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 2nd journey began in
50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1st and 2nd
Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.
Paul’s 3rd journey began in
55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from 58-60AD.
During his 3rd journey Paul wrote 1st and 2nd
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, 1st 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.
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