the Bible

                                                                            iii. Expressed by Jesus to the Disciples

b. In Him we are chosen having been predestined

                                                                                  i. Again, not individual choosing, but what happens when we belong to Him.

1. It was predestined by God we be saved through Jesus Christ

2. When we hear the gospel and respond appropriately, we are NOW a chosen people, belonging to the Kingdom and to the Lord!

c. Chosen & Predestined as a whole, not individual

                                                                                  i. Paul clarifies in the closing verses today

CONCLUSION – you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

God predestined us to be saved through Christ, when we HEAR the message of Truth, the Gospel of Salvation, and we believe (should have been believed in, trusted in, put faith in), we are MARKED in HIM with a seal!

What is that mark that shines in the spiritual realm????

The promise from the Father in heaven to those who are His, the Holy Spirit! Who can only come to us, and dwell in us, because of Christ and the cross.

who (the Holy Spirit) is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

When we receive the Holy Spirit, it is God’s down payment, and proof that we are His, belong to His Kingdom and WILL receive our inheritance.

This guarantee is for us until the redemption of those who belong to God, those who are God’s possession.

If you want this guarantee, simply respond appropriately to the Gospel of Salvation. Put your trust in Jesus, confess your sin, repent of it, and live for the Lord.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!