EPHESIANS 1:14-23 (Jr High)

Last week we read and discussed Eph 1:1-14 in which Paul praised God for all the Spiritual blessings we have through Jesus Christ.

A) We were chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, holy, and set apart.

Which brought us to our part, which was the need to respond to those blessings, as put our trust in Christ through believing in Him.

Charles Spurgeon said this, “The grace that does not change my life, does not save my soul”.

(V15) Faith in Christ and love for all the saints

A) ***Remember, Paul writing to the Church of Ephesus, which are the gentile believers, who were hated by the Jewish people.

(Luke) Love your enemies, do good to those who hate

God calls us to love through action, even the ones that bother us

1 John 4:20 “If someone says, I love God and hate my brother, he is a liar, for he who hates his brother who he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen”.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

2. (V17) Spirit of wisdom and revelation of knowledge of Him

(Spirit of wisdom gives the revelation)

Paul is praying that you may know Him better, or that you may know Him deeper

Understand His goodness

A) Knowing Him better, comes through the Holy Spirit, as you spend time in the Word, in prayer, and obedience to Him.

Application: I hear people say that they struggle in their relationship with God, but when you ask them how much time they spend in the Word or in prayer, its little or none.

Intimacy with God comes through time spent with Him.

3. (V18-19) May your eyes of understanding be enlightened that you may know the hope of His calling, riches of His inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of His power towards those who believe

What is the hope of His calling?

Acts 26:17-18 “I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”

A)The hope of His calling refers to the Future resurrection, eternal life, freedom from sin, and perfected justification

B) His inheritance in the saints

We are His inheritance

C) His power

Power of death, over evil, power over sin

All of this for those who believe in Christ

**The secret that many Christians do not understand is your strength has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Jesus Christ and His spirit that dwells in every believer (The Holy Spirit).